Denver is facing a housing crisis, with thousands of people living on the streets. In an effort to address this issue, Mayor Mike Johnston has proposed the creation of micro-communities to house 1,000 individuals by the end of the year. One potential location for these micro-communities is an empty parking lot near the intersection of W. Alameda Avenue and Interstate 25.

The lot, which is zoned for residential development, could accommodate up to 12 stories of permanent housing. However, in the short term, it is being considered for use as a temporary housing solution. SEH, an engineering and planning firm, has submitted concept plans to the city for review. The plans include options for either 40 pallet shelters or 21 temporary-managed community units, along with additional accommodations for accessibility and community use.

These micro-communities would be fenced in and given priority in the city’s permitting process. However, they are not intended to be a long-term solution. Many individuals living in these communities would eventually transition to income-restricted housing, which is currently in short supply in Denver.

While a 12-story building on the lot could provide more housing than a few dozen tiny homes, the process of developing such a building would be time-consuming and costly. In the meantime, housing is needed urgently, even if it is temporary and small in scale. Nonprofit developers have suggested that the state-owned plot of land could be used as a micro-community in the interim, with a plan to convert it into affordable housing in the future.

The proposed micro-communities are part of a larger effort to address Denver’s homelessness crisis. By providing immediate housing options and prioritizing affordable housing development, the city hopes to stabilize long-term rents and support individuals in transitioning out of homelessness.

Source: Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite