Denver Housing Authority’s redevelopment of Sun Valley is creating a new mixed-income neighborhood.
Changes are still coming to Sun Valley.
Two new apartment complexes constructed and operated by the Denver Housing Authority, GreenHaus and Thrive, are nearing completion in the westside neighborhood and leasing is expected to begin by the end of this year.
GreenHaus is located near Decatur Street and 13th Avenue, while Thrive is south near Bryant and Holden. The two buildings will house 264 units of one to five bedrooms, with 70 units being priced at market rate. Thrive will have 43 units geared towards those making 60 to 80 percent of the area median income and GreenHaus will have 26 units for those making 40 to 60 percent AMI.
Annie Hancock, Director of Resident Services and Community Connections, said units between 40% to 80% AMI are workforce housing for the “missing middle,” such as teachers, construction workers and nurses.
Hancock said the remaining 125 units are for residents who were displaced by DHA’s redevelopment of the neighborhood, which began in 2018.
In a $240 million, multi-year project, DHA’s goal was to replace 333 units of the old red brick building housing Sun Valley Homes and add over 950 new homes to house over 2,500 residents.
Sun Valley is home to Empower Field and bordered by Interstate 25, Federal Boulevard and 6th and 20th avenues. It once had a population of about 1,500 people, most of whom lived in Sun Valley Homes, but since the redevelopment began the neighborhood has been filled with cranes and empty spaces.
Nearby residents and community leaders have had mixed feelings over the redevelopment because of the displacement but they’ve expressed hopes that residents will be able to return to the new buildings.
GreenHaus and Thrive are phase two of DHA’s redevelopment. The units remaining for the displaced residents are “deeply affordable,” meaning they’re available for those making less than 30 percent AMI. A family of three bringing in a 30 percent AMI salary makes around $31,800.
So far, two buildings have been completed and fully leased, Gateway North and South. Combined, those buildings house 187 units, with 34 being rented at market value and the remaining priced for those making below 60 percent AMI. Hancock said 70 units were used to relocate former residents.
Hancock said six townhomes were also completed as part of the Gateway project. Three of the homes were sold at an affordable rate to promote ownership and the other three were sold at market value.
DHA intends to construct three additional complexes; Sol, Joli and Flo.