Division of Housing Accomplishments

Major Boulder Affordable Housing Program Milestones

For many years, the City Council, boards, residents, and staff have struggled with the challenge of affordable housing in Boulder.   Through partnerships with the community, non-profit agencies and for-profit developers, Boulder has made significant progress toward creating housing opportunities for households with modest incomes.

For the most current update on Boulder's Affordable Housing Programs, see the 2008 City of Boulder Affordable Housing Report (PDF).

Here are some of the major milestones from across the years:

1966:

• Housing Authority of the City of Boulder (now Boulder Housing Partners) created with resolution by City Council

1985:

• 1985:   Moderate Income Housing (MIHP) adopted
• Mobile Home Zone established

1970 - 1999:

• 1,755 affordable units in the community

1990:

• Goal to increase permanently affordable housing to 5 percent of total housing in the community adopted in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP)

1992:

• Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) created to replace Moderate Income Housing Program (MIHP)

1995:

• Residential Growth Management System revised and Master Plan Criteria and Major Site Review created to encourage permanently affordable housing in a new residential development

• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan affordable Housing Goal revised to 10 percent of the total housing stock as permanently affordable

1999:

• Comprehensive Housing Strategy (PDF) - accepted by City Council

2000:

• Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, name changed to Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in 2011, adopted requiring 20 percent of all new residential development to be permanently affordable to low and moderate income households

• Housing Task Force Report (PDF) - City Council supports achieving 10 percent goal in 10 years

2007 - 2008:

• Approximately 2,800 affordable units in the community.  More than 1,000 units have been added since 2000.  The 2,800 units represent more than $420 million in real estate that will continue to provide community benefit for future generations.  Currently this affordable housing stock enables over 5,000 people to be part of the community who might otherwise be unable to reside in Boulder.
• Review process initiated to review progress on the affordable housing goals and to evaluate the current policies, programs and priorities.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:25