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Denver Deserves Starter Homes!

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In support of Unlocking Housing Choices: Denver’s middle housing initiative

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Denver is considering legalizing middle housing

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Still the biggest problem

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Recent development pattern

  • Denver had 66 scrapes in 2024 replacing smaller single-family houses with larger ones

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Development has been uneven and inequitable

Left: 2002 “areas of change” vs “areas of stability”

  • 2/3 of housing development has occurred in these areas, which make up 1/5 of the city—9x the intensity

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How missing is it?

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Avg. household size: 2.1 people per household

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Left: new builds (DRCOG)

Below: existing stock (UHC staff)

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UHC policy

Project Goals:

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Infill bonus types

Economic Feasibility Findings Support Relative Affordability for Infill Bonuses

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Affordability bonus types

Economic Feasibility Findings Support Affordability Bonuses in Some Cases

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Smaller homes are already far more affordable

Du/tri-plex and rowhome

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Portland home construction diversity

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Results from Portland’s middle housing legalization

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What’s on the market in Portland?

  • Inner neighborhood rowhouse
  • Bike score: 97
  • HOA: $75/m

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What’s on the market in Portland?

  • Urban edge Duplex
  • 1,200 sf
  • $50/m HOA

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What’s on the market in Portland?

  • On Peninsula Park
  • Bike score: 100
  • $50/m HOA

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FAQ

  1. Will these homes be for rent or sale?
  2. Portland: >½ middle housing is for-sale
  3. Seattle: ⅔ of new townhomes are owner-occupied (vs. 10% in larger buildings)
  4. Important because most of our new state housing laws support rental housing rather than ownership options
  5. What pace of change can we expect?
  6. Will development happen disproportionately in lower-income neighborhoods and drive displacement?

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Public support is growing

Left: Groups in support of UCH

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Recent middle housing polls:

  • 2024 Denver, Change Rsrch: 58/31
  • 2024 Denver, Zillow: 62% support
  • 2025 Boulder: 70% and 79% support
  • 2025 Co Springs: 60-32
  • 2024 Lakewood: 50-32

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Change is hard when those with political influence don’t need it

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What can I do?

  1. Call or Email your city councilor
  2. Get your friends to also do that
  3. Attend public meetings
  4. Loop in orgs you’re involved w/
    1. Endorse
    2. Info presentation
    3. Contact councilor
  5. Social media
  6. Stay tuned (Slack, emails)

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passuhc.com is live!

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Let’s take action right now!

  1. Scan the QR code or use link
  2. Fill in required information
  3. Customize the message
  4. Send it!

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