For decades, the stretch of East Colfax Avenue at 7900 E. Colfax Ave has served as a commercial corridor defined by strip malls and transient traffic. Now, the city is betting that this specific corner can become a quiet residential anchor for low-income residents.
The Denver City Council has officially approved a $650,000 purchase agreement to acquire the property at 7900 E. Colfax Ave (ZIP 80210). This transaction, finalized after a December 13, 2016, committee vote, marks the first major step in transforming the site into a dedicated affordable housing project.
The deal involves a purchase and sale agreement with Crosscheck LLC, a developer selected to collaborate with the city's Office of Economic Development. While the specific square footage and unit count remain under wraps pending further design phases, the city's Office of Economic Development has confirmed the intent to work with community partners to ensure the development serves Council District 5. The goal is to convert the current land use into housing that addresses the city's growing shortage of affordable units.
This acquisition fits into a broader, often contentious, trend of the city stepping in to purchase land specifically for housing development. As Colfax Avenue continues to rezone and redevelop, municipal intervention is becoming a common tool to prevent market-rate speculation from pricing out long-term residents. The approval of this funding clears the path for Crosscheck LLC to begin site assessments and architectural planning.
Residents interested in the future of this property can monitor the legislative details on the Denver city portal. The city has made the full resolution available for public review, allowing neighbors to track the timeline as the project moves from land acquisition to construction.