DHA Collaborative

Denver Housing Authority’s Collaborative Resource Facility is located at a HOPE VI site just north of the 10th and Osage light rail station in the midst of Denver Housing Authority’s Mariposa affordable housing development in Denver, Colorado. The Mariposa District is a nationally recognized redevelopment known for its commitment to the residents, environment, and creation of vibrant, mixed-income communities. The project allows the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) to centralize its programs that serve over 4,200 households in its public housing portfolio.  The building is approximately 172,000 SF and includes nonprofit collaborative office space, conference rooms, shared amenities, DHA office space, market rate office space, a job training facility, 4,600 SF for a healthy food market, 4,500 SF of educational facility space, and a parking structure.

Investment Type
Project financing includes $30.35 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation, of which RUGF is providing $8.35 million, Northern Trust Company is providing $6.0 million, Enterprise Community Investment is providing $10.5 million, and Urban Action Community Development is providing $5.5 million. Northern Trust Bank is the NMTC investor. 

Market
DHA Collaborative is located in a community that includes over 500 multi-family units, as well as plans for 150 units of future development. The Collaborative project will have over 200 employees on site, and over 4,000 people are estimated to travel through the 10th and Osage light rail station each day. At the time of investment, this Project neighborhood had a median family income of 21.25% of statewide/metropolitan area incomes, a poverty rate of 52.6%, an unemployment rate that was 2.48x the National Average and located in an identified food desert.

Community Impact
In addition to the creation of quality jobs through the expansion of office space at the site, DHA and other mission-based organization offer educational programming, income credit betterment, Aging in Place services, health services, and leadership trainings in a community space which is available for free or discounted rates.

The Project will offer education and employment services utilizing three programs including, Section 3, Denver Urban Renewal Authority First Source Employment Program, and Academies to Work. In addition, Leadership Training for upward mobility and growth opportunities and Safety Training for youth and domestic violence mitigation will be offered.

Located in a USDA Food Desert, the project also includes a Choice Market in the first floor of the building which provides affordable fresh foods to local residents, office tenants, and transit users.    

The building will meet LEED Platinum level requirements and will target a Net Zero Energy sustainability goal.

Developer/Sponsor
The developer and sponsor of this project, is the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver (“DHA”) with a portfolio of over 11,000 units and housing choice vouchers, providing affordable housing to more than 26,000 very low, low, and middle-income individuals representing over 10,000 families.  DHA has transformed communities throughout Denver by creating vibrant, revitalized, sustainable, transit oriented, and mixed-income neighborhoods by providing quality housing and services. 

Investor
Northern Trust Bank is the Investor as well as a participating CDE.