Denver contract amendment would reduce East Colfax motel shelter from 37 rooms to 34
The proposed amendment keeps Denver’s $1.28 million contract commitment, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, and sets conditions for a possible future conversion to housing.
A proposed Denver contract amendment would reduce the required number of non-congregate shelter rooms at the Sand & Sage and Westerner motels, at 8405 and 8415 E. Colfax Ave., from 37 to at least 34. The amendment is not binding until it is fully executed and receives any required City Council approval.
The agreement does not set an opening date. It would require the property to provide the shelter rooms before redevelopment and would require the owner or its service provider to operate, clean and maintain the motel as emergency shelter. The planned services include secured sleeping and showering space, on-site programming, blankets and towels, 24-hour front-desk coverage and crisis-intervention services.
The developer sought the lower room count to provide “greater security and flexibility” in how the rooms are used by the service provider, according to the related contract request. The request identifies the American Rescue Plan Act as the funding source and lists the total city contract commitment as $1,277,409. No additional funding would be added by the amendment.
The revised property covenant would require the site to remain a non-congregate shelter for 60 years unless the owner or a successor obtains approval from Denver’s executive director of Housing Stability, or HOST.
A conversion would require a written affordable-housing agreement signed by the HOST executive director and the owner or successor. HOST could release the shelter covenant only after a replacement covenant recording that agreement is placed on the property.
The project scope anticipates redevelopment in about five years into as many as 75 housing units, but it does not guarantee a conversion date or final unit count. The owner would be responsible for redevelopment and conversion costs and financing. The city would have no additional funding obligation, although the owner would not be barred from seeking future city funding.
A related City Council resolution incorporates the amendment by reference, but the supplied record does not show a completed council-passage date or mayoral signature.