Denver approves rezoning for affordable homes in Barnum
The zoning change allows tandem houses on three sites proposed for a Denver Housing Authority–Habitat for Humanity homeownership pilot, but does not approve building plans or permits.
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Denver City Council approved a rezoning for three Barnum and Barnum West properties on Oct. 13, and the mayor signed the ordinance Oct. 15. The change clears a land-use path for affordable homes proposed by the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) and Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.
The ordinance changes the zoning at 76 N. Hazel Court, 80–90 N. Yates Street and 4519 W. 3rd Avenue from E-SU-Dx to E-TU-C. It directs Denver’s Community Planning and Development manager to record the change in the county’s real-property records, the adopted ordinance says.
The new zoning district allows urban houses, duplexes and tandem houses, with a maximum height of 2.5 stories, or 30 feet, city planning staff said. The proposed tandem-house arrangement at 80–90 N. Yates may require a separate zone-lot amendment; the rezoning does not approve that step or a specific building design, the staff report says.
The properties are part of the first phase of DHA’s SF+ Affordable Homeownership Pilot, a proposed partnership with Habitat. The application describes a 10-home effort across 10 sites, with homes intended for buyers earning up to 80% of the area median income and long-term affordability through a 99-year community land trust. It does not specify how many homes are planned for each Barnum-area property, DHA’s rezoning application says. Rezoning itself does not approve building plans or issue building permits.