Former college housing in Denver becomes affordable apartments

Photo byMosaic Community Campus

Denver officials celebrated Thursday the grand opening of the new Mosaic Campus, 154 affordable apartments in Park Hill previously used as housing on the Johnson and Wales University campus.

"Building the affordable housing we need in Denver requires strong partnerships with creative and comprehensive solutions," said Mayor Mike Johnston in a news release. "We are delighted to be part of the Mosaic Community Campus, which is not only beautiful but also represents exactly the kind of out-of-the-box thinking we need to make sure the people that love and serve Denver can afford to live here.”

Denver contributes $4.8 million for project

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability, or HOST, provided $4,850,000 for the project, located at 7110 Montview Blvd. Other public finance partners include the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, and the Denver Housing Authority, according to the news release. All units at the new community, which will include studios up to three bedrooms, are income restricted for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. That’s between $27,000 and $54,780 annually for one person.

The nonprofit Archway Communities, Inc., purchased two of the dormitories on the former campus in December 2021 and the other two in December 2022 from Urban Land Conservancy. The conservancy acquired the campus in 2021 in partnership with Denver Public Schools and the Denver Housing Authority, according to the news release. Renovations of the dormitories began in 2023.

A ‘diverse, inclusive tapestry’

According to its website, the Mosaic Community Campus “is a diverse, inclusive tapestry of people, groups, and organizations melding together to create a place for quality education, affordable housing, economic development, the arts, and gathering. Each piece of Mosaic is an essential part of the larger picture: a community hub where a full spectrum of services, opportunities, and facilities provide a place for people to advance their dreams and careers, connect with each other, and truly thrive.”

Almost 1,700 affordable units that have received city financing are currently under construction/preservation at 23 sites throughout Denver, according to the news release. An additional 754 income-restricted units are in the planning stage. Learn more about this inventory at the Denver Affordable Housing Dashboard.