Author | Lightnews

Reposted

Housing Forward Colorado @housingfwdco.bsky.social · 1d

Colorado’s 2024 land use reforms on ADUs, parking, and TOD were a big step.
But the real climate and affordability gains come when cities go beyond the minimums.
Let’s double down on smart growth to cut emissions, costs, and wildfire risk.
Here's our breakdown:
housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...

Five ways smart land use policies tackle climate change in Colorado

Strategic growth policies can reduce emissions from transportation and buildings while saving residents money and protecting open lands.

housingforwardco.org

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Reposted

Housing Forward Colorado @housingfwdco.bsky.social · 1d

We made it onto Bluesky! 🎉 Climate-friendly, pro-housing content coming soon! 🏘️🌏🌄

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Caroline Leland @chleland.bsky.social · 4d

(1/2) The CO Energy Office modeled how smart land use policies impact GHG emissions &climate risks. The results:
🏘️ -31% building emissions
🚗 -15% household transpo emissions
🌲 +30% of new homes shifted from greenfield development to infill
🔥 -Tens of thousands fewer homes in wildfire-prone areas

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · 16d

Major credit to state & local leaders for responding to the housing affordability crisis with the urgency it deserves. While there are some hold outs, the pace of progress is impressive.

We've also counted 21 communities that have removed parking mandates to comply with HB1304. 👏

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · 16d

In the past year alone:
- 60 communities legalized Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs (HB1152)
- 22 are planning more housing near transit (HB1313)
- 193 are conducting Housing Needs Assessments, many with state grants (SB174)

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · 16d

New release from Governor Polis finds most Colorado communities are working toward compliance with state housing laws to expand housing choices & lower costs.

www.colorado.gov/governor/new...
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Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Announces High Level of Local Government Compliance with Colorado Law | Colorado Governor Jared Polis

STATEWIDE - The Colorado Department of Local Affairs is pleased to report a high rate of compliance and compliance in progress among subject jurisdictions with various laws related to strategic growth...

www.colorado.gov

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Max Nardo @maxnardoco.bsky.social · Aug 29

New post about how bulk transit passes are incredibly affordable and pair nicely with new parking reform and TOD laws.

New tools in SB25-161 expand this program - let's use them!

Written with James Flattum from @greatdentransit.bsky.social

Greater Denver Transit @greatdentransit.bsky.social · Aug 29

Great article by Max Nardo & our very own James Flattum about the opportunities eliminating parking minimums pared with increased Neighborhood EcoPass update could provide for incurring @RideRTD ridership.

housingforwardco.org/untapped-pot...

Untapped Potential of RTD’s Neighborhood EcoPass

A low-cost policy to speed Colorado’s shift to sustainable, affordable communities | Housing Forward Colorado, a project of SWEEP

housingforwardco.org

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 18

Another interesting finding – increasing the whole region’s housing supply has 4x the impact on local rents vs just adding local supply, which is why we need a regional/state approach to housing rather than just local.

mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 18

This shows that big boosts in supply can create more naturally affordable housing. It won’t meet all needs (e.g. very low-income at 30% AMI), but it can help to address the 60–80% AMI range, and without subsidy.
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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 18

New @pewtrusts.org research shows that adding lots of new housing supply lowers rents, especially in older and more affordable Class C apartments. In Denver, average rents fell 4.2% overall in 2023–24, and Class C rents dropped 7.6%.
t.co/DukRRheG9Q
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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 15

Shoutout to Denver for building this sweet protected bike lane on South Broadway. At first I was skeptical but now I use it almost daily, and it looks like I’m not the only one… Now please extend it through Golden Triangle, downtown and into Rino thanks

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 13

New press release from SWEEP & partners:
Environmental and housing groups support new executive order rewarding local governments for tackling the housing affordability and climate crises.

www.swenergy.org/conservation...

Conservation and housing groups support new executive order rewarding local governments for tackling the housing affordability and climate crises - Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

www.swenergy.org

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 12

Colorado's e-bike rebates have been a huge success! "More than 1/3 of respondents said they were taking 2-3 rides a week, with the next-largest group taking 4-5 trips a week."

This is a cost-effective tool to cut emissions & traffic, and save people money. ⚡️🚲 ⚡️
coloradosun.com/2025/08/11/c...

Colorado e-bike survey shows rebate users cutting car trips, still facing weather and street challenges

Colorado surveyed more than 3,000 who used a now-depleted rebate program to get big discounts off e-bikes, finding many skipping car trips.

coloradosun.com

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 11

We need a more integrated multimodal transportation system - one where people can easily walk, bike, scoot, bus, and train wherever they need to go & with minimal friction & lower travel times.

Much more convenient/fast to scoot/bike 1 mile in 5-6 minutes versus a 20-minute walk.

RTD has a new solution for the 'last mile' problem: scooters and e-bikes

A new pilot program, First Mile Free, will offer free rides to two RTD stations.

denverite.com

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 11

Innovative new program in Denver will offer free e-scooter & e-bike rides to light rail stations to address the first/last minute challenge. Props to RTD for getting this started!

denverite.com/2025/08/05/r...
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RTD has a new solution for the 'last mile' problem: scooters and e-bikes

A new pilot program, First Mile Free, will offer free rides to two RTD stations.

denverite.com

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 8

Great new op-ed from State Rep Stewart on the benefits of Lakewood's zoning code proposal to expand housing choices by legalizing "missing middle housing".

These housing options cost $230k less than single detached homes. They also reduce driving & energy/water use.
coloradosun.com/2025/08/07/o...

Opinion: Lakewood’s attempt to increase “middle housing” would be big step to address crisis in Colorado

With updates to zoning laws, Lakewood officials can lead other communities down a path to fixing housing shortages and costs.

coloradosun.com

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Max Nardo @maxnardoco.bsky.social · Aug 1

It's nice to see support for townhomes gaining traction locally. Chart is from Lakewood's 2024 housing plan, text is from Colorado Springs Housing Needs Assessment outreach (reported by KOAA)

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Aug 5

After a long night, Denver city council voted 9-3 to eliminate minimum parking requirements for all uses citywide! 👏

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 28

The less good news: It wasn’t enough to erase Colorado’s 100k-unit housing shortfall. Since 2023, new construction has slowed significantly and vacancy rates are falling again, meaning potential rent increases on the horizon🫤.

denverite.com/2025/07/25/d...

Denver rent is back to 2022 prices

With 20,000 new units on the market, prices are down about 3.7 percent.

denverite.com

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 28

Helpful update from @denverite.bsky.social on housing in Denver.

The good news: Denver recently doubled its supply of new apartments, leading to the first sustained rent drop in 15 years 🥳. Metro rents fell 3.7% this year while incomes continued to rise - a real win for affordability.

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Denver rent is back to 2022 prices

With 20,000 new units on the market, prices are down about 3.7 percent.

denverite.com

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 28

2) A lot more service. For example, the Denver > Fort Collins bus runs every 45-60 minutes, up from just a few times per day in 2021.

Coloradans are looking for ways to opt-out of traffic and when those options are fast, frequent, and safe, people will use them.
t.co/cXS5n4ap0k

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 28

CDOT's expanded Bustang service is a real bright spot for CO's transportation system. Ridership has doubled since 2021 because of:

1) New "Mobility Hub" bus stations on the highways mean buses only stop for 30 seconds and drive in the Express Lanes to bypass traffic. “It’s very train-like,”....

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 25

By our count, over 20 local governments have updated their codes in the last year to at least get rid of parking minimums for housing near transit to comply with Colorado's HB24-1304. Like Boulder, a lot of cities are going above & beyond the state minimum.

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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 25

It's official - last night, Boulder voted to eliminate minimum parking requirements for all new development citywide! 👏 The city's had parking minimums since 1954, which has forced builders to oversupply parking, resulting in empty lots, less housing, & higher rents.
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mattfrommer.bsky.social @mattfrommer.bsky.social · Jul 21

Our zoning codes mandate only the most expensive housing type. More housing choices = a more affordable Colorado.

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