The Fort Collins Board of REALTORS launched an initiative to find solutions to the region’s housing affordability in February 2016. Several stakeholder meetings have taken place and after some discussion the group agreed to focus on three key issues: lobbying for construction defects legislation with State representatives, creating a regional repository to share housing policies from the various jurisdictions, and applying for a grant from the Colorado Chapter of the Urban Land Institute.
Construction defect legislation is a topic that needs little introduction. NoCo Housing Now is likely to meet with legislators from Northern Colorado to lobby in favor of changes to existing State law.
The concept of a regional repository came up at the first stakeholder meeting. The idea is to create one place where jurisdictions can upload policies and studies related to affordable housing so they can easily be shared with others.
FCBR has been in contact with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), whose mission is “to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.” Typically, a ULI Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) looks at a problematic site and suggests solutions for its development. In this case, the TAP could look at one or more parcels in Northern Colorado and recommend how they could be developed as affordable housing. The ULI charges $20,000 for this service. FCBR has already raised $15,000 via a NAR grant. The intention is to persuade other stakeholders to make up the $5,000 difference.
IRES MLS: Come Home to Colorado 