Courtney Garrett
Austin Blumenfeld
Hardworking families across our state are feeling the effects of rising home prices and a housing shortage. The freedom to own and live close to work and school is at the heart of Coloradans’ economic security, opportunity and well-being. But with the cost of buying or renting a home having doubled over the past decade and wages stagnating, many are spending more of their hard-earned income on housing and less on other necessities like food and transportation.
Thanks to the efforts of Governor Jared Polis, state legislators, and local governments, House Bill 1152 and House Bill 1313 will help solve our housing shortage. Supported by proven strategies that have helped other states facing housing crises, these bills create a framework for Colorado to address our statewide housing crisis and empower local governments and homeowners.
Stay up to date: Sign up to receive daily opinion pieces by email, Monday to Friday
House Bill 1152 addresses Colorado’s housing shortage by giving homeowners more freedom to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs), commonly known as “granny flats,” on their properties. With rising housing costs, ADUs can help families remain in the homes and communities they grew up in by allowing aging family members to live in familiar locations, providing a cost-effective way to help college students struggling with rent, and offering a way to earn additional income by renting out the ADU.
House Bill 1313 would help residents stay in their communities by removing red tape and building more affordable housing near jobs and transportation, and it would provide financial assistance to cities and counties so local governments can address the housing needs of their communities.
This effort would not have been possible without the stakeholders who came together to find practical, reasonable solutions to alleviate the pressures that rising housing prices are putting on Coloradans. Centennial State Prosperity represents Coloradans across the state who want to build a better life for their families. By working with a broad coalition of groups, including the Denver Downtown Partnership, whose primary goal is to build an economically strong downtown, we were able to present state leaders with innovative, research-backed policies to address housing issues.
The result? Two comprehensive housing bills that offer solutions to the housing crisis by removing barriers to building more affordable housing near jobs and transit, giving local governments the authority to meet their local housing needs, providing financial incentives for housing projects, and protecting Coloradans from eviction.
We are grateful to state leaders for working with policy advocates, local governments and municipalities to find a solution that is flexible and comprehensive enough to have an impact across the state.
We believe these bills will go a long way toward lowering housing costs by making it easier for working people, young families and seniors to buy or rent a home, allowing more Coloradans to stay in our state and in their communities.
Thank you to Governor Polis, state legislators, local governments, and advocacy groups for working with us to set reasonable and effective housing standards that will make housing more affordable, save people money, and allow cities to do their part to provide more housing of all shapes and sizes. Thank you for passing House Bills 1152 and 1313.
Courtney Garrett is president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, and Austin Blumenfeld is executive director of Centennial State Prosperity.
