NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
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The Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) has taken another major step toward beginning construction on what will be one of the largest mixed-use and environmentally sustainable affordable housing neighborhoods ever built in Boulder County. On Tuesday, April 18, Lafayette City Council unanimously approved BCHA’s site plan for the first phase of building for Willoughby Corner, which will ultimately bring 400 new rental and for sale affordable homes to Lafayette when fully complete.
Willoughby Corner’s affordable homes will serve generations of families, individuals, older adults, and those in the workforce earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. As an example, for a family of three, this amounts to a maximum of annual income of $67,740.
The Willoughby Corner Phase I approval is a significant milestone in a collaboration between BCHA and the City of Lafayette that began in 2017 with the city’s negotiation and purchase of 24 acres of land along east Emma Street, followed by the city and Boulder County entering into an intergovernmental agreement to dedicate the site for affordable housing. With Tuesday’s council approval, construction can now begin on Willoughby Corner in May, with the first homes, 63 affordable ADA-accessible apartments for adults age 55 and over, ready for move-in as early as fall 2024. The first phase also includes 129 affordable multi-family homes and a community center.
“We are thrilled to be able to break ground,” said Boulder County Housing Authority Director Norrie Boyd. “So much planning and hard work has gone into getting us to this point, and the City of Lafayette has understood since day one what an opportunity this represents for making access to stable, affordable housing more equitable in the community. Our partnership with the city has been vital to making this happen, and we couldn’t be more grateful for that.”
In addition to the collaboration between BCHA and the City of Lafayette, a group of community members and partners has collaborated over the past four years as the East Lafayette Advisory Committee (ELAC) to help inform and advise design, transportation access, sustainability, and amenities for Willoughby Corner and to help ensure the neighborhood provides as much support as possible to those most in need of affordable housing in Lafayette.
One of the many outcomes of this engagement is that Willoughby Corner will be the largest net-zero affordable housing development in the state of Colorado when complete. It will achieve this by producing more energy than it consumes through use of solar and geothermal technology as well as incorporation of highly energy efficient building design and materials.
In addition to the City of Lafayette’s financial support with nearly $1.5 million in fee waivers for the first phases of the project, the $3.1 million purchase of the land and $5.3 million in grants for Willoughby’s water rights, Willoughby Corner is also possible because of Boulder County Commissioners’ help with funding. Over the past several months, Commissioners have added nearly $13 million in county and American Rescue Plan Act funds to help ensure Willoughby Corner can continue to advance through financing and approvals processes, and that construction on its first phase can begin on time. Commissioners celebrated the Lafayette City Council’s approval.
“Willoughby Corner’s phrase is ‘home in the neighborhood,’ which is fitting because its planning and design has been informed by the community since it began. We are happy to have this model for engaging people in how their communities look and understanding the particular housing needs in each town and city in our region. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all the community members, partners, and BCHA staff who have been key to helping get Willoughby Corner to this point,” said Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin
“The Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership has a goal of 12% of all homes in Boulder County being affordable by 2035, and we are deeply grateful to the City of Lafayette for continuing to play a major role in helping get us there. While there is much work still to be done all over Boulder County for housing affordability and we are committed to doing it, let’s pause for a moment to recognize the importance of this milestone with Willoughby Corner,” said Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy
“Thanks to years of planning and dedication from Lafayette city councilors and their partners, Willoughby Corner is going to be the next neighborhood in Boulder County to help with home affordability and be cutting edge on sustainability,” said Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann.
The financial closing for Willoughby Corner’s first phase loans will take place in early May, followed by a groundbreaking for the 55-and-over building. BCHA anticipates applications to be released for the first phase of homes in spring 2024. Boulder County and its partners will continue to keep community members updated about construction, the next phases of Willoughby Corner, and leasing, and encourages anyone wanting information to sign up for the interest list at www.WilloughbyCorner.org, where updates about eligibility and project timelines are also available.
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