Willoughby Corner welcomes first residents

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Leases are still available for upcoming units; eligibility based on income

Buildings in the Willoughby Corner complex are seen in Lafayette on Wednesday. MATTHEW JONAS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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By Andrea Grajeda

agrajeda@prairiemountainmedia.com

Willoughby Corner in Lafayette is bringing 400 affordable units to families and residents across Boulder County, with applications for units still available.

Willoughby Corner, a Boulder County Housing Authority property in the southwest intersection of 120th Street and Emma Street in Lafayette, will welcome approximately 40 households to the area by the end of the year. The entire development will have 400 units, with 192 units available in the first phase of leasing.

Jim Williams, communications manager with Boulder County Human Services, said the county’s housing authority had long been looking for property to create affordable housing. He said that the eastern part of Boulder County was in desperate need of affordable housing, so when the property was available, county officials jumped at the opportunity to build.

Susana Lopez-Baker, executive director of the Boulder County Housing Authority and director of the Boulder County Housing Department, said it takes a lot of moving parts for the county and city to work together to develop such a large project. Both organizations worked to purchase water rights, secure a RTD bus stop in the neighborhood, as well as make public and traffic improvements.

Lopez-Baker said Phase 1A of leasing includes a 63-unit apartment complex for residents 55 and older, and Phase 1B includes multi-family buildings with 129 units. Phase 2 will have 128 multi-family rental unit apartment homes.

Eligibility for the units depends on the applicant’s Area Median Income, an average of an area’s income determined by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, and availability of those units. While units for those making 30% AMI are no longer available, units for those making 40% or 60% AMI are. Those making $46,720 or $70,080 for a two-person household annually, respectively, are still available. Lopez-Baker said there are other buildings in Willoughby Corner that have not come online yet that will have 30% AMI household eligibility available.

Phase 3 of leasing will include 70-80 for-sale affordable homes. Lopez-Baker said affordable for-sale homes is a new concept for the housing authority, but much needed in the county.

“We know what it’s going to cost (the housing authority) to build the home. It’s going to cost around $550,000 per door. We don’t know how much we have to do in grants in order for families to afford that purchase,” Lopez-Baker said.

She said that with enough grants, each home could cost approximately $300,000, but the county is still working to understand the county’s needs while staying under the goal of 120% AMI for those homes.

Williams said the housing authority is also working to build community among residents at the current units.

Lopez-Baker said the development has multiple community rooms, shared patios for tenants and more. She said the community rooms will be stocked with information and resources for people to learn about the resources the county and city provide.

Williams said part of the work of Willoughby was ensuring the property was connected to the land, with the flower logo depicting a native flower and the name Willoughby coming from a local mine.

In 2018, the housing authority held a naming competition to get the community involved in the development. While Willoughby won the competition, Williams said many names submitted have been used to name buildings or streets. The building for older adults is called Buho Place or owl place in Spanish. Other names include Bluestem Place and Purple Prairie Place.

Lafayette City Manager Kady Doelling said the project began in 2017 when the city partnered with the county and housing authority to donate the 24 acres. Since then, Lafayette officials and staff have worked with both agencies to bring the development online.

“We are so proud and excited to finally be able to extend a warm welcome to our new neighbors in the Willoughby Corner development,” Doelling said.

Willoughby is currently accepting applications for one- or two-bedroom units for adults 55 and older. The Boulder County Housing Authority is holding an open house 2-6 p.m. Jan. 16 at Willoughby Corner, to share information about the units available to adults 55 years old and older. More information is available at WilloughbyCorner.org or by calling 720-564-2267.