housing is a human right.

obtaining it in our city is almost impossible without access to generational wealth or a high-paying job.

we want to do something about this

This is a preliminary sketch of what housing on our property could look like and not the final design.

Did you know that the elderly are one of the fastest growing demographics of homelessness in Colorado? We want to be a part of changing that reality, and make space for more neighbors to live near our church.

Lakewood has owned a large parcel of land which includes our church building and parking lot since the 1950s. It is time for that legacy to add even more goodness to our neighborhood.

We are currently exploring the feasibility of constructing affordable housing for seniors that is deed-restricted—which means that it will require any land lord who owns the building to keep rents low for elderly residents.

At this time, we are exploring a way forward that involves a partnership with the right developer to be a part of our solution to housing unaffordability and homelessness in Lakewood. We are in the first phases of exploration and feasbility study. We hope, should our exploration prove to be fruitful, that our next phase would be to publish a “Request for Proposals” or RFP.

Work has already begun that will clarify what is possible in the current housing market, what is possible under the current zoning that applies to our property, and what the best way forward should be for us as a church.

What We Know

  • Our property is already zoned for a project like this

  • Our church would retain full control through a Ground Lease and “Land Use Restriction Agreement.”

    • The Land never leaves the church’s hands—ever.

    • The LURA legally restricts the land to affordable senior housing use for the life of the agreement.

    • The church retains a voice in design standards for any building on the property.

    • No developer can repurpose sell or change use of the land without our consent.

    • These protections apply regardless of the for-profit status of the developer.

  • Our church would receive a nominal source of revenue from the proceeds of the Ground Lease agreement.

This is a preliminary sketch of what it could look like and not the final design.

Your Questions, Answered

  • CHFA'S Round 1 2027 application has a Letter of Intent deadline of December 2026 and a full application deadline of approximately February 1, 2027. To submit a credible, competitive application our partner providing us technical assistance (Community Investment Alliance) needs to begin predevelopment work by May 2026. That means completing the city consultation and concept meeting, securing congregational approval, and selecting a development partner all before summer. The window is real and it is not wide.

    There is also a strategic reason to move now: with Colorado HB 26-1001 signed into law, demand for experienced affordable housing developers is about to surge. Moving early puts this project at the front of the queue.

  • No. The ground lease means the church retains ownership permanently. The land never leaves the congregation's hands

  • The ground lease and Land Use Restriction Agreement will be negotiated to protect the church's long-term interests. Preliminary contractual preparation will ensure the terms include appropriate provisions for the congregation's long term security.

  • Seniors aged 62 and older who meet affordability guidelines -typically earning between 30% and 60% of Area Median Income. These are members of our community who need safe, dignified, affordable housing.

  • Not for the church's mission. The LURA and ground lease lock in affordable senior housing use regardless of who builds it. We will find the partner best positioned to deliver a strong “Colorado Housing and Finance Authority” application on our timeline-which given current market conditions may be a for-profit developer with LIHTC experience and available bandwidth.

  • LIHTC stands for “Low Income Housing Tax Credits” - the primary federal tool for financing affordable housing construction.

    CHFA is the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, which administers the program in Colorado through competitive annual rounds. The church does not need to understand or manage this financing; that will be the job of our partner providing techincal assistance: Community Investment Alliance.

For answers to any other questions you have, please reach out to ben@lumc.net!