A message from Co-Founder and Acting Executive Director David Adamson:
“Hello fellow fans of urban metamorphoses that move us towards “environmentally just thriving communities” (thanks, EPA!)-especially in highly desirable communities like the City of Boulder and Colorado resorts. In these places, there is ever less generational, economic and racial diversity-which is our true wealth-but is not valued by markets continuously allocating land only to the highest bidder. A funny take on this from Telluride.
We are pursuing a “gut remodel” of our organization to more effectively pursue ecologically harmonious “cities for people”. Want to help? Give a call! (303-545-6255).
In the meantime, thanks to the wonderful folks who:
Successfully advocated for the City’s acquisition of BCH Broadway hospital and then for a high social value Alpine- Balsam redevelopment there (2015-2019)-we are back on it feeling current plan can deliver more for our money.
invested in and helped move the model 750 North St. “Stealth Condos” and then the “Kavika Coop” version forward (2015-2023)-we are reviving it!
Promoted the transition to walkable-bikeable-transit-based low carbon/high social connection mobility (9th St. traffic calming plan is ready to be presented-thanks to Ostara residents!
And have connected our neighborhood through many social events (including recent Friendsgiving-Light!). More to come!
WELCOME TO GOOSE CREEK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST!
Let’s “Maintain the Middle!” with Infill Housing Pilot.
Ask City Council before the January 21-22, 2022 Retreat to please make it a priority to implement a “Gentle Infill Housing Pilot program to skillfully blend compact development, appreciation moderation, car sharing and community building to create a “society that matches the scenery”. (Learn more)
Watch David Adamson and co-host Philip Ogren’s video podcast “Sharing Boulder” episode 19 on the Neighborhood Pilot as well as Episode #3’s report from North St where gentrification is increasingly erasing a solidly mixed income community. Check out (on Youtube or other platforms) many other discussions with local thought leaders, council candidates and Philip’s creative and dramatic exploits.
In memoriam! David “Kavika” Vollmar (1968-2021)
On July 26 2021, I lost a chairman of the Goose Creek Board, an insightful and committed investor in 750 North St. LLC, (our partner in developing a new housing model there), a disc golf teacher, a friend, and mentor. Although we worked together during a period of major life change for him (divorce, several moves, remarriage, a concussion, death of his mother), Kavika - a Polynesian version of David bestowed during a Tahiti trip-was always a committed, generous and energetic partner in helping to create a healthy, fair, human-powered and fun Boulder to benefit generations of today and tomorrow. Kavika, our love and condolences go out to your family and many friends here in Boulder. We miss you! We’ll talk with you at the next disc golf hole or bike trail and at the party to celebrate the completion of Kavika Coop (750 North)!
Love, David A.
Progress at Alpine Balsam!
The City of Boulder recently advanced the 8.8 acre Alpine Balsam project towards its citizen-crafted vision of being a “…model of sustainable, equitable and affordable living” . Council (presentation) recently rezoned the property from the hospital era classification to the mixed uses (city offices, housing, some commercial) anticipated there with a form based code. The quasi-governmental housing authority for the City, Boulder Housing Partners, will oversee development with construction perhaps in 2025. The FBC and decision to place all parking for the project in the existing parking structure, akin to the delightful Vauban car-light quartier of Freiburg Germany, are truly welcome progress towards a City resolving the significant gap between values and reality. But, like Rome, a diverse and healthy city is not built in a day.
Visions of a Walkable, Compact, Beautiful Future at Alpine Balsam Thanks to Jerry Shapins for affectionately capturing the potential fun, beauty and harmony with nearby natural areas we can create here. The images can help everyone see how we can ensure the development emerges as an asset to neighbors while meaningfully denting our urgent housing crisis. For example, by providing transportation almost entirely with alternative modes and shared vehicles, project-generated auto traffic can be significantly less than when the hospital operated. More info here.
A view of potential housing and public spaces looking west into North Boulder Park with all development less than the 55’ Boulder height limit but that provides significant housing and a good return on taxpayers’ investment. By offering compact, mostly for sale, permanently affordable housing to a broad spectrum of families and local workers who are now in-commuting, we could take cars off the roads while creating a vital, walkable Alpine Balsam area that current neighbors can enjoy too.
View of “all modes friendly” at a new 10th St Ecomobility Plaza on Alpine
A better Broadway at Alpine Balsam!
This is a view from the Park east into the project: If the buildings are beautiful why can’t the western edge of the project share North Boulder Park with 3 or 4 story buildings as Planning Board has recommended? An ice cream and coffee shop could service parents watching their kids in the park…
Hold the McMansion, Bring on Boulder’s first for sale, mixed income Coop!
Design is almost complete on the Kavika Coop at 75o North St, The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is helping Goose Creek finalize a $1.9 M construction loan and the sales effort is about to begin to find up to 15 buyers for Boulder’s first for sale and first new build coop. More to come!
Board Members and Volunteers Make a Big Difference!
Apply to be a board member or volunteer to help Goose Creek create diverse, healthy, resilient communities! (Shown: now City Council person Junie Joseph, Kurt Nordback, Angela Bowman and Carly Pierce promote housing for working families at former BCH Hospital site at City Council Meeting 5-16-19).
OUR MISSION
To ensure our land widely benefits generations of today and tomorrow, we will create, preserve and advocate for housing that is permanently attainable for a diversity of income levels.
How is Goose Creek different from other affordable housing organizations? We are working with all community organizations, governments and development interests to evolve a new housing model to support neighborhood health in the Goose Creek watershed and Boulder County. Our goal is to make all communities contain mixed income, low-no subsidy, mostly permanently appreciation-moderated, slow car-no added fossil-fuel car, high-potluck (when safe!) housing and help providee community cohesion-connection programs in the to create a better places for all.
Diversity is Resilience in a Troubled Time: A connected neighborhood, where residents of different ages, races and economic classes are aware of each others’ strengths, needs and favorite cocktail or hiking trail, may be our best defense against the physical and mental health and economic challenges of this time. Goose Creek continues to foster community cohesion in the proposed North St. EcoDistrict area (6th to 9th St) and aims to start construction on Boulder’s first new “for sale” or private equity coop in April 2022 to attract owners who are younger working people, empty nesters, and People of Color.
Stop the “Brain Drain”- Make Room for Young People!
Zoe Robb was born in Boulder but like many folks her age finds living in Boulder financially challenging and she sees no way to own a place in her home town because of existing land use regulations. Watch Zoe and other local workers explain how compact development and more walkable, bikeable-focused development can keep them contributing to the place they’ve always called home.
Diverse neighborhood group helps preserve housing opportunity at Alpine Balsam!
Tim Thomas of North St. in Boulder, whose Mom lives in affordable housing, argued powerfully for Boulder to stand up for its commitment to diversity by providing more housing that could more likely include People of Color and mixed-income working families. See his testimony and that of 11 others here (skip forward to public hearing).
“He would have been brutally frank that the city is still not as diverse as it needs to be, and in part it is because of political decisions made that have escalated the cost of housing tremendously so that it limits who can afford to live in the city, which impacts the ability and the potential for diversity.”
BOULDER LAND USE POLICIES INHIBIT DIVERSITY
