WELCOME TO GOOSE CREEK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
When oil was a good thing: Initial suburban housing going up along US 36 in Boulder in late 1950’s-early 1960’s. 4 homes per acre. $15,000+ per house!
Housing Dialogue kick-off: “The History and Future of Boulder Housing”
April 17 5:30 -7:30 pm
Meet other housing-vital community enthusiasts while enjoying great Biergarten fare and hear veteran developer Jim Leach (Wonderland Hill and 21 c0-housing communities in Colorado and Western US) explore the evolution of Boulder housing post WWII. There will be lots of time for a good conversation! See Eventbrite invite to RSVP. Also: Facebook Event
The Future at Alpine Balsam: An architecturally accurate view of potential housing less than the 55’ Boulder height limit that provides more housing and a better return on taxpayers’ investment than current City scenarios (Looking south from Balsam Ave onto site). Potential average unit size 700 sf. Mostly for sale, permanently affordable to broad spectrum of families and local workers now in-commuting. Prices: $150k to $400k including shared cars.
In the late 1960’s city planning efforts resisted cookie cutter production home builders and encouraged Jim’s innovations of narrower streets, common green areas and other amenities that brought neighbors together. Despite his insistence that quality design featuring walkable-nature-connected plans with mixed housing sizes would create successful communities, neighborhood opposition was fierce. His many enduringly popular developments through to the recently sold out Washington School Co-housing, demonstrate the broad affection for diverse communities. His “lessons learned” can help us navigate from today’s period of displacement of middle income residents to a housing future demanding a response to the twin crisis of climate-environment and emergency and income inequality.
To preview positive futures for Boulder housing for subsequent housing dialogues, members of a group of citizens and Boulder City advisory board members interested in the Alpine Balsam (AB) hospital redevelopment convened by Goose Creek Community Land Trust will briefly share a positive vision that both meets the concerns of some neighbors about AB project impact AND meaningfully dents 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 traffic when the hospital operated. More info here.
April 17 5:30-7:30 Pm Bohemian Biergarten 2017 13thSt. Boulder
Please bring your enthusiasm for the Biergarten's many inspiring beverages and hearty European fare (available for purchase). There is a humble suggested donation to Goose Creek Community Land Trust, a 501 c3 non profit.
LEARN & CONNECT TOGETHER
Thanks to all who came to the June 21, 2017 Housing Dialogue!
We had a large turnout of activists, innovators, and stakeholders to hear David Barrett's rousing, well-informed call to "mix it up" with a diversity of housing types across the city! We are grateful to all for making it successful (link to summary video). See our other events for opportunities to connect to and learn with other enthusiasts about the shape and quality of our city.
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.
NEWS
After nearly 4 years of consideration, interest payments and consistent citizen feedback about the need for the site to meet urgent housing needs, City Council recently blinked before beginning a $12.5 million deconstruction of the main former BCH hospital building. Perhaps this is the opportunity for a citizen-led redevelopment (Camera Op-Ed) that optimizes social return with significant middle income housing and affordable office development?
Hold the McMansion, Bring on the New American Dream!
Tired of the long commute, Kardashian housing prices or impossibility of aging in place? Goose Creek will soon propose to Planning Board the first Innovate for Impact housing pilot: converting an old duplex into 8 permanently affordable, small, mixed income condos in the footprint of the legally allowed mcmansion. Transportation will feature shared electric cars and bikes and no private fossil-fuel car parking on site or in nearby streets for residents. More here.
BOULDER LAND USE POLICIES INHIBIT DIVERSITY
“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.”
