Neighborhood Focus: Elyria-Swansea and Globeville
Globeville and Elyria-Swansea are some of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods—with industrial roots that predate the 1900s. The community, once predominantly Latino, has become a high risk for displacement because of large-scale redevelopment plans, including the National Western Complex, Brighton Boulevard, and expansions to light rail stations and I-70.
Race TOD
In 2015, ULC purchased land near RTD’s 48th and Brighton Commuter Rail Station on the N-Line. From 2018 to present, ULC has partnered with Columbia Ventures to develop permanently affordable housing and community-serving space including Clinica Tepayac.
A Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) has recently been finalized between The Globeville Elyria-Swansea Coalition Organizing for Health and Housing Justice (GES Coalition) and the development team, led by Columbia Ventures, of the affordable mixed-use development at 48th and Race. Urban Land Conservancy owns the land under the future development in a 99-year renewable land lease. Projected to break ground in October 2020 with 150 permanently affordable apartments, the development will be available to those with household incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of AMI and will also include a 24,500 sq. ft. health clinic owned and operated by Clínica Tepeyac and 5,000 sq. ft. of neighborhood-serving retail establishments.
The Coalition, composed of GES-based organizations Project VOYCE, Center for Community Wealth Building, and Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood Association (a local Registered Neighborhood Organization), has worked diligently since late 2018 to identify key neighborhood priorities that the development could address. They have also helped to define a framework by which the property owner and developer can remain responsive to community needs and for neighborhood stakeholders to provide meaningful input as the development proceeds in the coming years.