Brinshore Development and the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority will break ground on Ralston Gardens.

Arvada, Colorado– Mile High Development, Brinshore Development and the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority will break ground on Ralston Gardens, a new 102-unit affordable housing development on June 29.

The project will bring new housing options to Arvada for individuals and families making between 30 and 80percent of the Area Median Income.

“I’m thrilled with this project,” Arvada Mayor Marc Williams said. “We are helping to create new affordable housing opportunities in an important economic corridor for Arvada. The residents will be able to access public transportation, trails, parks, and shopping. This project is in an amazing location.”

The design and construction of Ralston Gardens has a resident-centric focus with many amenities often only available in new, market rate developments. Ralston Gardens offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments with in-unit laundry machines, creating needed affordable housing for individuals and families.

“We find that we get great people in these buildings when we finish them. We help people that may have two or three jobs to make ends meet. They work hard and bring a lot to the community. We love helping them out with a rental they can afford,” George Thorn, president and founder of Mile High Development said.

Thorn has finished many affordable housing projects in Colorado and prides Mile High Development’s projects on having high quality construction and beautiful architecture as key features.

“If we can’t keep people who want to stay in the community and work in the community, we’ve got a big problem. This type of project plays an important role in building the City of Arvada and I’m involved because I love this mission. I love building something that will last,” Thorn said.

There have been some road bumps bringing this project to fruition due to varying external factors.

“Every project is different and runs into snags,” Maureen Phair, executive director of AURA said. “Trying to guide Ralston Gardens through a pandemic and rising supply costs, followed by arising interest rate environment has really meant everyone had to work a little harder to keep it from derailing. We are excited to be one step closer to the finish line. I am so proud of everyone who worked hard to get us here.”

As a national developer of affordable and mixed-income housing, Brinshore Development is keenly aware of the challenges to develop affordable housing, especially in an infill location like Ralston Gardens.

“Strong public-private partnerships like what we have with AURA and the City of Arvada are what make desperately needed affordable housing developments like Ralston Gardens possible. We appreciate Arvada’s commitment to help us reach this exciting milestone,” said David Brint, president and co-founder of Brinshore Development.

The proposed multi-family building signifies a collaborative effort among stakeholders. City officials, developers, community organizations, and the AURA board and staff have all come together to address the critical need for affordable housing in Arvada and the overall metro area.

“Arvada is a special place, and we want to make sure people of all income levels have the ability to live in this community,” Mayor Marc Williams said. “Cost of living is growing in the metro area, and we are working to ensure people who work in Arvada can afford to live and raise their families here as well.”

Rental prices for affordable housing units like Ralston Gardens are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the units are available to all residents whose income falls within the AMI guidelines. New residents do not need to have a Section 8 voucher to qualify and needn’t apply through the Arvada Housing Authority.

Ralston Gardens will be located in the Ralston Fields Urban Renewal Area, near Ralston Road and Garrison Street and will be completed in the spring of 2025.

Refreshments will be served at 3:30 pm and the ceremony will begin at 4 pm.

Arvada Urban Renewal’s mission is to revitalize underutilized areas of Arvada, guided by a community vision that adapts to evolving challenges. AURA is responsible for revitalizing urban areas designated throughout the community by creating successful, high-quality projects that will help produce a vibrant cohesive city and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Arvada. For more information visit: https://arvadaurbanrenewal.org/