Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

$6 million in investments will support three affordable housing projects prioritizing Marshall Fire Survivors

BOULDER, Colo., February 18, 2026 – Community Foundation Boulder County today announces three investments representing the final distributions from the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire damaged or destroyed over 1,000 homes in southeastern Boulder County, making it the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history. Within hours, Community Foundation Boulder County created the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to support the immediate, short- and long-term needs of the community. Thanks to over 82,000 donors, the Boulder County Wildfire Fund raised over $43 million dollars, and in partnership with a local volunteer advisory committee, the community foundation took a people-first, trauma-informed approach to the allocation and distribution of funds. Now, just over 4 years after the fire, all funds raised have been distributed.

The final distributions totaling $6 million will support three affordable housing and homeownership initiatives managed by Impact Development Fund, Pennrose, LLC and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. These projects, ranging from single-family homes to a multi-resident senior housing development, will ensure affordable housing options are available for fire survivors to stay in their communities.

$2.5 Million to Impact Development Fund

Impact Development Fund (IDF) and its construction subsidiary, Impact Development Builders (IDB), were awarded $2.5 million to fund their Single-Family Acquisition Rehab (SFAR) program. Through this program, IDB will develop completed single-family homes listed at market appraised values based on comparable homes in the surrounding community. The program is intended to serve households between 100% and 120% of the area median income, with marketing and outreach efforts focused on reaching Marshall Fire Survivors. IDF and IDB have acquired eight single-family residential lots in Superior and plan to begin development in 2026.

“Impact Development Fund is excited to continue our partnership with Community Foundation Boulder County to support families impacted by the Marshall Fire and strengthen the community’s rebuilding efforts,” said Megan Ferguson, chief executive officer of Impact Development Fund. “This grant enabled the purchase of infill lots in Superior, allowing our team to bring together construction expertise and patient capital to deliver high-quality homes made affordable through creative financing options for middle-income families.”

IDB is a team of certified general contractors specializing in single-family construction, with a proven track record of delivering affordable housing across Northern Colorado.

We snapped this before we knew it was the Marshall Fire

$500,000 to Pennrose, LLC

Pennrose, LLC was awarded $500,000 to fund an affordable housing development providing 50 income- and rent-restricted apartments in downtown Superior. The development—named Kite Route Crossing—will offer affordable housing for individuals and households 55+ who earn between 30% and 70% of the area median income.

“Pennrose is deeply grateful to Community Foundation Boulder County for their investment in affordable housing in Superior,” said Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president at Pennrose. “By supporting stable, high-quality housing for those most impacted by the Marshall Fire, the community foundation is not only helping rebuild structures, but restoring security, dignity and a renewed sense of home for our community’s elder residents.”

The development will also be designed for maximum fire resiliency using fire-resistant exterior materials, a building-wide sprinkler system, the creation of a protective zone adjacent to the building to provide defensible space and other features going above and beyond the 2021 IEC Code.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, Kite Route Crossing will be the first income and age-restricted housing community in the Town of Superior and will offer preference for eligible households displaced or impacted by the Marshall Fire.

$3 Million to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity was awarded $3 million to partially fund a $6 million project to build ten permanently affordable homes within the Marshall Fire burn area in Louisville, Colorado. The project is intended to serve families between 30% and 80% of the area median income and to prevent the displacement of teachers, health care workers, service employees, and other members of the community who are at risk of being priced out.

The ten homes will be constructed utilizing BoulderMOD, an innovative modular homebuilding facility run in partnership by the City of Boulder, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, and the Boulder Valley School District.

“This $3 million commitment from the Community Foundation is truly transformational for our work,” said Dan McColley, executive director for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. “Two million dollars is a direct investment in building these homes, and another $1 million is a community match. That match is an open door. It’s an invitation for our neighbors, partners, and donors to step in with us and make sure affordability isn’t lost in the wake of the Marshall Fire.”

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

Recovery Support Program

The previously announced Recovery Support Program will continue to provide financial assistance to Marshall Fire-Affected individuals and households across Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County who continue to face housing instability, unmet needs or property restoration challenges as a direct result of the December 30, 2021, wildfire.

“Recovery from the Marshall Fire is far from over yet,” said Tatiana Hernandez, chief executive officer of Community Foundation Boulder County. “Our support of the community continues through the Recovery Support Program and these investments to create affordable housing options for those seeking a path forward.”

All applications for the Recovery Support Program must be submitted through Impact Development Fund’s Disaster Recovery Website: https://impactdf.org/disaster-recovery

Supporting Boulder County’s Affordable Housing Goals

In addition to meeting the needs of the Marshall Fire-affected community, these projects advance the Regional Housing Partnership’s goal of ensuring 12% of all housing stock is affordable for low-, moderate- and middle-income households by 2035.

“We set an ambitious goal four years ago—to support the rebuilding of over 75% of fire-affected homes,” said Hernandez. “While most have rebuilt and our community has exceeded that goal in record time, we know that some are on a different recovery timeline. We hope these investments will offer a new, affordable option to staying local, including renters seeking to come back to the community.”

Community Foundation Boulder County will release an updated report on the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, including an outline of financial information, a summary of grants made and compiled stories of community recovery in 2026. View the Boulder County Wildfire Fund 3-Year Report for more information on the work of the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

About Community Foundation Boulder County

Mission:

Community Foundation Boulder County nurtures and activates the ideas, generosity and leadership of the community to galvanize resources and support equitable solutions for all who live or work in Boulder County.

History:

Since 1991, Community Foundation Boulder County has addressed the evolving and growing needs of the Boulder County community head-on. The foundation has granted a total of $200 million thus far to help support the most pressing needs in our community.

Community Foundation Boulder County

1123 Spruce Street | Boulder, CO 80302

Our Tax ID (EIN): 84-1171836

###

The post Boulder County Wildfire Fund Announces Final Distributions appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Pennrose LLC to build senior affordable housing. 

The town of Superior has approved the development company, Pennrose, LLC, to build senior affordable housing units downtown near Discovery Office Park. The units will be called Kite Route Crossing. Along with this approval comes a rebate opportunity. 

According to Superior’s Planning and Building Director, Lisa Ritchie, this will be the first affordable housing project for the town. She says it will be a three-story structure with roughly 50 apartments. These units will be set aside for individuals aged 55 or older.  

“The town approved it,” Ritchie told Yellow Scene. “We haven’t acted on it yet because they haven’t pulled a building permit.” 

The pre-development agreement proposes to rebate 47% of permit and plan review fees to Pennrose. Applicable fees include inspection fees, system development fees, and impact fees. The estimated rebate amount is around $725,000. The reimbursement would occur after project development. If the company cannot secure a building permit by Dec. 31, 2025, the rebate/pre-development agreement will be terminated. 

“As is the nature of affordable housing, there is a financial gap on this project of roughly three million dollars,” Ritchie said in a town board meeting on Sept. 23, 2024. 

Kite Route Crossing will be located in the alluring location of Downtown Superior. Within a few blocks of the lot are public transportation options, a grocery store, medical services, retail stores, and more. Included will be 36 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units. 

Kite Route Crossing’s location is an upside for potential residents, especially those who don’t own a car. One anonymous Boulder resident says the location of their affordable housing unit has made a huge difference. It is within walking distance of a bus stop, their doctor, a market, and a pharmacy. 

Commercial and office space near to Kite Route Crossing, photo by Hope Munoz.

“I can get to Denver and anywhere in Boulder County on the bus easily,” an anonymous resident said. “I can also ride my bike.” 

Although the location of this resident’s home is ideal for them, they say the apartment hasn’t come without downsides. They live in a mixed facility with seniors and people with disabilities. When units opened up, they noticed that many who went there were transitioning from incarceration. They said that some relapsed, and others became violent. 

“The reason why I stayed where I live so long, even though it’s been very unpleasant, even unsafe, from time to time, is the location,” they said. 

In future housing units, the resident feels it would be beneficial to units build that are smaller and exclusively for seniors. Being around younger people brings up a slew of issues, according to the resident. They cited communicable diseases and differences in lifestyles as some of their concerns. Kite Route Crossing shouldn’t encounter mixed facility issues as it is set to only accept seniors for its units. 

Although the situation has not always been ideal, the affordability and location of the housing have greatly impacted this resident’s life. They enjoy that the rent costs slide up and down with their income. Now that they are retired, those costs provide a lot of stability in the later stages of their careers.

According to the Boulder Community Foundation’s trends report, the median home rent has nearly doubled since 2000. In 2000, the median cost was $983 per month and was at $1,893 in 2023. The current median rent costs exceed that of the rest of Colorado and the United States as a whole. Colorado’s is $1,693, and The United States is $1,348. In Superior, the median home rent is $2,355 per month. 

“As for Superior, I think that sounds great,” says the resident. “They need to have some options prioritizing seniors versus middle-income people. I think that’s next. I think those are two key populations.” 

On Jan. 27, 2025, Superior adopted its first-ever Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. The plan states that in 2018, the town committed to making 12% of its units affordable by 2035. It also says that the 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed 390 residential properties and exacerbated housing needs. Now, housing demand is high, and vacancy is low. 

Neighborhood of proposed construction, photo by Hope Munoz.

Superior’s affordable housing objectives include: 

1. Increase housing choices for people.
2. Support and promote local and regional affordable housing efforts.
3. Remove housing barriers for people who often encounter them.

The property for Kite Route Crossing is currently under contract. Pennrose recently requested a Letter of Support from the Superior Town Council for an application to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. If the plan moves forward, Superior will soon have its first affordable housing units. 

In the Sept. 23 presentation, Brad Weining, a developer with Pennrose, shared the anticipated timeline of the project. It predicts that construction will begin in the spring of 2026 and open in the summer of 2027. Updates on the project can be found on Pennrose LLC’s page.

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Superior’s First Affordable Housing Units in Pre-Development appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.