@mattfrommer.bsky.social
Smart growth, housing, transportation, and climate policy in Colorado.
Denver's new apartments have sparked a lot of controversy over what is affordable. We looked into it -- and the truth is that new market-rate housing is affordable to most households in the metro area. Read our newest blog post to get the full scoop!
Affordable for Who? The Price of New Market Rate Housing
New market rate housing in the Denver metro area is affordable for most households and also helps put downward pressure on rents across the market.
housingforwardco.org
New blog post I wrote with Luke Teater. One claim I hear all the time is that new market-rate housing is just "luxury housing for rich people." So we dug into the data on new Denver-area apartments built since 2020 to see how rents compare to the broader market: housingforwardco.org/affordable-f...
Affordable for Who? The Price of New Market Rate Housing
New market rate housing in the Denver metro area is affordable for most households and also helps put downward pressure on rents across the market.
housingforwardco.org
well, it took a year and change, but Cambridge's first-in-the-nation project to upzone the entire city for 4-to-6 story residential has finally produced the kind of thing it was supposed to: 55 units, 20 percent affordable, replacing a single $3m home
One oft-repeated claim about the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project is that it’s “killing businesses” along the corridor. But that narrative doesn't hold up when you look at the data. Storefront occupancy along East Colfax was 81% pre-construction. Today, it’s 84%. www.westword.com/opinion/rumo...
The rumors of Colfax's devastation are greatly exaggerated...and holding Denver back
westword.com
“In March, the first month of the war in the Middle East, more than 344,000 electric vehicles were registered across Europe, over 40 percent more than a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.”
The New York Times@nytimes.com · 4mo agoAlready having faced an energy crisis five years ago, more European consumers believe they are “one Trump-ignited war away” from crushing costs.
Lakewood's special election results are in, but are the results representative? In our newest blog post, we explore whose interests are represented in special elections, what local versus state legislation can do, and what we can learn from this rollback.
Low-turnout special election rolls back Lakewood zoning reform
Lakewood voters roll back zoning reform in low-turnout special election, halting local efforts to expand affordable housing options.
housingforwardco.org
Our new blog post on CDOT's successful Bustang transit service. Ridership has grown 5x since 2021 thanks to one-time funding for service expansion. We propose using Express Lane toll revenue to sustain & grow Bustang and avert service cuts: www.swenergy.org/colorados-bu...
Colorado's Bustang has become a national transit model, but its funding is running out - Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
March 26, 2026 | Chandler Sanchez & Matt Frommer
swenergy.org
Yesterday, Oregon's legislature voted to ban underfunded inclusionary zoning from the Portland metro area. It's a big turnaround, and I hope a path forward for other states too. www.sightline.org/2026/03/05/o...
Oregon’s New Path to Inclusionary Housing: Fully Funded and Flexible | Sightline Institute
An environmental justice champion led the push to end counterproductive, unfunded mandates.
sightline.org
First round of Colorado state TOD infrastructure grants have been awarded to cities complying with HB24-1313 to build the infrastructure needed to support more housing near transit 👏
Housing Forward Colorado@housingfwdco.bsky.social · 6mo agoHuge kudos to Denver, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Wheat Ridge for being the first to receive Transit Oriented Communities Infrastructure Grants!
"How McMansions lured us into an unhappiness trap" -- WSJ on why smaller houses can lead to happier lives: archive.ph/9zDyE
Sprawl is more than cookie cutter subdivisions. It drives up housing, energy, and infrastructure costs, emissions, and risk. A new DOLA report compares “business as usual” to smart growth, and the results aren’t even close. We break it down in our latest blog: housingforwardco.org/colorado-at-...
Colorado at a crossroads: Why smart growth beats sprawl
We must be more strategic about the kinds of housing we choose to build and where we choose to build it.
housingforwardco.org
Questionable new CDOT study on the proposed I-270 widening claims it won't increase driving. Making driving easier leads to more of it and traffic returns to pre-construction levels in 3–5 years. Big waste of $800M taxpayer dollars. More in the CO Sun article: coloradosun.com/2026/01/07/c... 1/2
CDOT’s pollution claims for I-270 expansion are a fantasy, green groups say
As public hearings begin, CDOT and Colorado green groups dispute whether an expansion of I-270 would increase pollution.
coloradosun.com
We're delighted that the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) has approved funding for an office-to-residential conversion of the historic Petroleum Building! This adaptive reuse project will turn 12 floors of vacant office space into 178 new apartments. www.denvergov.org/News-article...
denvergov.org
Big congrats to Grand Junction, Superior, Larimer County, Glenwood Springs, Fruita, Brighton, and Longmont on being the first to receive grant money from Colorado's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program! www.cpr.org/2025/11/19/c...
Cities around the state get funds to help encourage more ADUs
The grants are part of a larger effort to expand the state’s supply of smaller, more affordable housing options.
cpr.org
Denver now allows single-stair residential buildings up to 5 stories instead of just 3 thanks to HB25-1273 👏
Housing Forward Colorado@housingfwdco.bsky.social · 9mo agoBig pro-housing win: Last week, Denver City Council voted to allow five-story single-stair buildings! This design tweak is equally safe from a fire perspective and enables us to fit more homes in a given building -- making them all more affordable! www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
Exciting news on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Colorado thanks to House bill 24-1152:
Housing Forward Colorado@housingfwdco.bsky.social · 9mo agoBig congrats to Grand Junction, Superior, Larimer County, Glenwood Springs, Fruita, Brighton, and Longmont on being the first to receive grant money from Colorado's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program! www.cpr.org/2025/11/19/c...
Our latest blog post by HFC lead @mattfrommer.bsky.social and economist Luke Teater crunches the numbers on how housing construction affects low-income renters in #Denver: housingforwardco.org/denvers-hous...
Denver Housing Construction Benefits Low-Income Renters
Denver’s recent experience shows that when we build more housing, rents fall – and they fall the most for households that need the greatest relief.
housingforwardco.org
Denver's recent apartment construction boom has driven down rents. In our new blog, Luke Teater & I use RealPage data to measure rent changes. Notably, rents in Class C buildings, the most affordable segment, fell twice as fast as pricier Class A and B units. housingforwardco.org/denvers-hous...
Last Tuesday, pro-housing advocates celebrated numerous victories in local elections across Colorado. The message is clear: Pro-housing platforms win elections. Read our press release for details: housingforwardco.org/housing-news...
Colorado pro-housing advocates win big in 2025 local elections
Voters across the Front Range chose pro-housing city council members and defeated anti-growth ballot measures.
housingforwardco.org
New Colorado Sun article: Will adding more lanes fix I-270 congestion? CDOT’s favored fix will test its new mission, opponents say. coloradosun.com/2025/11/11/i... This $725M project is one of several costly highway expansions CDOT’s considering in the upcoming 10 year plan.
Colorado’s 2024 land use reforms on ADUs, parking, and TOD were a big step. But the real climate and affordability gains come when cities go beyond the minimums. Let’s double down on smart growth to cut emissions, costs, and wildfire risk. Here's our breakdown: housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...
Five ways smart land use policies tackle climate change in Colorado
Strategic growth policies can reduce emissions from transportation and buildings while saving residents money and protecting open lands.
housingforwardco.org
We made it onto Bluesky! 🎉 Climate-friendly, pro-housing content coming soon! 🏘️🌏🌄
(1/2) The CO Energy Office modeled how smart land use policies impact GHG emissions &climate risks. The results: 🏘️ -31% building emissions 🚗 -15% household transpo emissions 🌲 +30% of new homes shifted from greenfield development to infill 🔥 -Tens of thousands fewer homes in wildfire-prone areas
New release from Governor Polis finds most Colorado communities are working toward compliance with state housing laws to expand housing choices & lower costs. www.colorado.gov/governor/new... 1/
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Announces High Level of Local Government Compliance with Colorado Law | Colorado Governor Jared Polis
STATEWIDE - The Colorado Department of Local Affairs is pleased to report a high rate of compliance and compliance in progress among subject jurisdictions with various laws related to strategic growth...
colorado.gov
New post about how bulk transit passes are incredibly affordable and pair nicely with new parking reform and TOD laws. New tools in SB25-161 expand this program - let's use them! Written with James Flattum from @greatdentransit.bsky.social
Greater Denver Transit@greatdentransit.bsky.social · 12mo agoGreat article by Max Nardo & our very own James Flattum about the opportunities eliminating parking minimums pared with increased Neighborhood EcoPass update could provide for incurring @RideRTD ridership. housingforwardco.org/untapped-pot...
New @pewtrusts.org research shows that adding lots of new housing supply lowers rents, especially in older and more affordable Class C apartments. In Denver, average rents fell 4.2% overall in 2023–24, and Class C rents dropped 7.6%. t.co/DukRRheG9Q 1/
Shoutout to Denver for building this sweet protected bike lane on South Broadway. At first I was skeptical but now I use it almost daily, and it looks like I’m not the only one… Now please extend it through Golden Triangle, downtown and into Rino thanks
New press release from SWEEP & partners: Environmental and housing groups support new executive order rewarding local governments for tackling the housing affordability and climate crises. www.swenergy.org/conservation...
Conservation and housing groups support new executive order rewarding local governments for tackling the housing affordability and climate crises - Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
swenergy.org
