Metro Districts: What they are, Why they exist, What it means for you as a homebuyer, November 16, 2023
Colorado is home to more than 2,000 metropolitan districts. These independent quasi-governmental entities have become an important tool for new housing development in Colorado. Metro districts are formed to finance, design, acquire, install, construct, operate and/or maintain public improvements that are not otherwise being provided. Since the 1980s, local governments no longer construct or own all major infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, instead requiring that new development “pay its way.”
Advocates of metro districts argue that if these costs were included in the price of each home, more residents would be priced out of the market. Instead, metro districts spread these costs over time, and residents of the metro district pay them through long-term property tax repayments. Metropolitan districts have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Residents claim that they lack an adequate voice with respect to how metro districts’ property taxes are calculated and that these taxes are not adequately disclosed to potential homebuyers. Often, the developers who formed the districts decide how much debt future residents will pay to cover the infrastructure costs. Interest rates can be high.
Learn the facts about metro districts from some of the State’s leading experts. This session covers both the benefits and downsides of metro districts, preparing you to be an informed homebuyer!
Watch Here View Presentation Slides Here
Loveland and the Updated City Land Use Code, November 15, 2023
Kerri Burchett, a Principal Planner at the City of Loveland, presented information regarding the 6 major amendments to the Loveland Land Use Code and the impact they will have on future affordable and attainable level housing developments in Loveland. These amendments were approved 9-0 by City Council in August 2023 and went into effect September 19. Ms. Burchett responded to a wide range of questions posed by League members and members of the general public relating to the implementation of the new Land Use Code.Watch Here Chat Notes
Community Conversation: Collaborative Projects that Support Development of Affordable Housing, April 20, 2023
The LWV-Larimer County Affordable Housing Team chose to emphasize the importance of collaboration among public agencies, government and private industry in meeting the needs for affordable housing in northern Colorado with its public forum this year. The team selected three developments now underway to illustrate this: Heartside Hill in Fort Collins, Grace Gardens in Loveland, and Rendezvous Trail Apartments in Fort Collins. Former Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atterberry moderated the presentation. WATCH HERE
Affordable Housing Team hosts Dr. Bill Emmon's presentation of current housing finance, November 17, 2022
Dr. Bill Emmons', Assistant Vice President and Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, presentation covers a number of housing and mortgage-related topics. Affordable Housing team member Julie Stackhouse arranged this program on the background to the mortgage interest deduction taken on income tax as well as Federal housing enterprises such as FannieMae and FreddieMac. Watch here.
Housing Choices for Older Adults: Aging in Place or Choosing to Move, September 22, 2022
A range of adults need affordable housing, including middle-income adults. This program, hosted by the LWVLC Affordable Housing Team will describe the problem and offer suggestions for solving them. The speakers include representatives from the Larimer County Office on Aging, Columbine Poudre Home Care, and Sugar Valley Estates Senior Living. Watch Here.
Handout: Resources-Housing Choices for Older Adults
Zoom Chat: From AH Panel Presentation 9-22-22
Larimer County Office of the Aging: Power Point Presentation
Affordable Housing: Recent Purchase of Parkland Mobile Home and more, September 8, 2022
September’s Affordable Housing Team agenda covered several important topics, including the recent purchase of Parkland Mobile Home Park (MHP) by its residents. Nicole Armstrong, Executive Director of Matthews House in Fort Collins, who helped organize the new non-profit United Neighbors/Vecinas Unidosa to accomplish this, will be our speaker. We learned how this was accomplished and the financing that made it possible. Watch here.
Grace Gardens at Derby Hill: Affordable Housing Model in Loveland, April 20, 2022 - see South Larimer Discussion Group section below to view the presentation
LWV-Larimer County General Meeting, Co-sponsored by Affordable Housing and Health Care Teams, April 11, 2022
A panel of speakers share their insights around the needs of families to maintain housing stability and access to behavioral health care. Jacob Bornstein, Principal and Master Facilitator, Wellstone Collaborative Strategies Panel Members: Rep. Dylan Roberts, CO Dist. 26 - Affordable Housing Task Force; Rep. Judy Amabile, CO Dist. 13 - Behavioral Health Task Force; Gia Heflin, Lead Housing Counselor with Neighbor to Neighbor; Stephanie Madsen-Pixler, Dir. Community Based Services, Summitstone; and Kayleigh Harris, Peer Specialist at Summitstone.
Watch Here
Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force, December 9, 2021
Rob Woodward, Colorado State Senator representing District 15 which encompasses most of Larimer County outside of Fort Collins, provides an update on the work of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. The Task Force must issue a report with recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on policies to create transformative change in the area of housing using federal coronavirus recovery money.”
Watch Here
Colorado's Safe Parking Initiative, November 11, 2021
Chelsey Baker-Hauk and Linda Barringer, Program Director of the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, speak about how the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative provides a safe place for families and individuals living in their cars to park at night.
Watch here.
A Presentation by Laurie Stolen, Director of Larimer County's Behavioral Health Services, October 21, 2021
Laurie Stolen addressed the Affordable Housing Team of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County on the status of the new Behavioral Health Center and how the Center might be involved with area efforts to deal with housing insecurity and behavioral health.
Watch Here
Affordable Housing and Disabled Resources Specialist Denise Meyers, September 29, 2021
The League of women Voters of Larimer County's Affordable Housing Team hosted Denise Meyers a Disabled Resources Specialist as their speaker. Watch
here.
LWVLC Affordable Housing Panel, April 12, 2021
This League of Women Voters of Larimer County sponsored panel discusses Larimer County's current options for Affordable Housing in manufactured homes and mobile home parks. Watch Here