Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood witnessed a recent positive development in its real estate scene with the inauguration of ‘Joli’ on March 7. This mixed-income development housing project is crucial as it will open new townhomes and apartments in a low-income and voting-deprived area.
The latest successful housing project in Denver is an initiative by the Denver Housing Authority (DHA). However, debates regarding the return of previously displaced Sun Valley residents are also going strong.
Highlights
- The Denver Housing Authority formally inaugurated Joli with its affordable housing units on March 7.
- This Sun Valley-based building is located at 980 Bryant Street.
- The housing authority will further open Slo and Flo, its other two buildings, under the same project this year.
About the Sun Valley, Joli Housing Project
Joli is the first building under Denver’s Sun Valley Housing Project, and it is ready to open its doors to residents on March 10. Having a total of 133 apartments and townhomes, this building is located at 980 Bryant Street in an area that touches the South Platte River. Out of the 133 units, 82 are affordable residences.
Discussing the importance of Joli, Rick Peterson, the project architect, said that “It is a mixture of affordable and market rate units, which offers a unique opportunity to blend these different communities together.”
The size of this new Denver building ranges from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom townhomes. Plus, there is a commerce incubator where the inhabitants can start their food and drink ventures. The different units at the Joli building have varied amenities, including:
- Air-Conditioning
- Laundry Rooms
- Storage Spaces
In this backdrop, the Denver Housing Authority’s chief real estate investment officer, Erin Clark, made a comparison with the RiNo apartments. He stated, “The apartments over in RiNo do not have what we have over here in Sun Valley. These are laundry rooms. These are full-size stackable washers and dryers. A lot of storage space.”
Joli also offers visually appealing city skyline views and community indoor and outdoor spaces.
The monthly charge for the latest Sun Valley Housing project is $730 for one bedroom. The most expensive units for the Joli development are rated under $2000. All of these prices for the newest Denver housing project take parking EV chargers into consideration.
The Sun Valley Project’s Development Over Time
As one of the most talked about Denver housing projects, Sun Valley’s redevelopment started in 2014. After The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offered it a planning grant, and the Denver Housing Authority started ground work for its Joli, Slo, and Flo establishments in 2015.
However, the authority was criticized in 2020 when the longtime inhabitants of Sun Valley had to move out due to its project. In one of the most diverse Denver neighborhoods, the displaced residents were mostly refugees and immigrants from Asia and Africa.
Three years later, Sun Valley’s Fairview Elementary closed as enrollment had dipped owing to major displacement of residents in the area. So, the authority was criticized again.
Despite the negative response, the Denver Housing Authority started construction for all three of its development projects – Joli, Flo, and Slo in 2023.
The Role of the Denver Housing Authority
The quasi-government organization has been executing many public housing projects in Denver for years. When it comes to Sun Valley, the housing authority has been owning properties in the area since 1950. This includes the 330-unit affordable housing structure Sun Valley Homes.
During the Joli project’s launch on March 7, 2025, the Denver Housing Authority’s CEO, Joaquín Cintrón Vega, explained the reasons why they had come up with the idea. He said that the Sun Valley residents had been dealing with economic problems and basic isolation for years.
However, this Denver-based real estate development is also facing backlash from the area’s known names. Sun Valley Youth Center’s Kris Rollerson expressed concerns about the underlying issues. She said, “We have new families moving in, and we’re like, ‘This is great. We don’t even have a school for you to go to.”
Regardless of the harsh response, it seems the Denver Housing Authority is driven to complete its other two projects – Slo and Flo. Peterson, the project’s architect, claimed that another mixed-income building, Sol, is set to open on April 1.
On the other hand, meant for the disabled community and those aged 55 or more, Flo will make way in July this year.
