On a changing stretch of West Colfax where new buildings seem to pop up every few months, Denver officials cut the ribbon Thursday on something they say is built to last: a seven-story, 102-unit, all-electric apartment building that is promised to stay affordable for generations.
The Irving at Mile High Vista, developed by the nonprofit Urban Land Conservancy, offers a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments targeted to households earning between 20% and 80% of the area median income. Mayor Mike Johnston joined local councilmembers, nonprofit leaders, and state housing officials to tout the project as both a climate-conscious building and a long-term affordability anchor for West Colfax.
What opened and who built it
According to The Denver Gazette, The Irving at Mile High Vista officially opened yesterday, Jan. 22, at 3270 W. Colfax Ave., next to the Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library. The seven-story building includes six studios, 78 one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units, along with standard appliances, on-site management, and shared laundry facilities.
Urban Land Conservancy President and CEO Aaron Miripol led the ribbon-cutting, joined by Mayor Johnston and Councilmembers Jamie Torres and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez.
All-electric design and resident features
According to Urban Land Conservancy, The Irving is designed as a 100% electric, energy-efficient building, with rooftop solar panels and heat-pump systems intended to keep operating costs down for residents. The project also features Energy Star appliances, electric vehicle charging, a rooftop patio with gardening boxes, and universal design elements intended to improve accessibility.
Urban Land Conservancy reports that these systems and design choices aim to lower utility bills and improve indoor air quality for lower-income households who move into the building.
Funding and public support
Per a city release from the City and County of Denver, the Office of Housing Stability provided a $4,080,000 loan for The Irving. The city’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency also contributed a $100,000 grant to support the building’s all-electric systems.
Pinkard Construction noted that the project also received backing from state programs and private lenders and was among the first developments to use Proposition 123 financing. Officials credit the combination of public financing, nonprofit ownership, and private partners with making a fully affordable, low-energy building feasible in the current market.
Why it matters for West Colfax
Denver, with a population topping 729,000, faces a sizable housing affordability gap. City housing officials estimate the need for roughly 44,000 additional affordable units over the next decade, according to figures shared with The Denver Gazette.
At The Irving, rents are restricted to households earning 20% to 80% of the area median income, and officials say the building will be held in a community land trust that guarantees affordability for at least 99 years. Advocates and planners describe permanently affordable projects near services and transit, such as The Irving’s location beside the Corky Gonzales Library and RTD bus routes on Colfax, as key tools to slow displacement in a corridor that has been changing quickly.
How to apply and next steps
Urban Land Conservancy directs prospective renters to join an interest list managed by Brothers Property Management, with a sign-up form linked from the project information. For leasing details and the interest list, visit Urban Land Conservancy and Brothers Property Management.
City and nonprofit partners say they plan to track occupancy and energy performance at The Irving to see whether the all-electric systems provide the bill savings they expect for lower-income residents.
