DENVER — The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) celebrated the opening of its latest mixed-income housing improvement within the Solar Valley neighborhood on Friday, marking a significant step within the space’s redevelopment.
Joli, the most recent addition to DHA’s closing constructing section, brings 133 new housing items, together with 82 income-restricted flats. The event goals to welcome households again to a traditionally underserved neighborhood.
“What we stay up for is not only including housing items, however precise households proper right here into Solar Valley,” stated Denver Metropolis Councilwoman Jamie Torres.
Richard Butler
The redevelopment of Solar Valley, considered one of Denver’s lowest-income neighborhoods, has been years within the making. DHA’s efforts embrace constructing new housing and infrastructure whereas additionally revitalizing the world with facilities reminiscent of a market and improved riverfront entry. Nonetheless, some in the neighborhood consider there’s nonetheless work to be performed.
Kris Rollerson, government director of the Solar Valley Youth Heart, welcomes the brand new housing however questions whether or not it addresses deeper points throughout the neighborhood.
“We’ve got new households shifting in, and we’re like, ‘That is nice. We don’t actually have a faculty so that you can go to,'” Rollerson stated.
Fairview Elementary, as soon as a key neighborhood gathering house, stays closed, leaving residents and not using a devoted assembly space. Rollerson additionally pointed to ongoing security issues, together with site visitors points.
“Three automobiles simply handed us whereas we have been standing right here, and so they did not even cease on the cease signal,” she stated.
Richard Butler
For a lot of longtime residents, the transformation of Solar Valley brings combined feelings. Some former residents who have been displaced throughout redevelopment are unsure if they are going to return.
“All of us grew up collectively, however now we stay in entire completely different areas,” stated Vehha Kham, a former Solar Valley resident.
Newman Mahamed, one other former resident, has comparable emotions in regards to the redevelopment.
“The brand new flats, it will likely be like Solar Valley, nevertheless it gained’t be the identical Solar Valley that we grew up with,” Mahamed stated.
Regardless of issues, there’s optimism that the neighborhood can develop right into a thriving, inclusive neighborhood.
“What I actually want to see on the finish of the day is that the households who used to stay right here come again,” stated Torres.
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