U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development


Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The City of Fort Collins' 1995 Consolidated plan identifies need and sets priorities for housing assistance, human services and community development needs. The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to streamline the HUD grant application process and to ensure that funding decisions are made in the context of the city's comprehensive planning process.

Action Plan

The Consolidated Plan also includes a one year action plan constituting an application for funds under HUD"S Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for $1,191,000 and the HOME Investments Partnership Program for $455,000.

Citizen Participation

Elements of the plan were developed with active citizen participation achieved via a succession of meeting meetings with agencies involved in the provision of housing and community services and input from under-represented groups and minorities in the community. In addition three public hearings were conducted. Each public hearing was held at different stages of Plan development. Notification was provided via local media and direct mailings.


COMMUNITY PROFILE

Fort Collins is a growing regional center serving Northern Colorado, Southeastern Wyoming and Southwestern Nebraska. The city has a strong economic base founded on the Colorado State University and numerous high tech/manufacturing companies. The community's growth rate since 1990 has been increasing 3.5% annually with an estimated 1994 population of approximately 100,000 persons. The median age is 27.8 years, a youthful age contributed to the University and "baby-boomer" in migration. Racial minorities, primarily Hispanics, represent 6.7% of the City's population.

Over 80% of the work force is employed in government, manufacturing and the retail or service sectors.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Conditions

New housing development has steadily increased over the past 5 years with most of the new housing sales averaging in $137,000 range. The local resale market has a limited inventory with a majority of the homes priced $100,000. The rental market is also highly competitive with a extremely low vacancy rate ranging from zero to two percent. The tight rental market is attributed to the impact of the steady population growth

rate, increased enrollment at the Colorado State university and limited construction of new rental units. These conditions make it extremely difficult or persons with limited household incomes not to exceed 30% of gross income toward housing costs.

Housing Needs

Affordable rental housing units can not keep pace with the demand.

The Fort Collins Housing Authority, responsible for the management and provision of public housing units , currently maintains a public housing waiting list of 1,500 low income households waiting for participation in a rental assistance program. An estimated two-year waiting period for a vacant unit. In addition, the authority maintains additional waiting lists that includes 274 large families for subsidized housing, 372 Senior citizens and disabled households, and 82 physically or developmentally disabled households.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

According to the Fort Collins Housing Authority, there is a need for approximately 1,500 -2,000 affordable rental units. This need will increase as rents continue to escalate and as a result of the impending displacement of 182 households from the Pioneer Mobile Home Park.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

The city is experiencing a boom in the housing market due to immigration pressures. Constructions costs are escalating due to the market-driven demand for single-family swellings, condominiums and upscale apartments. These factors and a very low vacancy rate pushes the developer into more profitable housing ventures rather than the development of affordable housing and in addition forces rental rates upward. The end result is that lower income personas are at a severe disadvantage in acquiring affordable rental housing. The absence of an adequate supply of affordable housing could impact the City's competitive advantage with regard to attracting new business to the community.

Lead-Based Paint

To reduce the hazard of lead-based paint, the Fort Collins Housing

Authority will address lead testing and abatement during the rehabilitation of public housing units. The authority has and will continue its educational program to provide information. In addition, the Larimer County Health Department will continue its educational and screening programs.

Community Development Needs

Community development needs has focused in three areas, infrastructure, public services and public facilities. Funding for these activities comes from government, local impact fees, special districts and funding from the CDBG and HOME programs. However, funding to meet increased demand for services is a major obstacle that needs to be resolved. One possible resource to alleviate this problem is continued coordination between jurisdictions to identify opportunities where economies of scale can be achieved and limited tax resources maximized.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

Through liaison with local service providers and community organizations, the City of Fort Collins was able to identify and prioritize the following major housing and community development needs:

Housing Priorities

Affordable housing is the primary priority in Fort Collins. The increase in housing prices and rents brought on by growth in the city's population has escalated costs requiring more rental assistance, an increase in affordable new housing units, and the need for more public housing.


ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

The action plan proposes to leverage $1.6 million in CDBG and HOME grant program

funds to provide housing and adjunct services to low and moderate income households, homeless, and special needs households.

Description of Key Projects

Four major activities are proposed:

  1. Increase the supply of affordable rental housing through new construction and acquisition of existing units. This will be accomplished through the joint efforts of the city in conjunction with several public, private and non-profit providers such as the Fort Collins Housing Authority, the Community Affordable Residences Enterprises (CARE), private sector developers of affordable housing, and neighborhood groups.

  2. Increase services for the homeless and in the prevention of hopelessness. Private organizations such as the Catholic Community Services/Northern Colorado, New Bridges, Project Self-Sufficiency, Neighbor to Neighbor, Crossroads Safehouse, and the Food Distribution Center for Larimer County will provide services, shelter, counseling, and food for the homeless and families to foster their self reliance and to bridge the gap to independence and self sufficiency

  3. Improve non-housing facilities, services and amenities for low income and special needs households. Various non-profit agencies will assist those with disabilities lead independent and fulfilling lives. Activities will include development of job skills, care centers, children's clinics, and senior citizen employment services.

  4. Increase home ownership opportunities for low and moderate income households. Through the city's homebuyer's assistance program and the Resource Assistance Center for Non-Profits assistance will be made available develop affordable housing for low and moderate income, first time homebuyer's purchase a home. In addition, the city will relocate and or develop another mobile home park for 180 displaced households temporarily lodged at the Pioneer Mobile Home Park.

Maps

MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 6 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.

MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.

TABLE provides information about the projects depicted in Maps 8 and 9.

To comment on Fort Collins' Consolidated Plan, please contact:
Kenneth G. Waido
Chief Planner
City of Fort Collins
Phone: (970) 221-6753
Return to Colorado's Consolidated Plans.