Habitat For Humanity: Griffith Station

Recently I attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Griffith Station Habitat for Humanity project here in Arvada. Not only do I love the name and ties to historical Arvadan "Ulysses Grant Griffith," but that this project is a crucial lifeline for those desperately seeking affordable housing in our city.

Over the past decade, home prices in Arvada have soared from around $200k for a starter home to a median home price of well over $600k today. This dramatic shift has left many of our service industry workers, teachers, first responders, and tradespeople without viable housing options.

Speaking with some of the Habitat for Humanity volunteers and Councilmember Brad Rupert.

Traditionally, homeownership has been a key way for Americans to build generational wealth. However, the path to financial stability has eroded to the point where it is nearly impossible for many of our working class. I am deeply grateful to Habitat for Humanity for their efforts to make homeownership a reality in our city. The exciting development at Griffith Station includes 20 homes with 3 and 4 bedrooms, with prices fixed between 50-80% of the area median income (AMI). This means that families earning between $70k and $100k a year will be able to purchase these homes. Additionally, Habitat offers financial relief with interest rates around 4%, compared to market rates near 7%.

I spoke with Habitat for Humanity’s Denver Metro CEO, Jaime G. Gomez, about the challenges of building in Arvada and surrounding communities. The land costs, utility fees, and permitting can easily exceed $225k before even breaking ground.

As your next City Council representative in the At-Large seat, I am committed to working with community members, staff, homebuilders, and my fellow council members to find practical solutions and forge partnerships that provide housing options and opportunities for all Arvadans.