As Fort Collins continues to grow in population and popularity, the housing market also continues to become increasingly more expensive. We R FoCo nonprofit member, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, has been committed to finding solutions and partnerships to lower lot and construction costs and maximize housing opportunities for those who need them.
For the in-development Harmony Cottages neighborhood, located at the southeast intersection of Harmony Road and Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity partnered with multiple construction and design teams and was able to lower lot costs 30-40% of current market value and create an additional 18 lots at the site.
“We are so grateful for the creative dedication executed by our partners to really make the most of the Harmony Cottages development,” said Executive Director and CEO of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, Kristin Candella. “It’s a key example of how we can work together to efficiently expand the Habitat mission and program.”
This partnership, called the Harmony Design Team, has become a sought-after model of success by other Habitat affiliates across the country. After receiving the regional “Nicholas Award for Innovation” in 2018 for this collaboration, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity shared their findings at the Habitat International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in 2019 in hopes of helping other Habitat affiliates who are also struggling with lot costs.
Most recently, Las Vegas Habitat affiliate, along with government officials and developers, visited Fort Collins to learn more and visit the neighborhood. Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity shared insight on what worked and what didn’t work for this particular project, in hopes that the Las Vegas Habitat affiliate can take this knowledge and have the same success in their area.
While the Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity team operates locally, their dedication to the Habitat mission is making waves on the national level. Fort Collins is lucky to have such motivated and passionate people in the area, working to make not only our city a better place to live, but the country as a whole. Supporting our local businesses impacts so much more than we can imagine.
