Housing Colorado in conjunction with University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning

2020 “Design by Community” Affordable Housing Design Charrettes

Volunteer Application
Aug. 24th – Oct. 30th

Housing Colorado’s “Design by Community” Affordable Housing Design Charrettes are an

educational, participatory experience for Colorado’s entire affordable housing network. For over
ten years, this unique collaborative process has created innovative affordable housing design
solutions in rural and urban communities across Colorado.

As a professional interested in affordable housing, you can share your skills and expertise with
organizations and people who need it by volunteering to participate in a Design by Community
Charrette. Due to COVID, this year the charrette will occur over a 10 week period. Teams will
meet virtually for 2-3 hours each week.

Housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and municipalities from across the state submit
proposals for affordable housing projects to the program. Charrette program organizers select
projects that represent a range of affordable housing needs.

This year, we will be undertaking projects for the following community partners:

- Arapahoe County
- Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans
- Town of San Luis

A charrette for each selected project is undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of design,

planning, and development professionals as well as graduate students from the University of
Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning. Under the guidance of a team leader,
the students begin work on the selected projects at the start of the fall semester, researching
and assembling site and program information in preparation for the three-day design charrettes.

Every year, approximately 40 professionals volunteer contribute their expertise towards creating
viable solutions for one of the projects. Each charrette team includes architects, landscape
architects, planners, engineers, finance experts, developers, and construction professionals.

We would like to take this opportunity to formally invite you, as a member of Colorado’s
design and development community, to play a vital role in this year’s Design by
Community Charrettes by becoming one of our volunteer charrette participants for 2020!

Volunteer participants are asked to contribute to their team and the charrette activities
throughout the 10 weeks of the charrette (a minimum of 3 weeks), starting the week of
September 7th. The time of the week for each team has not yet been determined. The charrette
coordinator will work with volunteers to match schedules and expertise as best as possible.

Please review the following Itinerary and Volunteer Application before making your
commitment to this year’s charrettes program. Return both the completed Volunteer Application
and the Volunteer Expectations and Requirements form to Andrew Chapin at
Andrew.chapin4@gmail.com by Friday, Sept. 4th at 5 pm.
Preliminary Charrette Activities Itinerary:

Weeks 1-2 approx. 2-3 hours per week Initial site analysis
through Virtual group Input from stake holders
(Aug. 24th - Sept. 6th)
meetings and email. Identify needs and site potential

Weeks 3-4 approx. 2-3 hours per week Initial Site design
(Sept. 7th - Sept. through Virtual group Explore potential options
20th) meetings and email. Identify character and direction of design

Weeks 5-7 approx. 2-3 hours per week Refine design

(Sept. 21st - Oct. through Virtual group Reach final design
11th) meetings and email.

Weeks 8-10 approx. 2-3 hours per week Production of final renderings (see items listed below)
(Oct. 22nd - Oct. through Virtual group Develop Presentation
30th) meetings and email.

Webinar 1 hour presentation though Deliver Presentation

Presentation Housing Colorado.
(TBD)

All data regarding the site, area demographics, relevant codes, program, community responses
to outreach, etc. will be assembled prior to the charrettes and presented during the charrette so
that your time will be used efficiently.

Items produced during the charrette may include:

 Colored Site Plans
 Building Plans
 Elevation and Perspective Architectural Renderings
 Project Programs and Pro Formas
 Preliminary Construction Cost Estimates
 Digital Presentations of the Team’s Design Solution
 2020 “Design by Community” Affordable Housing Design Charrette
Volunteer Application
Aug. 24th – Oct. 30th

Thank you so much for your interest in participating in the 2020 Design by Community Charrettes. Please
complete this registration form and return it to Andrew.chapin4@gmail.com by Friday, Sept. 4th at 5 pm.
Recruit your friends and co-workers as well! Spaces are limited and will be filled according to the
qualifications needed to create well-rounded, interdisciplinary teams for each project. Housing Colorado
members will receive priority placement on the teams, but non-members are welcome to apply.
Membership information is available at: https://www.housingcolorado.org/page/join. Feel free to contact
Andrew Chapin at the email address above or at 509-432-4265 if you have any questions. Thank you!

Name:
Email:
Firm:
Phone:
Address:
City: State: Zip:

Are you a (please check all that apply):

□ Housing Colorado Member □ Construction Professional
□ Registered Architect □ LEED-AP
□ Landscape Architect □ Non-licensed professional/ Intern
□ Engineer (type): Discipline:

□ Urban Planner
□ Student: □ Undergrad □ Grad
□ Affordable Housing Developer Discipline:
□ Development Finance Professional
□ Other:

Years of professional experience:

Have you participated in the Housing Colorado Charrettes in the past? □ No □ Yes
If yes, Year: Project:

If you have preference, please circle the project with a brief note as to why (see project descriptions
below). We will work for the best match given the need and schedule of each team:

- Arapahoe County

- Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans

- Town of San Luis

If needed, are you or your firm willing to make an in-kind donation of supplies for the charrettes (pens,
markers, trace paper, etc.)? If so, please indicate which items:
 Volunteer Expectations and Requirements

The following policies are acknowledged by all volunteer participants in the 2020 Housing Colorado
Design by Community Affordable Housing Design Charrette. In all cases, “charrettes” refers to the 2020
Design by Community Charrette events, held Aug. 24th – Oct. 30th.

1. Participants in the Design by Community Charrette events are volunteering their time and expertise to
advance high-quality affordable housing design and development.

2. Spaces on each of the teams are limited. Selected volunteer participants will be assigned to a space
on one of the three project teams at the discretion of the Design by Community Program Steering
Committee. Volunteer participants cannot be guaranteed a space on a specific team or project and
must be willing to participate on any of the teams or projects once they are selected for participation in
the program. Current Housing Colorado members will be given priority placement in the available
spaces for each team.

3. The promotion of a firm or an individual during the Charrette events is explicitly prohibited. Team
members may share the name and expertise of their firm and/or participating individuals during the
Charrette but should be conscious of the educational purpose of the Charrette and community focus.

“Promotion” shall be defined in this policy as follows:

 The liberal distribution of business cards or other firm/individual informational material to
participants during the Charrette.
 Unsolicited descriptions of a firm’s or individual’s capabilities during the Charrette.

Neither Housing Colorado nor the Design by Communities Program Steering Committee will “police”
promotional activities of team participants; however, participants acknowledge such actions will reflect
poorly on the program and associated events, its purpose, and the work and mission of Housing
Colorado.

4. Housing Colorado will acknowledge the participation of all charrette volunteers on our website (see the
full list of last year’s volunteers: https://www.housingcolorado.org/page/charrettes) and during the
online presentation of the charrettes in the fall, in detail as outlined below in final reports.

Participant Information will include the following as provided by team members:

 Team member name
 Name of team member’s firm, agency, or affiliation
 Team member’s title, position, occupation, or profession
 Team member’s area of expertise or focus within a discipline

5. Volunteer participants will be eligible for a $25 discount/refund for this year’s virtual Housing Colorado
Conference. Please note that the Early Bird registration rate for Housing Colorado members ends on
September 30th. Contact Dora Grace for more information and to process your $25 discount/refund for
registration at dora@housingcolorado.org or 720-744-2251

Implementation
To ensure the intentions of Housing Colorado / University of Colorado Denver’s School of Architecture
and Planning Design Charrette Policy are met, a copy of this policy will be provided to every team
member. Enforcement of the policy shall be the responsibility of the Steering Committee and any
violations of the policy shall be considered and acted upon on a case-by-case basis.

2020 Design Charrette Volunteer signature:

Brief Project Descriptions

Arapahoe County
- Describe the project
o The land is 5 acres.
o This is new construction.
 The land appears to be zoned for mixed use, contemplating both high-density
residential and mental health services.
 The site does not need to be annexed; however, an agreement between
Arapahoe County, the eventual developer, and South Metro Fire Rescue
Authority will need to be reached regarding the use of the land.
o Rehabilitation
 The existing use will not be retained.
o We anticipate building roughly 100 units.
o The anticipated unit mix is strictly for individuals.
o The residents will comprise a mix of those currently or recently involved with a justice
agency of the 18th Judicial District, such as: problem-solving courts, the District
Attorney’s Adult Diversion Program, the Arapahoe County Pretrial Mental Health
Program, and the 18th Judicial District Probation Department Mental Health Program.
- Population
o Approximate percent or number of units in each income category
 0-30% AMI = 100% of the population
o Rental
o The special needs populations include: homeless persons, transitional housing,
veterans, disabled persons, and the criminal-justice involved.

Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans

1. Project description: the property is approximately 8 acres of vacant land that is currently
zoned light commercial.
a. The project will require new construction.
b. Re-zoning will likely be required.
c. We anticipate multiple phases with no less than 10 units (for the initial phase) that
will range from one-to three bedrooms per unit for use by individuals and families.
2. Population served: The project concept serves families with AMI’s under 80%, with the
heaviest focus on those under 50% AMI.
a. The project concept is for rental units with supportive programming associated with
the housing.
b. Special needs populations are a key focus, including veterans, seniors, disabled
individuals, transitional housing needs AND homeless.

Town of San Luis

1. Project description: the property is 20 acres of vacant land that is zoned residential.
a. The project will require new construction.
b. We anticipate multiple phases with 20-30 units (for the initial phase) consisting of
single family and duplex homes.
2. Population served: The project concept serves households between 0%-120% AMI.
a. The project concept is for rental, ownership, and rent to own housing.
b. Special needs populations are a key focus, including veterans, seniors, disabled
individuals, transitional housing needs AND homeless.