Monday, May 12

Tour: Sun Valley: Modeling Community, Equity, and Well-Being in Affordable Housing | 8:45am-12:00pm
Separate Registration Required

Sun Valley, a central neighborhood in the metro Denver region, is home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Today, 94 percent of the neighborhood’s housing market is subsidized, with only 5 percent of the homes occupied by their owners. Additionally, over 80 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. Sun Valley residents represent over 33 different cultural backgrounds, speak more than 28 languages, and 25 percent identify as first-generation immigrants, 4 percent as second-generation immigrants, and 20 percent as refugees. In Sun Valley, the Denver Housing Authority is poised to create a new model of community transformation with equity, environmental justice, and public health as its driving forces.

In addition to housing developments, the Sun Valley Riverfront Park is a planned 11-acre regional park running the length of the South Platte River. Developed in response to the priority health issues in the neighborhood, the park creates a safe space that celebrates the diversity of the neighborhood, promotes physical activity and healthy eating, provides spaces for mental restoration, and ensures all Sun Valley residents have access to quality open space.

Tour: Homeless to Housed: Denver’s Approach | 9:00-11:00am
Separate registration required

Since its founding in 1984, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has worked to serve people experiencing homelessness through housing, health care, and supportive services. One of the most significant struggles for CCH clients has been the difficulty in maintaining health following release from hospitals and other facilities, safely recovering from recent medical or clinical procedures, and other recovery needs that cannot be safely met in shelters or on the streets. The new John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center (JPSSRCC) exponentially increases the Coalition’s ability to serve these clients.

The facility treats clients with a variety of needs, including healing from postsurgical procedures, wound care, respiratory or heart issues, oxygen needs, chemotherapy treatment, and more. In addition to medical assistance for acute conditions, clients are provided with the opportunity to receive care onsite and ongoing integrated health care at the adjacent Stout Street Health Center including behavioral health support, pharmacy access, substance use treatment, peer support, and job training. Clients also can work with integrated case managers and housing counseling staff to identify long-term housing options, thereby providing them the opportunity to successfully transition out of homelessness to a long-term residence upon discharge.

The interior design of the building was selected through a trauma-informed process and donated art warms the space. The Coalition believes that energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction should be the standard for affordable housing. The building is designed and constructed to meet or exceed Enterprise Green Communities guidelines. These standards deliver greater energy and water efficiencies, better indoor air quality, and space use that will be sustainable over time—ultimately resulting in lower utility costs. Architectural services for the mixed-use project, which is designed as attractively as market-rate housing in the Arapahoe Square neighborhood, were provided by Christopher Carvell Architects, and construction was provided by Milender White.

Housing Market Outlook for Colorado | 10:00-10:20am

Featuring ULI Terwilliger Center’s Home Attainability Index data, we will present the latest findings for Colorado’s metro areas. How are the different regions’ housing markets performing? What are the latest homeownership and rental trends? How deep is the affordability challenge? What other interesting findings did the team discover that will impact Colorado’s housing and economic outlook?

Avivo Village: Winner of the 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence | 10:30-10:50am

Avivo Village provides transitional homeless housing in a reuse of a 48,600-square-foot distribution building. Low-barrier entry requirements and its downtown location make Avivo accessible to homeless people who may not be accepted elsewhere. To better serve the residents’ needs, the team used trauma-informed design and an extensive engagement process. As a result, the interior of the building has open corridors with natural light and individual units, giving its residents a sense of community and safety. Comprehensive support services offer health care and prepare residents for the transition to permanent housing. Community leadership played a crucial role in modernizing zoning regulations and building codes to permit Avivo and protect the safety of the residents.

Rick Reinhard: 2023–2024 ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award Winner | 11:30-11:50am

ULI has selected Rick Reinhard, principal of Niagara Consulting Group, as the recipient of the 2023–2024 ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award, which recognizes the authors of outstanding works written for Urban Land magazine. Reinhard was recognized for his article “Affordable Housing: YIGBY (‘Yes in God’s Backyard’) Movement Seeks to Counter NIMBY Movement,” from the Winter 2024 issue of Urban Land. Reinhard acknowledges the barriers to repurposing faith properties for housing, including the emotional ties communities have to their religious institutions, physical constraints of adaptive use, and regulatory obstacles. He provides examples of the successful adoption of the YIGBY movement, along with steps to increase opportunities for religious institutions, housing advocates, and real estate developers.

ULI Homeless to Housed Symposium | 2:30-4:00pm

Connect with real estate leaders, not-for-profit housers, and service providers to collectively define how ULI members—from developers to finance professionals—can accelerate the production and preservation of deeply affordable housing connected to meaningful supportive services. Participant input will shape ULI’s forthcoming publication, “10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness: A Guide for Commercial Real Estate and Finance,” launching at ULI’s 2025 Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

Economic Dynamics and Investments Transforming Mountain Resort Communities| 2:30-3:30pm

The state of mountain resort communities is being impacted by changing demographics, aging infrastructure, housing shortages, climate change, and expanding year-round tourism to drive economic growth. The public sector (primarily municipalities), developers, and resort owners are investing hundreds of millions of dollars. The investments aim to modernize, diversify, and create resilient resort communities. The desired outcomes and the expected returns on investment are strategic to achieve success today and be relevant for the next generation.

Homeward: Housing Trade Offs Game – ULI Boston and the Terwilliger Center | 2:30-5:30pm

Join ULI Boston/New England and the Terwilliger Center for Housing to play a new game exploring the tradeoffs of housing development. This game is in a pilot phase and will be deployed in community settings- your experience and feedback will help shape the final product!

“Homeward” is an engaging and thought-provoking board game that brings players face-to-face with the challenges of addressing America’s home shortage while building vibrant, sustainable communities. Players form competing teams, each with unique goals and perspectives. Together, they navigate the intricate web of housing production, balancing density, affordability, open space, and environmental impact to create thriving neighborhoods.

Through strategic decision-making and collaboration—or conflict—players must weigh trade-offs as they create homes for their town. Will your team succeed in crafting a balanced, forward-thinking community, or will competing priorities lead to gridlock? “Homeward” invites you to explore the complex interconnectedness of housing and community building in a dynamic, immersive way.

Legal Perspectives in Advancing Affordable Housing Production and Preservation | 4:00-5:00pm

Law firms play a crucial role in the production and preservation of affordable housing by structuring deals, securing financing, and navigating complex policy regulations. Yet, their insights are often overlooked. This panel will feature real estate attorneys driving change for their affordable housing development partners. During this panel discussion, speakers will explore legal reforms facilitating innovative financing, new development, and rehabilitation projects. Attendees will gain insights into how these changes can streamline processes, eliminate barriers, and foster innovative partnerships. Whether you’re a developer, advocate, or policymaker, this session will provide essential knowledge to navigate the evolving legal framework and enhance your affordable housing initiatives.

Tuesday, May 13

Tour: Adaptive Reuse at Pancratia Hall: Turning a Historic Dormitory into a Master-Planned Community | 8:30am-12:00pm
Separate ticket required

See one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver! Pancratia Hall is a four-story, red brick, collegiate gothic-style building constructed between 1929 and 1930, originally designed by master architect Harry W.J. Edbrooke for Loretto Heights College. Transformed into a 74-unit affordable multifamily project in one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver, Pancratia Hall provides affordable housing in southwest Denver. It offers a unique example of how historic buildings can not only be preserved but transformed to address the urgent issues facing real estate development today, where history, design, and function are all preserved to create a one-of-a-kind environment.

Learn more about historic preservation, adaptive reuse, sustainability, and more on this tour of Pancratia Hall, and get a taste of what’s in store in this brief documentary of the process.

Intentional Design Strategies for Creating Healthy and Resilient Places | 2:30-3:30pm

This conversation will spotlight examples of intentional design from three national experts, including trauma-informed design, urban and community gardens, and art and placemaking. The panel will describe each approach through a series of local case studies spanning affordable housing for Denver’s most vulnerable populations; urban and community gardens that reduce barriers to fresh, healthy, and organic food; and public art initiatives that bring people together while giving back to the creative economy. The panel will reflect on the epidemic of loneliness and reference these projects as meaningful examples of “third spaces” for increased community building, health, and well-being in the built environment. The session will begin with a formal Pecha Kucha–style presentation (an engaging storytelling format in which a presenter shows 20 slides for 20 seconds per slide), followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A.

Navigating the Landscape of Attainable and Affordable Housing Development | 2:30-3:30pm

In today’s challenging real estate market, developers are confronted with rising costs across various aspects of project development, from land acquisition to materials and labor. This panel discussion will delve into strategies employed by developers to navigate these hurdles and deliver profitable multifamily projects, particularly focusing on attainable and affordable housing initiatives. Key topics include adapting to market dynamics (as prices escalate, market-rate developers are embracing affordable housing models, but may face challenges competing with seasoned affordable housing developers); cost-effective design and amenities (successful developers are employing proven design elements and amenities while minimizing unnecessary expenses to ensure profitability); suburban expansion (developers are exploring opportunities on the outskirts and suburbs, branded as attainable housing, to cater to residents priced out of urban cores); strategic site selection (site selection and execution methods play crucial roles in ensuring the feasibility and profitability of projects); and the role of consultants (land development consultants contribute by offering value engineering solutions).

Workforce Housing Social Impact Funds | 2:30-3:30pm

In the Fall of 2020, Madison Development Corporation, along with the United Way and local Madison area Employers -financial institutions, health care systems & foundations, launched a Fund to fill gaps in affordable workforce housing projects in WI. The Dane Workforce Housing Fund (DWHF) raised over $11 million and helped create 747 new units, with a subsequent Fund II raising $13 million which has 230 units under construction. The Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund (AAHF), launched in early 2020, raised $15 million from local real estate leaders, which helped create over 800 affordable homes. The AAHF is now housed at the Community Foundation, which helped them attract an additional $150 million from diverse investors – financial institutions, foundations and individuals, to help create more affordable housing projects in Atlanta’s core counties. This session will cover the Fund structures, the impact on their regions, and why investors stepped up.

Design Solutions in the Wake of the Affordable Housing Crisis: A Multidisciplinary Collaboration | 4:00-5:00pm

In the face of a staggering shortfall of 7 million affordable housing units for low- and middle-income families, and with nearly 50 percent of renters now cost-burdened, this session brings together architects, urban planners, developers, and designers to explore innovative design solutions aimed at alleviating the affordable housing crisis. The session will discuss strategic approaches for creating flexible, efficient living spaces that balance aesthetic appeal with cost-effectiveness, drawing on successful case studies. Join us as we navigate the intersection of design, technology, and community needs to forge sustainable pathways toward affordable housing solutions.

Filling the Knowledge Gap: Guiding the U.S. Government on Office-to-Residential Conversions | 4:00-5:00pm

In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made a significant commitment to accelerate the adoption of innovative practices and policies to increase affordable housing. As part of this commitment, Gensler was awarded funding to analyze office-to-residential conversion activities across six U.S. cities, test the financial feasibility of these conversions, study policy and incentives, and build an online community guide to allow local policymakers to estimate the impact of potential conversion policies on their community. Now, Gensler is putting together a panel of experts—directly involved with HUD—to discuss the ongoing analysis, share preliminary findings, explore how Gensler and its partners are advising the government on the topic, and debate what must be done to unlock additional affordable housing in the United States. The session will outline the team’s approach to the analysis; highlight the initial findings in one of the six identified cities; present the recommended changes to city, state, and federal policy; and provide an update on how HUD and one of the key cities is going to adopt the policy.

Wednesday, May 14 – Product Council Day for ULI Product Council Members

Tour: Clara Brown Commons, The Burrel, and Creative Approaches to Affordable Housing | 8:45-11:30am
Separate ticket required

Spread across an entire city block, Clara Brown Commons includes an impressive offering of 61 apartments, 17 townhomes, and inviting communal areas for shared experiences. Nestled at the intersection of 37th Avenue and York Street in northeast Denver, the location offers unrivaled proximity to essential amenities, convenient transit options, reputable schools, and a plethora of engaging activities. Each residence is dedicated to providing enduring affordability for individuals with incomes below the area median income, and an on-site team actively fosters a dynamic community experience, uniting residents, volunteers, and caring neighbors to nurture a lively communal atmosphere day in and day out. Clara Brown Commons offers a comprehensive approach to affordable housing.

Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood and inspired by the legendary musician Charles Burrell, The Burrell offers luxury living at an affordable price. The Burrell offers 49 permanently affordable condos for one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in the heart of a vibrant Denver neighborhood with a rich cultural history unlike any other in the city. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Five Points neighborhood is a cultural hub with a rich and diverse history, with roots deeply intertwined with the African American community and the golden age of jazz. As a center for artistic expression, creativity, and resilience, the neighborhood’s history is reflected in The Burrel.

Homeless to Housed Case Study: The John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center | 10:00-10:20am

This first-of-its-kind facility, the John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center and Renaissance Legacy Lofts, provides homeless individuals with supportive services, medical care, and transitional and permanent supportive housing in a holistic space for healing, growth, and community connection. Come learn about the innovative design strategies, unique services, and creative funding sources for this award-winning development.

Thursday, May 15 – ULI’s Resilience Summit (Separate Ticket Required)

Insurance for Affordable Housing: How Resilient Construction Can Improve Insurability and Preserve Housing Supply | 9:45-10:45am

Multifamily investors and developers are increasingly requiring, incentivizing, and building with climate-resilient construction methods. These investments strengthen multifamily properties, making them better able to survive severe weather, and also help developers and owners secure affordable property insurance, which can keep rental costs down. Learn more about building resilient properties, current incentives and requirements issued by government funders, and the benefits and results experienced by a diverse set of multifamily housing developers and investors from areas of the country hardest hit by natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.

From Crisis to Opportunity: Affordable Housing as a Climate Solution in US and Canada, Through Better P3s | 1:30-2:15pm

What if the homes we build today could do more than provide shelter? What if they could reduce emissions, promote health and wellness, foster social cohesion, and strengthen the fabric of our communities? As we face the rising cost of housing and the harsh realities of a changing climate, the conversation around housing has shifted. Drawing on real-life examples from across Canada and the U.S., this session brings together leaders in rethinking housing to share stories of communities already taking bold action, where innovative designs, low-carbon building materials, renewable energy, smart construction, and community co-benefits are creating homes that are sustainable, resilient, and affordable. We’ll look at how affordable housing requires collaboration and scalable, repeatable solutions for success at the pace we need, and how public-private partnerships are accelerating action.