East Colfax Community Collective (EC3) is a grassroots organization working to stabilize rents and prevent displacement in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood—a historically diverse community facing rapid change. EC3 partnered with the national nonprofit Trust Neighborhoods to establish Colorado’s first Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust (MINT)—a resident-centered model designed to preserve affordability and shift decision-making power to the community.
In September 2024, EC3 purchased 1371 Xenia, which is home to some of the neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents. Built in 1961, the property includes two studios, 19 one-bedroom, and two two-bedroom units naturally affordable to households earning at or below 50% of area median income (AMI). Many residents are immigrants and longtime community members; some having lived in the building for over a decade and already knew EC3 through tenant organizing activities. The building’s previous owner had long neglected necessary repairs, leaving it in poor condition and vulnerable to real estate speculation and displacement of existing tenants.
Immediately after closing, EC3 and a resident-led stewardship committee identified urgent repair priorities. Within months they replaced the roof and heating system, installed energy-efficient appliances, and addressed long-deferred maintenance. EC3 is now planning for five to 10-year capital needs, building replacement reserves, and reinvesting operating income to ensure long-term viability.
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- Case Study
