Colorado Preservation Academy

March 2023 – October 2023

Enterprise’s Preservation Next Academy is a series of publicly available, no-cost virtual training sessions designed to assist affordable housing developers, practitioners, and advocates with guidance to acquire, rehabilitate and preserve the affordability of homes located in unsubsidized small- to medium-multifamily (SMMF) properties, prevent displacement of residents at risk of eviction, and advocate for preservation minded policies, programs, and resources.

March 28, 2023 | Preservation Academy Kickoff

This first session of Enterprise’s Preservation Colorado Academy set the stage and provided attendees with an overview of the Preservation Next Academy and Toolkit. Enterprise highlighted the importance of the unsubsidized affordable housing stock found in small to medium multifamily (SMMF) properties and presented on regional preservation priorities ain Colorado. A panel of practitioners from Rocky Mountain Communities and Archway Communities grounded SMMF preservation locally and offered insights into future opportunities to advance this work in statewide.

April 11, 2023 | Preservation Deals: Organizational Sustainability and Business Planning

At this session, Mission Economic Development Agency introduced key organizational considerations and competencies to effectively acquire and operate small to medium multifamily properties, including how the organization funded, staffed, and built capacity to acquire a portfolio of SMMF properties and prevent resident displacement.

May 2, 2023 | Acquisition, Property Identification, and Evaluation of Small to Medium Multifamily Properties

This session highlighted strategies and tools to effectively identify, evaluate, and acquire small to medium (SMMF). Speakers from Enterprise and the Colorado Futures Center shared guidance on how to work with data and various stakeholders to identify SMMF properties for acquisition based on property-, community-, and market-based considerations.

May 23, 2023 | Financing Small to Medium Multifamily Preservation

This session provided an overview of local and state financing resources to support a preservation project, highlighted resources for developers to assess a project’s financial feasibility, and highlighted strategies to meet financing gaps and preserve affordability. Speakers included representatives from Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), Weave Social Finance, and Impact Development Fund.

June 13, 2023 | Navigating Rehabilitation of Small to Medium Multifamily Properties

During this session, speakers from Enterprise, Total Concept, and Urban Land Conservancy highlighted the unique rehabilitation needs of SMMF properties and shared strategies to successfully manage the rehabilitation process, from developing a rehabilitation scope to construction management and resident engagement. Guest speakers also shared best practices and lessons learned from previous SMMF preservation rehabilitation projects and emphasized opportunities to address deferred maintenance, sustainability, and the economic health of the property.

July 11 and 12 | In-Person Convening: Sustainability, Resilience and Health Considerations for Small to Medium Multifamily Preservation

Preservation Next brought together Colorado’s affordable housing preservation community to showcase tools, resources, and programs to integrate sustainability, resilience, and health priorities in small to medium multifamily (SMMF) preservation projects. Attendees and panelists included affordable housing developers and practitioners, funders, and local and national experts.

August 8, 2023 | Preservation Development Models

This session featured several preservation models and partnerships, including joint ventures, renter wealth building models, and Trust Neighborhoods’ Mixed Income Neighborhood Trust (MINT) model. Weave Social Finance highlighted the wealth renter equity vehicle in Colorado’s Proposition 123, and Trust Neighborhoods and East Colfax Community Collective provided an overview of the MINT model and its implementation in Denver.

August 22, 2023 | Community Land Trusts and Preservation - Deep Dive Special Session

This session focused on the unique role community land trusts (CLT) play in small- to medium-multifamily (SMMF) housing preservation. Guest speakers from Urban Land Conservancy and Archway Communities highlighted how the two organizations acquired the Mosaic Community Campus to redevelop into a mixed-use campus for community benefit and long-term affordability. Douglass Community Land Trust shared how their land trust approaches resident engagement and long-term stewardship.

September 12, 2023 | Policy and Its Impacts on Preservation

This session provided an overview of the state and local preservation and housing stability policy landscape in Colorado. Guest speakers highlighted legisative efforts to bolster resources, program design and implementation, and advocacy efforts to pass stronger preservation policies and tenant protections. Speakers included Enterprise's research and policy team, Community Economic Defense Project, and the Denver Department of Housing Stability.

October 3, 2023 | Property and Asset Management - Register

This session will provide an overview of property management models that minimize operating costs, asset management to improve the long-term financial health of SMMF properties, and eviction prevention best practices that keep residents stably housed.

All sessions are open to the public. For more information, please contact Sara Haas and Jessie Wang. 

Date
March 2, 2023
Authors
Enterprise Community Partners
Markets
  • Rocky Mountain
Impact Areas
  • Preservation & Production
  • Preservation & Eviction Prevention