The Montclair neighborhood of Denver was recently exploring the possibility of rezoning a large portion of properties for accessory dwelling units or ADUs. The residents of both Montclair and Mayfair should have a majority disinterest towards rezoning the neighborhood, prompting Councilmembers to abandon the move.
From a recent Bisnow Denver article, Denver claims its Permit Times has been cut almost in half since November of last year. If this is true, this will be a great benefit for residents and builders looking to perform some kind of construction soon. Denver’s Community Development and Planning Department have long been plagued with a notorious problem of extensive delays surrounding its permit approval times. In fact, the most recent record number of delays was seen just a few weeks ago when the Average Time to Permit Approval reached well over 300 days.
Senate Bill 23-213, or SB23-213, has passed just recently which aims to amend legislation to help promote Colorado Affordable Housing. While this bill is hailed as a great step in the effort for aiding dense populated towns and cities, many are saying there is more to do. Coalitions of advocacy groups are calling for the Senate House to add zoning regulations to the bill so that zoning will become a state government matter rather than a local municipality one.
Earth Day is here and we are reminded just how precious and important our environment is. While not everyone has to be a tree-hugger or an eco-nut, it doesn’t much effort to make simple but impactful decisions for the benefit of the environment. In fact, some Denver residents can see some greenbacks in their wallets for their time. Sustainable Design Build loves having a sustainable eco-friendly mindset, so here are a few ways Denver homes can save some money when going green this Earth Day following this article by 5280.
According to an article published by Mile High CRE, Colorado has placed itself as one of the top cities when it comes to issuing permits for new construction. As the report states, Colorado has broken out into the top ten states since 2015; for 2022 has ranked as eighth highest in building permits. Despite that ranking and research, Denver has been in a wary condition with its permitting operations. Mired by long plan review times, workforce shortages, material price volatility, and new regulations – the number of permits issued year-over-year is a small snapshot of the construction industry in Colorado.
Sometimes builders and general contractors should take a step back and remember how personal their services are. When doing residential construction projects like home additions, remodels, and even ADUs, these projects are more than just another job. They are the homes of families who entrusted their space to be handled with care. That is why Sustainable Design Build approaches every residential construction project with a defensive mindset to ensure that absolute quality and safety are given to each home. And it is at times like these that our team here at Sustainable Design Build is reminded of that importance.
The upcoming Denver Mayoral Election is nearly over with the last day to vote on April 4 by 7 PM (Mail-in Ballots must be sent today, March 27th). Michael Hancock has been the long-time holding incumbent of the office for the last 12 years. This term, 17 candidates have their hats in the ring to become Denver’s new Mayor. With those candidates, a handful of them is calling for reform or improvements when it comes to Denver’s own construction and permitting process. For years now, the City and County of Denver have been plagued with increasingly long review and permitting times. A problem that has extended into both commercial construction and residential construction. Many argue (including these 4 candidates) the barriers in place are causing unnecessary delays, especially for a city that is combatting record lows in housing inventory and impressive highs in costs. Until something is done, the ever-growing backlog in the City’s Community Planning and Development Department will never be resolved.
The upcoming Denver Mayoral Election is nearly over with the last day to vote on April 4 by 7 PM (Mail-in Ballots must be sent today, March 27th). Michael Hancock has been the long-time holding incumbent of the office for the last 12 years. This term, 17 candidates have their hats in the ring to become Denver’s new Mayor. With those candidates, a handful of them is calling for reform or improvements when it comes to Denver’s own construction and permitting process. For years now, the City and County of Denver have been plagued with increasingly long review and permitting times. A problem that has extended into both commercial construction and residential construction. Many argue (including these 4 candidates) the barriers in place are causing unnecessary delays, especially for a city that is combatting record lows in housing inventory and impressive highs in costs. Until something is done, the ever-growing backlog in the City’s Community Planning and Development Department will never be resolved.
The upcoming Denver Mayoral Election is nearly over with the last day to vote on April 4 by 7 PM (Mail-in Ballots must be sent today, March 27th). Michael Hancock has been the long-time holding incumbent of the office for the last 12 years. This term, 17 candidates have their hats in the ring to become Denver’s new Mayor. With those candidates, a handful of them is calling for reform or improvements when it comes to Denver’s own construction and permitting process. For years now, the City and County of Denver have been plagued with increasingly long review and permitting times. A problem that has extended into both commercial construction and residential construction. Many argue (including these 4 candidates) the barriers in place are causing unnecessary delays, especially for a city that is combatting record lows in housing inventory and impressive highs in costs. Until something is done, the ever-growing backlog in the City’s Community Planning and Development Department will never be resolved.
Sustainable Design Build is committed to providing Denver and the surrounding communities with a higher level of service when it comes to building homes. That also includes providing a better sense of security through tried and true safety protocols. Many of the home Sustainable Design Build work on with clients can be older homes that contain hazardous materials, commonly this comes in the form of asbestos. As one may know, asbestos was originally used for providing insulation to buildings but is now removed from homes and replaced with safe options. However, demolishing any part of a home can run the risk of increased exposure to asbestos. Therefore, there are certain safety procedures that Sustainable Design Build follows to safely build a custom home or finish a home remodel.
Many of the homes throughout Denver’s neighborhoods share a quality that can be described as balanced and well-proportioned. Generally small in footprint and size while placed on a spacious lot, these homes are known as Bungalows. With beautiful front porches, these homes give Denver’s residential areas a warm and inviting face. However, despite their ubiquity, these homes still have a lot more to be desired when it comes down to space and modern day home utility. Which is why we at Sustainable Design Build have seen a large influx of clientele looking to start a Denver Bungalow Pop Top project. A home improvement that is perfect for a growing family or one that is looking to get more square footage without selling and moving. By adding a second-story addition to a Denver Bungalow, residents can still enjoy the timeless charm of their home and be in Denver without sacrificing space. Let’s take a closer look into what a Denver Bungalow Pop Top project is all about.
Denver residents who want to enhance or construct their homes can turn to Sustainable Design Build (SDB) and take advantage of their Full Service Design Build service. SDB puts sustainable and eco-friendly practices at the forefront of its construction and renovation process, starting from the initial design phase to the final build. They work closely with clients to create homes or buildings that meet their needs while minimizing their environmental impact.
There are some key differences between a design-build company like Sustainable Design Build and a traditional General Contractor. However, at our core, SDB operates just as a general contractor would – someone who is responsible for overseeing a construction project but with more added benefits to clients in a singular package.
ADU building is not an easy home improvement project here in Denver. Despite its recent efforts to make it more streamlined, Denver’s Community Planning and Development department still has significant hurdles for homeowners to clear for the ADU building. These come in the form of several regulatory barriers to residential construction. Properties zoned to allow for the construction of ADUs must consider adequate setbacks, building height limits, minimum lot size requirements, maximum square footage, reuse of existing accessory structures (when applicable), and owner occupancy, among other factors.
Construction in Denver has been hot in the last couple of years and the sheer volume of Denver’s Development and Planning Department is immense. But the increase in demand for more housing has developers breathing down the neck of the city’s review teams, expecting permit approvals in a timely manner. Unfortunately, a culmination of supply issues, workforce shortages, and shortsighted considerations Denver has been put in the spotlight for failing to deliver a service to help the development of its growing city. There does seem to be a fire lit underneath Denver’s review teams with more dedicated efforts to review plans for permits but the present pain can be felt all across Denver’s construction industry.
Building a home, remodeling, or performing any kind of home renovation can be an emotional task. It is easy to get carried away with ideas, inspirations, vision boards, and HGTV-fueled dreams. But when it comes down to the actual design and construction of your home renovation reality can be quite harsh. That is why we at Sustainable Design Build aim to be honest and transparent with the financial, emotional, and practical realities of your home renovation project. Let’s break down some of the most challenging aspects of a home renovation project and how one can prepare for it by setting good expectations
The housing shortage has been no secret, for years now Denver has been combating a large increase in housing demand and record dwindling lows for inventory. But with recent regulations and plans being announced by the local government, everyone is still wondering, “where are all the affordable housing options?”. Denver apartment developers are everywhere and that is evident with the cranes that stand across the city’s skyline, so why isn’t there enough housing? A better question to ask is, “who needs housing the most?”.
Lookout pet owners it seems a new bill is on its way that can affect your furry little friends. Denver will consider new legislation that would effectively ban pet rent fees and deposits. The bill is titled Pet Animal Ownership In Housing under bill number HB23-1068. The bill is drafted as a way to provide several protections for pet ownership in housing.
Three months after the newly released housing ordinance, the Apartment Association of Metro Denver is showing a negative trend in commercial multifamily development. Applications for commercial multifamily development have dramatically fallen by 88% following Devner’s new affordable housing ordinance. While the goal of the ordinance was to help further the development of new multifamily housing, many experts warned of the opposite effect. It seems now, Denver’s Affordable Housing Ordinance is scaring away commercial multifamily development.
Denver is home to many superstars and athletes, and just south of the city is a well-known neighborhood called Cherry Hills. The Cherry Hills neighborhood has homes for people of interest such as John Elway, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, and Rockies player Kris Bryant.
When walking through the neighborhoods of Denver, you may have noticed some of the sidewalks are more treacherous than others. There is definitely a varying degree of quality and upkeep for this pedestrian pavement. Up until now, it has actually been the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain and improve the sidewalks of the neighborhood. But now, Denver’s sidewalks have changed hands in management and control but still at the cost of homeowners. This is a benefit in many aspects, especially for property owners who were looking to build or make improvements to their homes.
It seems the trending interest in Accessory Dwelling Units is expanding past the Denver Metro Area. Arapahoe County is now proposing a new zoning regulation that would allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in unincorporated neighborhoods. The decision could be coming as soon as the Summer of 2023.
Land Developers face a large amount of regulation, code requirements, and scrutiny. Nothing is more apparent of that fact than the redevelopment and commercial construction project planned for Denver’s Park Hill golf Course. For years, the large property has sat vacant and unattended as developers change ownership due to complications in obtaining approval for its construction. Current land developer Westside Investment Partners have been in a years-long attempt to develop the 155-acre golf course. However, due to a unique conservation easement that has been maintained by the city and county of Denver construction has been at a standstill. The conservation easement states that the golf course will remain a golf course and operate as one. a current land developer wants to lift that easement to make way for more beneficial commercial construction projects such as additional housing and community development.
Lumber prices have been on a wild ride for the last three years. Since the pandemic hit, builders, homeowners, and investors have seen the US Commodity rise to astronomical prices. In 2021, lumber prices skyrocketed to $1,481.50 in May, the cause of this sudden increase was the fallout of the pandemic. A combination of supply chain woes and an unintended demand in housing and construction caused a demand far greater than anyone could have anticipated. Since then, we saw lumber prices fall and return to their previous highs in 2022. However, halfway through 2022 lumber prices plunged around 66% into the new year.
Looking back at the year, Sustainable Design Build saw its share of beautiful Denver homes. The SDB team has been super fortunate to work with amazing families and households in order to bring out the best in their properties. Through SDB’s design-build process, home remodels, home additions, and accessory dwelling units were built in all varieties in 2022. Let’s take a quick look at some of our 2022 projects and see the design-build difference.
Sustainable Design Build often finds clients who would like to include their unfinished basements in their home improvement plans. Whether their main project goal is to build a home addition or simply remodel part of the house, an unfinished basement is a great opportunity. However, Denver homes often face unique challenges when it comes to framing a basement that other homes across the US do not have to worry about. This is due to Denver’s soil quality which can also be found all along the Front Range, and its effects on buried structures. If you plan on remodeling your Denver home’s basement read on to get familiar with the factors that will be considered when working with Sustainable Design Build.
Sustainable Design Build is here to bring another update about the South Federal Flats Multifamily Apartment Development! The multifamily commercial project is making remarkable progress in the last month, the project has started the framing phase. Since then, the framing of the multifamily construction project has been moving along swiftly!
If you have been trying to reach Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department, you might have noticed a lack of response. No need to worry, this is temporary and intentional. In fact, the order comes down from the top officials who have decided this would be the best time of year for a blitz on the pending plans that need to be reviewed.
Developers, construction companies, and real estate investors are well aware of the increasing difficulty of bringing a multifamily construction project to fruition. In recent years, building codes have evolved and updated for the benefit of residents and neighborhoods. However, with the growth and additions made to Building Codes, the rigidity of the construction process has caused costs to rise in multifamily construction. These Building Codes are essential and very much necessary to ensure developers and construction companies provide quality and safe homes to the public; however, the implementation of newer regulations raises the difficulty and costs associated with bringing new multifamily construction to the public.
For the last couple of years or so, building an ADU in Denver has been a hot trend for homeowners, real estate investors, and would-be rental owners. An ADU or more formally known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit is a great idea to expand the livable square footage of a property. Property owners of all kinds have envisioned their homes to have a detached suite right in their backyard. The apparent benefits look promising, having a detached unit that can be rented out for long or short periods, having a detached property that can house family members or guests, and the increased square footage adds to the property value.
At a glance, building an ADU seems like a worthy investment for future rental owners but more times than not, it’s not the best investment. The reason for this is due to the ADU Cash Flow Conundrum property owners are faced with. Building an ADU requires a lot more time and money than other projects which makes them unappealing to those looking to cash flow as a rental.
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