Colorado Faces Urgent Affordable Housing Push with Bill HB 1308
Denver is at a crossroads as affordable housing advocates urge state legislators to pass HB 1308, a bill aimed at unlocking homeownership opportunities by allowing the division of residential lots. The move is positioned to significantly lower land costs and expand attainable housing options for thousands of Coloradans struggling with soaring prices.
Jesselina Cordova, a Habitat Metro Denver homeowner in Denver’s Cole neighborhood, publicly backed the bill this week, emphasizing how current zoning rules inhibit affordable development. “I urge legislators to vote yes on HB 1308 and support more opportunities for attainable homeownership for people like me,” Cordova stated, citing her own neighborhood’s struggle with housing costs pushing residents out.
How HB 1308 Could Transform Denver Neighborhoods
HB 1308 proposes a change that would let a single residential lot be split into two homes where appropriate. This legislation builds on successful models by Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver, which has managed to build quality homes on smaller, split lots, even doubling production since the COVID-19 pandemic. Their work has grown from 20 units built between 2019 and 2021 to 40 units planned between 2022 and 2024.
Supporters argue that this approach not only reduces land acquisition costs but also keeps the character of neighborhoods intact by using land already zoned for residential use. By enabling more compact home building, HB 1308 aims to create stable, predictable homeownership for young buyers, aging parents downsizing, and long-time residents threatened by escalating prices.
Jesselina Cordova: “Stable homeownership brings predictability and stability for communities… policies like HB 1308 help ensure more people can build stability and remain connected to their communities.”
Why This Legislation Matters Now
The affordable housing crisis is pressing, especially in urban centers like Denver where remote work has shifted residential patterns and raised questions about sustainable community development. Cordova and other advocates highlight how restrictive zoning blocks innovative solutions proven by nonprofits.
“Homeownership should not be limited to those who can afford large lots and rising land prices,” Cordova argued. In the shadow of rising national housing costs, the bill stands out as a pragmatic, immediate fix rather than a long-term abstract plan, directly addressing local economic and social challenges.
Broader Implications and What to Watch
While HB 1308 is specific to Colorado, its implications resonate broadly across the United States where affordable homeownership is slipping out of reach for many. Delaware readers and housing advocates nationwide can see parallels in their own communities with similar zoning challenges limiting affordable housing development.
The legislature’s decision on HB 1308 is imminent, and housing experts are closely monitoring the outcome as a bellwether for future land-use reform efforts. The bill’s passage could pave the way for other states to explore lot splitting as a scalable strategy to alleviate housing shortages.
Next Steps
Colorado lawmakers are expected to vote soon on HB 1308. Advocates like Cordova urge residents and community leaders to voice strong support to their representatives for what could be a landmark solution to an urgent nationwide crisis.
Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity continues its work demonstrating that well-planned, smaller housing units can thrive within existing neighborhoods — a hopeful model for Delaware and beyond as cities across the country wrestle with making housing accessible and affordable for all.
