1799 Pennsylvania St. (Denver)
A Multi-Generational, Family-Centered, Service-Enriched Community:
The Redevelopment of 1799 Pennsylvania Street in Denver
Housing is foundational to health, stability, and overall well-being. Yet across Colorado, too many people are struggling to secure a safe and affordable place to live. Housing costs have risen far faster than wages, and many communities lack truly affordable options close to jobs, schools, transit, and care.
Coloradans feel this strain deeply. Year-after-year, a strong majority of respondents to our Pulse Poll say that the cost of housing is an extremely serious or very serious problem. These pressures do not affect everyone equally. People of color and people living on low incomes bear the greatest burden, often paying far more than they can afford for housing that is far from opportunity.
Meeting the Need Close to Home
As a foundation committed to advancing health equity, we believe we have a responsibility to take action. To help address the urgent need for affordable homes in central Denver, The Colorado Health Foundation purchased the property at 1799 Pennsylvania Street, directly across from our headquarters.
This acquisition allows us to steward the land toward a future that aligns with our values: increasing access to affordable homes and strengthening resources that support community well-being.
A Vision for The Tapestry
The site will be developed into The Tapestry, a multi-phase, multi-generational affordable housing community designed to support long-term stability for Denver families.
Phase 1: A Multi-Generational, Service-Enriched Community
The first phase will include a five-story building offering one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartment homes for households earning 30%–80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). These homes are designed with families in mind, reflecting what we heard from community members about the need for stability across generations. Construction is now underway, with completion expected in late 2027.
The building will be a family-centered, inclusive community anchored by essential neighborhood resources on the ground floor:
- Mile High Early Learning Center, providing high-quality early childhood education
- Uptown Clinic, offering accessible health services to residents and the surrounding community
Residents will also have access to onsite support from Hope Communities, a trusted Denver nonprofit that will provide services focused on connection, opportunity, and whole-family well-being.
The Foundation will not own or operate the buildings or programming. Our long-term role is to ensure the site remains affordable for generations, preserving access to opportunity in a rapidly changing neighborhood.
How We Got Here
Following the purchase of the property, the Foundation and our partner Urban Ventures, LLC engaged individuals with lived experience, local nonprofit staff, neighborhood associations, community developers, and municipal and state housing leaders. Their message was clear: central Denver urgently needs more affordable and supportive family housing.
Demolition of the former structures on the site was completed in 2024, paving the way for new development. Gorman & Company was selected as the primary developer for Phase 1.
In May 2025, the development received several key competitive awards, including the 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the Colorado state affordable housing tax credit, and a Transit-Oriented Community credit. These awards secured the critical financing needed to move swiftly toward construction and bring The Tapestry to life.
Questions?
- Members of news media, please contact Taryn Fort at 303-953-3666 or David Proper at 303-953-3681. Questions for Gorman & Company may be directed to Melissa Badini at 608-835-5899.
- Neighborhood organizations and other community stakeholders, please contact Susan Powers of Urban Ventures at 303-902-6615