Construction is well underway!  The first few months on a new-build site are very busy, mostly laying a firm foundation for what will be home to 54 individual seniors and couples for generations to come.  Want to catch the most up-to-date view of the site? – click here!:  https://www.senserasystems.com/public/project/Atrium 

Even with the uncertainty of our times, the progress for approval of this project has been remarkably smooth.  Approval of plans from both Land Use Review (planning and zoning) and Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, we hope to break ground in the next few months.  When plans are finalized and ready to go, we will publish final renderings of the exterior of the building here.  Interiors and layout are substantively the same as presented during the public meeting on November 21.  We have great partners in this development, and are already receiving inquiries from seniors about when they can move in!

Thanks to all who attended the public meeting on November 21st. Questions, comments, and conversations from last night are being consolidated, and frequently asked questions will be included on our Message from the Executive Director and Atrium at Austin Bluffs FAQ page, and updated on our website soon. While conversations were robust, we received very few written comments or questions. Please remember that in addition to the public meeting, your comments and questions can be recorded with the City’s Land Use Review Division as our Development Plan is reviewed. Questions for Greccio can be sent directly to lpatke@greccio.org, or through a link on our website at www.greccio.org.

A 3rd party Traffic and Transportation Consultant was hired to professionally analyze traffic impact of the project on the adjacent roadways; the complete analysis can be found here. 

Our initial Development Plan application has now been submitted to the Land Use Review Division.  It is typical to have several rounds of feedback and revisions over several months prior to approval.  We have also scheduled a community meeting to introduce and discuss elements of the Plan (the building), amenities, resources, and population served, as well as to answer questions and solicit input.  Please join us Nov. 21, 5:30 – 7pm in the Upper Room at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel, 4285 N. Academy Blvd (NE corner of Academy and Austin Bluffs).  For more information, contact Lee Patke, Executive Director, at lpatke@greccio.org, or (719) 419-5612.

The last 2 months have been busy behind the scenes, as we prepare our initial Development Plan submittal for Land Use Review. We’ll hope to announce the application and review soon! Greccio is also excited to announce that the Myron Stratton Foundation has joined the project as lender for funds necessary for the important design phase of the site, building, and amenities for our future residents. Myron Stratton brings a long history or supporting and providing opportunity for limited income seniors in our community, and have joined Greccio to bring housing stability and opportunity to this worthy and high-demand population.

We are excited to announce a funding award from the Atrium at Austin Bluffs by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority in late May!  Since then, work has begun on detailed design and engineering of the building, its amenities, and other pre-development activity.  This phase may take from 6 to 18 months, in preparation to begin construction.  Engagement with community partners and interested parties is also underway, to ensure the Atrium is an attractive, engaging, and livable home to its future residents and the neighborhood.

Pre-development activity includes site planning, working with future Resident Resource partners, and securing funding for construction.

Interior renovations for a Colorado Springs City funded accessibility upgrade have been completed. Two units have been upgraded to improve accessibility to include new bathrooms, transfer style showers and new kitchens. Work in the kitchens included new accessible appliances and cabinets. Due to the extent of the work to upgrade accessibility, new flooring has been installed entirely within the renovated units. New exterior handicap ramps and guardrails have been installed allowing easier access for anyone in a wheelchair or with challenged mobility. Paving the parking lot is the last part of the project and, weather permitting, will be completed in March.

Two units in the Arcadia Apartment complex are scheduled to receive handicap accessibility upgrades. This work encompasses a complete remodel inside both units with new bathrooms, kitchens and interior finishes. Work will also included new sidewalks and handicap accessible ramps leading into both units. The parking area will be paved and will include much needed drainage improvements. All work is currently under contract and expected to take place early next month.

The bidding process for each of the primary improvement areas is in its final stages, and we expect work to begin this summer!

Our CDBG loan application has been approved by the city and will soon be finalized. This will allow us to begin our architectural design work and several exterior improvements as soon as April of 2019.

Our city application was recently updated to answer questions from community development and in final coordination. In the meantime, we are gathering estimates/proposals for the desired work (parking lot paving, painting, ADA upgrades to 2 apartments, landscaping and roofing). We’re seeking to start work in mid-spring.

Worthy goals sometime take time – we are excited to announce that after 5 years of commitment, THE RIDGE IS OPEN!  Demonstrating very high need for housing, each of the first 2 buildings were 100% occupied within 30 days.  The third and final building is expected in December, bringing an additional (10) 3-bedroom apartments to the complex, as well as a business center, rec and exercise area, and host of Resident Resource offerings to ensure support and housing stability for our residents.  Many thanks to Commonwealth Development for their commitment to this project and our city!

After a brief construction delay several months ago, The Ridge is moving along on schedule now, and will be open for leasing by late Spring or early summer.  The buildings are a beautiful addition to a long-vacant site, and brings affordable housing to the community at a time we need it most.  Watch our website for updates and for how to join the interest list to make The Ridge your new home!

Construction is well underway!

Construction began in February and is on schedule for a February, 2020 opening!  Watch our website later this summer for an initial Interest List and Waitlist; applications will be accepted in late fall.

Pre-construction activity is underway on-site, and construction begins! Information letters have gone out to the owners of adjacent condos. The estimated time of construction is 12-14 months.

We are open for business! Rocky Mountain Apartments has officially received a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy and had the final building inspection. The first tenant is moving in! Soon, 18 more families in our community will call Rocky Mountain home.

The Rocky Mountain units are looking less like a construction site and more like a home! The exterior is getting a new coat of paint and the courtyard is beginning to take shape. 18 more families will have safe, stable, and affordable homes very soon!

Wow – what a transformation!  What was previously a hodge-podge of offices with different cabinets and flooring throughout, is taking shape as fresh new apartment homes.  Thanks to a range of funders and our dedicated general contractor, TN Parker construction, we are about 60 days away from offering 18 new units to our community.  With an enclosed courtyard, playground, community gardens, grab-n-go library, and gated access, we look forward to scheduling our grand-opening and ribbon cutting very soon.  Stay tuned for details!

Construction is underway! After many tweaks to the design of the building to accommodate the latest building department requirements, we received our building permit in September, and the clock is now ticking on our 7-month expected time of construction, with an opening in spring, 2020! Many thanks to our General Contractor, TN Parker, and architect, Terry Van Sant, for their tireless efforts to get us to this exciting point in the project!

Due to continued development of the building plan, we expect construction to begin in late summer or early fall.  Greccio and our funding partners have remained committed to bringing this new affordable housing property online in mid-2020.

Our city application was recently updated to answer questions from community development and in final coordination. In the meantime, we are gathering estimates/proposals for the desired work (parking lot paving, painting, ADA upgrades to 2 apartments, landscaping and roofing). We’re seeking to start work in mid-spring.

After a fire in the spring that affected the building boiler room, laundry room and multiple tenant units, work has been completed to repair the fire damage. Boilers and hot water storage tanks for the entire complex have been replaced. The tenant laundry room, which was impacted by the fire, has been reconstructed and is now open for use. Lastly, two units which were heavily damaged have been completely rebuilt. The two units have all new kitchens, appliances, bath fixtures and finishes

Greccio completed replacement of both the roof, roof underlayment and the rain gutter system. The new roof will help protect the masonry and structure of a building originally constructed over one hundred years ago to continue to provide housing for ten families.

As of May, 2019, accessibility and ADA upgrades to the entrance and 4 ground-level apartments is now complete!  Many thanks to our construction partners, TN Parker Construction and Tucco Construction; and our primary funding source, the City of Colorado Springs.  Special thanks for ongoing advice and consultation by the Independence Center!

The first of four apartment conversions to provide greater accessibility was completed on March 26, 2019. This unit now has a more open layout, allowing greater movement and ADA/ANSI amenities in the bathroom and kitchen areas.

Already completed is a new ground-floor entryway, which replaced a cumbersome 5-step elevated entry deck, which then led to more stairs to the garden level or second floor. The new entryway offers ground-floor access for those with mobility impairments improved ease of visiting. The next phase of improvements, beginning in March/April 2019, will be a conversion of four ground-level apartments to ADA/ANSI standards – open bathrooms, walk/roll-in showers, modified doorways, lowered cabinets/countertops and more!