Everyone who lives here should be able to stay.
Everyone who moves here should be welcomed.

Density is good and affordable living is a right.

Because:

  1. When we allow for more residential development–of all sizes and character–we allow new residents to join our neighborhoods and existing residents to afford to stay, creating more opportunities and options for everyone.
  2. When the supply of homes expands, prices fall.
  3. Greater concentrations of residents attract more businesses and services to our communities—increasing options, opportunities, and quality of life for all.
  4. Density supports more walkable, bikeable, and transit-rich neighborhoods, allowing Denverites to meet their daily needs without relying on a car.
  5. When people of all backgrounds and incomes live close to one another, neighbors grow stronger bonds and communities thrive.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Encourage new home construction in all of Denver’s neighborhoods, for people and families of all income levels.
  2. Put housing for people before “housing” (parking) for cars.
  3. Plan for the Denver of tomorrow, not the Denver of today or yesterday.
  4. Allow individuals and families to decide what a home means to them, whether it’s 300 square feet or 3,000.

The freedom to move is essential.

Because:

  1. Dense cities demand efficient and reliable transit, walking, and biking options, and Denver deserves a better transportation network that supports and nurtures a growing city.
  2. Owning a car should not be a prerequisite to living in Denver.
  3. Traveling on foot, bike, and transit should not only be convenient, but safe, attractive, reliable, and cost-effective.
  4. Public streets are for everyone’s use—not just those who drive and park their cars.
  5. Reliable and efficient transit systems relieve residents of the significant financial burdens associated with car-dependency.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Prioritize pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders over cars.
  2. Create safe and functional streets based on that prioritization.
  3. Expand and enhance reliable transit options in Denver.
  4. Eliminate subsidies for driving and car ownership.

Anti-growth tendencies are exacerbating gentrification and displacement.

Because:

  1. Rising rental costs and home values have to be addressed by an increase in the supply of all types of homes.
  2. When neighborhoods say “no” to home construction, they are denying current residents additional options for attainable homes, and denying newcomers a home in their desired neighborhood.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Expand affordable and market-rate home development throughout the city.
  2. Achieve an equitable distribution of attainable homes in all of Denver’s neighborhoods.

Denver can (literally) not afford to continue policies that promote sprawl.

Because:

  1. Dense, fine grain development contributes to a growing tax base for our city.
  2. Growth within Denver’s established neighborhoods allows our existing infrastructure (e.g. transportation, water, and educational) to work more efficiently.
  3. Adding residents and businesses to our existing neighborhoods means Denver’s taxpayers spend less money to subsidize the infrastructure costs of residents at the fringes of our city.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Encourage new homes and businesses to locate in all of Denver’s core neighborhoods.
  2. Reform land use policies that make it more expensive or burdensome to construct new, compact housing in existing neighborhoods.

Densifying existing neighborhoods is the only sustainable growth.

Because:

  1. Denver will not stop growing, and we must choose if new residents will be accommodated within our existing neighborhoods, or at the sprawling fringes of our metro.
  2. Compact development, where residents have shared access to our transportation, infrastructure, and city services, is more ecologically, environmentally, and fiscally sustainable.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Reduce our collective impact on the environment and its natural resources.
  2. Incentivize the development of sustainable building forms that consume less of our resources.

When neighborhoods say “YES” to homes and businesses, Denver’s community grows stronger.

Because:

  1. Allowing residents to meet their daily needs without traveling long distances creates stronger bonds with neighbors, merchants, and other community members.
  2. Vibrant neighborhoods with diverse businesses and services are able to support the needs of residents of all ages, and older adults can age in place.
  3. Diverse and welcoming communities are thriving communities.

We advocate for policies that:

  1. Promote mixed-use developments (homes, businesses, and community services).
  2. Support mixed-income, diverse neighborhoods.
  3. Encourage non-traditional housing arrangements, such as co-ops and community land trusts.