CREJ

A recent report by ATTOM Data Solutions announced Denver as the worst county for home affordability in the United States, as a percent- age of income necessary to afford a median-priced home relative to historic averages. It also placed Arapahoe and Jefferson counties among the bottom five.To put it simply, the rising cost of homeownership in the Denver met- ropolitan area is outpacing income growth.The unaffordability of housing has risen to the level that it directly impacts the growing issue of homeless- ness, in Denver as well as nearly every other metropolitan area throughout the country. Recent growth in Denver’s population only amplifies the already harrowing challenge. Architects and developers realize that the standard solutions typically employed to address homelessness and affordability just do not do enough to meet the current need.The growing crisis motivates design professionals to look for new and innovative approaches. Taking advantage of the continued decline of retail tenant leases, our research and development concept, Re- Habit, proposes reusing vacant big-box retail spaces to create self-sustaining transitional housing. Space for reha- bilitation, counseling and services are incorporated within the residential component, while a portion of the big- box space is divided into smaller retail spaces, providing built-in opportunities for the residents to obtain on-site train- ing and employment.This concept is perhaps an idealized solution, designed to serve those in the direst of housing circumstances. For a concept such as Re-Habit to come to fruition, multiple entities (city agencies, service-oriented nonprofits, neighborhood groups, etc.) would need to come together for the shared purpose. It may seem like a lofty dream, but by addressing all the factors effecting homeless individu- als, the chances of long-term success increase dramatically. Encouragingly, it seems as though politicians understand the growing concern of Denver residents to address Please see Page 32 INSIDE How long can Denver’s – and most of the coun- try’s – continued economic expansion last? Are we there yet? New techniques in modular and prefabrication advancing construction Technique PAGES 26 The evolution of sustainable design in today’s multifamily buildings Evolution PAGE 20 August 2019 PAGES 4 Marissa Kasdan R+D studio director, KTGY Architecture + Planning Housing crisis motivates innovative, new approaches The growing need for transitional housing for homeless individuals and the rise of vacant, big-box retail spaces provides a unique opportunity to address both issues with ideas such as KTGY’s R+D conceptual solution, Re-Habit.