A strong local economy depends on housing that is attainable for the workforce and broader community. Yet, rising housing costs are pushing employees farther from their jobs, forcing employers to contend with longer commutes, talent shortages, and increasing hiring challenges. According to the City of Arvada, 62% of in-commuters have considered living in Arvada, but were unable to find attainable housing to buy or rent within their price range. Research consistently shows that a constrained housing market negatively impacts economic growth, while attainable housing is central to the health of people and their communities.
Recognizing the wide-reaching impacts of this housing gap on the workforce, local businesses, and the community, the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce supports approving the Conditional Use Permit for the proposed Welby Gardens Development.
What is the Proposed Welby Gardens Project?
This development, proposed by AvalonBay Communities, seeks to provide 384 apartments and 50 for-sale townhomes at 17201 W 64th Ave, Arvada, CO 80007. This project would add needed housing stock for middle to moderate-income earners, including young professionals, college graduates, new families, and essential workers in the Arvada community. This location is zoned for residential mixed-use development.
This project would have apartments designed for households earning roughly 75-120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This includes:
- Those earning between $78,000 – $117,000 for a one-person household
- Those earning between $89,000 – $134,500 for a two-person household
- Those earning between $112,000 – $168,000 for a four-person household
Labor market data shows that many middle-income earners include teachers, nurses, police officers, business operations managers, manufacturers, and electricians – all of whom currently help to make Arvada’s economy and community thrive. These earners are not eligible for subsidized housing (affordable housing), but can not always afford market-rate for-sale or for-rent housing due to rising costs. Having income-aligned housing options, especially in Arvada, helps to provide more options so that workers can attain housing within their price range and within reasonable proximity to their jobs. According to Stacker, the average commute time to Arvada is 27 minutes, with 42% of Arvada’s commuting workforce driving 30-minutes or more one way.
Additionally, this project would include 50 needed for-sale townhomes expected to be priced at $470,000. While this price falls outside of the range of affordability for households earning 60-120% AMI, they are priced well below the median home price in the area. The average for-sale price in West Arvada is $850,000, and the average for-sale price in Arvada is $609,000, per Realtor.com. Townhomes are an important component of the total housing stock, but often make up the smallest share of new housing development. “Missing Middle Housing” refers to types of housing between apartment buildings and detached single-family homes (like townhomes, condos, duplexes, etc.), but have become uncommon developments due to a variety of regulatory and policy barriers.
In the Chamber’s 2025 Housing Audit, it was found that there was a clear need for a broader range of housing options and stock, particularly in West Arvada. 80007 was found to have the highest median for-sale home price, and the least amount of income-aligned housing stock when compared to other Arvada zip codes. This project would add needed income-aligned housing stock to this community, close to local businesses and popular West Arvada destinations.
Why is the Chamber in Support?
The Greater Arvada Chamber supports this project as it aligns with our B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing Initiative goal to ensure access to income-aligned housing so that workers can attain housing within reasonable proximity to their jobs. Local business leaders have expressed that rising housing costs and the lack of attainable housing stock lead to significant challenges with talent recruitment and retention. The Welby Gardens Development project helps to close that gap.
According to Lightcast data, roughly 62% of Arvada’s workforce currently commutes from outside of the city, with over 40% of Arvada’s commuting workforce driving 30-minutes or more one-way. Labor market data shows that many essential workers and middle-income earners can not afford to live within reasonable proximity to their jobs, leading to high turnover rates for businesses and difficulty finding qualified talent. By providing income-aligned housing in West Arvada, this project will reduce commute times for our workforce, strengthening qualified talent recruitment and retention among local businesses.
Increased Stock Drives Down the Cost of Housing
The Jeffco Housing Blueprint found that Jefferson County is short more than 20,000 housing units across the county to meet the housing needs of its population. There is research and evidence that supports adding increased, diverse housing supply lowers housing prices, especially in metropolitan areas where markets are tight. According to the Urban Institute, a shortage of housing across the spectrum – affordable housing, middle-income housing, market-rate housing, for-sale, for-rent, types of housing stock, etc- has led to large increases in housing costs for both renters and homeowners. Since 2020, home prices have increased nearly 55%, and rent has gone up more than 30% nationwide (Center for American Progress). In 2025, the median first-time homebuyer age increased to 40, the highest on record. Increasing housing supply in an area is linked to lower housing prices overall.
The Upjohn Institute uses the term “migration chain” to describe how building new housing decreases the cost of housing for a region. In this process, as people leave their current homes and move into new units, these vacated units loosen the market for that type of unit, which lowers prices and benefits the community. They identified that building 100 new market-rate units in an area opens up the equivalent of 40-70 units of affordable housing for low and middle-income earners in a metro-region, depending on the AMI of that neighborhood. This allows people to move through the migration chain and provides additional housing supply that can be accessed, decreasing the housing strain in a region. Increasing the stock of housing across the housing spectrum supports the migration chain across all income levels. For middle-income earners especially, research indicates that building more housing, including market-rate housing, will make homes more affordable throughout a region and offer these workers income-aligned options to rent or buy.
Housing is Good for the Local Economy
Housing is not just a social issue, it is also an economic development tool. More housing means more workers can live near their jobs, more money stays in the local economy, and businesses can strengthen. A study by the National Apartment Association found that every 100 units built generate an average of $16 million in local economic activity through resident spending and support 85 jobs. The Chamber views the Welby Gardens Development project as critical to Arvada’s long-term economic vitality, ensuring that businesses remain competitive and the community continues to thrive. Supporting this project means strengthening Arvada’s workforce stability and building a more resilient local economy.
What Happens Next?
Arvada City Council will hear the Conditional Use request for the Welby Gardens Development on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 6:00 pm to determine the outcome of this request.
The Greater Arvada Chamber’s B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing Initiative seeks to ensure access to income-aligned housing so that workers can attain housing within reasonable proximity to their jobs. The Chamber offers resources, programming, and events for regional businesses to participate in the initiative. If you are interested in learning more, supporting the Welby Gardens Development, or getting involved in housing advocacy generally as a business leader, please contact jess@arvadachamber.org.
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