The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) and its strategic partners celebrated a major milestone in the transformation of Sun Valley on Thursday with the grand opening of Flo, a 212-unit building designed for adults 55 and older and individuals with disabilities.
The ribbon cutting marked the completion of Phase 3 of DHA’s Sun Valley redevelopment. It featured remarks from Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, alongside DHA CEO Joaquín Cintrón Vega, project partners, and community members.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston highlighted the project’s impact on both housing and economic opportunities:
“An affordable Denver is one where people of all age brackets, backgrounds, and incomes can live—and live well within their budgets,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “Developments like Flo demonstrate that you can have high-quality housing without paying high rent, and we will continue working tirelessly to create more opportunities like this one across Denver.”
DHA Chief Executive Officer Joaquín Cintrón Vega reflected on the project’s deeper meaning for the neighborhood.
“Honoring a community’s vision means listening with humility, acting with courage, and building with purpose,” said Joaquín Cintrón Vega, CEO at the Denver Housing Authority. “In fulfilling our promise to Sun Valley, we’ve created homes shaped by community voices, replacing outdated housing with vibrant, mixed-income neighborhoods. Flo stands as a symbol of that vision, offering 212 new homes for older adults and people with disabilities to live, connect, and thrive.”
Councilwoman Jamie Torres (District 3) spoke about the sense of connection that defines Sun Valley
“Walking through these units, I can see my own mom living here, she’s someone who gives gifts through food. That’s the spirit of households in Sun Valley,” said Torres. “Residents here are generous and love giving back to the community, because it’s those connections that make us feel grounded and part of something. We are excited to welcome all the residents we are bringing back.”
About Flo and Sun Valley
Flo is the seventh and final multifamily building in DHA’s Sun Valley redevelopment, completing the replacement of 333 outdated public housing units with 965 modern, mixed-income homes for households earning between 20%–100% of the area median income (AMI).
- The first two buildings, Gateway North and Gateway South, opened in 2021; Thrive and GreenHaus opened in 2023.
- In 2024–2025, Joli, Sol, and Flo opened to complete the housing portion of the redevelopment.
Flo highlights:
- 12-story high-rise with 212 one- and two-bedroom apartments (552–927 sq. ft.)
- Designed for adults 55+ and non-senior individuals with disabilities
- Rent (utilities included):
- 1BR (202 units): $748 (30% AMI) – $1,497 (60% AMI)
- 2BR (10 units): $897 (30% AMI) – $1,796 (60% AMI)
- Amenities: 97 covered parking spaces (7 accessible); 11 EV charging stations; indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge with grills; community gathering room; tech lounge with coworking spaces; meeting room; community laundry; and more.
- Steps from Decatur Fresh Market, the future Riverfront Park, and a new food incubator.
The Sun Valley Redevelopment is made possible through a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant awarded by HUD in 2016 as well as over $60 million through the DHA Delivers for Denver (D3) bond program with the City of Denver, which DHA has leveraged into over $500 million in new development.
With the completion of Phase 3, DHA will have replaced the 333-unit former Sun Valley Homes public housing with:
- Seven new multifamily buildings serving 965 households earning between 20%-100% of the area median income (AMI).
- Critical community investments such as the Decatur Fresh Market and a Grow Garden to provide healthy food options in the Sun Valley neighborhood.
- Significant infrastructure improvements to enhance mobility, accessibility, and connectivity throughout Sun Valley.
Additionally, DHA and the City and County of Denver are developing Sun Valley Riverfront Park, an 11-acre recreational space to support the broader vision to revitalize the South Platte River as a community hub. The first 5.5 acres of the park will be under construction in 2026.
