On Friday, March 7 the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) and its strategic partners celebrated a major milestone with the grand opening of Joli, the first DHA building to be completed in Phase 3 of the Sun Valley Redevelopment. This marks a significant step in revitalizing one of Denver’s most historically underserved neighborhoods.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston emphasized the project’s impact on housing and economic opportunity. “We are proud to celebrate the transformation underway right now in Sun Valley,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “Innovations like these put Denver on the cutting edge and prevent families from being priced out of the city they call home.”
DHA Chief Executive Officer Joaquín Cintrón Vega emphasized the broader vision behind the redevelopment: “Today we proudly unveiled Joli, the first completed building in the final phase of our plan to revitalize Sun Valley, a geographically central Denver neighborhood that was once home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents,” DHA’s Chief Executive Officer Joaquín Cintrón Vega, added. “We expect the remaining two buildings in Phase 3, Sol and Flo, to also reach completion later this year.”
Joli: A Vibrant Mixed-Income Community for Families
Joli, by Kaleidoscope Denver Living, is the first building to open in the final phase of the Sun Valley redevelopment, offering a vibrant mixed-income community. The development includes a total of 82 affordable residences, including seven live-work townhomes, offering 1–5-bedroom options. Beyond housing, the Joli site will host a Food Incubator that will begin operations throughout 2025-2026 with a commissary kitchen supporting local food trucks along with on-site food and beverage stalls. The incubator will offer an engaging atmosphere welcoming residents and visitors alike, while also supporting those interested in exploring entrepreneurial career paths in the food industry.
A $465M Transformation of Sun Valley
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.
The final two buildings in this phase include Sol and Flo. Sol is also a mixed-income family community with 169 apartments and townhomes. Flo, the last building to begin construction, is a 12-story high-rise, designed for residents aged 55+ and non-senior individuals with disabilities. Both buildings are scheduled to open by fall of 2025.
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.
