Willoughby Corner

If you’re looking for a below-market-rate rental with quick access to restaurants, shops, well-rated schools, and other community amenities, there’s still room. One-bedroom units are still available for those earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or those with a Housing Choice Voucher (all 30%, 40%, and 50% AMI units have been leased). Rent is $1,642 per month and includes all utilities.

To lease a Willoughby Corner property, email BCHALeasing@bouldercounty.gov for more information and to obtain the application. You can also create a free WaitlistCheck account to be notified of all current and future openings.

How to Apply:

• Phone: Call 720-564-2267
• Email: BCHALeasing@bouldercounty.gov

Please leave us a message and we will return your call within two business days. Once the properties are ready to lease, we will contact you to confirm your interest and submit additional documentation.

All Phase 1 buildings at Willoughby Corner are now complete! This includes the community center, Búho Place for residents aged 55 and over, and four multifamily buildings: Bluestem Place, Sugar Beet House, Peach Tree House, and Purple Prairie Place.

Watch the community come together in these silent time-lapse construction videos:

Over the spring and summer of 2025, our team transformed the site with new landscaping, a completed playground and basketball/pickleball court, and improved roundabouts, sidewalks, and bike paths that make it easier and safer to get around. The new RTD bus shelter is open, with routes 225 and DASH now serving the stop, and solar panels have been installed on every building to provide clean, renewable energy for the community.

We are currently in the planning process for Phase 2 and 3. Want to receive updates about construction, leasing opportunities, and events? Sign up for our Willoughby Corner newsletter.

Question: Will the homes be for rent or for sale?

Answer: Willoughby Corner will include both rental and for-sale homes for families, older adults, and local workers. The final mix will be decided during planning and financing, but the agreement between Boulder County and the City of Lafayette states that about 80% of the homes will be rentals and 20% will be for sale.

Question: Will the homes be permanently affordable? How is that guaranteed?

Answer: Yes. The agreement between Boulder County and the City of Lafayette requires that all affordable homes at Willoughby Corner remain affordable permanently. This means the homes will always have below-market rents or prices, even if ownership changes in the future.

Question: Who will own and manage the homes?

Answer: The Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) owns and manages the community. BCHA has a full property management and maintenance team that handles day-to-day operations, regular inspections, and repairs. Staff are available 24/7 for emergencies. Once for-sale homes are built, homeowners will be responsible for repairs and maintenance of their own for-sale homes.

Question: Is this Section 8 housing?

Answer: No, this development is not traditional Section 8 housing. However, residents who have Housing Choice Vouchers (often called Section 8 vouchers) will be able to use them here if the unit meets federal program standards. Housing Choice Vouchers help very low-income households pay rent by covering the difference between what a family can afford and the total rent amount. Waitlists for vouchers can be long — often several years — but BCHA welcomes residents who qualify for and receive this type of assistance.

Question: How will this new community connect to the trail system?

Answer: The community is close to the future Inspire Trail and the existing Burlington Trail, which gives great opportunities to improve Lafayette’s trail network. Safe, easy trail connections will be an important part of the neighborhood design.

Question: Are there economic benefits to Lafayette from adding more affordable housing?

Answer: Yes. When more residents can afford to live in Lafayette, they spend more of their income locally — on food, clothing, transportation, and health care — which supports local businesses and jobs. Affordable homes also help families build stability and reduce financial stress. People can spend more on basic needs, like healthy food, which supports overall community health. Research shows that communities with a mix of affordable housing are stronger, have fewer foreclosures, and are better able to attract and keep local workers.

Question: How will the new housing affect local schools? Should we be worried about overcrowding?

Answer: The Willoughby Corner neighborhood includes a mix of families, older adults, and individuals without children. The Boulder Valley School District reviewed the project and confirmed that nearby schools have enough space for the expected number of students.

Here’s some of the information we’ve shared at recent community events:

• Development Overview
• Eligibility Information
• WaitlistCheck Instructions

2023 Open House Presentations:

• Willoughby Corner Overview Presentation
• Willoughby Corner Application Process Presentation

What We’ve Done So Far

BCHA is committed to working with community members to create housing that meets local needs while supporting sustainability, transportation, and neighborhood goals.

To better understand Lafayette and the surrounding neighborhoods, BCHA staff spent several months learning about the land, meeting neighbors, and talking with community members. What we learned helped shape our outreach priorities—like planning for green spaces, trails, and safe transportation connections.

BCHA created a Public Engagement Plan to guide this work. The plan includes open houses, community presentations, and the formation of the East Lafayette Advisory Committee (ELAC) — a group of local residents and stakeholders who help make our outreach inclusive and effective. The ELAC volunteer their time to discuss details and make recommendations on Willoughby Corner’s design, amenities, and levels oof service to the community.

So far, BCHA has:

• Distributed 5,000 flyers and postcards to nearby homes and businesses
• Hosted 25 community meetings, including three in Spanish
• Held open houses with more than 500 attendees
• Met 10 times with the East Lafayette Advisory Committee

We continue to meet with neighbors, community groups, and local businesses to share updates and hear feedback. These conversations — whether at open houses, small backyard meetings, or local gatherings — help us build an affordable workforce housing community that reflects the values and voices of Lafayette residents.

Building the Vision

Willoughby Corner has been years in the making and reflects strong neighborhood support and community involvement. Boulder County, Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), and City of Lafayette partnered in 2017 to buy a 24-acre parcel of land near 120th Street and East Emma Street. The goal was to create a neighborhood with 400 permanently affordable homes for local families, older adults, and the workforce.

The site was chosen for its location near services, schools, and transportation routes. It supports Lafayette’s goals for sustainability, connectivity, and more affordable housing options.

Early character sketch by Coburn Architects of a design option for the neighborhood of affordable workforce housing

Community Engagement

From the start, BCHA worked closely with residents and local partners to design a neighborhood that fits Lafayette’s character and needs.

• In 2018, BCHA launched a Public Engagement Plan that included open houses, community presentations, and the creation of the East Lafayette Advisory Committee (ELAC) — a group of residents and stakeholders who provided feedback throughout the planning process.
• More than 5,000 flyers and postcards were shared with nearby homes and businesses.
• 25 community meetings were held (including three in Spanish), along with multiple design workshops and open houses attended by over 500 people.
• BCHA also met individually with neighborhood groups and local businesses to gather input on housing design, traffic, green space, and community priorities.

Design Workshops

In August 2018, BCHA and its engagement firm, The Pachner Company, hosted a community design workshop. About 50 residents shared their ideas for housing types, trails, parks, and traffic flow. Common themes included:

• Maintaining buffers along 120th Street and Emma Street
• Supporting multi-modal transportation connections
• Balancing housing density across the site
• Ensuring the design reflects Lafayette’s mountain and small-town character

The community’s feedback directly shaped early site plans, which were reviewed and refined with ELAC input through early 2019.

A Community Name

The name Willoughby Corner came from a community naming contest in 2018, where residents submitted more than 40 ideas. Chosen for its historical and local meaning, the name honors the Willoughby Mine, a key part of Lafayette’s coal mining past, and the saying “it takes a village”—a reflection of the town’s strong sense of community.

Funding and Next Steps

Lafayette’s Affordable Housing Development Fee, established in 2016 and later expanded to commercial projects, helps fund permanently affordable housing like Willoughby Corner. In 2022, BCHA received 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to support the next phase of the development, ensuring that Willoughby Corner will remain affordable for generations to come.

A talented team of professionals will bring Willoughby Corner in three disctinct phases.

Phase 1 Team:

• Development Consultant – GL Development Advisors
• Master Planning and Landscape Design – Norris Design
• Community Engagement – The Pachner Company
• Architect – HRS&H (formerly HB&A) Architecture and Planning
• MEP Engineering – Farnsworth Group
• Sustainability – Group 14
• Civil Engineering and Survey – Drexel, Barrell & Co.
• Transportation Consultant – Kimley-Horn
• Preconstruction Services – Pinkard Construction
• Tax Credit Counsel – SB Clark Companies
• Legal Counsel – New Communities Law/Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Federal Tax Credit Investor – Hudson Housing Capital
• State Tax Credit Investor – Monarch Private Capital
• Lender – First Bank

Phase 2 Team:

• Development Consultant – Brikwell
• Master Planning and Landscape Design – Norris Design
• Architect – KEPHART
• Civil Engineering and Survey – Craft Civil Design
• Tax Credit Counsel – SB Clark Companies
• Legal Counsel – New Communities Law

Phase 3 Team:

• Development Consultant – Vertikal
• Master Planning and Landscape Design – Norris Design
• Architect – KEPHART
• Civil Engineering and Survey – Craft Civil Design
• Tax Credit Counsel – SB Clark Companies
• Legal Counsel – New Communities Law

In June 2017, the City of Lafayette and Boulder County (through the Boulder County Housing Authority, or BCHA) signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to guide the development of Willoughby Corner. The agreement outlines shared goals, expectations, and responsibilities for creating affordable workforce housing in Lafayette.

Housing Requirements

The IGA requires that 80 percent of all homes built on the property are permanently affordable, meaning they will have rents or sale prices well below market rates. Of those homes:

• 80 percent will be rentals, serving households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)
• 20 percent will be for-sale homes
• At least 10 percent of the rental homes will be reserved for adults age 55 and older

The agreement also states that the land must be used for affordable housing forever—it cannot be repurposed for other uses.

Definition of Affordable Housing

Under the IGA, affordable housing means that a household should not spend more than 30 percent of its income on housing costs. This includes rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and homeowner association fees.

Community Benefits

The IGA highlights the value of this project for Lafayette and Boulder County. The new neighborhood will:

• Support the local economy, as residents are likely to shop and spend money within Lafayette
• Generate additional revenue for the city through sales tax
• Align with city policies on affordable housing and economic development
• Benefit the public by improving housing options for families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities

Implementation and Oversight

The final design and development of Willoughby Corner are being guided by this IGA, along with input from community members, neighbors, and local partners.

A second agreement between Boulder County and BCHA ensures that BCHA will follow all of the same requirements outlined in the original IGA.

This section includes key planning and zoning documents for Willoughby Corner. These materials show how the neighborhood was designed, reviewed, and approved through the City of Lafayette’s public process.

Intergovernmental Agreements

Two Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) guide how the Willoughby Corner neighborhood will be developed and maintained. These agreements outline shared goals between local governments and ensure the homes remain affordable over time.

• City of Lafayette and Boulder County: This agreement sets expectations for the neighborhood’s design, affordability, and long-term use.
• Boulder County and BCHA: This agreement extends the same requirements to include BCHA, which will manage and operate the homes.

Together, these IGAs — along with community input and BCHA’s mission to expand affordable housing — help shape the final plans for Willoughby Corner.

Rezoning

Before construction could begin, the land for Willoughby Corner needed to be rezoned for residential use. The rezoning process included studies, maps, and public presentations to help city officials and community members understand the project.

Documents include:

• Rezoning Application
• Rezoning Map and Legal Description
• Project Overview Letter
• Traffic Comment and 202 Study
• BCHA Parking Study
• Willoughby Corner Community Presentation

Sketch Plan

On September 24, 2019, the Lafayette Planning Commission voted 6–0 to approve Boulder County Housing Authority’s (BCHA’s) sketch plan for Willoughby Corner. This plan showed the overall layout and concept for the new community.
The Planning Commission added nine conditions to their approval. These are listed in the Planning Commission Decision Memo.

Preliminary Plan

The Preliminary Plan includes more detailed designs for the site layout, roads, trails, and utilities. BCHA submitted the first version of this plan on March 27, 2020, and a revised version on July 19, 2022.

Documents include:

• Cover Letter
• Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat
• Traffic Study
• Vicinity Map
• Site Plan 1
• Site Plan Submittal 2
• Final Planned Unit Development (PUD)
• Preliminary Plat (Sept. 30, 2022)

Final Approval

The Willoughby Corner Planned Unit Development (PUD) and its amendment were officially approved and recorded. This means the design and zoning are finalized, allowing BCHA to move forward with construction.