The Spoke on Coffman

The Spoke on Coffman (also known as “The Spoke”), developed, managed and maintained by the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), is located at 518 Coffman Street in the heart of Longmont’s Central Business District, a block west of Main Street. In its downtown location, the development is surrounded by shopping, restaurants and cafés, entertainment, parks, and schools, with municipal offices and services including a recreation center, senior center and library located near the site. It is also situated a few blocks from a regional transit center, which currently offers a free bus circulating Longmont and seven other transit options connecting to Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins areas.

The Spoke will be located across the street from the St. Vrain Community Hub, Boulder County’s integrated one-stop location for a wide range of services and benefits, including health coverage, food, financial, and child care assistance, financial coaching, immunizations, employment supports, mental health services, family and children services, and much more. While these services are being provided remotely or by appointment only during COVID-19, by project completion the Hub should return to in-person service. The proximity of the Hub to residents of The Spoke on Coffman will support housing stability, job training and healthier households.

The Spoke on Coffman -representing a four-party partnership that includes Boulder County, the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), and the City of Longmont- is a mixed-use neighborhood of affordable rental homes planned for 518 Coffman Street in downtown Longmont.

The new neighborhood will consist of 73 1- to 3-bedroom apartments, affordable to households with income up to 60% AMI. In 2021, this translates to a maximum income of $70,140 for a family of four or a maximum income of $49,140 for a single-person household, the typical income for a nurse, firefighter, or bank teller. The development will also provide twelve project-based subsidies for households earning below 30% AMI, or a maximum income of $35,070 for a four-person household and $24,570 for a one-person household.

The Spoke on Coffman will also include a 262-space parking deck with bike and electric vehicle charging for residents and downtown employees, a commercial space with an enterprise café, and office space.

Property and home amenities include an elevator, natural-gas-powered heating and cooling systems, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), energy-efficient kitchen appliances, in-home washer and dryer, patios for ground-level residents, and an internal courtyard. Sustainable features include ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, water-saving plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, interior materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) for clean indoor air quality, and solar roof photovoltaic panels.

Applications for The Spoke will be available December 14th, 2021 online at boco.org/ApplyForTheSpoke&Vouchers. Those needing help with the application can call 720-564-2267, where assistance will be provided in English and Spanish. Applicants would be contacted for eligibility screening shortly thereafter in early 2022 and move-ins would be expected to begin in spring 2022.

A variety of floor plans (1- to 3-bedrooms) are offered for each home size (between 632 and 1,299 sq. ft., depending on number of bedrooms). These are shown on the The Spoke flyer and will be posted to Boulder County Connect, the client web portal for the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services.

Rent amounts vary by home size (number of bedrooms), and the chart below lists current rent limits based on Gross Household Income. Rent and income limits (see 2021 Income Limit chart in the Eligibility section) are determined and published annually by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will likely change prior to leasing in Spring 2022. BCHA will share the HUD-set rent amounts after they are published.

*Note: Rent limits, published annually, will likely change by the 2^nd Quarter of 2022. Residents who have a housing voucher or live in a subsidized home will pay no more than 1/3 of their household gross income on rent, regardless of the home size or published rent. Rents may be lower than the rates seen here.

Yes! Heat, electricity, water, trash, and recycling are all included in the rent amount. It’s important to note that depending on home size, this represents a savings of hundreds of additional dollars for residents. Communication services including telephone, internet, cable, and pay television services, are not included in the rent amount and must be paid by the resident if these services are desired.

Security deposits are very low and based on the number of bedrooms, as below:

A holding deposit, in the same amount as the security deposit, may be required by an applicant to secure a home. If so, this deposit would be due within 48 hours of application approval. Any holding deposit will be retained as a security deposit upon lease-signing. If no holding deposit was obtained, the security deposit will be due and payable on the day of lease-signing.

The Spoke will serve households with income at or below 60% of Area Median Income. The HUD-established income limits which will apply to applicants of The Spoke will not be released until Spring 2022. The income limits listed in the chart below reflect the latest numbers we have – from 2021 – and are likely to change some for the 2022 leasing requirements.

*Note: Income limits, published annually, will likely change by the 2^nd quarter of 2022.

Yes. While eligibility income limits for The Spoke are based on household size, BCHA wants you to have the best possible opportunity to be financially stable in your housing. In that respect, your monthly income must be equivalent to at least twice the monthly rent amount of the home you wish to lease. If your income does not meet this requirement, a leasing specialist may review your rental history and consider such factors as how much rent you paid before, how timely you have been with your payments, and the value of your current assets to determine if you qualify based on these additional inputs. Households with a housing voucher will not be subject to this requirement.

Yes. If you have a Section 8 voucher, also known as a Housing Choice Voucher, you may use it to subsidize your rent for a non-subsidized home at The Spoke. (If you are eligible and selected for one of the twelve subsidized homes, you will need to either forfeit your Housing Choice Voucher for one that is tied specifically to a home at The Spoke or keep your Housing Choice Voucher and use it at another non-subsidized home – possibly including at The Spoke.)

Current residents of BCHA homes are able to transfer to The Spoke if they meet certain qualifications. Some of the qualifications include leasing their current home on a month-to-month lease (which occurs after the first year of their lease), being in good standing as a BCHA resident (such as paying rent on time and complying with lease obligations and housekeeping standards), meeting income guidelines, and being able to afford two times the monthly rent amount.

Yes! Anyone in need of an affordable home is welcome to apply. While BCHA prefers to maintain a list of applicants who are income-qualified to rent a home at The Spoke at the time they submit their application, including meeting the minimum income requirement, we encourage all applications. Income, which may change over time, will not be verified until an applicant is contacted about an available home.

To find out whether you may be income-eligible for The Spoke or any other property and/or calculate how close you may be to qualifying, we encourage each potential applicant to contact the Boulder County Personal Finance Program (visit bouldercounty.gov and search for “Personal Finance Guidance”) to meet with a Personal Finance Specialist for a one-on-one session to review your income and budgets. We also encourage applicants to attend Financial and Homeownership Workshops (visit bouldercounty.gov and search for “Workforce Workshops & Training”) to learn about personal finance, homeownership, and career development. The Personal Finance Program and the educational workshops are free for all Boulder County residents.

National criminal and sexual offender background checks will be conducted for all residents. Upon meeting other eligibility requirements, application acceptance would depend on a number of factors including but not limited to the nature of the legal issues and whether any convictions were issued.

The total current value of all applicable assets such as checking, savings, and money market accounts, IRA’s, certificates of deposit, real estate, annuities, trust accounts, term life insurance, and more, will be calculated together.

The number of people who can occupy a home varies based on bedroom size, as local occupancy requirements allow no more than two people per bedroom plus one additional person. Residents who have a housing voucher may be required to adhere to stricter occupancy requirements associated with those vouchers.

The development will ensure people of all ages and abilities will be able to access their units and the building in general. The number of accessible homes at The Spoke exceeds standard requirements. All homes are elevator accessible.

Sixteen homes (21%) are designed as fully accessible (Type A), and 5 homes (7%) of the total Type A homes will be built to Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). These units will have no-step entrances, wider doorways, electrical outlets, light switches and thermostats at accessible height/locations, and adaptable bathrooms and kitchens.

To further support residents with disabilities, BCHA’s Section 504 Committee, headed by a Section 504/ADA Coordinator, reviews and approves Reasonable Accommodation requests by anyone living in a BCHA owned and managed property and/or receiving financial assistance from BCHA. BCHA’s Reasonable Accommodation Policies and Procedures are available upon request.

Service animals are welcome in areas that the public can access. Assistance animals that will reside in homes, including those that may otherwise be considered service animals or those for emotional support, may be requested as a Reasonable Accommodation. BCHA’s Reasonable Accommodation Committee reviews requests and makes determinations on a monthly basis. Approved service and assistance animals are exempt from the pet fee and deposit.

Boulder County, in accordance with the Fair Housing Act, prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national origin.

Not yet. An interest list is different than a waitlist. Placement on the interest list enables people who want to be considered for a home at The Spoke to receive email updates about the construction and application/waitlist processes when this information becomes available. Once the application is released, those on the interest list will be notified and will need to complete an application to be placed on a waitlist to have their eligibility determined for a home when one becomes available. When application time approaches The Spoke will offer three waitlists, one for each bedroom size.

You may sign up for the interest list at The Spoke on Coffman web page (or visit bouldercounty.gov and search for “The Spoke on Coffman Interest List”). Once the application becomes available, you’ll be able to find a link to it on Boulder County Connect, the web-based client portal for the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services, and at www.TheSpokeOnCoffman.org. Again, it’s important to note that everyone on the interest list at that time will be notified that the application is available on Boulder County Connect.

Applications will be available December 14, 2021 and can be accessed online at boco.org/ApplyForTheSpoke&Vouchers. Applications may be completed on any personal or public computer or smart phone.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, assistance will be conducted online rather than in-person. Those needing help with the application can call 720-564-2267, where assistance will be provided in English and Spanish. Residents with a disability may request a Reasonable Accommodation for application assistance by emailing HOinfo@bouldercounty.org or calling 720-564-2267.

IMPORTANT: You will need either a phone number or email address to set up an account with waitlistcheck and you will need to list a mailing address. If you receive your mail general delivery please write general delivery in place of the address and list the city, state, and zip code.

The application will require an address for both physical address and mailing address. If you do not have a mailing address, you will still need to enter something into the fields to process the application. On the application you may designate an alternate contact to receive communications or mail on your behalf. This should be someone who can contact you easily if your application is selected.

People who have a disability and need additional assistance may request a reasonable accommodation to complete an application by emailing BCHAleasing@bouldercounty.org or calling 720-564-2267. Staff will return your call and either complete your application over the phone, with your guidance, or find an alternative solution to meet your needs. Additionally, those needing help with the application can call 720-564-2267, where assistance will be provided in English and Spanish.

Beginning on December 14th, 2021 there will be two application processes for The Spoke on Coffman; one for general applicants and one for applicants who want to apply for one of the twelve homes offering subsidized rent in addition to below-market-rate rent rates. While one application will contain opportunities for both, applications for a project-based home will only be open for one day while the general application will be open for the long-term. While each application has its requirements -many overlapping- anyone may apply for either list. Eligibility staff will then determine which program or assistance your household may qualify for.

BCHA will also open application lists for a range of housing assistance vouchers, including the Housing Choice Voucher lottery and Mainstream voucher program for households with someone between the ages of 18 and 61 living with a disability, the two and three project based voucher assistance in Lafayette for households accepted in the Family Self-Sufficiency program and the one, two and three bedroom project based voucher assistance in Longmont at the Spoke and the HUD Multifamily subsidized housing programs for one bedroom rentals in Louisville, and Lyons for households aged 18 and older with a disability or aged 62 and older. Voucher applications will also be accepted online on December 14 only at boco.org/ApplyForTheSpoke&Vouchers with additional information at www.boco.org/hcv

Basic information will be needed for the application. This includes the following:

• contact information and name, birthdate, and sex/gender
• Social Security Number (accepted, though not required)
• estimated gross monthly household income (for all household members age 18 or over) and source (employment, SSI, SSDI, pension, TANF, child support, etc.)

At the time an applicant is offered a home, more specific documentation about income and assets (i.e., statements and/or complete verification forms) will be required in a timely manner.

For the general application, applicants will be contacted about an available home based on the date and time they applied. Due to federal fair housing laws, there are no preferences which would enable an applicant to move ahead on a waitlist. This federal policy applies to all housing types – market rate and affordable – and all housing developers and landlords.

For the project-based application for the 12 subsidized units, according to program guidelines, BCHA provides assistance to local applicants and prioritizes those who are:

• a head of household or spouse living in Boulder County
• a head of household or spouse who works at least 20 hours per week within Boulder County
• a head of household or spouse who attends school full-time within Boulder County
• a head of household or spouse who is elderly (62+) and doesn’t currently reside in Boulder County but has an adult child, parent, or sibling who resides in Boulder County
• a head of household or spouse who is an individual with disabilities who doesn’t currently reside in Boulder County but has an adult child, parent, or sibling who resides in Boulder County

AND where one or more of the following are true:

• the head of household or spouse is an older adult (age 62+)
• the head of household or spouse is an individual with disabilities
• the household contains children under the age of 18

When homes are ready for leasing, applicants who reach the top of a waitlist will be contacted to meet with property management staff to complete eligibility paperwork, including income and asset verifications, landlord references, and a criminal background screening. Once an applicant is determined to be eligible for a home, he or she will be contacted to sign lease documents.

BCHA has property management and maintenance staff who are responsible for day-to-day housing operations. One on-site property manager will be appointed for BCHA’s Longmont properties, which includes The Spoke. Maintenance staff conduct regular inspections, attend to work orders, and are available for emergencies.

Unfortunately, due to the construction period and the short timeframe for leasing, applicants will not be able to view homes in person prior to move-in. BCHA will be adding virtual tour videos to the www.TheSpokeOnCoffman.org for potential residents to see the units as soon as they are available.

Due to the tight timeframe for leasing, homes will be assigned for each resident by Property Management staff based on bedroom size. Exceptions will be made for people with a disability who require specific accessible homes and a Reasonable Accommodation.

We have gotten approval to allocate 36 residential parking spaces within The Spoke’s parking garage for the 73 affordable homes. The 36 residential parking spaces will be reserved for residents at all times with accessible parking spots for people with disabilities. Additional parking spaces within the parking garage will be available for shared use parking during weekday evenings, weekends and holidays. In addition, residents of The Spoke are encouraged to use public transportation, including at the transit center less than two blocks from the development. Residents are also encouraged to use other non-car forms of mobility -such as bicycles- which may be parked at on-site racks.

The Spoke is located less than two blocks from the Longmont transit center, which provides service through the Regional Transportation District (RTD) throughout Longmont and regionally to Boulder, Loveland, Fort Collins, and Denver.

In addition to public transportation, residents with a disability who are not able to use the regular bus lift system may also be served through the Access-a-Ride program, which provides curbside and door-to-door service.

Yes! BCHA allows households to keep up to two pets, plus two “confined” animals (such as birds, rodents, fish and reptiles). A one-time non-refundable pet fee of $150 is charged per household. In addition, a refundable pet deposit of $150 for each pet is required. More details are outlined in BCHA’s Pet Policy, provided upon request.

BCHA prohibits smoking indoors and in the majority of outdoor areas for all of its properties. Details are outlined in BCHA’s Smoke-Free Policy, provided upon request (and at lease signing). Illegal drugs are not permitted. Please note that while marijuana is legal under Colorado law, it is not legal under federal (HUD) law and is therefore not legal in BCHA properties.

BCHA has several policies which require resident compliance, including but not limited to those related to smoking, illegal drugs, pets, housekeeping, and inspections. To request a packet of resident policies, please contact Property Management at BCHAleasing@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2267, option 2.

For questions not answered on this website, please contact Boulder County Property Management at BCHAleasing@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2267, option 1.