Tag Archives: apartments

Total Rebuild for Arapahoe Ridge’s Eastpoint Apartment Complex

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The Arapahoe Ridge area will see big changes to the familiar Eastpoint complex at Arapahoe and Eisenhower in the near future. The buildings in the complex are about 43 years old—too outdated to refurbish. Developers plan to completely replace the complex with innovative buildings, underground parking, and more open green space. Construction should be finished by spring 2019.

Eastpoint Apartments

Buildings

The Eastpoint plan calls for a high density, multi-family residential complex of middle income housing. There will be 5 buildings instead of  the current 8. The new 3-story buildings will increase total apartments from 140 to 226. More affordable housing is a benefit to Boulder because it will allow more families to live in  Arapahoe Ridge. This is an area of Boulder where job opportunities are expanding.

The innovative, modern buildings all have flat roofs. About three-quarters of the roof surface will be covered with plants. The remaining quarter could be used for solar energy in the future.

Residents will enjoy a fitness center with a climbing wall, an indoor/outdoor pool, yoga room, and lounges. Add to that a dog park, and a network of bike- and pedestrian-friendly multi-use pathways.

Parking Underground Means More Open Space

Once rebuilt, Eastpoint will have about 30 percent more open space. This means about 6 acres on the 7-acre site will be open with no buildings.

Much of the gain in open space is because of the underground parking. All parking is under the buildings, except for 7 visitor spaces, which will greatly reduce the amount of paved areas. The underground garage has a large area for storing bikes. The top of the garage will be planted with a Zen Garden.

Open Space at Eastpoint
More Open Space in New Eastpoint Design

Underground parking is certainly more attractive, since it reduces paving and hides cars. However, the downside is that it allows has more parking spaces onsite. That will mean more cars and people on the road at Arapahoe and Eisenhower, especially during peak traffic times.

Modernization and a green plan for the Arapahoe Ridge Eastpoint Apartments will bring more affordable housing to the area. But that also means more people and cars on the move in a sensitive area. The next article talks a bit more about traffic management and transportation choices for this development.

Boulder News: Redevelopment at Eastpointe Apartments

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apartment

Early in November, Boulder City Council encouraged developers to offer diverse housing at Eastpointe.  The aging apartment complex in East Boulder was owned by an ambivalent landlord who kept rental rates reasonable.  In December 2014, the property was purchased by Aimco, a Denver based company that is one of the largest owners and operators of apartment communities in the US.  Aimco wishes to redevelop the site, but must abide by the City Council’s goals for affordable housing.

In early September the City Council called for the plans to be reviewed during concept phase even though they could not deny the project during this phase.  They are only able to offer suggestions consistent with their goals.  “We can’t prevent property owners from redeveloping,” Mayor Suzanne Jones said, “but I do think we can try to have it done as sensitively as possible.”

The Eastpointe proposal seems to meet City Council’s affordable housing and increased dwelling density goals.  Cash in lieu for affordable housing and an increase in dwelling count from 140 units to 233 help further the Council’s goals.  The current parking would be moved underground to leave room for additional green space in the complex.

All these changes will have an impact on those living in Eastpointe as rents are expected to dramatically increase.  Residents have spoken out about this increase, concerned about their ability to afford continuing to live there.  Another concern is the focus on smaller units which will exclude many families.

“I’m very concerned about the loss of two-bedroom units and the lack of much idea of where those people who right now are occupying those two-bedroom units are supposed to go,” Councilwoman Lisa Morzel said to Aimco representatives. “I would ask that you consider the current residents and really look for what we’re looking for, which is housing that meets more than one person’s needs.”

Aimco Senior Vice President Patti Shwayder stated that it was not likely they would be able to provide low-income housing on the new site.  Aimco claims to offer help relocating any residents to the best of their ability.  “We’re not a fix-and-flipper,” she said. “We like to be a part of the community.   This is great housing where it should be.  We’re replacing aging and really inefficient buildings that will come down at some point … with a brand new community that will be sustainable and last for a long time.”