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Our Story
In the early 2000s in Denver, housing costs were skyrocketing, residents were being displaced from historically Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, and home foreclosures were some of the highest in the nation.
ULC founder Sam Gary saw that Denver had a need for an urban land bank that would acquire, create, and preserve community-serving real estate assets. Sam Gary founded ULC for the express purpose of uplifting underserved communities and families through the use of innovative, equitable real estate practices.
Now, more than 20 years later, Urban Land Conservancy’s mission is more relevant than ever, and our unique approach and innovative strategies have allowed us to invest in more than 50 properties for community benefit throughout Colorado’s Front Range.
Our History
Key Acquisitions Boost Denver Affordable Housing
2003-2007
- ULC launches, with support from Gary Williams Energy Corporation.
- First acquisition is Tennyson Center for Children in northwest Denver.
- ULC provides bridge loan to support Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement acquisition.
- ULC acquires budget motel in Northeast Park Hill, which was redeveloped into 103 affordable homes called Renaissance at North Colorado Station, owned by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
- ULC’s first community land trust property is the Jody Apartments: 62 affordable homes in west Denver.
- ULC acquires and rehabilitates the Tramway Nonprofit Center in the Cole neighborhood.
Partnering with Park Hill and West Denver Neighborhoods
2008-2013
- ULC completes its first strategic plan.
- ULC and HARP revitalize Holly Square in Northeast Park Hill with the Boys & Girls Club and Roots Elementary.
- ULC joins multiple partners to establish the nation’s first Transit Oriented Development Fund.
- ULC purchases Mile High Vista, the eventual home of the Corky Gonzales Branch Library, the Avondale affordable apartments and The Irving affordable apartments.
- ULC preserves and renovates The Villas at Wadsworth Station, 100 affordable homes in Lakewood.
- ULC purchases 9.5 acres in Northeast Park Hill, the eventual home of Park Hill Station Apartments and the future home of A Line Flats.
Strategic Investments Support Communities
2014-2016
- ULC purchases Social Enterprise Foundry in Sun Valley.
- ULC acquires Thriftway in Westwood, now Thriftway Pocket Park.
- ULC purchases land near Yale Station in south Denver, the eventual site of affordable apartments.
- ULC buys the Mountain View Nonprofit Tower in City Park West, now ULC’s headquarters.
- ULC purchases a vacant bowling alley in Aurora; demos it to construct New Legacy Charter School.
- ULC acquires property at 48th and Race in Elyria-Swansea, the eventual home of Viña Apartments and Tepeyac Community Health Center.
- The Beloved Community rents land from ULC at 38th and Blake for $1 to establish Denver’s first tiny home community for people experiencing homelessness.
Innovative Real Estate Solutions
2017-2019
- ULC launches the Metro Denver Impact Facility (MDIF).
- ULC helps to incubate Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT), a new nonprofit providing affordable for-sale housing.
- The Excelsior Youth Center donates the 31-acre Oxford Vista Campus in Aurora to ULC.
- ULC acquires the Harlan Nonprofit Center in Lakewood, its first acquisition with MDIF.
- ULC acquires South Platte Crossing, its first property in Commerce City, preserving office space and land for affordable housing.
- Medici Communities breaks ground on Walnut Flats — 66 affordable apartments near 38th & Blake on the A Line, held in ULC’s community land trust.
Expanding Housing and Nonprofit Spaces
2020-2022
- ULC accepts the donation of the 30-acre Timberline property in Fort Collins.
- ULC sells Roots Elementary in Northeast Park Hill to the Center for African American Health, with a 99-year ground lease.
- Sheridan Station opens: 133 affordable apartments in Villa Park.
- Viña Apartments opens: 150 affordable apartments in Elyria Swansea.
- ULC buys the Citywide Bank Building in Aurora; now ColfaxLab for Social Good and a future affordable-housing site.
- ULC buys Re:Vision land in Westwood and provides a 99-year ground lease.
- ULC buys the Umatilla Warehouse in Englewood as a home to the Teaching Autism Community Trades (TACT) nonprofit.
- ULC buys Machebeuf Hall (future Commún community center) and the Arts Building site at Loretto Heights in South Harvey Park.
An eye on the future
2023 – present
- ULC secured the development of 60 affordable apartments at South Platte Crossing in Commerce City.
- ULC financing helped support Rocky Mountain Communities’ purchase of a former hotel to house more than 200 people in support of the City and County of Denver’s House1000 initiative.
- Southwest Denver nonprofit Commún bought Machebeuf Hall from ULC to turn it into a new community center. ULC holds the property in its community land trust.
- ULC celebrated its 20th anniversary in a heartwarming event at Mosaic Community Campus.
- ULC broke ground on The Irving, 100% affordable apartments in West Colfax.
- Archway Communities and ULC celebrated the opening of 154 affordable apartments on the Mosaic Community Campus, held in ULC’s community land trust.
