City of Greeley Wins Award for Planning Excellence

A group of eleven people indoors with one person holding a certificate. The group is dressed in business casual attire, standing along a decorated wall in a warmly lit room.

The City of Greeley has earned the Planning Excellence Merit Award from APA Colorado, the Colorado chapter of the American Planning Association, for its At Home in Greeley project. The award was presented during the APA Colorado’s annual conference held Oct. 2-4. The award recognizes outstanding planning efforts across the state.

Addressing Greeley’s Housing Needs

At Home in Greeley is a major project focused on solving the city’s housing challenges. The project combined a housing needs assessment with the 10th Street area plan to help guide the city in creating more affordable housing. This project supports Greeley’s goal of providing housing for all, one of the city’s seven key focus areas.

The housing needs assessment provided data on the types of housing that are most needed in Greeley, especially as the city has grown by 21 percent from 2010-2022. The 10th Street area plan suggests ways to redevelop older commercial spaces into mixed-use areas that include middle-income housing without displacing any existing residents or businesses.

This award highlights Greeley’s efforts to support affordable housing, revitalize community spaces and improve quality of life for its residents. The project was partly funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs through its Innovative Housing Planning Grant Program.

“This is an honor to the large team of community members, staff and development strategies consultants who worked on the project,” says community development deputy director Don Threewitt. “The result of this work wasn’t just a staff-driven technical plan, but a vision shaped by the people themselves through many personal conversations meeting them where they are and embracing their values. We’re grateful to the American Planning Association Colorado Chapter for recognizing this project.”

Looking Toward the Future

As Greeley continues to grow, projects like “At Home in Greeley” show the importance of data-driven solutions and community input to provide housing options that are affordable and sustainable for all. For more information about the At Home in Greeley project, visit speakupgreeley.com/housing-needs.