“We are thrilled to be recognized for our transformative efforts along the Colfax corridor to bring attractive, affordable housing to the Lakewood community,” said Tami Fischer, CEO of Metro West Housing Solutions (MWHS).
The West Colfax Legend Award is given annually to an individual or organization that has been a sustained and engaged advocate for the Lakewood-West Colfax corridor. Winners must have demonstrated a long-term commitment through civic engagement and broad-based advocacy for improving the quality of life in the Lakewood community.
“Honorees of the Legend Award are well-known and active members of the community who have had a significant, positive, long-term impact on the overall vitality and quality of life of the Lakewood-West Colfax community,” said Bill Marino, Chief Executive of the Lakewood-West Colfax BID, an event sponsor, and a WCCA board member. “MWHS exemplifies all of these qualities having built Willow Glen, its first affordable housing along the Colfax corridor, in 2003 and developing six more properties since that time.”
The Legend Award winner is decided on by the boards for the West Colfax Community Association, 40 West Arts and the Lakewood – West Colfax Business Improvement District. The nomination was for “MWHS’s ongoing (and outstanding) work in the West Colfax corridor and for championing affordable housing in general.” It also credited MWHS with helping to catalyze the start of the West Colfax renaissance with Lamar Station Crossing, the first Transit Oriented Development project on the W Commuter Rail Line which has directly led to other projects moving forward.
Since 2003, MWHS developed six properties along the Colfax corridor that it continues to manage
Willow Glen | 70 Apartments | 2003 |
Residences at Creekside | 118 Apartments | 2007 |
Creekside West | 82 Apartments | 2011 |
Lamar Station Crossing | 110 Apartments | 2014 |
Indy Street Flats | 115 Apartments | 2019 |
Lamar Station Crossing (Phase II) | 65 Apartments | 2021 |
The combined economic impact of these six projects is more than $120 million, supporting hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, providing 560 affordable apartment homes and employing more than two dozen staff among the six properties.
“These are properties we developed, own and manage. We also acquired Eiber Village Senior Apartments in 2023, adding another 50 apartments to our portfolio,” said Fischer. “And we’re not done. We own the land and have the funding thanks to Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to build another 44 apartments at Colfax and Youngfield with a groundbreaking slated for next year.”
MWHS developed and manages 16 properties across Lakewood and Denver.
About Metro West Housing Solutions
Metro West Housing Solutions, established in 1974, is a leader in providing quality affordable housing and transformative opportunities for people and communities. As the official housing authority of Lakewood, MWHS owns and manages apartments in Lakewood and Denver, provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to eligible Lakewood residents and facilitates a wide range of human services to support our community’s strengths, culture and diversity. MWHS has acquired and developed 1,658 affordable and LIHTC units, manages 1,411 HCVs and has housed over 30,000 individuals and families. For more information, visit mwhs.org.
