Boulder Mod

City of Boulder, BVSD and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Open Boulder Mod

By Missy Ruzicka

The City of Boulder, in partnership with Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, is launching Boulder Mod, a modular home factory designed to address the region’s affordable housing challenges.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 23 at 4:00 p.m. at the factory site, located at 6600 Arapahoe Ave.

Boulder Mod is an unprecedented effort to build affordable homes at scale in Boulder and surrounding areas. With the capacity to produce up to 50 modular homes per year, the factory represents a dramatic shift in the region's approach to housing. Initially, the factory is expected to produce 12 to 15 homes annually, with the first homes dedicated to the Ponderosa Community Stabilization Project in North Boulder, where existing homes in a mobile home park will be replaced with modern, sustainable residences.

Longtime Broomfield resident, businessman, and philanthropist John Bosio is also a Habitat for Humanity leader at the modular factory. He said, “We know that at least four or five other Habitat affiliates in the country are looking at the feasibility of a modular factory and a couple have already met with us to discuss the process. More will come to see our operation once we get up and running.”

He added, “And while the initial housing units built in the factory will be slated for a Boulder project, Habitat intends to eventually use them in our entire service area which consists of the BVSD service area and the entire City of Broomfield.”

At the heart of this project is collaboration. The City of Boulder provided funding for the construction of the factory and the purchase of necessary equipment. BVSD offered the land on which the factory is built, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity will oversee the operation, manage staffing, and train volunteers. The unique partnership also offers an educational component: students in BVSD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program will work alongside Habitat staff and volunteers, gaining hands-on experience in construction and manufacturing.

Dan McColley, Executive Director of Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, highlighted the impact of the factory. “This factory will dramatically expand our ability to meet the housing crisis at scale. It increases our capacity in ways that are difficult to fully comprehend. When we are fully operational, we’re anticipating producing 25 houses a year, a huge increase from the 6 or 7 we currently build annually,” he said. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, which serves the City and County of Broomfield as well as parts of Boulder County, relies on community support to carry out its mission. Donations from individuals and organizations make this vital work possible.

The project has received enthusiastic support from local leaders. Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett described Boulder Mod as a major achievement for the community. “This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a common purpose. By investing in affordable housing and our students, we are building a stronger, more resilient future for Boulder,” Brockett said.

As Boulder Mod prepares to open its doors, the community is invited to learn more about this innovative solution to affordable housing.

Visit https://www.coloradogives.org/donate/ FlatironsHabitat to learn more.