GREELEY — The Greeley City Council this week unanimously approved a rezone and PUD plan for Hope Springs, the biggest affordable housing project yet built by Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity. 

The 43-acre development will be built in phases, with the first phase consisting of 22 single-family homes and 154 duplexes. The second phase will add about 315 multifamily units. Hope Springs will be located directly south of the Frontier Academy K-6 School, west of Walmart and north of 32nd Street.

The project is being co-developed with local developer Richmark Cos. Cheri Witt-Brown, president of Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity, said that collaboration is integral to making this project one of the most “innovative” the nonprofit has built.

“Nothing about this is going to look low-income,” she said. “Richmark is a very reputable developer known for doing quality projects.”

The community will have a homeowners association with professionally maintained common spaces. The homes are being built to net-zero-ready standards. Amenities will include an on-site childcare center, walking and biking trails, playgrounds, a frisbee park and a mini soccer field. 

Witt-Brown said the project will see Greeley-Weld Habitat reinvest more than $76 million into the Greeley economy over the next seven years.

“This is a major project for the city of Greeley,” she said. 

Said councilwoman Deb DeBoutez: “You could go to any community in Weld County, and you continue to work in Greeley and bring us much-needed housing and stability for so many people.”