Panel: Lack of affordable housing hurts economic development

LOVELAND — A panel of four real estate experts believe the lack of affordable housing in the region is nearing a critical point and could negatively affect economic development in cities like Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and Boulder.

The solution, they said, won’t come from one source. It needs to come from a variety of sources including local governments, nonprofits, the Legislature and the private sector.

About 400 attendees of the 18th annual Northern Colorado Real Estate Conference presented Wednesday in Loveland, heard panelists discuss topics of affordable housing and downtown development and the need for public-private partnerships.

David Schwartz, an economist and…