On a March afternoon, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Denver’s South Park Hill neighborhood hosted a mayoral candidate forum sponsored by the local chapter of the progressive group Indivisible. The moderator asked the standard questions about crime, public safety, homelessness, and guns before delving into a more nuanced topic of Denver politics: whether the city should release the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course, currently up for redevelopment. The issue drew a large crowd and mixed reactions, highlighting the complex relationship between local government, housing development, and community interests.
Denver faces a housing shortage of approximately 127,000 homes, with the metro area alone lacking nearly 70,000 homes. Experts agree that resolving the affordability crisis and bringing more affordable housing to market requires an increase in housing supply, yet local institutions are often more attuned to parochial complaints than broader needs. As a result, while many people may support pro-housing policies in theory, they may still oppose specific developments near their homes.
The dichotomy between local desires and larger-scale needs reveals the limitations of local government in addressing collective problems. While local officials have a direct line to engaged voters and significant influence over decisions, they lack the capacity to manage crises on a societal level, such as a housing crisis. As a result, decisions about what gets built and where tend to entrench economic segregation, perpetuate affordability crises, and exacerbate inequality and pollution.
The recent proposed redevelopment of the Park Hill Golf Course encapsulates the conflicting desires at play. Opponents of the project raised concerns about preserving open spaces, gentrification, and the democratic process. Others pointed to underutilized city-owned lots already zoned for residential development where they would prefer to see housing built. Proponents of the project oversold what it could accomplish, casting it as a solution to racism or climate change.
Ultimately, the issue underscores the need for collective action to address housing crises and other societal problems. While local government can play a role, the complexity of larger-scale needs requires a more expansive view and approach. As voters and policymakers continue to grapple with the challenges of affordable housing, it is critical to broaden the conversation and find solutions that balance local interests with larger-scale needs.
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