An Empty Parish Car Park Becomes 63 Homes for Seniors: Work Begins at Denver’s Church of All Saints

• Catholic Charities Housing broke ground on All Saints Apartments, 63 affordable homes for seniors on the Church of All Saints campus in south-west Denver.
• The four-storey building stands on what was an empty parking lot at Federal and Vassar.
• Funding sources included US Bank, First Bank, the City and County of Denver, the state housing department and the Archdiocese of Denver.
• Opening was expected in September 2024.

A Catholic parish in Denver is turning an empty car park into homes for older people. Catholic Charities of Denver reported that groundbreaking was under way on All Saints Apartments on the Church of All Saints campus.

The four-storey building, at the corner of Federal and Vassar in south-west Denver, will provide 63 affordable homes for seniors on what was an empty parking lot. It was expected to open in September 2024.

Catholic Charities Housing is leading the project, with Cushing Terrell as architect, Palace Construction as builder, and IMEG Corp. and Terracon Consultants on the team. Funding sources named include US Bank, First Bank, the City and County of Denver, the State Department of Housing and the Archdiocese of Denver. The article did not give the construction cost or the income limits for residents.

Monsignor Peter Quang Nguyen, pastor of the Church of All Saints, spoke of the importance of housing people and of caring for the whole journey of a person’s life. Councilman Kevin Flynn said: “This will be another beautiful aspect of the community.” Justin Raddatz, vice president of development at Catholic Charities, said: “All Saints Apartments is more than just a building — it’s a vision.”

A diocese with its own housing arm can move from idea to construction more easily than a single parish acting alone. In Denver, the parish provided underused land, Catholic Charities provided development experience and the archdiocese joined public and private lenders in the funding. Jamaican dioceses and denominations with many parishes could consider setting up a housing arm to develop suitable church sites, starting with land such as car parks that is little used during the week. Housing for seniors on church land also keeps older members close to their parish community.

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