More than 60% of Denverites Want Denser Housing. Why Is It Still a Big Fight?
How can Denver solve the housing affordability problem? A new poll from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project and Housing Forward Colorado says more than 60% of Denverites think higher density in their neighborhoods (like more duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes) could be the answer. The poll shows support for a proposal soon to go before City Council – “Unlocking Housing Choices,” which aims to address this “missing middle” housing issue through zoning reform. SWEEP’s Smart Growth Senior Program Manager Max Nardo joins host Bree Davies to look at the poll results and discuss the density debate to come.
Producer Paul Karolyi reported on the budget-related downscaling of the Unlocking Housing Choices project in an episode back in February. Bree mentioned interviews we did with both sides of the Lakewood density debate that went to voters earlier in March.
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver
Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member!
What do you think about adding “missing middle” housing to your block? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
Learn more about the sponsors of this August 31st episode:
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL
It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to ch...

How This Election Could Change All Other Elections. Plus, ‘Love is Blind’: Where Are They Now?
It's election season, and those blue books are beefy this year! We’re going one by one through some of the thorniest ballot measures all...

What Would You Name Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Plus, Casa Bonita’s Wishing Well and Local Comedy Drama
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may not be long for this world – well, the name anyway. For the first time in the Colorado Rapids soccer stadi...

Harsher Fentanyl Penalties, Voter ID Requirements, and More of the Conservative Agenda on Colorado Ballots
The conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado brought a whopping eight initiatives to the ballot this year – that’s more than half of the 1...

The DPS Board’s Half-Decade of Drama, Meet Your Soulmate, and Will a Chatbot Replace Denver's 311 Operators?
Denver Public Schools board member DJ Torres resigned last week, his reasoning being “too much of my time and energy have been consumed b...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Denver
When Denver looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City d...

Privatizing the Trash, Drones Delivering Pasta, and How to PorchFest
Denverites already pay for trash pick-up, but what if that money went to a private company instead of the city? The city’s waste services...

Will Denver Ever Say Yes to the Duplex? Plus, the Ethics Investigation Costing the City $800,000
A proposal to make sweeping changes to the zoning code was sent back to the drawing board by city council – signalling the end of a push...

Your Guide to October 2026 in Denver
Fall is here — and we’re ready for the sweater weather, cozy vibes, and spiced everything! From finding the right craft meetup to enjoyin...

Glendale’s Failed Nightlife Promises, New Live Music Venue in Cap Hill, and Duck Liver on the Ballot
The historically counter-cultural strip of 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill will be home to a concert venue once again! After all the drama an...


