Analysis of the Curtis Park HOPE VI project

An economic impact analysis of the Curtis Park HOPE VI project in Denver by the Leland Consulting Group illustrate a success story. Among the findings:

• Crime was down 17 percent (it rose 7 percent in comparable neighborhoods).

• 34 percent increase in school reading scores (comparable neighborhoods had a 4 percent increase).

• Commercial market value rose 90 percent (comparable neighborhoods had a 16 percent rise).

• Conventional mortgage purchases rose 93 percent (comparable neighborhoods saw a 0.6 percent increase).

• Disproportionate increases in home ownership, household income, median home value, and minority populations.

The project replaced 286 public housing units with 419 mixed-income units. An additional 133 home ownership units are planned over the next two years. Calthorpe Associates was the master planner.