Building Community in Montbello

FreshLo Hub

Community-Driven Development
for the community by the community

The FreshLo Capital Campaign Tax Credits! 

  • The Enterprise Zone Contribution Tax Credit provides a tax credit to Colorado taxpayers that contribute to targeted enterprise zone (EZ) projects.  The Montbello FreshLo Hub has been approved as an enterprise zone project.
  • Project must align with Denver’s Economic Development goals of workforce development, affordable/workforce housing, inclusive economic prosperity, supporting entrepreneurial ventures, developing community infrastructure, etc.  The Montbello FreshLo Hub meets multiple goals in this list.
  • When taxpayers make a certified contribution of $100 or more to the Montbello FreshLo Hub, they can claim 25% of a cash donation as a state income tax credit.
  • To give, click the donate button and select FreshLo Capital Campaign from the drop down list.
  • You will receive a certification form for your contribution via email.
Click Here to Make a Donation
Make an End of Year Gift Receive an Enterprise Zone Tax Credit!

The Montbello FreshLo Hub

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Health & Well Being

Partnering with Family Tree Market, the 20,000 square-foot grocery store will provide affordable healthy and natural foods with an emphasis on culturally-relevant options for Montbello’s diverse community. Onsite dieticians and nutritionists will work with clients to create individualized food plans and shopping habits that target specific health and dietary needs. Family Tree Food Market team brings experience in the retail, supply chain, public health, and real estate, as well as a values-aligned mission of providing healthy food to underserved populations.

Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) will occupy the development’s nonprofit office space and will provide mental health services and programming for youth, families, individuals and the community at-large.

Affordable Housing Units

Above the food market, cultural center, and retail and office spaces sit 97 units of affordable housing. Units will range in size from one- to three-bedroom and will be rented to residents in the 30% - 70% AMI qualifying range. With a variety of floor plans and sizes, the apartments will house 160 – 230 residents.

Montbello boasts high home-ownership rates for Latinx and African Americans (48.8% and 29.1% compared to the metro area average of 11.8% and 2.9%). However, a high percentage (56%) of residents who are renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on rent. Rising home and rental prices make it hard for long-term residents and young families to remain in the community they call home. .

Cultural Arts & Connectivity

Partnering with Colorado Black Arts Movement (dba FreshLo Arts), a 4,000 square foot performance & presentation space and 2-floor cultural arts wing will become a community destination for the arts. Rehearsal and recital rooms on the second floor will support local artists and double as space for local nonprofits to provide programming and classes to housing residents and other Montbello neighbors. The FreshLo Hub will also be located on Montbello's six mile Walkable Loop to connect it to local art and services.

Cost Overview

Total project costs are estimated to be approximately $54 MM with the Affordable Housing development coming in at just under $34 MM and the Cultural, Retail, and Office development costs at $19.6 MM. MOC is raising $11.75 MM in philanthropic support from a combination of $6.75 MM from Capital Contributions and $5 MM in Impact Investments (Program-Related Investments) to complete the Cultural, Retail, and Office piece of the project.

Philanthropic investments will be combined with over $20 MM in equity from tax credits, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and state tax credits for the affordable housing portion of the project. MOC received the tax credit allocation in November of 2020. New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) will provide equity for the retail and cultural space.

Rent from housing, office, cultural, and retail tenants will cover operations and loan servicing and make the project self-sustaining over time.

External View 1 - FreshLo Hub
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First Floor

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Second Floor

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Third Floor / Housing Units

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FreshLo Hub Partners

Foundations, Partner Organizations and Developers who have made this project possible.

Montbello Organizing Committee

Leading Community Organization

The Denver Foundation

Funder

The Colorado Health Foundation

Funder

The Kresge Foundation

Funder

Burgess Services

Developer

Van Meter Williams Pollack

Architech

Milgrom & Daskam

Legal Counsel

SB Clark Companies

Tax Consultants

Family Tree Market

Grocery Partner

FLO Development Services

Developer

Colorado Black Arts Movement

Cultural Arts Partner

The Roybal Corporation

Architech

Kewit

General Contractor

Gilmore Construction Corp.

General Contractor

Gomez Howard Group

Public Relations Firm

DAE Group

Construction Firm