Kerber: How Colorado’s density push is an attack on the single-family home

By Dave Kerber | Commentary, The Gazette

Our neighborhoods and communities are faced with a challenge to the very character of the place we have chosen to live. We live in a unique and astonishing place. People flock to Colorado because of our blue skies, fresh air and mountains. Coloradans have no desire to be New York City. These are two distinct and very different lifestyle choices. Yet, those in charge of Colorado at the moment want to bring that New York density here to Colorado — to change forever what makes Colorado such an incredible place to live and work.

As a species, we have always wanted to live and work in larger spaces. It’s human nature. Two hundred years ago, it was common for families to live in a one-room cabin. One hundred years ago, it was normal to have 2-3 people sharing a single bed. Soon, the expectation was for each individual to have his or her own bed; now, each child has his or her own bedroom if we can afford it. Apartments might be fine for the young and single, but have a child, and the family moves to the suburbs for more space.

The average size of a house has increased from 1,525 square feet in 1970 to 2,467 square feet in 2015, while the average number of people living in each home has decreased. As a society, we have chosen to spend our resources to spread ourselves out. It was what we wanted. Life was good or at least better.

A 2020 poll found that despite increased urbanization in the country, about half of Americans (48%) said that, if able to live anywhere they wished, they would choose a town (17%) or rural area (31%) rather than a city or suburb. Only 11% said they would like to live in a big city.

In the single-family neighborhoods that we have developed over the years, individuals have worked and saved to create the best living situations they can afford. They have invested in their homes and communities, upgrading their properties not only for themselves but for the benefit of their neighbors and their communities.

With less density, these communities are quieter, have less crime and less traffic congestion. People still aspire to own their own home, perhaps with space for a little grass and a garden and maybe even a patio in the back and a swing set for the kids. This is the American dream, which for the last 80 years has been available to the middle class rather than reserved only for the rich.

Density dogma

Instead of facilitating and encouraging Coloradans’ desire for space and less congestion, the governor and his legislative majority have pursued totally opposite policies under the guise of creating affordable housing. They would destroy suburban and exurban neighborhoods to increase density to urban standards, lessening our quality of life.

Since the ascendancy of the Polis administration, we have been first encouraged; then when that failed, incentivized with grants of tax dollars — and now, mandated to live in one-size-fits-all communities where we must live in or next to smaller and smaller living spaces with increased traffic destroying the character of established single-family neighborhoods and driving down property values.

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Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.