Castle Rock aims to add nearly 300 affordable housing units by 2027

Castle Rock is aiming to add almost 300 affordable housing units before 2027, a target that puts the town’s next land-use decisions squarely on the question of who can still afford to live in Douglas County. The push is aimed at workers in schools, public safety, retail, hospitality and health care, along with young families and seniors on fixed incomes who have been priced farther from the jobs and services they depend on.

The effort already has some visible pieces. Ulysses Development Group describes The Meadowmark as affordable 55-plus housing in Castle Rock, and the Douglas County Housing Partnership says it helps renters, homebuyers and homeowners find affordable housing options across the county. Those kinds of projects matter in a fast-growing suburb where even a few hundred units can change the local labor market, especially for people whose paychecks are tied to Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree and the rest of Douglas County.

What happens next will depend on the town’s planning and budget choices. Castle Rock’s website is also steering residents toward its 2027 budget process, including a community open house where people can learn how town funds are allocated, look at major projects and priorities, ask questions and share feedback. The town’s 2026 budget is listed at $349.6 million, underscoring how large the competition is for money, staff time and capital priorities as Castle Rock balances housing, roads, utilities and other services.

The regional policy backdrop is already in place. Colorado voters approved Proposition 123 in November 2022, directing existing state tax revenue toward affordable housing, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs has issued guidance for the program’s 2027-2029 commitment cycle. In Douglas County, the issue has also reached the question of where teacher housing could go: a CBS Colorado report said Shea Properties discussed options for a vacant 9.33-acre Douglas County parcel as a possible site for affordable housing for teachers.

County-level planning shows why the pressure is not easing. Douglas County’s community-needs assessment identified housing assistance as one of the top six resident service needs, alongside food assistance, transportation, health care, job placement and childcare. That means the housing shortage is not just a development issue for Castle Rock; it is tied to whether the county can keep the workforce that supports its classrooms, emergency response, stores and clinics.