Douglas County schools approve surplus land for workforce housing

A stark affordability gap framed the Douglas County School Board’s vote and the argument that followed: starting teachers earning $43,680 cannot competitively buy homes in Meridian Village, where Shea Properties’ executive Eric Hecox says the average sale price is about $720,000, and the board voted to release a roughly 9.33-acre parcel for potential workforce housing that developers estimate could hold about 125 apartments.

The board voted 6-0 on April 7 to declare the tract near Meridian Village surplus, signaling the district no longer intends to reserve it for an elementary school and is allowing other uses including multifamily housing for county employees. Board Director Brad Geiger framed the decision as pragmatic, saying, "We don't want to be a land bank," and noting there is already an elementary school to the east of Meridian Village and another under construction to the west, so the district believes it no longer needs to hold the site.

Shea Properties has submitted an early proposal for the site and has told county officials its projects often include a sizable share of affordable units, with roughly 28 percent of units designated affordable in other developments. Shea’s initial concept discussed one- to three-bedroom apartments and an early site estimate of about 125 units on the 9.33 acres. The land is currently zoned for an elementary school, a fire station, or a park, and South Metro Fire Rescue has indicated it does not need the parcel.

Officials say several procedural steps remain before any housing is built. Douglas County has indicated an amendment to the Meridian Village planned development would likely be required to allow multifamily housing; the county estimates the amendment process typically takes two to three months, though officials note complexity can extend that timeline. A transfer of the county-owned parcel would also be necessary, with conveyance details to be driven by a formal project proposal and rezoning application.

The workforce-housing concept carries qualifications and constraints that activists and officials have debated for years. An early priority proposal set income thresholds for employee preference at under $59,000 for a single-person household, $67,000 for a two-person household, and $75,000 for a three-person family. District leaders and housing advocates have also noted that tax-credit and income-restricted programs are generally enforced by income rather than profession, creating a legal and administrative puzzle for prioritizing teachers and other county employees.

The unanimous surplus declaration opens the door but does not answer how many units will be reserved for educators, how priority will be enforced, or whether a 125-unit development would measurably reduce vacancies, turnover, or long commutes for Douglas County School District staff. The next steps are formal developer presentations, a rezoning application, and public hearings where officials, neighbors, and school leaders including Superintendent Erin Kane will need to show concrete numbers linking any housing commitments to staffing outcomes and infrastructure plans.