At a recent candidate forum, every candidate running for City Council said they wanted to increase Boulder’s housing supply. But what does that mean, exactly?

For decades, Boulder intentionally restricted housing supply, helping drive prices higher and pushing workers and families out of the community. Over the past decade, we have begun changing course and seeking to build more. But “just build more” is not getting us where we want to go either.

I think part of the problem is the way we talk about housing, as if it were one thing. It isn’t. Housing comes in different forms and with different ownership models. When those models intersect with zoning categories that allow different levels of density, they produce very different outcomes.

The charts below are not exhaustive, but they capture Boulder’s most prominent housing models and residential zoning categories. Take a look at what we are producing now, what is missing, and where we have opportunities to do better.

I would genuinely love your feedback. This is a new framework and a work in progress. (You can download PDFs by clicking the buttons below.)