Urban Land Conservancy

10/20/2026

Land is finite—you can’t just go out and create more of it. That’s why securing real estate for long-term public good is the foundation of equitable development. 🏙️ Real estate equity shouldn't just be for the wealthy—it should be available across the board.

In this clip, Urban Land Conservancy CEO Aaron Miripol breaks down how ULC's mixed-use community land trust works on the ground to steward land in Denver neighborhoods for generations.

ULC holds land in trust through 99-year land leases—or owns both the land and buildings. Often, ULC pairs permanently affordable housing right alongside healthcare centers, good schools, or nonprofit hubs.

Because a great neighborhood isn't *just* about housing; it's about holistic places that support quality of life. 🤝🏢

📺 Watch the clip to see how ULC's mixed-use community land trust supports long-term community stability.

10/14/2026

Centennial Hall is returning to its higher education roots! 🎓✨

Urban Land Conservancy has finalized the sale of Centennial Hall on the Mosaic Community Campus to Emily Griffith Technical College and Denver Public Schools.

This historic milestone aligns perfectly as Emily Griffith celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2026. While ULC typically retains land in trust while leasing buildings, selling both the land and building to a trusted, 110-year-old public institution directly fulfills our vision for Mosaic: ensuring this property remains a permanent, community-serving asset for the neighborhood and the entire city. 🎒📚

ULC will continue to own and steward 16 acres of land and the culinary facilities on the east side of the campus, supporting vibrant partners like Work Options and The Kitchen Network.

📖 Read the full announcement on our website:

👉 https://urbanlandc.org/emily-griffith-technical-college-purchases-centennial-hall-on-the-mosaic-community-campus/

Urban Land Conservancy retains 16 acres, culinary buildings on the east side of the campus ULC has finalized the sale of Centennial Hall on the Mosaic Community Campus to Emily Griffith Technical College and Denver Public Schools; the building will return to its roots as a college. Centennial Hall w...

10/14/2026

Big news!🗣🌟 Emily Griffith Technical College and Denver Public Schools have officially closed on Centennial Hall on the Mosaic Community Campus!

This historic 66,000 sq. ft. building will soon be home to our student services, career services, instructional space, and college administration and operations.

As we celebrate our 110th anniversary, bringing Centennial Hall back to its higher ed roots feels like the ultimate full-circle moment. Stay tuned as we get this awesome space ready for our Emily Griffith students and staff! 💚👏

Read the full press release here: https://www.emilygriffith.edu/press-release-purchase-of-centennial-hall/

10/12/2026

ULC READS 📚 | Insights from the ULC Team

ULC Reads, our digital book club, has our team members recommending books that have shaped how they see housing, land, or community. Our next selection comes from Andrea Burns, our chief impact officer.

"Cheap Land Colorado by Ted Conover is about the vast rural places in the San Luis Valley, so you might think it’s an odd pick for the Urban Land Conservancy book club," Andrea said. "But for me, this book is instructive in a different way. It shares a cautionary tale of how *not* to build community, and what happens when land and people aren’t valued.

"In the 1960s and 1970s, developers advertised cheap, five-acre plots with promises of owning a mini-ranch in a resort-like location. After the waterless prairie was parceled out and bought sight-unseen, basic infrastructure like water, roads, and power never materialized. Among off-grid properties and small municipalities, economic opportunity remained scarce and supportive services hard to come by, and the voices of longtime Latino and Indigenous residents were often ignored.

"While the book includes inspiring stories of residents’ resilience, generosity and humanity, my biggest takeaway was how it reinforced the value of planning and placemaking, respect for cultural history, competent government, and truth in advertising — by showing what happens when they’re absent."

Keep following our socials for more books that have shaped our team members' thinking.

10/06/2026

One of Denver's most celebrated molinos quietly produces thousands of corn tortillas daily at the Mosaic Community Campus, a ULC place.🌽✨

Don Zorro’s Molino uses the traditional Mexican method of soaking and stone-grinding 100% heirloom Mexican corn to craft authentic tortilla dough (masa) and fresh tortillas from scratch in its kitchen in South Park Hill, leased from the nonprofit Kitchen Network. Rocky Mountain PBS is highlighting how local craftspeople like Julian Salas at Don Zorro’s Molino bring world-class, Michelin-worthy traditions directly to Denver households and restaurants.

At Urban Land Conservancy, we’re all about providing stable, long-term real estate options so cultural anchors and local small businesses like Don Zorro’s Molino can thrive in their communities. ❤️

📢 Check out the full story from RMPBS to learn more about this culinary gem: https://www.rmpbs.org/news/food-drink/denver-tortilla-mexican-food-michelin-stars

🌐 Learn more about Don Zorro's Molino: https://www.donzorrosmolino.com

For years, “Den-Mex” was shorthand for an oversized, offbeat and messy brand of cuisine. Today, a growing number of Mexican chefs are using traditional techniques to produce flawless tortillas — and Michelin stars.

10/01/2026

When banks invest in ALL neighborhoods, local families and small businesses thrive. 🏘️💼

For decades, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has helped direct crucial capital toward affordable housing, community healthcare centers, and local nonprofit spaces in underserved areas. But to keep that momentum going, we need strong federal oversight.

Federal regulators are reviewing bank accountability standards, and they need to hear directly from us. We must ensure banks continue to meet their obligation to invest in low- and moderate-income communities.

Learn more here: 👉 https://urbanlandc.org/tell-the-feds-to-keep-banks-accountable-to-communities/

📢 Share your voice today. Tell federal regulators to hold banks accountable to the communities they serve: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/12/2026-16454/community-reinvestment-act-regulations

09/29/2026

Good news for long-term affordability in central Denver! 🏘️🎉

Urban Land Conservancy has been awarded Proposition 123 land-banking funding from Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to support future affordable housing at 375 Logan St. in Denver!

In partnership with Evergreen Real Estate Group, this project will bring 100 brand-new affordable apartments to the neighborhood—complete with family-friendly amenities and easy access to transit and community resources. 🎒🚲

By holding this land in our community land trust, ULC ensures these homes stay permanently affordable, keeping families rooted where they belong. 💙

👉 Learn more about the project and our partnership with Evergreen: https://urbanlandc.org/ulc-receives-prop-123-funding-for-future-affordable-homes-at-375-logan-st-in-denver/

Architectural design by Meridian 105 Architecture

09/25/2026

Three months ago, we gathered at 1316 26th St. alongside the board of the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, Councilman Darrell Watson, Detour, and community friends to celebrate renaming the Brunetti Lofts to "Justina at Five Points." This building provides affordable, mostly 3-bedroom homes in Denver—and it now proudly honors the legacy of Dr. Justina Ford, Colorado’s first licensed African American female physician.

When Dr. Ford arrived in Denver in 1902, the medical licensing examiner told her she had “two strikes against her” for being Black and a woman. Barred from practicing in local hospitals, she opened her own doors, delivering an estimated 7,000 babies and caring for immigrants, working families, and anyone in need over a 50-year career. To her community, she was simply “the lady doctor.”

We were honored to be joined at our June event by award-winning local filmmaker donnie l. betts! You can dive deeper into Dr. Ford's incredible story by watching donnie betts' documentary on Rocky Mountain PBS. 🎥✨

👉 Watch the documentary here: https://www.pbs.org/video/colorado-experience-justina-ford-md/

🌐 Learn more about donnie betts’ work: https://nocredits.com/

Courtesy: No Credits Productions LLC

09/21/2026

This weekend, we celebrated the arrival of fall at the Wyatt Academy Harvest Festival at 36th and Gilpin—right next door to our Tramway Nonprofit Center and the future site of the Cole Train apartments! 🍂🍁🍎

We loved seeing so many Wyatt kiddos out enjoying the fun, many of whom are already so familiar with the neighborhood as they walk back and forth to essential health and learning programs inside Tramway. 🏢🩺🎒

Additionally, the historic Wyatt Academy building is undergoing brick-and-mortar restorations, supported in part by a grant from the History Colorado State Historical Fund. Preserving historical anchors while stewarding affordable real estate ensures long-term vitality for Denver’s Cole neighborhood. 🏛️🤝

09/17/2026

ULC Reads, our digital book club, has our team members recommending books that have shaped how they see housing, land, or community. Our next selection comes from our chief financial officer, Brad Dodson.

"I chose a personal favorite that's not directly related to our work, but has a lot to say about how we do our work," Brad said about Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman.

"In the book, Burkeman makes a simple, uncomfortable point: you get about four thousand weeks of life, and no system or schedule will ever let you accomplish everything you want to. You will die with the list unfinished. Everyone does.

"Oddly, I found that freeing. Community development work is never finished. Every community has needs that go far beyond what any single person or organization can offer, and none of those needs are less valid for it. If you can't do everything, the only real question is which few things can you actually do well, and whether you have the courage to let the others go. Choosing where to focus isn't the same as saying other things don't matter—it just means you're being honest. It made me more intentional about where I show up, and more at peace with where I don't."

Keep following our socials for more book recommendations!