Neighborhood Centers
Neighborhood Centers are the great places where we live, work, and play in our Colorado communities and regions—some we already know, like the main streets of our historic mountain and small towns, the walkable neighborhoods of our cities, and our transit-rich downtowns. Some are still being built, as areas in our communities that were once used for other purposes are being rehabilitated and reimagined. These areas are dynamic focal points in our neighborhoods where housing, commerce, community, and mobility converge, creating truly connected and thriving places. This voluntary program acts as a catalyst for these places, uniting the strengths of multiple state agencies to spark powerful collaborations with local governments in carefully chosen areas.
The Neighborhood Centers program is an interagency incentive program that builds on the tradition of state and local support for “mixed-use pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods.” It is an opportunity for local governments to focus on strategic areas and to receive prioritization for state funding programs. In times when state funding may be limited and awards more competitive, Neighborhood Centers are an optional tool that can inspire strategic multi-agency partnerships and place-based investment over time.
On June 30, DOLA published Version 1 of our Guidance for Neighborhood Centers and announced a Pilot Designation Opportunity.
Neighborhood Centers support Colorado's strategic growth objectives by providing coordinated investments for walkable, bikeable built environments with access to jobs, services, and transit connections. The goal is for local and state entities to partner on developing a place-based investment strategy that builds over time.
As identified in SB24-174 and HB24-1313, Neighborhood Centers are voluntarily designated by local governments in areas that meet the criteria established by DOLA. Neighborhood Centers may be designated in areas that currently exist as mixed-use pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods, or that anticipate becoming a mixed-use pedestrian-oriented neighborhood over time through plans and policies. The goal is to provide coordinated investments that achieve safe, walkable and bikeable built environments with access to jobs, services, and, where possible, transit.
Neighborhood Centers fill a gap by incentivizing mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development outside of the Transit Center areas designated by jurisdictions subject to Transit Oriented Communities (HB24-1313).
HB24-1313 also directs CDOT to study how transportation policy can support, or reduce barriers to, Neighborhood Centers.
Neighborhood Centers deliver strategic growth benefits across multiple areas:
Economic & Fiscal Sustainability
- Fiscal sustainability through efficient land use
- Location efficiency reducing transportation costs
- Lower infrastructure costs for both local and state entities (pipes, utilities, roadway wear and tear)
- Reduced cost of living through proximity to services
Environmental Benefits
- Environmental sustainability through compact development
- Improved climate and air quality
- Water supply conservation
- Reduced wildfire risk
- Protection of open space and agriculture
Quality of Life
- Great places for people
- Enhanced quality of life
- Stronger sense of community
- Active and healthy lifestyles
- Transportation efficiency
Neighborhood Center Criteria
On June 30, DOLA published Version 1 of our Guidance for Neighborhood Centers that will be followed by an expanded version at a later date. The Version1 Guidance also outlines a Pilot Phase of Neighborhood Center Designation using an approach that includes:
- Learning from local governments with existing neighborhood centers
- Understanding what works and doesn't work in different contexts
- Quantifying benefits through scenario analysis
How to designate a Neighborhood Center
To designate a Neighborhood Center, a local government will need to submit a reporting form. Beginning July 7, 2025 and through September 2025, DOLA will accept reporting forms through an interim ArcGIS online form. Beginning in late September, new forms should be submitted directly into the DOLA Land Use and Housing Implementation Portal. These designation reports may be submitted at any time (see “Review process” section of the Guidance for information on the timeline for forms to be reviewed). Jurisdictions may submit a designation report for multiple Neighborhood Centers at the same time, or just one at a time.
In general, jurisdictions will need to provide a map (preferably in GIS format) of the proposed Neighborhood Center(s), information about the applicable zoning in that area, any relevant small area or master plans, and any additional documentation needed to support the different criteria outlined in the sections that follow.
Jurisdictions are encouraged to meet with DOLA in advance of submitting a report to discuss potential Neighborhood Centers. Please email Hannah van Nimwegen with questions or to arrange a meeting.
Key Dates
- June 30, 2025: DOLA published Criteria and Guidance for Neighborhood Centers
- July 7, 2025 - October 31, 2025: Pilot Designation Round for Neighborhood Centers
- December 31, 2026: DOLA updates grant award criteria to consider Neighborhood Centers
Neighborhood Centers Pilot Designation Round
DOLA seeks approximately 9-12 jurisdictions with Existing Neighborhood Centers (see Guidance for more details) that are interested in participating in an initial round where the Neighborhood Center program will be piloted. This Pilot Designation Round of Neighborhood Centers will run July 7, 2025 through October 31, 2025.
The Pilot Designation Round will be an opportunity for communities to participate in assisting the State in refining Neighborhood Center criteria so that the criteria is responsive to local and regional contexts. This will also be an opportunity to achieve early designation of Neighborhood Centers for upcoming grant funding rounds as early as October 2025.
Only areas that fit typologies of an Existing Neighborhood Center (see Guidance for more details) will be considered for this Pilot Designation Round, as further criteria, based upon the findings and lessons learned from the Pilot Designation Round will be used to develop and refine criteria for “Evolving” and “Future” Neighborhood Centers. Generally, for this Pilot Designation Round, DOLA seeks jurisdictions that are not subject to HB24-1313.
More information can be found in our newly published Guidance. Jurisdictions are encouraged to meet with DOLA in advance to discuss potential Neighborhood Centers. Please email Hannah van Nimwegen with questions or to arrange a meeting.