Development Team & Master Planning

The Salt Flats site is one of the largest housing opportunities in Grand Junction, and its success depends on careful planning and strong partnerships. To ensure the site reflects community needs and supports long-term growth, the City of Grand Junction chose not to act as the developer. Instead, the City’s role has been to remove barriers, secure initial funding for the land and infrastructure, provide public infrastructure, and establish the framework for private and nonprofit partners to build the housing itself.

In early 2025, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select development partners. The RFP process was highly competitive, receiving 13 proposals. Through review and interviews, the review committee comprised of City staff from the Finance, Community Development (Planning and Housing), City Managers office, staff from the Grand Junction Housing Authority and representation from the Home Builders Association selected four development teams to bring the site to life:

Brikwell – serving as the Master Developer and Master Planner, guiding the overall vision and ensuring all phases connect into a cohesive neighborhood. Their first project, Ascent at Salt Flats, will deliver 144 affordable apartments. 👉 Learn more about Brikwell here.
Vertikal Design + Development – bringing local expertise in design, construction, and mixed-use housing.
Rural Homes – focusing on attainable for-sale townhomes and single-family homes, especially for families earning under 100% AMI.
Volunteers of America (VOA) – in partnership with MGL and the Grand Junction Housing Authority, developing 62 affordable apartments for seniors and veterans, including 13 Veteran vouchers.

More information on the remaining development teams - COMING SOON!

Having multiple developers on a site this large is intentional. Master planning ensures that infrastructure, roads, parks, and utilities are shared efficiently, while different developers bring diverse housing types — rentals, for-sale, affordable, attainable, and market-rate. This mix creates a neighborhood that looks and feels like Grand Junction itself, with opportunities for seniors, veterans, families, and individuals across the income spectrum.

Another key reason for multiple development partners is the variety of funding sources needed to bring the site to life. Affordable and attainable housing relies on complex financing tools such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Proposition 123 programs (land banking, concessionary debt, and equity), federal vouchers, and private financing. Each funding source comes with its own timelines and requirements, meaning projects must be sequenced carefully so they complement each other rather than compete for the same resources.

The Proposition 123 Land Banking Grant requires that housing development plans — totaling at least 324 units, with 70% affordable and 30% attainable or mixed-income — be in place within five years of the property’s acquisition, with all financing secured and arranged within ten years. To meet these milestones, the City selected partners with a proven track record, direct experience with the proposed funding sources, and the ability to collaborate within a unified site plan. It was also critical to choose developers prepared to begin vertical construction well before the five-year mark, ensuring new homes are delivered sooner to meet community needs while preventing all construction from occurring at once.

In May 2025, all selected development teams — along with their architects, engineers, design teams, and finance teams — gathered in the basement of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) building on Main Street to lay out a comprehensive vision for the Salt Flats site. Since then, these teams have been working closely with Brikwell, the master planner, to refine their designs, align their timelines, and ensure the site moves forward as one coordinated community.

The overall development timeline stretches over the next decade, with Phase 1 infrastructure underway now and the first vertical construction anticipated to begin in 2026. By combining state resources, local investment, and private sector expertise, the Salt Flats represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand housing, strengthen neighborhoods, and reflect the City’s long-term commitment to inclusive and well-planned growth.