The Rio Grande Village public housing project is a redevelopment project funded by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority. After looking at the potential of the site given its proximity to downtown, immediate access to the parks and trails along Shooks Run, and the redevelopment activity in the area, the Housing Authority decided to re-invest in the property by designing new units that reflect the original character of the neighborhood.
With this goal in mind, the buildings were designed in a traditional downtown neighborhood style, reflecting the large Victorian and Craftsman style homes that remain in the area. Architectural elements on these homes include covered front porches, hip and gable roofs, and a variety of exterior details such as framed windows, stucco belly-bands, and varied siding widths. The 5-plex units have two apartments with one-bedroom, three apartments with two-bedrooms, and each unit in the building has its own entrance. The cottage units are two-bedroom single-family dwellings. The attached flats and cottages units provide a mix of unit types that can fill a wide range of Housing Authority clients’ needs.

• Rio Grande Village Master Plan