Douglas County commissioners unanimously approved a zoning request to advance an affordable senior housing complex in Highlands Ranch on March 10, citing housing affordability and a growing senior population.

Preliminary plans include a 165-unit apartment building on Plaza Drive. John Kilrow, senior vice president of Colorado development at Shea Properties, requested approval to establish the 9.69-acre lot for the project.

Shea Properties operates several income-restricted communities in Colorado including The Audrey, another senior housing development in Highlands Ranch.

“We found that the opportunity to stay close to family and to remain in the community has been a big driver for folks living there,” Kilrow said.

The apartments will be restricted to residents 55 and older and limited to households earning no more than 60% of the area median income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Urban Housing.

“We’re meeting a growing need in the county,” Kilrow said. “The 60-plus age group is the fastest growing age group right now in metro Denver.”

In Douglas County, maximum allowable rents at 60% AMI range from $1,576 for a one-bedroom unit to $2,439 for a four-bedroom unit, according to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

Income limits range from $58,860 for a one-person household to $90,840 for a five-person household and are updated annually.

Commissioner Abe Laydon said the project reflects broader housing needs and changing demographics in Douglas County.

“The reality is we need more workforce housing; we need more senior housing based on the demographics,” Laydon said.

Developers hope to begin construction in November 2026 and begin leasing in 2028. Preliminary plans also include a metro district park on site and trail parking for the nearby Highline Canal Trail.

“We’re already getting calls from people wondering when we’re going to do this because people who are on the waiting list at the Audrey are looking for senior affordable apartments in the community,” Kilrow said.