Wheat Ridge recently received encouraging news that will help move an important community goal forward. The city has been awarded more than $4.5 million in state funding to support infrastructure that will enable new housing near the Arvada Ridge G Line commuter rail station.
The funding comes from Colorado’s Transit Oriented Communities Infrastructure (TOCI) grant program, which helps communities invest in infrastructure that supports housing near public transportation. In this initial round of funding, Wheat Ridge was one of just four Colorado cities selected to receive a grant.
The grant will support improvements tied to the Ridge Road Infrastructure Project, helping prepare the area for a planned 200-unit mixed-income housing development led by Foothills Regional Housing.
Projects like this are important because they create housing options in locations that already have strong connections to transportation, education, and employment. The site sits next to the G Line commuter rail station and near Red Rocks Community College, where an expansion of the nursing program is also planned.
That proximity creates opportunities for students, workers, and families to live near transit and services, making it easier to get to school, jobs, and daily necessities without needing to travel long distances.
Across Colorado and the Front Range, communities are feeling the impact of a housing shortage that has driven up both home prices and rent. Expanding housing in well-connected areas is one practical way to help address affordability challenges while making the most of existing infrastructure.
This project is also a strong example of partnership. The City of Wheat Ridge is working with Foothills Regional Housing to bring the development forward, following the purchase of the land from the State of Colorado in 2024 and City Council’s approval of zoning for the site in 2025 after an extensive neighborhood engagement process.
Infrastructure improvements supported by the grant will help prepare the area for future development while enhancing the surrounding neighborhood. By investing in roads, utilities, and other public improvements first, the city can help create the conditions needed for housing that supports students, working families, and longtime residents.
The award also reflects the proactive work our city has done to plan for the future. Wheat Ridge was the first city in Colorado to submit its final compliance report under the state’s Transit Oriented Communities law, making us eligible for this first round of funding.
As our community continues to grow, projects like this help ensure that growth happens in thoughtful, connected ways that support quality of life for residents and strengthen the long-term future of Wheat Ridge.
I’m excited to see the progress ahead as this project moves forward and continues building opportunities for our community.
City Staff Highlight
Highlighting the Amazing Members of the City of Wheat Ridge Staff
Name: Annalise Sankar
Explain your job: Investigations Technician, I am assigned to the Property Team in Investigations, but support all of the Bureau through various facets of Detectives’ investigations to include administrative support duties. I also manage some of my own property cases, gathering evidence, and assisting in the resolution of criminal incidents without being a sworn officer. My cases include a lot of elder fraud, but lately, I have been assigned cryptocurrency-involved cases and I am learning to become more proficient in digital currency related criminal investigation.
How long have you worked for the city? Just over 3 years
Favorite pastime: Working out (and reading)
What is your walkout song?: Unstoppable by Sia
Favorite superhero: She-Ra, Wonder Woman and She-Hulk
If you had your own talk show, who would be your first guest?: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
If you were stranded on a deserted island , what 3 albums would you want to have with you?: Audioslave: Self-Titled, U2: Achtung Baby, Alice in Chains: Jar of Flies
