EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the project was being developed jointly by Element Properties, Kinship Capital and The John Buck Co.

The first finished part of the mixed-use SPARK development near 30th Street and Valmont Road, on the northern end of Boulder Junction, opened Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

SPARKwest, at 3200 Bluff St., contains 45 units of permanently affordable housing. One-third of the 273 units in the broader SPARK project will be dedicated as permanently affordable.

The project, to which the city contributed $3.8 million, is being developed by Element Properties. SPARKwest is LEED certified, with a 116-kilowatt solar energy system.

“Not only is SPARKwest filling an urgent need for affordable housing in Boulder, it is also demonstrating how thoughtfully designed affordable housing developments can contribute to the city of Boulder’s goals around housing, sustainability, equity, climate change and transportation,” said Kurt Firnhaber, Boulder’s housing director.

“We need more housing developments that help us address our housing shortage and bring numerous other community benefits.”

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