Project Overview
KEPHART is proud to share an update on Tierra Azul, a new affordable workforce-housing community planned on 43 acres in Alamosa, in the heart of Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The project reflects the region’s agricultural roots and high-plains climate through durable materials, resident-focused planning, and a phased approach designed for long-term flexibility.
The master plan includes 412 residential units (apartments, townhomes, triplexes, duplexes, and single-family homes) with pathways for first-time homebuyers. Grounded in Alamosa’s landscape and community character, the architecture helps the neighborhood feel contemporary, familiar, and welcoming.
Design Approach
The name Tierra Azul (“blue earth”) nods to local heritage and informs a restrained palette: primarily black-and-white tones to visually reduce scale, with blue accents marking entries and other key moments. That intention carries through the architecture as well, using modern farmhouse forms, pitched roofs, board-and-batten siding, and metal roofing suited to the high-plains environment.
Across building types, the architecture is designed to feel comfortable and residential in scale. The largest building is thoughtfully organized into smaller, articulated forms that add rhythm and reduce perceived mass, helping establish a cohesive neighborhood character echoed by the surrounding buildings.
A future clubhouse extends this language through two simple house forms and generous glazing, creating a welcoming community hub.
Project Status
Construction began in March 2025 with infrastructure improvements, establishing the foundation required for vertical development. Early investment in utilities and site readiness was critical to de-risking the project and enabling subsequent phases.
Phase 1 is now actively under construction and is anticipated to be completed in May 2027. This phase includes 46 units—one 30-plex and two 8-plexes—along with a planned 2,500-square-foot clubhouse featuring fitness space, a community room, and offices. Unit layouts have been designed for efficient construction while maintaining consistency with the overall master plan.
In rural communities, delivering affordable housing often hinges on infrastructure readiness more than land availability. For Tierra Azul, KEPHART, CRHDC, the City of Alamosa, and partners coordinated utilities, zoning/entitlements (PDP/FDP), and funding over two years, pairing early infrastructure support with 9% tax credits for vertical construction.
Tierra Azul demonstrates how rural workforce housing can be both efficient and uplifting, pairing durable design with an identity rooted in place. As Phase 1 progresses, the broader vision will add more multifamily homes and a future clubhouse to support connection, wellness, and long-term community stability.
For more information about KEPHART’s work in affordable housing, call 303-832-4474.
