Affordable housing plays a vital role in creating thriving, diverse communities across Western Colorado. At SGM, we’re fortunate to live, work, and play in the same places we help shape, making affordable housing projects especially meaningful. That’s why we’re proud to partner on developments that expand housing opportunities and create places where people can build their lives close to work, family, and community.
That commitment is reflected in our work with the Grand Junction Housing Authority (GJHA), where we’re helping bring more affordable housing units to Grand Junction through projects like the 2814 Patterson Road Apartments and now, The Current. The Grand Junction Housing Authority’s mission is to provide dignified housing solutions for low-income families, people with disabilities, and those who need a hand to get back on their feet.
The Current is a 54-unit affordable housing development currently under construction as the first phase of Confluence Subdivision—a planned 400-unit affordable housing community in Grand Junction. The four-story development will offer one- and two-bedroom units. Its location is prized for its walkability to childcare, recreation, jobs, and the grocery store. Working alongside teaming partners Oz Architecture, Norris Design, and Shaw Construction, SGM has supported the project through master planning, grant funding applications, design, and construction.
The project has also drawn statewide attention for its role in expanding affordable housing across Colorado. During a tour of The Current last month, Governor Jared Polis said, as reported by the Grand Junction Sentinel, “Grand Junction has a great quality of life. People are moving here. It’s driving up prices. So we’ve got to have more homes that people can afford to live in for the community to stay strong and affordable.”
SGM supported the project team from Confluence’s initial conception and master planning through subdivision approval and the design of the first phase. The project incorporated alternative street designs to create a pedestrian-scale environment suitable for elderly and mobility-impaired residents while reducing the prominence of parking lots throughout the neighborhood to provide more open space for residents. The project also utilized CHFA grants and State and Federal Tax Credits, which required support from SGM.
The development incorporates all-electric building systems and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, minimizing long-term property management costs while meeting state EV charging requirements. The site lighting design incorporates dark-sky principles to support sustainability and quality of life for residents.
A project of this scale and complexity highlights the value of multidisciplinary collaboration. SGM provided civil engineering, surveying, MEP design, wetlands permitting, floodplain management, environmental services, and grant support throughout the project lifecycle.
“These are the projects I really enjoy working on,” commented Project Manager and Senior Civil Engineer Diana Rooney. “Not only is it an opportunity to brainstorm new and innovative designs, but the end result is a complex that will directly help and house fellow community members. It’s also a great example of how our in-house disciplines—from civil engineering and MEP design to surveying and environmental services—work together to efficiently deliver projects.”
The project required filing a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for the entire Leach Creek due to 500-year floodplains preventing CHFA, Corporate Tax Credit, and HUD grant eligibility. A US Army Corps of Engineers nationwide permit was also required for HUD funding and discharge into adjacent waters.
SGM’s Civil team designed the project site and utility infrastructure and led the development review process through three City submissions. Site design within an undeveloped area of the city required fire flow modeling to inform appropriate water infrastructure phasing, while creative site planning enabled infrastructure impacts to be distributed across multiple phases of work as future tax credit investors join as partners in subsequent development phases.
Grand Junction City Manager Mike Bennett emphasized the collaboration behind that progress. In its coverage of the project, the Grand Junction Sentinel quoted Bennett, who said, “Our small but mighty housing division does an incredible job collaborating with our partners and working on projects like this. This was a $2.25 million investment from the city, but without Proposition 123 and without the partnership of the Housing Authority on projects like this, meeting the commitment would not occur. And so we’re thrilled with the results.”
Projects like The Current demonstrate how thoughtful planning and strong partnerships can help address critical housing needs in Western Colorado. We’re proud to support developments that create lasting value for residents and communities alike.
Learn more about SGM’s specialties here.
To read the latest coverage on the project, check out The Grand Junction Sentinel’s coverage and a recent feature in the Spring 2026 edition of Affordable Housing News.
