05/23/2026
Now for some good news !!!!! BIG NEWS FOR MANITOU SPRINGS
The long-vacant former La Fon / Paragon site at 123 Manitou Avenue has officially been awarded highly competitive federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) — making affordable housing at this site finally possible.
This award completes the project financing and allows 50 affordable rental housing units to move forward in Manitou Springs, serving households earning approximately 30%–60% AMI. The development will include a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom homes designed for working families, teachers, artists, hospitality workers, healthcare workers, seniors, service workers, municipal employees, emergency responders, and the people who help keep Manitou running every day.
For years, this property has sat vacant at one of the gateways into our community. Now, it has the opportunity to become something transformational — a vibrant multi-generational neighborhood that helps preserve Manitou Springs as a real year-round community.
This project represents years of persistence, advocacy, collaboration, and belief that affordable housing belongs in Manitou Springs. Huge thanks to developers John Block and Rich Block, URA President Farley McDonough, Executive Director Electra Johnson, Manitou Housing Coalition Chair Allison Gerbrig, Mayor Natalie Johnson, housing advocates, community members, and everyone who helped push this vision forward.
In a state where only 14 projects received awards in this highly competitive CHFA funding round, this is an enormous milestone for our community.
Keeping Manitou special depends on making space for the next generation of families, artists, entrepreneurs, workers, teachers, and service people.