Colorado Candidate Will Propose 25,000 Starter Homes
Gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez plans to lower housing costs by targeting a $235,000 price point for new starter units.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Residential
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Ahead of the November 3, 2026, gubernatorial election, unaffiliated candidate Greg Lopez has proposed a plan to address housing affordability in Colorado. The initiative aims to construct 25,000 new starter homes across the state.
Why it matters
The proposal aims to shift state-level housing policy away from government subsidies and toward reducing construction costs for developers. This approach prioritizes local control over residential growth to address the rising cost of living for families.
The plan targets the development of 25,000 starter homes, with each unit sized at 1,100 square feet and priced at $235,000. It also suggests new administrative roles regarding data center and camera permit applications.
The players
Greg Lopez
A former member of Congress and past mayor and town manager for the Town of Parker who is running as an unaffiliated candidate for Colorado governor.
Town of Parker
A Colorado municipality where candidate Greg Lopez previously held roles as both mayor and town manager.
The details
The strategy relies on working directly with local jurisdictions, builders, and developers to reduce the regulatory costs associated with new residential construction. By minimizing these overheads, the campaign intends to make smaller 1,100-square-foot homes more affordable for buyers. The proposal also suggests that the state should act primarily as a referral agency for infrastructure applications like data centers and Flock cameras to maintain local authority.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Colorado voters will cast ballots in the gubernatorial general election.
The Home Front
This proposal represents a shift in state housing strategy by prioritizing market-based construction over the government-subsidized models currently seen in Colorado. It challenges existing norms by emphasizing local autonomy in zoning and project oversight.
Families monitoring the local housing market should track how proposed administrative changes to permit applications might impact construction timelines in their specific town. Consider researching how local zoning boards handle similar developments to understand the scope of local control in your area.
The takeaway
The proposed plan highlights a broader focus on increasing starter-home inventory through cost-reduction strategies rather than subsidies. Homeowners can continue to track local zoning meetings to understand how proposed changes to infrastructure permits might affect residential growth in their neighborhood.
What happens next
Colorado voters will decide the outcome of the gubernatorial race on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the state's housing landscape, visit Residential.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KUNC.
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