Geneva Village
Introduction
Geneva Village has long been a meaningful presence in Littleton’s downtown constructed in 1964 as low-cost retirement housing for members of the International Geneva Association. For decades, it served seniors with a sense of stability and community, nestled within one of the city’s most vital areas. As of June 2025, all residents have successfully relocated with the support of the City of Littleton. The site is now poised for thoughtful redevelopment aligned with broader goals for affordable housing, downtown vitality, and inclusive community growth.
2021 to 2025
Geneva Village came under city ownership in 1975 as part of the land acquisition for the city’s administration building. Over the years, it continued to provide senior housing, eventually narrowing to just 11 leased units. However, aging infrastructure, particularly mechanical systems requiring asbestos mitigation, posed increasingly urgent challenges.
Between 2021 and 2023, City Council and staff explored future possibilities for the site, including rehabilitation (estimated at $5 million) and potential redevelopment to expand affordable housing. Extensive discussions focused on supporting current residents while aligning plans with long-term community goals. The September 2023 Council directive initiated a formal process to redevelop the site as part of a broader vision for the northern gateway to Downtown Littleton, near Prince Street and Santa Fe Drive.
To better understand the needs of residents during this transitional period, the city partnered with B-Konnected to conduct in-depth interviews and assessments in 2023. Findings revealed residents’ concerns about housing security and financial strain, particularly given that rent had not increased since 1979. The average resident income—primarily from Social Security, fell well below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The city responded with proactive support services, including housing navigation, relocation planning, and financial assistance. As of June 2025, all residents have been successfully relocated with individualized support.
Future Steps
With residents relocated, Geneva Village enters a new chapter- one shaped by community values, strategic planning, and a shared vision for downtown’s future. Redevelopment will align with the Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan, the Transportation Master Plan, and the Downtown Development Authority’s Plan of Development.
Future community planning efforts will guide the site’s transformation. These discussions will include input from experts in affordable housing, urban design, mobility, and economic development and may coincide with or follow the five-year strategic update to Envision Littleton. Recommendations will be integrated into the city’s long-range planning framework.
Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel (ULI TAP) program
The City of Littleton was selected in January 2025 as a recipient of the Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel (ULI TAP) program and a grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments. TAPs are volunteers with expertise across various fields who help communities address pressing land use issues, brainstorm potential opportunities, and provide recommendations to help inform next steps. This panel brought together volunteer experts from various fields to explore creative possibilities and recommend short-, medium-, and long-term steps for the area’s future.
The Urban Land Institute’s Technical Advisory Panel for Downtown’s Northern Gateway took place May 21 and 22, 2025. Panel members received a site tour from staff and conducted numerous stakeholder interviews to gain a broad understanding of the site and community. The panel presented their initial findings and recommendations to the public May 22, with a vision of the gateway as “A Place of Discovery, Culture, and Opportunity”.
A more in-depth report is anticipated in summer 2025. The ideas developed will help inspire future visioning and conversations when the city is ready to embark on the extensive planning and engagement work for the site, which is likely years out given other current city priorities and initiatives such as Project Downtown and the upcoming Littleton Blvd sub-area plan.
View the Northern Gateway Littleton TAP Presentation(PDF, 12MB)