We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

—The Prayer of Óscar Romero

Dear friend,

Come with me to the Clara Brown Commons construction site, where you’ll see and hear…

Nails nails nails. Wood framing’s going up fast, with the nonstop percussive kachunk of pneumatic nailers. The first floor beat the snowstorm this week. Each floor takes around two weeks, so we’ll be topping off the fourth (top) floor roof by the end of February!

Welders shower sparks, setting beams for the great room and other common spaces. The steelwork is pretty much finished. We’re seeing a glimpse of just how big the west-facing windows of the great room will be—the space bathed in light on winter days like this.

The full-block jobsite is packed with materials and bustles with logistics. Heavy forklifts squish through the mud to ferry pallets to cranes, that in turn swing bundles of studs to each rising floor. We’re thankful for each skilled trade worker, laboring each hour in the winter elements, as the structure rises.

If you want more than this email tour, how about letting me know and we’ll arrange an in-person visit?

Seeds and Promise

As early as 2004, a blighted block in Northeast Denver caught our eye. We quietly began prayerful walks around the block and had in-depth conversations with neighbors. Building on our experience creating a thriving, healing community at Joshua Station, what potential might this place—troubled for so long— hold for our city? A dream emerged for Clara Brown Commons.

From these seeds of vision, cultivated over the course of many years, new homes for 78 families will open up this October. (We’ll have 61 in our apartment building and another 17 in homes built and sold by Habitat for Humanity).

With a brand-new public park next door, our partners at Inner City Health Center across the street, and a rich offering of supportive community programs, CBC will be a great place to live.

This week, room by room, we’re on our way!

With gratitude for your interest and participation,

Jeff Johnsen

Executive Director