Earlier this week, Denver7’s Jacqueline Allen dove into the pressing issue of Parker’s “missing middle”—the severe lack of reasonably priced condos available for homebuyers in Colorado. As part of the investigation into why these attainable homes are so scarce, Denver7 sat down with Johnson Law’s founding attorney Chad Johnson to discuss the reality behind the shortage.
For decades, developers have pointed the finger at Colorado’s construction defect laws, claiming that consumer protections make it too legally risky to build multi-family condos. However, as Chad explained in the interview, that narrative doesn’t tell the whole story. “There are many reasons why condos are not being built across Colorado, including rising interest rates, rising costs of both construction and labor.”
To add to that, according to a leading Colorado economic consulting firm “Homebuilders contend that construction defect litigation is the reason why there is a lack of for sale affordable housing in Colorado. Empirical data does not support this contention. Empirical data shows that states’ construction defect laws are not correlated with the availability of affordable for sale housing.” More details for the condominium supply and demand analysis can be found by reviewing the 2024 study by Pacey Nehls Economic Consulting titled the Colorado Condominium Development (Supply) Analysis and Policy.
As Chad noted in the segment, “You can’t build the American dream on a foundation that is shifting and cracking.”
At Johnson Law, we see firsthand what happens when builders cut corners to offset rising costs. Homeowners and HOAs are too often left paying the price for poor workmanship, defects, and damage. Stripping away consumer protections won’t magically solve the housing crisis—it will only leave everyday Coloradans vulnerable to shoddy construction and massive repair bills. Fixing the “missing middle” shouldn’t come at the expense of homeowner safety and accountability and possibly bankrupting the very homeowners we are trying to help.
We encourage you to watch the full Denver7 story to learn more about the ongoing debate and what local leaders are doing to address the housing gap.
Is your condo or townhome suffering from poor workmanship or structural issues? You don’t have to navigate it alone. Contact Johnson Law today for a free consultation, and let us help you protect your biggest investment.
