Welcome to the Hillside Heartbeat family! Search our website to learn about the Hillside Advisory Team neighborhood association, and how together we are strengthening our community connections and identifying opportunities to make our community continue to thrive.
Finally, we have a newsletter! Come back soon for the latest edition.
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Community Benefits Agreement
A CBA is a legally-binding contract negotiated between a community and a developer. It's an accountability tool to help maintain existing neighborhoods as large-scale development moves in. CBAs across the country have won affordable housing, priority job hiring, & investments in the community like education, parks, arts & more. The Ball Arena CBA in Denver - The Auraria Neighborhood won: * Infrastructure to meet neighborhood-identified needs like traffic calming * Millions of dollars in various community funds like scholarships an dhousing assistance * Affordable housing * Below market-rate rents for small businesses Our Ask The developers have not committed to negotiating a CBA. We need our neighbors as to tell the developers, Urban Renewal, & City Council that our neighborhoods deserve developer accountability. We will not be priced out!
Who is UPH CBA Coalition?
Your neighbors who live in Hillside, Knob Hill & K-Land. We are supported by allies, local businesses and organizations: * Hillside Advisory Team * Food to Power * Relevant Word Ministries * Knob Hill Urban Arts District * Chinook Center * Shutter & Strum * COS Pro-Housing Partnership * Papeton Neighborhood Organization * Mid Shooks Run Neighborhood Assoc * People Centered COS * Cambio Yoga * Crowned * Ole Me New You Thrift Boutique * Xpressions Beauty Studio * The Craftsman * Colorado Springs DSA * Papeton Printing Co-op * The Living Word Bible Church * & more!
The Future of Printers Park
submitted by a Hillside Homeowner
As plans move forward for the redevelopment of Union Printers Park, residents of Hillside, Knob Hill, and K‑Land are working together to secure a Community Benefit Agreement, or CBA. These agreements have become an important tool for neighborhoods across the country that want to make sure large development projects bring real, lasting benefits to the people who already live nearby. CBAs began appearing in the early 2000s as communities looked for ways to have a stronger voice in shaping major projects. At their core, a CBA is a legally binding contract between a developer and community groups. It spells out specific commitments—such as affordable housing, local hiring, environmental protections, or public amenities—that the developer must follow. The idea is simple: when public dollars or major private investment reshape a neighborhood, the people who live there should share in the benefits. Denver offers a recent Colorado example. During the Park Hill Golf Course redevelopment process, neighborhood organizations negotiated a detailed CBA with the developer. That agreement included long‑term affordable housing requirements, outreach to residents at risk of displacement, and commitments recorded in the property documents so they would remain enforceable even if the land changed hands. While neighbors had differing views about the project itself, the CBA became a way to secure concrete, measurable protections for the surrounding community. For our neighborhoods, a CBA tied to Union Printers Park could help ensure that redevelopment strengthens rather than displaces the people who have built this community. It could support goals such as keeping housing affordable, ensuring local residents have access to new jobs, protecting long‑time homeowners from rising costs, and shaping public spaces that reflect neighborhood priorities. Because the project may involve public financing tools like Tax Increment Financing, a CBA is one of the clearest ways to guarantee that public investment results in public benefit. As discussions continue, Hillside, Knob Hill, and K‑Land have an opportunity to work together and define what a fair, community‑centered redevelopment should look like. A strong CBA won’t stop growth—it will help guide it so that Union Printers Park becomes a place that honors its history while supporting the people who call this area home today. Q&A: What Residents Are Asking What exactly is a CBA? A CBA is a legally binding agreement between a developer and community groups that outlines specific benefits the project must deliver. Why do neighborhoods want one? It ensures that redevelopment includes protections and improvements that directly support existing residents, not just new investment. Has this been done nearby? Yes. Denver’s Park Hill Golf Course redevelopment included a CBA with affordable housing requirements and long‑term community protections. How could it help our area? A CBA for Union Printers Park could support affordable housing, local hiring, anti‑displacement measures, and community‑driven amenities.
Monthly Neighborhood Meeting
June 24 | 6pm | Hillside Community Center
Our neighborhood meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of the month at Hillside Community Center, 925 S Institute St, 6-7:30 pm.
The HAT Board of Directors Open Session is held the 2nd Wednesday of the Month, also at Hillside Community Center, at 6pm.
No meetings are held in the month of December
Next Neighborhood Meeting: June 4
We're hosting a Front Range Passenger Rail Townhall!
The Passenger Rail District will likely propose a ballot initiative in the near future to locate a rail station in Colorado Springs. This townhall will give the community an opportunity to provide feedback and have questions answered. More information coming soon!