School District Breaks Ground on Teacher Housing
Harrison School District 2 began construction on a $6 million housing project offering 40 homes for teachers and school staff.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Apartments
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Harrison School District 2 broke ground on Wendy's Village, a $6 million affordable housing project with 40 homes for teachers and school staff at Mountain Vista Community School. The homes will rent for $825 a month, below the average rate in the city.
Why it matters
The project is intended to help the district retain staff in a city where housing costs can make recruiting and keeping educators difficult. Organizers also aim to create a model other school districts and communities can replicate.
The $6 million project will include 40 homes renting for $825 a month, which the district describes as below the city average. The source does not specify the completion date or how the average rent figure was calculated.
The players
Harrison School District 2
Harrison School District 2 is a public school district serving students in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Wendy Birhazel
Wendy Birhazel is the superintendent of Harrison School District 2, after whom the housing village was named.
The details
The board named the village after Superintendent Wendy Birhazel. Net revenue from Wendy's Village will support a local nonprofit's housing programs for young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability, though organizers expect this only once the village becomes financially stable.
Timeline
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026: Groundbreaking held for Wendy's Village at Mountain Vista Community School.
Season Trajectory
School districts in high-cost metros have increasingly turned to employer-assisted housing as a tool for retaining educators. Wendy's Village follows that pattern by building affordable homes directly on district property for teachers and staff.
Teachers and school staff in Colorado Springs may be able to rent one of 40 homes at $825 a month once the village is complete. The project is designed to keep district employees closer to where they work.
The takeaway
Affordable employer-provided housing can be a practical way for school districts to keep staff in place. Readers interested in similar projects can watch how Wendy's Village performs as a replicable model.
Further reading
Browse more apartment rental news covering affordable housing developments in Colorado Springs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX21 News.
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