Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation Announces New Executive Director for Pikes Peak Housing Network Organization
The Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced today that Jill Gaebler has been named Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Housing Network (PPHN) effective Wednesday, November 1st, 2023. The position will play a key role in advancing the mission to foster innovative and collaborative solutions that increase housing affordability, attainability, access, and production in the Pikes Peak region.
Gaebler is a champion of affordable and attainable housing in Colorado Springs and brings more than 20 years of community development experience and spent 8 years representing her city through Colorado Springs City Council. Gaebler was the passionate leader for Greccio Housing as the development director for 6 years. Greccio Housing is a nonprofit providing affordable housing for low- to moderate- income families. She co-founded the Colorado Springs Charter Academy, a public school in District 5, in 2004 and worked tirelessly to update the curriculum and quality issues to advance the education of students. Gaebler served on many community boards, including: the Pikes Peak Library District’s Board of Trustees, the Downtown Development Authority, the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, The Colorado Municipal League, Homeward Pikes Peak, and The Front Range Passenger Rail Commission. Jill moved to Colorado Springs in 2000 after she served seven years as an Air Force officer.
“I am excited to be in this new role,” said Gaebler. “I look forward to working with the other passionate community members toward bringing much-needed affordable and attainable housing to our region.”
“Jill brings many years of expertise in building community collaboration to bring people together to work on issues like demand for low- and middle-income housing,” said David Lord, Chairperson of PPHN Leadership Council, David Lord Investments, Inc. “Her previous service to our community on city council brought an understanding of the local, state, and federal legislative process. Jill’s passion for our region and housing will provide great leadership as the first Executive Director for PPHN.”
In the role of Executive Director, Gaebler will collaborate with public and private partners to establish a regional culture supporting housing affordability as an essential part of a healthy economy. PPHN strives to create and promote a strong economic case for the need of additional workforce and middle-income housing units that support the El Paso County region of Colorado.
“This is a critical time for our region as we work to expand housing affordability through supply challenges. The new Pikes Peak Housing Network will lead to these efforts. This collaborative effort will evaluate creative solutions and solve problems on this complex issue,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “We are thrilled to welcome Jill. She will be an excellent addition to the team and will lead the way to advocate for housing at all income levels, which is vital to economic growth and job attraction to the region.”
In August 2023, the Chamber & EDC announced they would be the official host for PPHN as a community initiative. The Chamber & EDC was selected as host due to its understanding that housing affordability is influenced by factors such as income, education and health and its commitment to PPHN’s vision that everyone in the Pikes Peak Region has the opportunity for a safe, stable, and attainable place to call home. PPHN’s founding is the result of significant volunteer-led work since 2018 by the Affordable Housing Collaborative, Apartment Association of Southern Colorado, the Chamber & EDC, Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs, Housing & Building Association, Pikes Peak Realtors Association, and the City of Colorado Springs.
According to February 2023 Colorado Springs Housing Affordability Study from the Common Sense Institute, “The housing deficit in 2022 in Colorado Springs is in the range of 10,614 to 21,150 units. To meet population growth by 2028 and close the housing deficit, between 28,000 and 39,000 housing units will need to be built. That means that between 4,730 and 6,485 permits are needed annually through 2028.”
PPHN’s work will be overseen by a Leadership Council that includes Chairperson David Lord, David Lord Investments Inc.; Vice Chairperson Lee Patke, Greccio Housing Executive Director; David Dazlich, Vice President of Government Affairs for Chamber & EDC; Randi Davis, El Paso County Housing Analyst; Susan Edmondson, Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs CEO; Thomas Garmong, Oakwood Homes Division President; Steve Posey, City of Colorado Springs Chief Housing Officer; and Ben Anderson, Solid Rock CDC Executive Director.