Past, Present, and Future


Monterey Park Apartments was founded in 1958 as the Foundation for Senior Citizens, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation. The original certificate of incorporation declared the objects and purposes of the corporation to be: “To promote, establish, and maintain a home, or proper living facilities for the aged, or senior citizens of Mesa County, Colorado, and surrounding community.” Monterey Park Apartments was envisioned by the founders as a quality, affordable place to live for our senior population of limited means. The original Board of Directors was made of forward thinking men: Loyd Files, Raymond J. Boggs, Arthur Gilbert, Allen H. Wasson, Charles Piccone, Frank S. Rose, James L. McCoy, Tom E. Elder, and A.J. Letey, who still sits on the Board.

The project gathered a tremendous amount of community support. In 1961, the original loan was obtained from the federal government. In 1961 the project was launched with the building of a combination of forty-five studio and one-bedroom apartments. In 1968, an office with a community room was built along with nine more apartments. The apartment total was then fifty-four.

Monterey Park Apartments was such a success, and the demand for what was offered so high, a second corporation, Colorado West Senior Citizens, Inc., was founded in 1971. Its goal was to provide the community with more housing for our senior citizens. In 1972, the second project was launched. It ended with the completion of 132 apartments, two well-equipped laundry facilities, a lunch room/community room, and a third recreation room. 

The Apartments are situated on roughly eight acres in a park-like setting. The grounds are skillfully maintained so that residents can enjoy their surroundings as well as their apartments. The Grey Gourmet serves lunch in the lunch room/community room every Monday through Friday and attracts seniors from around the city, offering residents an opportunity for socializing.

Today, we still believe in and live by the original objects and purposes of our founders, who began something that was unheard of in the Grand Valley. The privately-owned Monterey Park Apartments remain unique in an environment that is increasingly run by government.