INSPIRING AND ENABLING progress
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.”
― Edward Abbey
― Edward Abbey
Sarah founded Western Spaces as an evolution of her previous business, BalancedCommunity, Inc. Western Spaces, LLC is a research and consulting firm dedicated to enhancing the preservation and enjoyment of communities throughout the West.
By merging expertise in civic technology, housing, environmental stewardship, and community development, Sarah focuses on creating vibrant, inclusive communities where residents can thrive and visitors feel welcome. She brings a unique combination of skills in urban planning, data collection and analysis, civic tech, housing research, and policy development. As a certified planner with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and a Master’s in Urban Planning, Sarah has devoted her career to advancing affordable housing, community development, and environmental preservation.
At Western Spaces, we develop holistic, community-driven housing solutions to address pressing challenges of affordability and availability across Colorado and beyond. Through data-driven insights and meaningful engagement, we support communities, developers, and service providers in crafting housing needs assessments, market studies, and actionable strategic housing plans. Our approach provides clear, evidence-based insights to measure and address housing needs and gaps across all income levels. We prioritize fostering diversity in housing, economies, and environments while addressing the distinct challenges faced by urban, rural, and resort areas.
Resume and Firm Information SheetData, problem-solving, discovering new places, and being inspired to inform change are at the heart of what I do. I’m passionate about helping our Western Spaces be the best they can be.
I believe in giving back by offering my skills where they are most needed. Over the years, I have served on the boards of numerous non-profits, conducted pro-bono research projects, and donated my time to causes I care deeply about.
If you have a question, an idea to explore, or a project you’re passionate about, I’d love to hear from you. Each year, I choose a few projects to complete free of charge, driven by my unending curiosity and commitment to learning. These projects must be open source, foster collaboration, and ensure public access to data. I believe that sharing knowledge and data can make our world a better place.
