Development Boom In Boulder

Workman busy at 3100 Pearl project in Boulder. (Photo courtesy Boulder Daily Camera)

Change is coming to Boulder’s long-held anti-growth philosophy.  For years a city known for stalling and killing new real estate developments, the Denver suburb of Boulder has started to open its doors to new ideas and serious new developments.  Boulder is currently looking at 30 new developments from single family homes to mixed use units to the famous new Trader Joes Market (Hallelujah!).

Taking a short drive through town will already give you the sense of change as you will see construction sites all over the city.  Boulder is looking at upwards of 1,500 apartments, hundreds of new hotel rooms, not to mention plenty of new office units and retail space.

Anti-growth politics for historic preservation have traditionally stalled development in Boulder. Change is on the way.

The areas surrounding 28^th Street look to be getting the most work.  Along the West side of the mall, there will be the new Trader Joes Market,  an all-new McDonalds and the BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse which is currently well on its way to completion.  The McDonalds is currently getting held up as its plans could interfere with parking lot of Trader Joes.  If you have ever been to a Trader Joes in LA,  that makes perfect sense.  I’m pretty sure the company just loves to have parking issues.  Across the way, the Golden Buff could be getting a brand new face lift as well.

Traveling south a little farther on 28^th where it becomes the Turnpike, 4 different housing projects are on their way.  The First Christian Church has been labeled a landmark, so it will become the centerpiece to an 84-unit residential development.  One of the 4 sites will be dedicated student housing.

Two more notable projects within the city of Boulder are 3100 Pearl and Depot Square at Boulder Junction.  This is hard to miss if you are entering Boulder on the East side by way of Pearl.  3100 has already broken ground; the 319 unit apartment complex expects to be finished by the end of next year.  Depot Square has been approved and is looking to break ground in the coming weeks.

The once envisioned hub of the now failed northwest light rail, Fastracks,  system from Denver, will now go ahead as the base for the Regional Transporation District and hold 78 permanent housing units, a 150 room hotel, an Oskar Blues restaurant and the re-purposing of the historic depot building.  Though plans look beautiful, this site could become a solace reminder to locals about what could have and should have been.  Sorry for the negative moment, but many of us are still very disgruntled about the failed FasTracks NorthWest development that we were promised and  have already paid for.

Gunbarrel is already starting to see some of the changes coming its way.  Bulldozers are breaking concrete and pushing dirt at the corner of Lookout and 63^rd for a future 100 room Hampton Inn hotel that will also include some retail and restaurant tenants.   Plans have also been submitted for two other large sites for rental, commercial and retail use in the same area.  I will finish up with everyone’s favorite, BEER!  Avery Brewing Company can go forward with plans for a new home in the Gunbarrel area.  Avery will be moving its headquarters from the Arapahoe Rd site to a nearly 96,000 sq ft site that will include a restaurant and taproom.

So,  just like many places along the Front Range, Boulder is seeing its share of change.  Though many in the town will argue against such things, this is good for the city and it is good for the people.  It is an exciting time to live in Colorado, it is an exciting time to buy in Boulder and consider a change of lifestyle for the better!

For more information about Boulder developments, check out Alicia Wallace’s article “Boulder’s boom: More than 30 building projects on tap for next 2 years” from the Boulder Daily Camera.  For more information about Boulder homes, contact me on the form below: