EDENS Acquires Nearly-Full City Block in Denver’s Five Points

Photo of 2600 Larimer Street, courtesy of Volunteers of America Colorado.

EDENS, a national real estate owner, operator and developer with a strong local presence in Denver, has purchased 2660 Larimer St., a nearly-full city block at 26th and Larimer in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. The sale of the approximately 97,103-square-foot property is part of a larger deal between EDENS and Volunteers of America Colorado (VOA Colorado), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to support Colorado’s most underserved residents with food resources and services.

Dorit Fischer and Hayden Hirschfeld of NAI Shames Makovsky represented EDENS and Newmark Managing Director Bryon Stevenson represented VOA Colorado.

“We have a long history of working with mission-driven organizations such as VOA Colorado to help them map out their real estate needs and make smart decisions for their future,” said Hayden Hirschfeld, broker at NAI Shames Makovsky. “Beyond navigating the complexities inherent in deals such as this, we aim to be true partners to our clients, bringing the right parties to the table at the right time. Both EDENS and the VOA Colorado are strongly community-minded, and this is a great example of a powerful new alignment that will ultimately benefit both VOA Colorado and the neighborhood for years to come.”

VOA Colorado, which serves 1 million meals to more than 60,000 Coloradans in need each year, will move its kitchen, warehouse, and other operations to a 53,796-square-foot space at 4915 E 52nd in Commerce City, which was purchased for the VOA by EDENS as part of the deal. This new space will accommodate VOA Colorado’s high-traffic industrial uses, such as its commissary kitchen and Meals on Wheels program. NAI Shames Makovsky also identified and brokered the deal to secure the Commerce City property for VOA Colorado on behalf of EDENS.

“We are proud of our 125-year legacy and all we have accomplished here in this neighborhood,” said VOA Colorado President and CEO Dave Schunk. “The reality is, we have simply outgrown our current space and this deal provides us with the ideal scenario, allowing us to keep our presence on Larimer Street while also moving into new facilities that gives us ample room to expand and carry out our mission of serving Coloradans.”

As part of this transaction, VOA Colorado will maintain ownership of its current 20,000-square-foot Five Points headquarters, which will be remodeled by EDENS to better support the nonprofit’s needs. The upgraded headquarters will include a first-floor museum space that will showcase the organization’s rich history, and Coloradans’ spirit of giving back to the community, especially those in need.

“VOA Colorado is a vital pillar in our community, and this partnership will allow them to continue to grow their mission and provide support to more Coloradans in need,” said Tom Kiler, managing director at EDENS. “EDENS saw this as an opportunity to not only build something new and necessary on the Larimer St site, but to join VOA Colorado into our vision, to help them keep a distinct role in this neighborhood, and to ensure they are set up for success in the future. This was truly a win-win for everyone.”

The new development proposed by EDENS will include a mix of retail, housing, and open and public spaces that will connect Larimer and Lawrence Streets between 26th and 27th Avenues. Denver City Council recently approved a rezoning request for the project, which is expected to bring nearly 400 residential units, 90,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and over 10,000 square feet of publicly-accessible, privately-maintained open space.

VOA Colorado is expected to move into its new Commerce City space in Spring 2023. Renovations on the organization’s headquarters space is expected to finish in late 2023. EDENS’ development is expected to break ground in Spring 2023.

 

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