Today, September 28, joint venture partners Golub & Company and FORMATIV celebrated the groundbreaking of the initial phase of development at Denargo Market. This first phase, focused on infrastructure improvements and the public realm, will bring 4+ acres of open space and much-needed amenities to the area. This phase is crucial for the future placemaking at Denargo Market. When fully built out, the 17-acre mixed-use development – located along the South Platte riverfront just north of downtown — will provide office, residential, retail and hospitality woven together by a new, world-class public realm.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and District 9 Councilmember Darrell Watson were in attendance at the groundbreaking.
“Today is an incredible example of what it means to build both a great city and a good city at the same time. This [project] will have an incredible economic impact on the city. It will bring thousands of new units and new residents downtown. It will activate commercial space. It will have an amazing hotel. It will bring vibrance to all of this neighborhood and community,” said Mayor Johnston.
Zoned for over 3 million square feet of development, Denargo Market, which lies just north of downtown Denver, will be a significant addition to Denver’s skyline. Ample public-facing amenities and public open spaces woven throughout the site are designed to maximize the Colorado lifestyle and invite everyone to gather and play.
The mixed-use development at Denargo Market will feature build-to-suit and campus opportunities — per market demand — for businesses seeking to be at the center of the dynamic development. Office opportunities range from 200,000 square feet to 1.5 million square feet. Residential and hospitality developments are slated to be strategically positioned throughout, and key to the vision will be 80,000 square feet of captivating retail that will provide day-to-night activation.
“Today marks the start of improvements to the public realm that will come to define the Denargo Market experience,” said Laura Newman, vice president of investment & development at Golub & Company. “Designed as a true community gathering space, we’ve intentionally protected mountain and city views, open green spaces and riverfront accessibility to ensure these vital elements will forever be part of the public experience at Denargo Market; we’re thrilled to be kicking off that work today.”
Horizontal improvements begin with extensive environmental remediation of a historic landfill, followed by the installation of underground wet and dry utilities, stormwater management, and a new street network with sidewalks, lighting, and protected/elevated bike lanes. Upon delivery, these improvements will strengthen connections between Brighton Boulevard and the South Platte River, making this area pedestrian-centric once again.
The public open space and amenities delivered as part of this phase will include new sports courts, a revamped dog park, an activated pedestrian plaza, a half-acre great lawn and splash pad, as well as a nature-based playground and one of the largest interactive public art installations in Denver. Through a partnership with Denver Urban Gardens, the development will also be home to a new community garden. When complete, these horizontal improvements will result in development pads that are virtually plug-and-play for future vertical development at Denargo Market.
“Developing 17 acres of prime riverfront space here in Denver is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the culmination of years of development work in this area for our team,” said Sean Campbell, CEO of FORMATIV. “This is the largest infill taking shape in Denver right now, and it will be a game-changer for inclusivity in our city. Denargo Market will undoubtedly become a place where businesses want to establish their offices, residents choose to live, and Denverites will spend their nights and weekends; it’s incredible to see this vision begin to take shape.”
Sasaki is serving as the landscape architect and Swinerton as the general contractor on the public realm improvements, which are slated for completion summer of 2025. Additional project partners include Martin & Martin as civil and structural engineer, Denver Parks & Rec – a public/private partnership to enliven the South Platte River frontage – and CBRE and Sullivan Hayes for office and retail leasing, respectively.
Planning for the vertical phases of Denargo Market is well underway. The first development, which broke ground in January of this year is an affordable housing community made possible by the donation of land by the ownership group. The 56-unit community is being developed by Pennrose with services provided by TGTHR, a Boulder-based organization that provides supportive housing for youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness.
“Starting with the public realm improvements and the incredible affordable housing project with TGTHR was intentional; this ensures Denargo Market will be a sustainable place that welcomes everyone in our city to live, work, and play,” added Newman.
Earlier this month, the City of Denver’s Planning Board also advanced Golub & FORMATIV’s proposed 16-story, 380-unit multifamily community near the intersection of Denargo Street and Delgany Street. In keeping with the development’s prioritization of connections to nature and community, the project will feature protected mountain views to the west, city views to the south, private balconies, a pool and rooftop lounge, as well as nearly 4,000 square feet of activated ground-floor retail. That project is set to break ground in Q1 of 2025.
