DENVER — Since opening its Denver regional office last fall, Nashville-based Southern Land Company, a national developer of mixed use developments and master planned communities, has been hard at work expanding its presence with projects in Denver and Boulder. Now the company has acquired 400 acres in Erie, Colorado for a future master planned residential community, and has also hired well-known Denver-based home building and development executive, Heidi Majerik, as vice president and general manager.
“We promised when we opened our office in Denver that we were making a serious commitment to the region to deliver diverse, sustainable and thoughtful development that creates destination living that is additive to its surroundings,” said Tim Downey, Southern Land Company’s founder and CEO. “With the acquisition of the property in Erie and the hiring of Heidi Majerik, who has a deep understanding and respect for the Denver region, we are delivering on that promise.”
Southern Land closed on the 400 acres located at the intersection of Erie Parkway and County Road 5 in late December 2017. The company envisions a dynamic master planned residential community, and is in early conceptual stages. Led by Majerik, the company will engage with the Town of Erie and its citizens for input as plans come together for the property.
“Our Erie site is strategically located, intersected by key thoroughfares that lead into Boulder and Denver. We look forward to seeking input from community leadership to carefully craft a lasting development that the area will welcome and be proud of,” added Downey.
In looking for inspiration for the future of the Erie site, Southern Land will draw from its experience delivering its award-winning Westhaven master planned residential community in Franklin, Tenn. just south of Nashville. The Westhaven community is well known for its scenic, walkable open space and rich design. It is the most popular and fastest selling traditional neighborhood development in the Southeast.
Heidi Majerik
Well known in the business and development community, having operated in the Denver area for nearly 25 years, Heidi Majerik joins Southern Land most recently from Wonderland Homes, where as a member of the executive team she led strategic planning and land acquisitions for the company.
“I’m honored to join the Southern Land Company team,” said Majerik. “Southern Land has a proven track record of creating unique and beautiful environments that enhance people’s lives which is very important to me. Our values are aligned and I’m excited for this opportunity.”
Majerik has extensive experience in delivering transformative planned communities that are well received by all stake holders including homebuyers, neighbors and municipalities. As Director of Development for Forest City Stapleton Trust for 13 years, she was a key part of the leadership team that delivered more than 5,000 homes and 1,200 acres of open space for the award-winning and highly successful Stapleton community, which was the 4,700-acre redevelopment of the former Stapleton Airport.
An Environmental Engineering graduate from Syracuse University, Majerik earned an M.B.A. from the Daniel’s College of Business at the University of Denver. Since then, she has focused her work in the Denver region. To maximize her understanding of the fabric of the community in which she works, she has been wholly committed to local engagement and involvement, becoming a dedicated and respected member of the business community.
Majerik was named an Outstanding Woman in Business by the Denver Business Journal in 2014. She is the president elect of the Metro Denver Home Builders Association (HBA). In 2019 she will serve the HBA as just the second female board president in the organization’s history. She also holds a national role with the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
Majerik joins Alex Woodin, director of acquisitions, as part of the leadership team at Southern Land’s Denver regional office, currently operating out of WeWork at 2420 17th Street in Denver. The company currently employs approximately 15 people in the Denver area. That number will also increase as its projects are completed and its regional office expands.
The company is currently finalizing negotiations for permanent office space which will allow it to continue to bring on additional staff as it grows its area operations.
Recent Projects
Southern Land developed Centric LoHi, in Denver’s Lower Highland neighborhood that consists of 302 multifamily units and 9,000 square feet of commercial space, as well as the 17th and Pearl St project, a 10-story building with 315 multifamily units and 9,000 square feet of retail.
In Boulder, Southern Land Company broke ground this fall on RÊVE Boulder, a six-acre, mixed-use development in Boulder that will deliver 242 units, 125,000 square feet of Class A office space and approximately 17,000 square feet of retail space upon completion.