LDS church's Aurora development boom
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is planning nearly 4,900 homes on land it's quietly owned in Aurora for decades.
The big picture: The church's real estate arm, Property Reserve Inc., is developing Tributary across roughly 960 acres between I-70 and East Sixth Avenue, on Aurora's far-east side.
- At full buildout, more than 12,000 people could live there.
- Plans also call for two commercial areas, parks, trails, a school, a rec center and a fire station.
Why it matters: Eastern Aurora has added homes rapidly. But grocery stores, restaurants and everyday services haven't kept pace.
- Tributary might change that math.
What they're saying: Councilmember Amy Wiles, who lives near the planned development, says Tributary could mark a turning point for her expansive district.
- Residents across Ward II average about 8.5 miles to the closest grocery store, she tells me.
- "Our ward has been forgotten a little bit, other than for home development," Wiles says.
What we're hearing: Retailers have repeatedly told Wiles that east Aurora doesn't have enough rooftops to support more stores and services.
- Yes, but: Tributary would add thousands of them.
Caveat: It could take up to 30 years to fully build, the Denver Post reports.
Zoom in: The church has plenty of room to grow, controlling roughly 3,500 acres around Tributary.
This is part of the church's long game.
- It started buying large agricultural parcels around the future Denver International Airport in the 1970s and 1980s, then leased that land for farming.
The intrigue: Tributary's infrastructure is being planned with more than this project in mind.
- A 2025 utility study shows engineers upsized planned lines to handle wastewater coming from outside the project.
- Those plans also factor in growth at nearby Aurora Crossroads and Harvest Mile.
Zoom out: Tributary is just one piece in a sprawling LDS real estate portfolio.
- The church owns at least 2.4 million acres nationwide, including major holdings near Phoenix and Orlando, Bloomberg reports.
What's next: A new gateway into east Aurora is almost finished.
- The $38.6 million Aerotropolis Parkway interchange at I-70 — formerly Harvest Road — is scheduled to finish in November.
The bottom line: Eastern Aurora residents have waited years for amenities. The LDS' long-term planning might answer those prayers.