Boulder council to weigh Williams Village redevelopment

• Yes, but: If approved, the development would come at the cost of another beloved local hangout.

Context: The Planning Board has already signed off on the project after several revisions, but some council members said they want to revisit its scale and impact.

State of play: The plan calls for five new buildings along Baseline Road near the U.S. 36 exit — 427 units in all, including 122 set aside for students.

• The redevelopment would also provide 58,365 square feet of new commercial space.
• The McDonald's site is not included in the plans and, as designed, the historic Boulder Broker Inn would be preserved.

Zoom in: The plan would also mean demolishing the popular Dark Horse, a quirky tavern that's been a Boulder staple since 1975.

• The potential demolition has been the biggest point of contention in this project, with many residents protesting the tavern's removal.

• In December 2024, Historic Preservation staff reviewed and approved the demolition of the Dark Horse building, finding it "did not have potential architectural, historic or environmental significance," according to city documents.
• The owners of the Dark Horse agreed to operate the bar until construction begins, and developers have said they plan to help transition the bar to a new location.

What we're watching: City Council can approve the proposal as is, add new conditions or reject it outright.