Major Cherry Creek project on mall's west end moves closer to development
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A rendering showing Cherry Creek West. Image: Courtesy of East West Partners
The latest project to build on Cherry Creek's recent growth aims to bring housing and retail to one of Denver's swankiest neighborhoods.
State of play: The plan for roughly 13 acres next to Cherry Creek mall, dubbed Cherry Creek West, got a major boost Tuesday from a Denver City Council committee, which forwarded a rezoning request to the full council.
- Rezoning will allow the project's developer East West Partners to build up to 13-story structures and ground-floor homes.
Why it matters: The project would transform a mostly vacant lot into an area with amenities and necessities — all within a 15-minute walk.
The big picture: Cherry Creek's growth is seemingly outpacing downtown Denver's.
- The neighborhood roughly four miles southeast of the city center has long served as a destination for businesses and people drawn by its upscale reputation and retail offerings.
What they're saying: "Our goal is not to take from downtown," Amy Cara, Denver managing partner at East West Partners, told us, noting Cherry Creek has a fraction of the city's overall office space.
- "We all succeed with a strong downtown."
By the numbers: Plans for Cherry Creek West include seven buildings, split between four residential structures with roughly 825 units, and three office buildings.
- About 100,000 square feet would be available to restaurants and retail, with more than 2,000 parking spaces across two levels of lots, and four acres of open space.
- Cara said the entire project is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
The other side: The massive project is drawing some opposition, including from neighborhood groups that want to see stricter limits on the development's ultimate size, the Denver Gazette reports.
- Council members on Tuesday also raised questions about how the new development will affect local traffic.
The fine print: Cara added that 12% of the residential units will be affordable, so roughly 100 units will be available for a single person making 60% or less of the area median income (currently $54,780).
- She said this ensures people who work in the area can afford to live there, noting East West Partners plans on paying twice the linkage fee — required by the city to generate money for affordable housing — on the office properties.
What's next: Developers expect a final vote from Denver City Council on the rezoning request on Sept. 23.
- Demolition and abatement work will begin next year, with groundbreaking on the project's first phase expected in 2026.