June 1-June 14, 2016
—
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— Page 19B
W
heat Ridge’s diverse
population, business-
friendly policies
and close proximity to Denver
are the reasons that Wheat Ridge
has become a popular hub for
residential and commercial
development. The city has landed
an exciting array of projects in
the past few years and with RTD’s
Gold Line opening this fall, we
expect more development on the
horizon.
On the commercial side, we’ve
seen a range of new businesses
open to meet the needs of the
city’s growing population. The
redevelopment of the Kipling
Ridge Shopping Center now
includes a Sprouts Farmer’s
Market, a newly constructed
Starbucks and a MorningStar
Assisted Living facility. In
addition, a number of new retail
offerings have cropped up to
satisfy demand for locally based
goods and services, including
the city’s first Natural Foods
Vitamin Cottage, the Four Seasons
Farmers Market and Artisans
Market and Creative Learning
Preschool.
Wheat Ridge’s health care
options also have expanded
thanks to the opening of hOMe
Collective, a comprehensive
new wellness center, and
Baby+Company, one of metro
areas few free-standing birthing
centers.
The City’s population grew 4.1%
from 2010 to 2015 and a number
of new housing developments
are helping to accommodate
these new residents. One of the
most successful projects is Perrin’s
Row, a 26-unit townhome project
along the popular 38th Avenue,
built by Thrive Home Builders.
The development won the
Department of Energy’s Housing
Innovation Award; it was so
successful that CEO Gene Meyers
is considering plans to a build up
to 32 new units at the corner of
38th and Wadsworth Boulevard,
in the commercial project known
as Wheat Ridge Corners.
Broadening Wheat Ridge’s
housing stock, just a stone’s throw
away, near the corner of 38th
Avenue and Fenton Street, Urban
Green Development is completing
a 26-unit townhome and patio
home LEED-qualified community,
InCarnation, at the site of a
former carnation farm. Standard
Pacific Homes recently completed
Fireside at Applewood, a 48-home
site development on the west
side of town. This coupled with
the development of 12 custom
homes at Quail Hollow and 21
units of smaller New Urbanism
single-family units at 32nd and
Wadsworth are making Wheat
Ridge a community of choice.
The city’s Urban Renewal
Authority approved a TIF deal
with Wazee Partners to construct
up to 150 market-rate apartments
along with approximately 20,000
square feet of retail along 38th
Avenue, on the Ridge at 38.
This project, West End 38, is
anticipated to break ground in
late 2016. This project, coupled
with Wazee’s opening of 50
new units of senior apartments
just a few blocks to the north, is
changing the face of Wheat Ridge.
The boom in development
reflects Wheat Ridge’s increasing
commitment to provide
businesses with the resources
they need to thrive. Over the last
decade, we’ve unveiled a range of
incentives to attract new business
and grow our existing employer
base. Tax-increment financing,
funded through the Wheat Ridge
Urban Renewal Authority, has
played a key role in many of these
new developments. The city also
offers sales tax and use tax rebates
and a business development zone
program aimed at improving
blighted and underutilized areas.
Wheat Ridge Local Works
(previously WR2020), a nonprofit
economic development
corporation) also administers
various loan and grant programs.
Its efforts have helped create a
vibrant downtown core filled with
a variety of new restaurants and
specialty shops. The events the
organization hosts – from local
cruiser rides to festivals and fitness
challenges – have helped create a
stronger sense of community, one
that is luring young couples and
families to the city.
The launch of the Gold Line
Commuter Rail Service will serve
as a draw for workers looking for
an easier commute to Denver.
Opening in November, the line
will run fromWheat Ridge to
Denver’s Union Station. Located
within an Urban Renewal
Authority Project Area, the 51
acres in the sub-area plan are
prime for development.
“Wheat Ridge is actively seeking
new development” explained
Mayor Joyce Jay. “We see the
transit-oriented site as a great
place to build new employment
centers and attractive housing
options.”
The commuter rail line will
only enhance Wheat Ridge’s
reputation as a convenient
location to conduct business. The
city provides easy access to major
thoroughfares, the mountains,
and miles of open space, trails and
parks.
We’ve established an open
and transparent process to help
developers avoid expensive
surprises or unnecessary delays.
In Wheat Ridge, developers have
an assurance that we will tell them
everything that has to be done to
get their project completed.
“We make an effort to
understand the unique needs of
each business and do our best
to help them get through our
process in the most user-friendly
manner possible,” said Economic
Development and Urban Renewal
Executive Director Steve Art.
While we’ve experienced our
fair share of growth, Wheat
Ridge still has plenty of attractive
development sites. Bordered by
Interstate 70 and Highway 58,
Clear Creek Crossing is a 150-acre
entitled site with an approved
metro district in place.
“Wheat Ridge is a city with
small-town charm, abundant
recreational opportunities and
an exciting, evolving mix of
businesses,” added Mayor Jay.
”I only see us becoming more
appealing in the years to come.”
With such a vibrant community
as the backdrop, it’s no surprise
that Wheat Ridge is home to
some of the metro area’s most
innovative companies. Five local
companies have won “Colorado
Companies to Watch” awards:
Performance Mobility, Able
Planet, Circle Fresh Farms,
LifeLoc Technologies and
Source Office Supply. These
companies, along with, Lutheran
Medical Center, the area’s
premier hospital, position the
city as a hub for high-quality
employers. Lutheran received
the Healthgrades 2016 America’s
100 best Hospitals Award, ™
placing the facility among the
top 2 percent of more than 4,500
hospitals nationwide.
These are just a few reasons to
call Wheat Ridge your home for
business. For more information,
contact Wheat Ridge Economic
Development Manager Steve
Art at (303) 235-2806 or sart@
ci.wheatridge.co.us
Steve Art
Economic Development and Urban
Renewal Executive Director, City of
Wheat Ridge
City of Wheat Ridge
