Colorado Real Estate Journal - March 16, 2016
Office space is coming to Downtown Westminster, the 105-acre former Westminster Mall property. Solera Salon and Grid Collaborative Workspace, which are under the same ownership, plan to develop a five- to six-story office building just north of the JCPenney store. The 80,000- to 120,000-square-foot building will be built to a minimum sustainability standard of LEED Silver and is likely to break ground late this year or in early 2017. Solera Salon is an executive suites product for personal care professionals (hair stylists, manicurists, etc.) with existing locations in Lone Tree and at Interstate 25 and East Arapahoe Road. It also has locations in Alpharetta, Georgia, and Overland Park, Kansas. Grid Collaborative Workspace, which is opening a location next to Solera in Overland Park, offers a variety of workspaces, from collaborative space to private offices. “This first office use is key for us and helps solidify our vision for a true downtown,” said Westminster Deputy City Manager Jody Andrews. “We see the new Downtown Westminster as a great match for the unique, vibrant mix of uses we offer,” added Danny Needham, president of Solera Salon and Grid Collaborative Workspace. “We’re dedicated to delivering the highest quality, whether that’s for our collaborative office users or individual salon entrepreneurs. We see the quality of this new downtown meeting that same standard.” Needham said Grid Collaborative Workspace will provide value for professionals, technology companies and others in an area midway between downtown Denver and Boulder. “Denver is becoming very expensive and Boulder is becoming very expensive, and Westminster is a great shot in between,” he said. “It will be a spectacular building,” offering event space on the top level with views of downtown and Longs Peak, Needham said. Downtown Westminster is located at U.S. Highway 36 and Sheridan Boulevard. Other uses announced so far include a 40,000-sf Alamo Drafthouse and a five-story mixed-use building with 282 residential units and 25,000 sf of retail space. Sherman Associates expects to start construction of the residential and retail project on two blocks along 88th Avenue south of JCPenney in March 2017. The Minneapolis-based developer also is finalizing plans for a major residential and retail development set on a new plaza north of JCPenney. Other News Regus Business Centers, through RGN-Denver XVI LLC, leased a 34,957-square-foot office building at 2301 Blake St. for its newest location, which will have creative office space. Regus, which offers move-in-ready offices and executive suites, will open the location within approximately six months. Jeff Castleton, Jamie Gard, Casey Grosscope and Courtney Hasson, all of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, represented the landlord, 2301 Blake Partners LLC, in the transaction. Andy Cullen and Mike Deatly of JLL represented the tenant. SkyWest Airlines renewed its lease for 9,257 sf at 3401 Quebec St. in Denver. Brendan Fisher of Cresa represented the tenant. The owner is Holualoa Cos.