Events

Yearly Events Calendar:

 

 

Lifestyle Center Ready to Go on I-25 Corridor

- Name, Anchors Announced; Groundbreaking Set

The anchors are on board, the 144th Avenue interchange is a go, and Forest City West has reached a final agreement with the City of Westminster for an innovative, main street-style shopping venue officially named The Orchard at Westminster, it was announced Dec. 15, 2004.

The City of Westminster and the Los Angeles-based developer approvedthe final agreement on Monday, Dec. 13, clearing the way for construction to begin. Groundbreaking for The Orchard at Westminster, to be built along the north I-25 corridor in Westminster, is anticipated for April 2005, with the opening scheduled for October, 2006.

"Two years from today, holiday shoppers will be looking for last-minute gifts at JCPenney, Foley's and the other lifestyle retailers at The Orchard at Westminster, which will be unlike anything else in the Greater Denver marketplace," said Brian Jones, president, Forest City West, as he announced the new department stores that will anchor The Orchard At Westminster. The addition of Foley's and JCPenney only serve to solidify the strong prospects for the retail development, according to Mr. Jones.

"Foley's and JCPenney are well-respected names in this area and we're pleased to bring the retailers to the rapidly-growing I-25 corridor," he said. They join the 12-screen AMC Theatres, the first tenants announced for the project.

The approval of the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to build an interchange at 144th Avenue and I-25, signed in November between the City of Thornton and the City of Westminster, paved the way for the final step in the development of The Orchard at Westminster. The schedule for the interchange will coordinate with construction of the lifestyle center.

"The interchange has been a key development in positioning this site for commercial use," said Brent McFall, city manager, the City of Westminster. "It was an essential part of the development plan that Westminster and Thornton had jointly proposed beginning back in 2000. That development plan reflected the shared vision for the north I-25 area. Additionally, the cities have a revenue-sharing agreement for projects built within this area, so Thornton and Westminster will both benefit from this new project," added Mr. McFall.

A Main Street Environment

"The Orchard at Westminster is designed to be reminiscent of the Main Streets of small towns in the first half of the 20th century. The shopping experience will provide between 60 and 80 retail establishments to an underserved and growing market in the northern Denver metro area, the site of the region's major growth," said Mr. Jones.

"It is the next step in the development of the kind of shopping today's consumer is looking for. It is patterned after Victoria Gardens in California's Inland Empire, Forest City's most recent, very successful open-air, mixed-use center," he added. Victoria Gardens is a 1.3-million-square-foot village environment of shops nestled within 12 city blocks centered around a Town Square.

The Orchard at Westminster, an open-air, entertainment and lifestyle center, will include a million square feet of exclusive, outdoor, fashion-oriented retail including big boxes, department stores and smaller, upscale retailers. Located on 215 acres on the northwest corner of I-25 and 144th Avenue, south of the E-470 and Northwest Parkway beltway, The Orchard at Westminster will also include 500 housing units and office space. The name was selected to reflect the rich agricultural heritage of the area, which was home to some of the largest apple orchards in Colorado.

"We are excited that Westminster's newest development also reflects our city's earliest roots in commerce," said Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally. "Forest City has a strong reputation for creating innovative retail and residential communities, and that is just one reason why the city is so happy to have them as a partner on this project. They are active in the Denver metro area and know it quite well, plus they have strong relationships with the top-flight retailers who will bring the best to our area."

The mixed-use master plan of residential, office and retail at The Orchard at Westminster will be created by Calthorpe Associates. Peter Calthorpe, president and world-renowned urban planner, was named one of 25 "innovators on the cutting edge" byNewsweek magazinefor his work redefining the models of urban and suburban growth in America. The Mullhern Group, based in Denver, will be the lead planner for the retail portion, joining with nationally known design architects Elkus/Manfredi Ltd. of Boston and Field Paoli of San Francisco in creating the commercial and mixed-use design concepts and their execution.

The Location and The Demographics

"The southern portion of the Denver metro area is nearly built out," said Mr. Jones. "Demographic studies show that future growth will be north and northeast of the Denver area, along I-25 and I-76, and this prime site is located on a corridor north of downtown Denver that does not have a regional center."

The Orchard at Westminster will be located in the northeast portion of the city in the extreme northwest corner of Adams County, approximately three miles south of Weld County and about 3.5 miles east of Boulder County. These counties comprise the primary trade area and have projected growth rates even higher than that of the greater Denver region, according to statistics provided by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Growth from 2000 to 2020 is estimated at 58 percent for the three counties combined, with the greatest growth in percentage coming from Weld County.

"We know that the growth is coming, and we know it will be centered in this area," said Mr. McFall. "Given those demographic trends, and with the addition of a brand new interchange at 144th Avenue and I-25, this is clearly the most desirable site for retail development."

Economic Impact

The Orchard at Westminster will generate more than $150 million in sales revenues annually, producing $86.4 million in new retail sales tax, property tax and business license taxes over a 10-year period. These revenues will help pay for the costs of municipal services, such as police, fire and recreational programs, increasingly demanded by the citizens of this fast-growing city. The Orchard at Westminster will create more than 3,000 new, permanent and part-time jobs.