The Orchard Town Center

A project that has been nearly three years in the making is finally a reality – and everyone involved couldn’t be happier. Discussions to develop land at a prime location in Westminster, Colo., began back in 2003.

“The city of Westminster approached Forest City and another developer to create a new project on land located in one of Colorado’s busiest areas,” said John Tindall, Vice President, Forest City Commercial Development. “Even though they really liked what we did with Victoria Gardens, they decided to go with the other developer. When that developer fell through, they came back to us. We signed in December of 2004.”

It’s been over a year since Forest City and Westminster signed the agreement to bring a unique new development to the area - and a great deal has taken place since then.

Orchard Town Center is a 1.2 million-square-foot, mixed-use project that will include exclusive, outdoor, fashion-oriented retail, as well as over 500 residential units and office space.

“Designed to be reminiscent of the Main Streets of prairie towns in the first half of the 20th century, the shopping experience will provide between 100 and 120 retail establishments to an underserved and growing market in the northern Denver area, the site of Denver’s major growth,” said Brian Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Western Region, Forest City Commercial Development. “The southern portion of the Denver Metro area is nearly built out. Demographic studies show that future growth will be north and northeast of the Denver area, along I-25 and I-76.”

The Challenge

Orchard Town Center is located on 215 acres on the northwest corner of I-25 and 144th Avenue.

“The site is clearly the most desirable in the three-county area for retail development,” said Westminster City Manager Brent McFall. “It is closer to the strong existing underserved population base; it is located in the midst of short- and long-term residential growth; it’s ready for development; and it’s located inside the beltway, an important physical and psychological benefit for both shoppers and tenants.”

Tindall, who also is project developer for Orchard Town Center, said the location is prime for this type of project.

“The challenge facing Westminster was what to do with 215 acres of land in a redevelopment area,” said Tindall. “They didn’t want to develop it all for retail, so considering that the Colorado housing market is steady and that interest rates are low, residential would also be a great element.”

In addition to retail, Orchard Town Center will have 500 housing units including single-family, multifamily, row homes, mansion homes and live/work, along with natural and recreational areas.

“We look at Orchard Town Center as being one of our most unique projects,” said Tindall. “Our challenge was to create something totally different for the area, and our solution was a mixed-use project – an outdoor-type center similar to our Victoria Gardens development and supplemented with residential.”