A little over a year out from our initial post, I’d like to turn our heads to the progress of Aria Denver. Since its groundbreaking in August of 2012, we have got buildings constructed and new residents entering the neighborhood. In this update, we will look at what’s on the ground, but also take a look at some of the changes that inevitably occur over the course of a multi-phase project such as Aria. [note site changes since August 2012]

Previous Plan

Current Plan

At current, Aria is only about 19% built out. About 76 out of some eventual 400 units are currently constructed, but the project scope is quite complex. With a diversity of living arrangements, some units will be constructed around a pocket neighborhood design that will put residents in an intimate physical environment that promotes social interaction. Townhomes will also play a role, as will large footprint apartments buildings. Also, as mentioned in our original post of Aria, plans for a cohousing component are still moving forward. The newly completed construction of town homes and multi-family units give us an idea of how their design will transform the site, and neighborhood.

   

   

In a residential market that is used to building boxes (maybe with a community room or a pool), Aria is going beyond the standard to bring about a holistic approach to living. If you were to visit Aria today, you would see the attention to detail that makes this project so special. Community spaces are abundant, stormwater systems have been crafted into one-of-a-kind landscaping features, the properties are surrounded by a jungle of native plantings and programming the new construction with the surrounding neighborhood is a cornerstone of this development.

With Regis University neighboring this project, there has been discussion of making room in Aria’s plans to include student housing opportunities for their growing student population. For those already established residents living within a stone’s throw of Aria, an investment has been placed in community-building programs surrounding food, transportation and overall neighborhood health. Working with UrbiCulture, a portion of the site will be transformed into 18 raised beds to generate food for what will eventually become a “pay what you can” marketplace at Elm and 52nd Avenue.  This garden will begin at 10,000 SF and eventually grow to 1 acre. At that point, the garden will be large enough to produce food for purchase by local restaurants. That money will then be reinvested to community education programs on urban agriculture.

    

   

Beyond agriculture, the project team (Urban Ventures LLC and Perry Rose LLC) is also considering plans for a bike program to put the local community in touch with accessible alternative transportation. Quality of life, and balance, are a continued focus in the on-site retail options. Where Aria originally had plans for retail on site, they are now making a concerted effort to bring in businesses centered on fitness, natural foods and overall wellness.

So what’s next for the project? By spring or summer of 2014, 9 additional townhomes will fill out the project site. Most of 2014 will see continued townhome development. Commercial space will likely be open and available by 2015 and final build-out of the site should commence by 2017. To get a more comprehensive view of Aria Denver, take a virtual tour of the project here!