Mill Creek, Rockwood Capital break ground on Modera LoHi

Mill Creek Residential announced the groundbreaking of Modera LoHi, a luxury apartment community located in the Lower Highland neighborhood.

Alliance Construction is building the project, which was designed by Shears Adkins Rockmore.

The community, which will feature 132 apartment homes, will sit adjacent to downtown Denver and feature access to the city’s key employment and nightlife districts.

“The aesthetic integrates the timeless quality of the neighborhood’s original masonry buildings, with the modern approach to connect the life inside to the vibrant urban community outside through large contemporary openings, and advanced operable wall systems,” said Andy Rockmore, AIA, principal with SA+R.

The community will include three distinct outdoor spaces and boast panoramic views of the city skyline and Rocky Mountains. The first move-ins are anticipated for summer 2020.

“Denver’s booming employment market continues to make the city a hot bed for apartment demand, and we’re thrilled to join one of the area’s most vibrant and walkable neighborhoods,” said Chris Schramm, vice president of development for the Colorado region for Mill Creek Residential. “It’s our goal to offer a best-in-class living experience in the area, and we believe Modera LoHi’s location and extensive collection of amenities will surpass expectations in the market.”

Located at 2555 16th St., the community is surrounded by restaurants, bars and local shops in a neighborhood that features a blend of historic and modern architecture. Residents will have pedestrian access to the heart of downtown Denver, including the redeveloped Denver Union Station, via the Highland Bridge. The Walk Score in the area has increased to 94, which is considered a “walker’s paradise” and means most daily errands do not require a vehicle. The site is commuter friendly, located west of Interstate 25 and within minutes of Interstate 70. Easy access to the Cherry Creek and Platte River bike paths will enable residents to connect to various key locales across the metro area. Pepsi Center, Coors Field and Mile High Stadium also are easily accessible from the neighborhood.

“We were inspired by the collection of wonderfully scaled buildings, outdoor public spaces, and rich materiality that define the LoHi neighborhood,” said Rockmore. “So we configured the project as a series of smaller masonry buildings, wrapped with active outdoor rooms along the street and on the roofs. Fragmenting the building also allowed these active urban spaces and the majority of the residences to visually connect to the city along 16th Street, Denver’s important pedestrian spine.”

And while being located in a busy neighborhood is a plus, building in one can be complicated.

“Site logistics will be our biggest challenge,” said Alliance Project Manager Huston Parkhurst. “We have little to no room on any side of the building, which creates multiple challenges that will need to be overcome through coordination with our subcontractors and neighbors.”

Modera LoHi is being developed in partnership with an affiliate of Rockwood Capital and is Mill Creek’s eighth development community in the Denver area. Others include Modera Observatory Park and Modera River North, which had its grand opening in the summer. Modera Cap Hill and Modera West Wash Park are currently under construction.

Published in the Feb. 6-19, 2019, issue of CREJ.