As Denver Water seeks to make way for a new stadium for the Denver Broncos, the utility is exploring options to relocate some of its operations to a former AT&T call center that has been vacant for years.
The building is located at 2535 E. 40th Ave. in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood and spans 235,000 square feet across a 14-acre site.
Denver Water’s main operations happen next to the location, which is part of a larger effort to free up 25 acres of land south of its headquarters for the Broncos.
The Broncos confirmed plans to build a new stadium at Burnham Yard, the state-owned former railyard located in central Denver.
Denver Water spokesman Travis Thompson mentioned in an email that relocating their operations requires a sufficiently large parcel to maintain critical functions in one place.
In August 2018, Tom and Brooke Gordon purchased the property from AT&T for $19 million.
Months prior, the Gordons had sold a 4.6-acre plot along Brighton Boulevard in RiNo for $30 million.
Following the acquisition, the Gordons envisioned a redevelopment project called “Smokestack 40,” which aimed to transform the call center into a vibrant space with various residential and cultural components.
Plans included repurposing parts of the building for a 500-seat theater and constructing 700 residential units on the property’s parking lot, with 10% of these units designated as income-restricted.
In May 2019, the City Council rezoned the area to allow residential use up to three stories, although there was some opposition from community groups.
The GES Coalition, a local neighborhood group, voiced concerns, particularly because the Gordons did not agree to establish a fund aimed at easing property tax burdens on residents in the struggling Elyria-Swansea neighborhood.
Despite initial enthusiasm, the Smokestack 40 project never broke ground; however, Wonderbound, a local dance company, briefly operated within the building.
By 2022, the Gordons announced that their plans were hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising construction costs.
They also mentioned a partnership with Kentucky-based builder LDG Development to modify their original proposal into a new project, labeled “High-Iron 40.”
The Gordons aimed to increase residential units to 900 by requesting permission to add another story, leveraging incentives from a recent housing affordability ordinance.
Regrettably, this revised project also failed to move forward, leaving the property overgrown and surrounded by a fence.
Today, the call center sits in a state of disrepair, with missing windows and heavy graffiti obscuring what was once a bustling hub of activity.
Brooke Gordon declined to comment when contacted by BusinessDen, stating she was out of the country.
In addition to the AT&T site, Denver Water also intends to acquire a 3.5-acre industrial parcel located at 2401 E. 40th Ave. This site is owned by an entity associated with Sam Leger, the CEO of Unique Properties.
Recent development proposals for Leger’s parcel outline plans for a four-story apartment complex featuring over 300 units.
Denver Water noted this week that the Broncos will cover the costs associated with the utility’s relocation efforts.
However, the proposed purchases in Elyria-Swansea still require approval from Denver Water’s board.
Thompson indicated that they’re advancing through the purchasing process and will present their plans to the board for review once ready.
Mayor Mike Johnston confirmed in an interview that the site was identified as a potential relocation option just a few months ago.
Johnston added that the city facilitated negotiations for the acquisition, as Denver Water’s processes tend to be slower than those of the Broncos.
To that end, local landowners cooperatively agreed to transfer the negotiation contract to Denver Water, marking a significant step forward in their relocation strategy.
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