Development set to rise near open-space tract

BOULDER — A local developer is about to start work on an eight-home residential development in north Boulder and make a landmarked historic barn the centerpiece of the project.

Sky Heights LLC is set to develop on a 2.5-acre parcel at 4051 Broadway in Boulder. The project, known as the Granary, should be completed in 2013, according to Dave Wickum, the Lyons-based developer behind the project.

The property is immediately south of the Wonderland Lake open-space area. The most prominent feature on the parcel is an old barn that has been granted landmark status by the city of Boulder.

The barn's exterior will be renovated in accordance with the city's landmark regulations, Wickum said. The interior will be converted into a two-bedroom loft. Sky Heights will work with local architect Craig Bundy on the design.

The other seven homes will be on lots ranging from 8,000 to 14,000 square feet, according to Wickum. He expects the homes will be priced between the high $900,000s and $1.5 million.

The combination of newly built homes on relatively large lots so close to open space is rare for Boulder, Wickum said.

"I really think I'm filling a niche that's not available anywhere else," Wickum said.

The entitlement work is largely complete. The Planning Board did not call up the project for review, and the Landmark Board has approved the design, Wickum said.

Sky Heights LLC is a partner with Melbourne, Australia-based Pennington Investments on the project. Wickum connected with the company through his friendship with a triathlete training in the Boulder area. The triathlete's father is a successful financier who runs Pennington Investments, Wickum said.

The partnership bought the property in April 2011 for $1.4 million. A luxury condo project previously had been planned for the area, but it fell through when the condo market weakened, Wickum said.

UPSLOPE'S ASCENT: Upslope Brewing Co. will open a new brewery, tasting room and café in a 12,150-square-foot space in Flatiron Park.

The 1898 S. Flatiron Court location will be the brewery's second location in Boulder. The company has a brewery and tasting room at 1501 Lee Hill Road.

Becky Callan Gamble, Hunter Barto and Dryden Dunsmore of Dean Callan & Co. and Scott Garel of Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross represented the landlord, Flatiron Investments LP.

Upslope Brewery was represented by Wade Wimmer and Brady Alshouse of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc.


SIMPLE ENERGY: Simple Energy Inc., a Boulder-based company that develops online games and apps that encourage people to cut power consumption, has relocated to a 4,200-square-foot office at 1215 Spruce St. in Boulder.

Its former office location was at 1731 15th St. in Boulder.

Simple Energy, a TechStars 2011 graduate, works with utilities to develop user-engagement tools intended to boost clients' participation in conservation and efficiency programs.

Simple Energy's focus is developing user-friendly online games that get utility customers to compete against friends to see who can cut energy use the most. The company is working on its product and trying to build its client base, Simple Energy cofounder and CEO Yoav Lurie said.

"Our new office space certainly does give us the ability to expand, with time," Lurie said. "But, right now, we're focused on delivering the most engaging experience for our users and the biggest energy-saving results for our utility partners."

Wimmer of Jones Lang LaSalle represented Simple Energy. The landlord is Morgan Creek Ventures.


NEW ZEAL: High-tech ski-goggle company Zeal Optics Inc. has a new headquarters at 1230 Spruce St. in Boulder.

The move to downtown Boulder is a strategic one, to connect with outdoor enthusiasts, said Chelsea Lawson, a spokeswoman at Zeal. Zeal previously was located at 4843 Pearl St., Unit 1A, in Boulder.

Zeal Optics leadership hopes the new space encourages new ideas, products and markets.

"We have created an environment that is vibrant and promotes open thinking, and that will affect how we develop new markets, provide services for our retailers and connect with our customers," Zeal president John Sanchez said in a press statement about the move.

Zeal Optics' headquarters in Boulder has 13 employees who work on marketing, sales and design. Another four work in Peoria, Illinois.

Zeal Optics was bought for an undisclosed sum by Maui Jim Inc., a sunglasses maker in Peoria, Illinois, in spring 2011.

Zeal is known for its Z3 GPS ski goggles, which include GPS information displayed inside the goggles' lenses. The company plans to introduce new iON ski goggles soon, which will feature built-in video and photo features, according to the press release.

LAFAYETTE : LEASES SIGNED: Kumon, an after-school math and reading enrichment program, has signed a four-year lease for 1,200 square feet of retail space in Waneka Marketplace, at the intersection of U.S. 287 and South Boulder Road. NewMark Merrill Mountain States owns the shopping center. Yulia Shafranov of Re/Max Alliance represented Kumon.

Threads Consignment has signed a four-year lease for a 1,458-square-foot shop at Waneka Marketplace. The deal was negotiated directly with Ross Carpenter, NewMark Merrill's leasing agent.

LONGMONT : ROOSEVELT ADVANCES: The Roosevelt Park project in Longmont "is full steam ahead," and work could begin on the project in September, according to the project's developer.

Roosevelt Park Apartments is a $21 million mixed-use residential and commercial development to be built at Main Street and Longs Peak Avenue. Plans call for 115 apartments, first-floor restaurants and retail and a 184-space parking garage.

The Longmont City Council on July 10 approved a zoning change and vacations of easements and rights-of-way. The approval was all that remained before the project could move forward, according to Keith Burden, chief real estate investment officer and managing broker of Burden Inc., the developer of the project.

"This process is finished, and we're full steam ahead," Burden said.

Demolition of the existing building on the lot is scheduled to begin in September, followed by a mid-to-late October groundbreaking, Burden said. Completion is expected within 12 to 13 months.

Burden said his company is trying to pre-lease the ground floor space for shops and restaurants.

"So far we've had quite a bit of interest, and we feel pretty confident we'll have that leased," Burden said.

The company also has created "an interest list" for prospective residential tenants, he said.

Burden Inc. has received substantial financial support from Longmont for the Roosevelt Park Apartments. The company will spend about $16 million to develop the project. The Longmont Downtown Development Authority has committed $3.5 million and the city of Longmont $1.4 million.

SUPERIOR : NEW STORAGE: Work has begun on an 80,000-square-foot self-storage facility in Superior, which Guardian Self Storage is building at a cost of approximately $4.8 million. Including land and soft costs, the project is $7.8 million.

Guardian Self Storage will be on South 76th Street, just west of Costco and Superior Marketplace. The company anticipates it will open in February 2013.

The three-building facility will have approximately 80,000 square feet of rentable space.

Guardian Self Storage opened its first Colorado facility in Westminster in 2008. It manages Boulder Self Storage at 6439 Arapahoe Road.


Beth Potter contributed to this story. Michael Davidson can be reached at 303-630-1943 or email mdavidson@bcbr.com.