WHO OWNS 1-25 & LINCOLN.

• Author: TITUS, STEPHEN
• Position: Commercial boom leads to building and development in Denver, Colorado - Brief Article

A single yellow flag blowing in the breeze just south of Lincoln and west of Interstate 25 marks part of a 3,500-acre tract that may become the biggest of all the commercial and residential projects already crowding the landscape along metro Denver's south 1-25 corridor.

Dubbed Rampart Range, preliminary plans call for construction of 10,000 dwelling units and 23 million square feet of commercial space, built over a period of about 40 years. Downtown Denver has 22.5 million square feet of office space. The land was recently annexed to Lone Tree and the town hopes to create a high-density community built around an outdoor pedestrian shopping area with schools, work and recreational opportunities, all within walking distance of each other. The project will begin with a HealthOne medical complex and a recreation center built by South Suburban Recreation District.

Enormous as it may be, Rampart Range is just one of many commercial projects emerging in the area, now backed up by a swelling core of residential construction. All this development has attracted companies like American Family Insurance, Time Warner Telecom, Agilent, Toyota Motor Sales and Merrill Lynch -- which has 2,000 employees in its Meridian offices. Stephen Miller, business development manager for the Southwest Business Partnership, said he gets two to five calls each week from companies looking for 100,000 square feet to 450,000 square feet of office space.

"Meridian has become the premier destination in the south because of its access and infrastructure," Miller said. "Being centered around the golf course (Inverness) doesn't hurt either."

Joining Meridian in the office property bonanza is ParkRidge Corporate Center, with 519,000 square feet of offices either built or under construction and plans for another 381,000 square feet. The Patrinely Group, which is developing ParkRidge, also is forming plans for two, full-service hotels on its 74-acre site. Robert Fields, regional development manager for Patrinely Group, said it chose the 1-25 and Lincoln Avenue interchange not only for its visibility, but also for its proximity to housing. "You have a wide range of prices and a volume of housing," Fields said. "The other thing we like is the proximity to Park Meadows and all it has to offer."

In fact, the commercial boom and its influx of high-paying jobs are helping to fuel a burst of executive housing. Many of the residential projects are trying to answer the call of busy...