by Charles C. Bonniwell
David Steel, President, Chief Operating Officer and Partner in Western Development Group, LLC, was presented the prestigious “Business Leader of the Year” by the Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce at its annual luncheon on May 8, 2014, at the JW Marriott in Cherry Creek.
Western Development is a company capitalized by Philip Anschutz, the wealthiest man in Colorado according to Forbes magazine. The company built and developed the NorthCreek, a mixed use condominium project on Fillmore Street in Cherry Creek North. Units in the project sell for one million dollars o
r more. Western Development is also in the process of building and developing 250 Columbine, a $100 million mixed use project and also in Cherry Creek North. Western Development will construct a seven story building that will have 71 luxury high end residences as well as retail stores on the ground level.
At the luncheon, Steel was praised for his “honesty and forthrightness.” He was also lauded for his work as past chair of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District as well as his work with the Cherry Creek Steering Committee and his role in founding the Cherry Creek Business Alliance. It was stated at the luncheon that Steel was “controversial on occasion” apparently referring to his leading role in turning the only open space in Cherry Creek North, Fillmore Plaza into a roadway in order to improve the traffic to the stores on the ground floor of the NorthCreek development. Attendees noted that while he was not always loved by businesses or residents for his role in the Fillmore Plaza destruction, he never hid or refused to talk to the public no matter how difficult some meetings were.”
“He is an incredibly upfront person,” noted Jeff Allen, COO of the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce, who was at the luncheon. “He never lies to people and doesn’t try to deceive anyone which are unusual traits for a developer in Colorado. Part of the reason he can be controversial is that while everyone else is hiding under the table, he stands tall and takes the shots. He is never unpleasant or angry no matter how heated the conversation gets. That is part of the reason why even his adversaries hold him in very high regard.”
The Cherry Creek Chamber head Christine Des Enfants called Steel one of the nicest, most professional businessman she has ever known.
In accepting the award Steel told the packed audience: “It has been a tough road, but worth it and we’re not done yet.”
Born in Canada, Steel started his business career in 1973 as a sales representative in Calgary for Xerox of Canada and held a similar position with IBM of Canada until shifting over to real estate in 1975. He came to Denver in the late 1970s with Oxford Development Group working on large scale, mixed use developments. He was hired by Philip Anschutz in 1983 and eventually became the President of Real Estate for The Anschutz Corporation. In 2004 he took over the reins of Western Development Group whose officers include Christian Anschutz, son of Philip Anschutz, who has a residence in NorthCreek.
Steel and his wife Cathy have been married for over 26 years, have two sons, and live in a home in the Country Club area adjacent to Cherry Creek North.