Hundreds Of Millions In New Developments In Glendale And Denver
by Glen Richardson
After more than two decades of coasting in idle, the portion of Leetsdale Drive that is in Glendale has shifted into overdrive. Spurred by Glendale’s growth plans, plus several ambitious adjoining construction projects in Denver, this major Cherry Creek Valley roadway is undergoing an amazing redevelopment renaissance.
Growth along this highway corridor appears to have shot out of the blocks following the redevelopment of the old Cub Foods location at Leetsdale and South Cherry Street by King Soopers. The site stood vacant 
for over a half decade as the City of Glendale demanded a high end store and adjoining retail liquor establishment as a pre-condition to its approval of development plans. King Soopers unsuccessfully sued Glendale in Arapahoe County District Court prior to acceding to the city’s pre-conditions.
The highly successful new King Soopers store attracted other developers to the area. In mid-November Natural Grocers opened a new store at Alameda and Leetsdale at the old Gunther Toody’s location. Shortly thereafter the Greek Orthodox Church located at the intersection of Leetsdale and Alameda in Glendale agreed to a long-term land lease with the next- door JCC (Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center) for property a
long Leetsdale. That lease will allow the JCC (the J) to bulldoze its existing indoor tennis facility and rebuild it across Dahlia Street in Glendale.
With that lease agreement in place, the JCC is launching a $50 million three-to- four-year construction project with plans to build a half dozen new facilities. First to break ground will be a new Sturm Family Fitness Center along Leetsdale where the current tennis center is located. The 87,000-square-foot, three-story facility will be the largest in the metro area and will have two full size basketball courts plus an indoor running track. There will also be nine fitness studios for personal training, yoga, group exercise, CrossFit, Pilates and spinning. Also included will be a cardio room with mountain views plus a large weight room. In addition the project includes a café plus 
a 15,000 square foot outdoor field, lit for nighttime.
At virtually the same time period the 1.5 acres across Leetsdale that housed Four Mile Bar and a couple of homes was sold and redeveloped as a Rite Aid Pharmacy as well as a Noodles and Company restaurant.
Corridor Blossoms
With relocation of Natural Grocers to the Gunther Toody’s site in Glendale, the former location on Leetsdale Drive was purchased by Newberry Brothers for $2.4 million. The buyer has been in the greenhouse and florist business at 2nd Avenue and Garfield in Cherry Creek North for nearly 70 years. The company will use the 12,046-square-foot building on the site when it relocates to the 
Leetsdale location later this year. The floral business also purchased the strip center at 5301-5307 Leetsdale Drive, directly adjacent to the former Natural Grocers property for an undisclosed price. That site has a roomy 1.36-acre lot that could be used for building another structure or additional parking.
Paula Newberry-Arnold, daughter of Weldon and Elizabeth Newberry who started the firm, now co-owns the business with her son Kien. She has developed the business into one of the Valley’s top floral and décor shops specializing in a variety of large themed events along with daily custom floral designs.
Near the time period last year when the grocery property transactions took place, the Hilltop Retail Center at 5512 Leetsdale Drive sold for $7.05 million. Further east on the southwest corner of Leetsdale and Holly, the 4.42-acre Dillon Dairy site at 5512 Leetsdale Drive sold for $3,950,000. Southern Food Group’s Meadow Gold Dairy closed the milk processing, packaging and filling plant that once had annual revenue of more than $20 million and employed a staff of up to 40. Equipment in the plant was auctioned off in Sept. 2014. The unnamed buyer reportedly plans to redevelop that site into retail space and possibly add a self-storage facility. Current zoning and building codes allow for a three-story or 45-foot vertical structure.
Volley Of Growth
The JCC’s new year’s develo
pment plan is also a driving engine for growth along Leetsdale. The J revealed it will construct a new Tennis Center on the currently vacant Greek Church property along Leetsdale.
The new tennis center will be a climate controlled fabric and metal structure featuring six ATP-approved tennis courts plus a pro shop and locker rooms. There will also be a party deck and an indoor viewing area. Players and followers will have 100 dedicated parking spaces at the center across Dahlia Street.
The JCC also plans to build a functional, fun indoor-outdoor Aquatics Center. It will feature an “Outdoor Lazy River,” plus a zero entry pool with water slide. Also included will be an indoor family pool with water slide. An indoor six-lane lap pool plus a year-round outdoor four-lane lap pool will be included.
Family Focused
The JCC’s current Fitness Center will be changed into a Family Center allowing for increased children’s programming. It will feature a large gymnastics facility with raised viewing area. There will be two large rooms for celebrations and birthday parties plus eight summer camp rooms. Also planned is an Arts Center with designated space for pottery and other media. An indoor play area for children and two dance studios will also be added. The Mizel Arts & Culture Center currently located on the JCC campus will be renovated.
In addition a new Early Childhood Center — a key portion of the J’s business and mission — will be built. The new ECC will be constructed to licensing regulations and with best practices in mind. It will include 13 updated classrooms with a centralized and secure child drop-off area.
Among the final buildings set for construction is a two-story, 42,000-square-foot office building that will house the J’s administrative offices, JEWISHcolorado and other Valley Jewish agencies. This will allow for increased efficiencies, collaboration and economies between the organizations involved. The office building will house a parking garage for added accessibility. Also planned is a space for seniors to meet and socialize as well as a Beit Midrash (House of Study), accessible to the entire community for learning and meeting. The redeveloped property will add 250 wider parking spaces. Additionally, overflow parking for large events will be available across Dahlia at the new tennis facility. Information: 303-399-2660.
Traffic And Parking
As with new developments along Colorado Boulevard and Cherry Creek North the new Leetsdale projects bring into question traffic and parking concerns. Glendale has much higher parking requirements than Denver and Glendale is generally unwilling to compromise on those requirements. In addition Glendale does consider and attempt to address traffic concerns which Denver, as a matter of public policy, refuses to consider or address. Glendale, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation, has demanded from developers land and easements to address concerns about traffic flow at the major intersection of Leetsdale Drive and South Cherry Street. To address general traffic levels on Leetsdale Drive as a whole will take Denver’s participation which at the present time Denver is not willing to undertake.
