The project will be 4.5-acre site betweenEmporia and Elmira streets--and stretch from East Colfax to 16thavenues. Conceived and designed by Florence Square Redevelopment (an entityestablished by Denver-based Black Creek Communities) and architect R N L Design, the project will emphasize the arts--with many of the 200 planned residential units in the project's first phase featuring artist-friendly designs--higher ceilings, special flooring and open spaces.

In all, the project will feature 14, two-story buildings comprised of14 units each. Priced from $470 to $900 monthly, the units willrange in size from 700 sf for a one-bedroom apartment, to 950sf for a two-bedroom abode.

Florence Square also will incorporate an "Arts Walk"--an open-air,Euro-styled pedestrian walkway where artists will create and showcasetheir work. With the project sitting in the core of the Downtown AuroraArts District, the Arts Walk also will serve as a site for arts-relatedevents and fairs.

In addition, Florence Square will add more than 18,000 sf of new retail and office space to the city's historic commercial corridor. Plans for the commercial portion include one or more art galleries, a new restaurant, several "niche" retailers and an entire floor of office space.