ENGLEWOOD, CO-Continuum Partners LLC, in a move that was largely unexpected, purchased 11.5 acres at South University and East Hampden avenues. Continuum is calling the $400-million development Kent Place, after the Kent Denver School, which was located on the site until 1968.

Kent Place will be situated across from Cherry Hills, where some of the largest and most expensive homes in the metro area can be found. It will be built in three phases in partnership with JVF LLC. Demolition will begin in the spring 2006, with the first phase of construction anticipated to start toward the end of 2006.

Kent Place will have luxury residential condominiums and townhouses as well as retail and office space. The Denver Seminary occupied the site until last summer when it moved to Santa Fe and Bowles in Littleton, Co.

"Kent Place is an exciting project for Continuum," says Kevin Foltz, Continuum Partners' development director for the project. "We're bringing a whole new set of options to the market, including luxury and convenience to meet the needs of people that are looking to downsize from their larger homes."

Phase one will consist of 114 residential units, consisting of 100 condominiums in two mid-rise towers and the 14 townhomes. Prices for the condominiums and townhomes will range from $500,000 to $2.5 million. All residential parking will be underground. In addition, Kent Place will have 65,000 sf of retail and office space.

"We're confident Continuum Partners will uphold our vision of bringing a quality, mixed-use project to this upscale area," says John Forstmann, manager of JVF LLC. "We feel they're the right people for this development and are looking forward to working with them to bring Kent Place to reality."

At build-out, the site will have 350 luxury residential units--305 condominiums and 45 townhomes--and a total of 65,000 sf of retail and office space. When completed, it could have as much as 890,000 sf.

Established in Denver in 1997, Continuum is an award-winning development group founded on the belief that there is a connection between long-term sustained value and high-quality urban design. Continuum is the developer of Belmar, the conversion of the 104-acre former Villa Italia mall in Lakewood, Co., to a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented downtown district. Other Continuum projects include 16 Market Square, a mixed-use development with class AA office space, shops and residential penthouses in Lower Downtown Denver; and Bradburn, a $220-million, mixed-use project at Sheridan and West 120th Ave. in Westminster, Co.