Developer's Art House To Feature 13 Townhomes

Locally based Studio Completiva designed the modern-looking units. Each unit will have up to 1,300 sf of outdoor living space, up to a three-car private garage and an interior rooftop terrace. Construction is scheduled to begin in July and open in a year.

"There are many aspects of this project that I like, but what appeals to me most is the contemporary design," says Mark Falcone, developer of the project and principal of Continuum, one of the largest locally owned development companies.

"For years, architects and builders have had to be extremely cautious about pushing the envelope on design," Falcone continues. "Buyers simply wanted historically referenced and inspired homes. But that has changed in the last few years and we are seeing many contemporary features including very modern kitchens and more interesting experimentation with tile."

Dee Chirafisi, the Kentwood City Properties broker representing the Art House, agrees. "For many years, everyone in Denver wanted to see a traditional home, but no more," she says. "We are seeing a growing number of buyers seeking a contemporary look."

Units are designed to display art. "Art House has been designed with the art lover in mind," Falcone says. "(They) can serve as mini-art museums for their owners with plenty of wall space and light."

Art House is a part of a larger site in the Riverfront Park neighborhood area master-planned by Continuum Partners, Urban Ventures LLC and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Falcone and his wife, Ellen Bruss, donated the land for the museum.

"Art House is unlike any other project ever offered Downtown," Chirafisi says. "It is unlikely there will ever be other contemporary townhomes this close to Lower Downtown."

Continuum, started by Falcone in 1997, developed 16 Market Square in Downtown, a mixed-use building with class A office space, shops and penthouses in Lower Downtown. It also is developing Bradburn, a $220-million, mixed-use project at Sheridan Boulevard and West 120th Avenue in Westminster. And later this month, it will open the first $250-million phase of Belmar, a mixed-use project on the site of the former Villa Italia Mall in Lakewood. Belmar will serve as Lakewood's Downtown.