Union on Elizabeth Apartments

Union on Elizabeth Apartments, Fort Collins, CO

1208 W Elizabeth Street | Fort Collins, CO

CHALLENGE

Gain land use approvals and create an elevated living experience for students

EdR (Greystar) and Dino DiTullio reached out to Ripley Design to lead the land use approvals and site design for the first five-story building along West Elizabeth Street near Colorado State University. Additionally, EdR (Greystar) and Dino DiTullio wanted this project to offer their high-end product so Ripley Design was charged with creating amenity areas and a street presence that surpassed local competitors.  The existing properties along Elizabeth Street ranged from one to three stories and several community members were hesitant to change that character of the corridor. That hesitation eventually manifested itself in an appeal of the land use approval, which was heard before City Council.

SOLUTION

A picture speaks a thousand words and Ripley Design created numerous graphics to sell the concept to City officials, neighboring property owners and the public to generate support for the project. Furthermore, Ripley’s ability to navigate and negotiate through the nuances of the City’s Land Use Code facilitated the successful land use approval for the five-story building, with a bonus clubhouse and amenity space on the roof. This not only provided maximum bedroom count, but also provided unbeatable views to the mountains and stadium from the pool and hot tubs located six stories up. Ripley also crafted a detail-oriented strategy and presentation for the land use appeal hearing, which they presented in front of City Council to gain unanimous approval to deny the appeal.

RESULTS

Union on Elizabeth has a street presence that is impossible not to notice. Curvi-linear walls and a water feature lead patrons into the ground floor retail space. The real wow factor hits on the sixth floor with the outdoor kitchen area, stainless steel pool and hot tubs, fire pits, hammock chairs and plantings to soften the edges. Providing the amenity space on the roof saved valuable land area while providing a private area for residents to relax. The City recognized this innovative approach and in turn adopted new Land Use Codes to allow its use in the future on all multifamily projects. Several negotiations and compromises with city staff and neighboring businesses and landowners provided opportunities to improve the project from the original concept. The project provided a mid-block pedestrian connection via a “paseo”, or an enhanced alley-like drive where pedestrians and vehicles coexist. It also provided underground detention and nearly doubled in size from the original concept. Being the first project to push the boundaries in an area is never easy, but in this case it was worth it.

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