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February 18-March 3, 2015 — COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL — Page 29
303.383.4870
T he Denver Metro
Building Owners and
Managers Association
kicked off its 95th anniversary
and 2015 with a legislative
reception in the lobby of 1670
Broadway.
BOMA members turned
out in full force along with a
dozen state legislators including
Reps. Gordon Klingenschmitt,
JimWilson, Justin Everett,
Paul Lundeen and Sen. Larry
Crowder.
Meeting with legislators gave
us a chance to reflect on the
past and look to the future.
In the past decade, Denver
Metro BOMA has significantly
increased its advocacy efforts on
behalf of the commercial real
estate industry. From lobbying at
the state and local government
levels to intervention in Public
Utilities Commission cases,
BOMA is constantly looking out
for the interests of commercial
building owners.
BOMA’s professional staff,
lobbyists, attorneys and
volunteers defend building
owners’ interests before a
wide array of policy-setting
groups, both
legislative and
regulatory.
Members are
represented
on a range
of issues, not
the least of
which are
tax reform,
private
property
rights,
codes and
standards,
contracting
issues and energy issues. These
efforts save building owners and
managers time and money and
increase the bottom line.
In addition to working on
issues during the legislative
session, Denver Metro BOMA
is actively and regularly
monitoring and engaging in
advocacy in the local jurisdictions
and fire districts, including
the city and county of Denver,
Centennial, Greenwood Village,
Arapahoe County, the Denver
Fire Department and the South
Metro Fire Rescue district.
BOMA closely follows and
participates in code amendment
processes. Currently, BOMA is
representing the commercial
real estate industry in the
Denver code amendment cycle
for the 2015 International
Codes. BOMA also regularly
holds events, including panel
discussions and luncheons, with
government representatives to
discuss the improving economy
and job growth, which leads to
additional building tenants.
As a result of some
BOMA members’ concerns
regarding permitting issues
in Arapahoe County, the
county formed the Arapahoe
County Development Services
Coordinating Committee to
provide all stakeholders in
the land development services
in Arapahoe County an open
forum to request and exchange
information, identify issues,
develop solutions, and track and
report progress on identified
actions. Meetings will be held
at the county offices and are
scheduled throughout 2015.
For 95 years, BOMA
has provided a powerful
combination of information,
services and advocacy to the
commercial real estate industry
promoting professional building
management, educating
association members and
encouraging interest in
commercial real estate product
and service development.
As we look back over the
years at Denver’s commercial
real estate industry, it has gone
through many up cycles and
down cycles. It has survived
the tough times and enjoyed
the good times, and Denver
Metro BOMA always has been
there as a leader. This year,
we will continue to update
the commercial real estate
industry on key legislative and
regulatory issues and actions.
Denver Metro BOMA is on
a mission – to advance the
commercial real estate industry
through advocacy, professional
development and the exchange
of knowledge, and we look
forward to working with you
along the way.
Jeannie
Bernard, CAE
Executive vice
president, Denver
Metro BOMA
Denver Metro BOMA members attend a reception with state legislators.
Center, with a planned large-scale
renovation for the south Denver
convention venue. Host Hotels
& Resorts owns the Marriott
Denver Tech Center hotel.
Sage’s growth in develop-
ment began last year with open-
ings and renovations across
the country. July 2014 marked
the opening of Denver Union
Station and the launch of The
Crawford Hotel.
Other Denver announcements
for Sage in 2014 included a 150-
room independent hotel at 245
Columbine in the former post
office building in Cherry Creek.
The luxury boutique hotel,
developed in partnership with
BMC Investments, will include
Sage Restaurant Group’s second
location for its Departure Res-
taurant.
Expanding on a relationship
that began with Denver Union
Station, Sage has partnered with
Colorado real estate developer
McWhinney on two new proj-
ects. The historic Windsor Dairy
Block, in the Lower Downtown
district of Denver, will include
another independent Sage
hotel. The duo also has plans
to develop a two-acre block in
Old Town, Fort Collins, which
will include retail, a restaurant
and a 165-room hotel associated
with an undisclosed brand, set
to open in 2017.
“We’ve been going after more
independent hotels coupled
with unique locally inspired
restaurants, in exciting urban
markets, because that’s where
our sweet spot is,” said Michael
Everett, chief investment officer
for Sage. “We’ve seen amazing
results in renovations and repo-
sitioning, and we look forward
to operating these new hotels
and restaurants and expanding
our portfolio as both operator
and owners.”s