Colorado Real Estate Journal - June 1, 2016
The Northwest Douglas County Economic Development Corporation exists to promote the region as a premier place to locate or expand a business. The Northwest Douglas County EDC creates a strong local economy, provides exclusive benefits to investors, markets the community, is an advocate for business with government and partners to create infrastructure improvements necessary to drive new business to the region. Northwest Douglas County is on the forefront of opportunity for businesses ranging from multinational corporations to independently owned retail boutiques. In addition to the region’s Front Range views and booming economy, a new mixed-use, master-planned community on the horizon primes Northwest Douglas County as a beacon of innovative development. Sterling Ranch will feature an estimated 2 million square feet of commercial space and more than 12,000 residences. Situated on 3,400 acres south of C-470 and west of Santa Fe Drive, the community is conveniently accessed via major arteries and provides great connectivity both within its confines and to key hubs in the Denver metro area. Sterling Ranch offers nine unique, interconnected villages, including a mixed-use town center. Known as Paramount Center, the office, retail and residential offerings will comprise more space than Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North combined. Each residential village will also have a smaller retail center for added convenience. For companies setting up shop at Sterling Ranch, the forward-thinking technologies and intelligent infrastructure will provide continuous benefits. “We’ve taken care to build infrastructure that adapts to and integrates future advancements in technology,” said Brock Smethills, chief operating officer of Sterling Ranch Development Company. “Partnering with Siemens, we’ve developed a comprehensive infrastructure system that provides business owners and residents with contoured technologies to enhance their daily lives, both now and far into the future.” Complementing this 21st century development is the abundance of open space and pedestrian-friendly avenues to explore the nature of Sterling Ranch. “From the start, we envisioned Sterling Ranch as a sustainable community committed to stewardship,” said Harold Smethills, chairman of Sterling Ranch, LLC. “Our attention to maintaining the integrity of the land delivers the natural amenities for people to live healthy, fulfilling lifestyles and enjoy the outdoors.” Ideal for lunchtime walks or after-work exercise, Sterling Ranch offers 30 miles of internal trails, plus parks, open space and wildlife corridors. The community also connects to five external trail systems and is just five to ten minutes from Chatfield State Park and Roxborough State Park. The walkable, neighborly appeal of Sterling Ranch has other benefits as well. “When companies choose a location, one of the most important considerations is the safety and security of their businesses and employees. Sterling Ranch provides peace of mind with communitywide alerts delivered via street lights and security monitoring for any irregularities throughout the community,” said Jim Yates, president of Sterling Ranch Development Company. The experience of working within Sterling Ranch is elevated by the opportunity to live there, too. Homebuilders are currently offering nearly 800 residences in Providence Village, the first of the nine villages planned for completion. Diverse designs featuring Colorado-inspired architecture are available to welcome home people of all ages and aspirations. Focusing on the future, Sterling Ranch has partnered with Vanderbilt University to bring innovative educational offerings to the community, in cohesion with the community’s planned five elementary schools, middle school and high school. To further serve residents and those working in the community, Sterling Ranch plans to offer convenient medical care at an urgent care facility, as well as a 20-acre medical village providing holistic and traditional health services. Sterling Ranch has engaged local experts from Denver Botanic Gardens and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies to ensure ongoing conservation of the ecosystem. From water wise landscaping guidelines to in-home technology panels that monitor energy and water usage, Sterling Ranch provides residents with the tools to be mindful stewards of the community and its resources. As the immense promise of Sterling Ranch comes to fruition over the next 20 years, the $4.3 billion project is estimated to generate an economic impact of 1,000 annual construction jobs and create more than 9,000 permanent jobs at build-out. Sterling Ranch conveys not only the vast economic opportunity available in Northwest Douglas County, but also a transformational approach to developing communities where residents, businesses and nature can live in harmony. For more information, visit www.sterlingranchcolorado.com or www.nwdouglascounty.org.