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Fitzsimons / Anschutz residential ecosystem

Residential Development Timeline

A structured view of on-campus and adjacent residential projects linked to the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, CU Anschutz, and the surrounding medical / life-science employment district.

On-campus / core Adjacent demand halo Pipeline / planning Master-plan capacity
~2,228
delivered / opened units covered here
785
near-term disclosed Aimco pipeline units
7,266
approved long-term residential unit cap
2008
first major residential phase delivered

Google map of residential developments

Pins show built, adjacent, pipeline, and master-plan residential locations around Fitzsimons / Anschutz. Planning-stage pins are approximate intersections.

Chronological timeline

Dates and quantities reflect public source materials. Planning-stage figures are estimates and can change before construction.

2007–08
21 Fitzsimons — Phase 1
On-campus / core

Construction began in 2007 and the first phase was completed in 2008, establishing the first major residential proof-of-demand inside the Fitzsimons Life Science District.

Developer / owner
The Pauls Corporation; later acquired by Aimco
Scale
240 apartments + 16,098 sq ft retail
Status
Built / operating
2012
21 Fitzsimons — Phase 2
On-campus / core

The second phase added another residential block as the medical campus and employment base continued to expand.

Developer / owner
The Pauls Corporation; later Aimco
Scale
187 apartments; average unit size around 750 sq ft
Status
Built / operating
2014
21 Fitzsimons — Phase 3 and sale
On-campus / core

The third phase completed the 600-unit asset. The project then sold for about $120 million, a major validation point for residential demand in the district.

Buyer / seller
Sold by The Pauls Corporation; acquired by Aimco
Scale
173 apartments + 1,364 sq ft retail; total project ~600 units + ~17,500 sq ft retail
Status
Built / sold / operating
2015–18
Forum Fitzsimons
Adjacent demand halo

A large mixed-use apartment and retail project across from Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Hospital, CU Anschutz facilities, and the VA medical center. Public sources vary slightly on whether to call the project built in 2017 or completed in 2018.

Developer / ownership
Catalina Development / Pollin Group / Sightway Capital; later Avanti Residential
Scale
397 units + ~28,000 sq ft retail
Status
Built / operating
2018–20
The Fremont Residences
On-campus / core

Aimco’s next residential phase near 21 Fitzsimons, designed as part of the campus live-work-play concept.

Developer / design
Aimco; Tryba Architects
Scale
253 apartments; reported project investment around $87 million
Status
Completed 2020 / operating
2021
Forum Fitzsimons acquisition by Avanti
Adjacent demand halo

Avanti Residential acquired the property for $159 million, explicitly positioning it as housing for the healthcare and professional workforce around the Fitzsimons Life Science District.

Buyer
Avanti Residential
Scale
397 units + 28,202 sq ft retail
Transaction
$159 million acquisition
2024
Vida @ Fitzsimons
Adjacent demand halo

A market-rate rental community two blocks from Anschutz Medical Campus and Fitzsimons Innovation Campus.

Developer
MGL Partners
Scale
355 rental units; 11.4-acre site; eight buildings
Status
Completed October 2024
2024
Fellow at Fitz
Adjacent demand halo

A completed 2024 podium residential project on the Colfax corridor, marketed as front-row living near the Anschutz Medical Campus and within the Fitzsimons district.

Developer / design
Anton Dev; KTGY design
Scale
413 residences; studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments
Status
Completed 2024 / operating
2024–26
Fitzsimons Gateway / Fitz Gateway
Adjacent gateway / affordable

A major affordable-housing project at Colfax and Peoria, designed for families and individuals earning roughly 30%–70% of area median income.

Developer / land structure
BMC Investments + Mile High Development; Urban Land Conservancy land trust
Scale
210 affordable units; six storeys; ~178,000 sq ft
Status
Broke ground 2024; opened / welcoming residents by 2026
2026+
Aimco Fitzsimons 4 and Fitzsimons 2
Pipeline / planning

Disclosed Aimco pipeline phases for additional residential development in the core district. Figures are planning estimates and subject to change.

Fitzsimons 4
285 units; 415,000 gross sq ft; 1.77 acres
Fitzsimons 2
275 units; 390,000 gross sq ft; 2.29 acres
Status
Planning / pipeline
2027+
Aimco Fitzsimons 3
Pipeline / planning

A later disclosed pipeline phase around the campus, continuing the shift from single assets to a denser residential science district.

Developer
Aimco
Scale
225 units; 400,000 gross sq ft; 1.11 acres
Status
Planning / pipeline
2025+
Updated Fitzsimons Innovation Community Master Plan
Master-plan capacity

The approved planning framework expands the long-term residential cap dramatically, repositioning Fitzsimons as a full mixed-use life-science district rather than a lab-only campus.

Sponsor / authority
Fitzsimons Innovation Community / FRA; City of Aurora approval
Scale
Residential cap increased to 7,266 dwelling units
Status
Approved planning framework / 20-year horizon

Three waves of residential development

This is the investment-development interpretation of the timeline.

1

Prove demand
2008–2014

21 Fitzsimons establishes that the medical / research district can support market-rate housing directly on campus.

2

Create live-work-play
2015–2024

Forum Fitzsimons, The Fremont, Vida, and Fellow at Fitz broaden the offer into apartments, retail, amenities, and professional workforce housing.

3

Scale into an urban district
2024 onward

Fitzsimons Gateway, Aimco pipeline phases, and the updated master plan move the campus toward thousands of additional units.

Read-through: the housing program follows the evolution of the innovation district itself — from proof-of-demand, to amenity-rich campus, to long-term mixed-use urban district.

Detailed table

Use this version for investment memos or slide appendices.

Year / stage Project Location relationship Status Developer / owner Scale Investment / transaction signal
2007–2008 21 Fitzsimons — Phase 1 On-campus / core Fitzsimons Completed The Pauls Corporation; later Aimco 240 units + 16,098 sq ft retail First proof-of-demand phase inside the district
2012 21 Fitzsimons — Phase 2 On-campus / core Fitzsimons Completed The Pauls Corporation; later Aimco 187 units Second residential expansion phase
2014 21 Fitzsimons — Phase 3 and sale On-campus / core Fitzsimons Completed / sold Sold by The Pauls Corporation; acquired by Aimco Total: ~600 units + ~17,500 sq ft retail About $120 million sale
2015–2018 Forum Fitzsimons Adjacent / across from medical campus Completed / operating Catalina Development / Pollin Group / Sightway Capital; later Avanti 397 units + ~28,000 sq ft retail Later sold to Avanti for $159 million
2018–2020 The Fremont Residences On-campus / Anschutz-Fitzsimons core Completed / operating Aimco; Tryba Architects 253 units Reported construction investment around $87 million
2021 Forum Fitzsimons acquisition Adjacent / employment-halo project Sold / operating Avanti Residential 397 units + 28,202 sq ft retail $159 million acquisition
2024 Vida @ Fitzsimons Adjacent; two blocks from Anschutz / FIC Completed October 2024 MGL Partners 355 units; 11.4 acres; eight buildings Total cost reported by developer as $102 million
2024 Fellow at Fitz Adjacent / Colfax corridor in the Fitzsimons district Completed 2024 / operating Anton Dev; KTGY design 413 residences; podium product; studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments New 2024 residential delivery aimed at the Anschutz / Fitzsimons workforce and resident base
2024–2026 Fitzsimons Gateway / Fitz Gateway Adjacent gateway at Colfax & Peoria Opened / lease-up BMC Investments + Mile High Development; Urban Land Conservancy land trust 210 affordable units; six storeys; ~178,000 sq ft LIHTC / affordable housing capital stack; 99-year affordability land-trust structure
2026+ planned Fitzsimons 4 On-campus / core district pipeline Planning / pipeline Aimco; JV structure 285 units; 415,000 gross sq ft; 1.77 acres Disclosed pipeline; figures are estimates
2026+ planned Fitzsimons 2 On-campus / core district pipeline Planning / pipeline Aimco 275 units; 390,000 gross sq ft; 2.29 acres Disclosed pipeline; figures are estimates
2027+ planned Fitzsimons 3 On-campus / core district pipeline Planning / pipeline Aimco 225 units; 400,000 gross sq ft; 1.11 acres Disclosed pipeline; figures are estimates
2025 approval / long-term Updated FIC Master Plan Full 184-acre FIC campus planning framework Approved planning framework FIC / FRA; City of Aurora approval Residential unit cap increased to 7,266 Moves FIC toward full mixed-use life-science district

Source links

External links used for the factual anchors in this timeline.

Forum Fitzsimons acquisition: Avanti Residential acquisition release
Forum Fitzsimons project facts: The Weitz Company project page
The Fremont construction: Weitz construction update
Vida @ Fitzsimons: MGL Partners project page
Fellow at Fitz address / leasing: Official Fellow at Fitz site
Fellow at Fitz project size: Anton Dev project page
Fellow at Fitz design context: KTGY project page
Fitzsimons Gateway groundbreaking: Mile High CRE groundbreaking report
Fitzsimons Gateway opening: AuroraTV opening coverage
Aimco / FIC collaboration: FIC and Aimco announcement
Aimco pipeline figures: Aimco SEC exhibit
Updated master plan summary: FIC master-plan news summary
Recorded master-plan PDF: FIC GDP Amendment #16 recordation PDF