Nearly 200-Unit Apartment Building Coming to West Colfax

By Eric Heinz

Cleveland-based real estate developer The Max Collaborative and Denver- based real estate developer and investment firm NAVA Real Estate Development officially broke ground recently on Wilder, which will be a 196-unit apartment building at 1521 Hooker St.

Wilder is located just one mile west of downtown Denver at the edge of the Sloan’s Lake and West Colfax neighborhoods.

“We’re proud to be part of an important revival for Denver’s West Colfax neighborhood, where millions of square feet of mixed-use development are currently planned or under construction,” said Kevin Ratner, co-founder and chief development officer of The Max Collaborative. “We’re also excited to be working with NAVA on this project, given their deep experience in the market and reputation for delivering forward-thinking residential communities.”

Wilder sits near planned redevelopments that will help bridge the gap between West Colfax and downtown Denver, including The River Mile, which encompasses the redevelopment of land around the South Platte River into a 15 million-square-foot, mixed-use neighborhood.

Designed by Davis Partnership Architects, the eight-story building will be “an ode to the West Colfax neighborhood’s 1950s heyday,” the developers stated. Inspired by art deco architecture, the design features linear and geometric accents, as well as sweeping curves that nod to the architectural character of the neighborhood’s past.

With amenity spaces designed to function as an extension of residents’ homes, Wilder will place a distinctly modern focus on resident health and wellness (a hallmark of NAVA’s development mantra) and is pursuing Fitwel Certification. “Its burgeoning location on West Colfax encompasses the best of urban living,” said Brian Levitt, co-founder and president of NAVA.

“Residents can expect a thoughtfully selected experience that prioritizes their health and wellbeing, with opportunities for exercise, art, connections to nature, healthy eating, and socialization.”

Construction began on Wilder in November with completion slated for late 2024. Saunders Construction is serving as the general contractor.