Denver’s parks and recreation department wants the former Park Hill golf Course to open as a park this Summer. Following Denver City Council’s decision to approve a land swap agreement on Monday, Westside Investment Partners and the city will deliver a new regional park for the surrounding community.
Back in March of 2025, Denver announced that it was looking into building a stadium that would seat 14,500 for a National Women’s Soccer League over at Santa Fe Yards near Broadway and I-25. The latest update reveals that a majority of Denver City Council Members support the project and vision to bring the stadium to fruition. But there is still a long way to go to figuring out the details, logistics, and more.
The Denver City Council has officially approved a significant land swap that marks a major turning point in the long-debated future of the Park Hill Golf Course. In a unanimous vote on Monday afternoon, councilmembers gave the green light to exchange 145 acres of land near 56th Avenue and Powhaton Road—located just south of Denver International Airport—for the 155-acre former golf course along Colorado Boulevard.
Cooling off in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood will remain a challenge for the next few summers. The pool at Mestizo-Curtis Park, Denver’s oldest park, has been closed since 2023 and isn’t expected to reopen until 2027. Built in the 1950s, the pool and bathhouse are overdue for replacement, and city officials say the current facilities no longer meet community needs.
The City of Denver is moving forward with a landmark plan to transform the former Park Hill Golf Course into a large public park through a land swap agreement with Westside Investment Partners. This decision follows years of legal and political battles over the site’s future, with strong public support favoring the preservation of open space. Under the proposed agreement, the city would trade a similarly valued parcel near Denver International Airport to gain control of the 155-acre property, paving the way for rezoning, park planning, and eventual development. While the initiative represents a major investment in green infrastructure and community recreation, city officials are also weighing concerns about potential gentrification and displacement in surrounding neighborhoods.
For years, builders across Denver have echoed a familiar sentiment: permitting takes too long, costs too much, and lacks consistency. It’s a reality that Sustainable Design Build (SDB) knows all too well. Since 2016, SDB has been helping homeowners across the Front Range turn their visions into custom homes, additions, and ADUs—but often while waiting months (even close to a year) for permits to be approved.
The City of Denver is moving forward with a landmark plan to transform the former Park Hill Golf Course into a large public park through a land swap agreement with Westside Investment Partners. This decision follows years of legal and political battles over the site’s future, with strong public support favoring the preservation of open space. Under the proposed agreement, the city would trade a similarly valued parcel near Denver International Airport to gain control of the 155-acre property, paving the way for rezoning, park planning, and eventual development. While the initiative represents a major investment in green infrastructure and community recreation, city officials are also weighing concerns about potential gentrification and displacement in surrounding neighborhoods.
Interior Design is a fun and exciting part of any custom home construction project. Whole Home Remodels, Kitchen Additions, Pop Top Additions with new Master Baths, and Custom Home Building – all of them are going to need to consider interior design countertops. But like the many different types of cabinets or trim options for windows, there is no shortage of options available for surface slab materials. Each one boasts a unique look and feel, all with their own set of pros and cons for maintaining, using, and general aesthetics. Sustainable Design Build’s in-house interior design team works diligently with clients early on to find the perfect type of surface to match their needs.
Despite recent headlines about tariffs, trade wars, and economic uncertainty, there are still strong reasons for homeowners to move forward with their dream construction projects—whether it’s a custom home, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or a major home addition. At Sustainable Design Build (SDB), we understand how economic changes can feel daunting, but we also see the opportunities—and we’re here to help you navigate them with confidence.
The National Association of Home Builders published a study recently covering the Cost of Construction of new single-family homes. The Survey shows varying percentages of components that contribute to the overall cost, interestingly, the overall cost of these components have been reported as staying relatively consistent in recent years.
On April 14th, 2025, Mayor Mike Johnston signed an Executive Order as part of a new initiative to overhaul Denver’s permitting process. This initiative will bring about 300 employees responsible for the permitting review across seven city departments together under a new office, the Denver Permitting Office (DPO). Even more, the initiative promises that all building permits — regardless of size and scope, commercial or residential — will be fully reviewed within 180 days. If the permitting process is not completed within that timeframe, specialized city officials will step in to expedite the plan reviews within a short, designated period, and applicants may even receive partial refunds of permitting fees.
DENVER – Sustainable Design Build has been building along the Front range since 2016. But co-owner and general contractor Zach McKendry says he still doesn’t know what to expect while trying to get construction permits approved by the City of Denver, something he calls a “huge pain.”
With this bold new direction—Executive Order 151—Denver is promising more than words. The city is actively restructuring how construction permits are reviewed, processed, and approved. And for residents planning to build a custom home, home addition, ADU, or undertake any large residential construction project, this could be the turning point we’ve all been waiting for.
Mayor Mike Johnston announced on April 14, 2025 his first executive order, the creation of the Denver Permitting Office, or DPO. Executive Order 151 takes aim at the infamous Denver City and County Department of Neighborhood Development along with all of the related department services that are intertwined with permitting processes for any type of construction in Denver. For years following the pandemic, Denver’s Developmental Services have been inundated with a boom of permitting and plan review requests which have led to astronomically long wait times. These wait times have even breached 300 days in recent years, leaving anybody; Developer, homeowner, or general contractor at the mercy of an overburdened bureaucratic system.
Denver’s permitting system is poised for a dramatic overhaul with Mayor Mike Johnston’s announcement of a new initiative that implements a 180-day “shot clock” for reviewing building applications. This long-awaited reform is designed to streamline and expedite the city’s notoriously slow and complex permitting process, which has stymied real estate development for decades. Developers like Joe Vostrejs, who has worked in Denver’s real estate sector for over 40 years, expressed optimism, calling the shift the most promising improvement in his career. The initiative introduces single-point project advocates—or “champions”—to guide applicants through a process that has often been delayed by conflicting guidance across departments.
On April 14, 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston issued his first executive order since taking office, establishing a new permitting office aimed at expediting and improving the city’s building approval process. This initiative addresses longstanding backlogs in the permitting system that have hindered development and contributed to housing challenges.
In the world of custom homebuilding, timing is everything. From first sketches to final finishes, every step depends on a carefully managed sequence of events. Unfortunately, Denver’s notoriously slow permitting process has long disrupted that flow, throwing off timelines, inflating budgets, and causing frustration for homeowners and builders alike.
When it comes to crafting a beautiful, cohesive home, it’s the details that make all the difference. One of the most overlooked yet impactful design elements is window trim. At Sustainable Design Build (SDB), we believe your windows should do more than let in light—they should frame your space with style, intention, and craftsmanship.
If you’ve been sitting on plans for a home addition, an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), or a full custom home build in Denver, now might be the perfect time to bring those dreams to life. Thanks to a bold new move by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, the city is taking serious strides to eliminate the headaches and long delays that have plagued residential construction permitting for years.
As the chill of winter fades and the days grow longer, spring offers the perfect opportunity to refresh your home. With renewed energy and brighter light, it’s a natural time to consider remodeling projects that can elevate your living space. Whether you’re looking to enhance comfort, update your style, or increase functionality, here are some inspiring ideas to get your spring remodel underway.
Creating your dream home starts with establishing a clear and cohesive design direction. At Sustainable Design Build, we understand that figuring out your interior design aesthetic can feel overwhelming, especially when your project is still in the early conceptual stages and exists only as drawings or elevations. Our goal is to help you refine your vision and ensure it is fully realized before diving into material selections and showroom visits with your Interior Designer.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming an increasingly popular way for Denver homeowners to add value to their properties, generate rental income, or create flexible living spaces for family members. If you’re considering building an ADU, you may be wondering: Can you have a balcony on an ADU? Thanks to recent updates to the Denver Zoning Code, the answer is yes—under specific conditions.
Building a custom home is one of the most personal and rewarding investments you can make. But in a city like. Denver—where permitting, zoning, and building codes are famously complex—the success of your project hinges on having the right team from the very start.
Denver is on the cusp of something truly transformative! With the recent announcement of a world-class, 14,500-seat women’s soccer stadium planned for Santa Fe Yards at Broadway and I-25, our city is taking another massive step forward in sports, entertainment, and urban development. As an organization deeply invested in the growth and evolution of Denver, Sustainable Design Build is thrilled to see this project come to life and the incredible opportunities it will bring to the surrounding community.
When most people think of interior design, they imagine picking paint colors and throw pillows toward the end of the project. But in custom home construction, interior design should be part of the conversation from day one—not an afterthought.
When it comes to building a custom home in Denver, every detail matters—from the lot selection and layout to the final finishes. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that the most critical decisions happen long before construction begins.
Chefs Alexander Figura and Spencer White, known for Dio Mio and Redeemer Pizza, are planning to open a third restaurant featuring pizza and pasta at 81 S. Pennsylvania St. in West Wash Park. While the opening timeline remains uncertain, an Instagram post suggests a spring launch. The new restaurant will occupy a 2,000-square-foot space in an apartment complex, with a menu similar to their other locations, featuring $20 pasta and pizza dishes. Figura and White, who met at the now-closed Lower48 Kitchen, previously opened Dio Mio in 2016 and Redeemer Pizza in 2021. Their new venture takes over a space previously occupied by AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q Steakhouse, owned by Jared Leonard, who has faced financial and legal troubles.
As Denver continues to grow, so does its appetite for bold, refined, and livable custom home designs. Whether nestled into the foothills or sitting proudly in the heart of a historic neighborhood, today’s custom homes are marrying mountain-inspired materials with urban elegance, offering homeowners a sanctuary that’s both timeless and trend-forward.
When people think of interior design, they often think of throw pillows, wall colors, or magazine-worthy rooms. But interior design is about much more than aesthetics—especially in a custom home project. Thoughtful, professional design adds real, measurable value to your home, both now and in the future.
Designing and building a custom home is a deeply personal journey—one filled with excitement, decisions, and dreams turned into reality. At Sustainable Design Build (SDB), we believe that the experience should be just as rewarding as the final product.
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