What Mile High Development does

Mile High Development is a privately held Denver-based real estate development firm that has operated since the 1970s as a partner in Denver's urban renaissance. The company specializes in three interlocking verticals: (1) transit-oriented development (TOD) at RTD light rail stations, where it acts as master developer or co-developer on mixed-use projects combining affordable housing, market-rate apartments, retail, and office; (2) affordable and workforce housing, typically financed via LIHTC and serving AMI tiers from 30% to 80%; and (3) civic and municipal buildings delivered through public-private partnerships. Its product portfolio spans roughly 17 documented projects ranging from a 50-unit senior affordable complex ($11M project value) to the 704,000 sq ft, $300M Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building for the City and County of Denver.

The firm has no proprietary technology platform; its core operating model is relationship-driven site acquisition and project execution through competitive RFPs with municipalities and urban renewal authorities, paired with joint ventures and co-development partnerships with established developers and institutional capital providers including Koelbel & Company, Brinshore Development, Opus Northwest, Corporex Colorado, TIAA, Urban Land Conservancy, Draper & Kramer, and Longs Peak Advisors. Revenue is generated through developer fees, co-development profit participation, and project-level economics on government contracts and joint venture arrangements — pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. The organization is small (1-10 employees per firmographics) and founder-led, with George Thorn (President & Founder, former DURA Commissioner and Downtown Denver Partnership Chair) as the central relationship figure. Geographic operations are concentrated in the Colorado Front Range (Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster, Arvada), with no global footprint. Notable accolades include multiple AIA Awards of Honor, a 2009 CNBC Americas Property Award for Best Development (Museum Residences), and a 2017 Downtown Denver Partnership Ward of Excellence (The ART Hotel).

Name

Mile High Development

Legal name

Mile High Development, LLC

Website

https://milehighdevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mile High Development is a Denver-based privately held real estate developer specializing in transit-oriented, affordable, and mixed-use projects delivered through public-private partnerships with Colorado municipalities and RTD. The founder-led firm manages a portfolio of civic, residential, and commercial developments across the Colorado Front Range.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Land Subdivision (23721)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

Keywords

• Real estate development
• Transit-oriented development
• Affordable housing development
• Public-private partnerships
• Mixed-use developments

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Fees and Project Revenue: Mile High Development generates revenue through development fees, co-development partnerships, and property development for government and private sector clients. Revenue comes from project development contracts, joint venture arrangements with municipalities, and property sales or long-term leasing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Mile High Development is a Denver-based real estate development company that acquires, develops, and delivers mixed-use, transit-oriented, affordable/workforce housing, civic, and commercial projects in the Denver metro area. The firm operates primarily through public-private partnerships with municipalities, urban renewal authorities, and RTD, and through joint ventures with private co-developers and institutional capital partners. Revenue is generated from development fees, co-development equity participation, and property sales or long-term leasing.

Product overview

Mile High Development is a real estate development company specializing in mixed-use projects across the Denver metro area. The company's product portfolio comprises diverse real estate development categories including: affordable and workforce housing projects (Ralston Gardens, Northfield Flats, Capitol Square, Eaton Street, Ash Street, University Station, Garden Court at Yale Station, The Point Crossing, Sheridan Station, and Apartments at Yale Station); luxury market-rate housing (Tempo Nine Mile Apartments); residential condominiums (Museum Residences); civic and municipal buildings (Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building); public-private partnership developments (Lakewood City Commons); retail/mixed-use TOD (The Point at Nine Mile Station, Colorado Center); and hotel development (The ART, a Hotel). Projects range from 50 to 1,500,000+ sq ft with values from $11 million to $250 million, with many incorporating sustainable building practices (Green Communities criteria, LEED certification) and transit-oriented development principles near RTD light rail stations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building A 12-story, 704,000 sq ft LEED-certified municipal office tower developed for the City and County of Denver, consolidating over 1,800 employees from 52 city agencies into a single Class AA facility.
• Colorado Center A 1.5 million sq ft mixed-use project in Southeast Denver at Colorado Boulevard and I-25, including office towers and a retail/entertainment complex with a theater and Dave & Buster's.
• The Point at Nine Mile Station A 22-acre master redevelopment of the former Regatta Plaza Shopping Center into a mixed-use transit-oriented development including 300+ market-rate and affordable housing units, retail, entertainment uses, and an office tower adjacent to RTD's Nine Mile Station.
• Tempo Nine Mile Apartments A five-story, 255-unit luxury market-rate apartment community within the Point at Nine Mile Station mixed-use TOD complex, featuring a rooftop terrace, pool deck, fitness and yoga studio, bike repair shop, and 100 EV charging stations.
• Museum Residences A 55-unit luxury condominium project designed by Daniel Libeskind as part of the Denver Art Museum expansion project, featuring gallery-inspired living with ground-floor commercial units.
• The ART, a Hotel A 176,340 sq ft, 165-room 4-star boutique hotel located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum in Downtown Denver, completed in 2015 as part of the Denver Art Museum expansion project.
• Lakewood City Commons A 510,750 sq ft mixed-use public-private partnership including a municipal center, cultural center, fire station, library, and retail/restaurants on 48 acres in Lakewood, Colorado.
• Sheridan Station Apartments An 8-story, 133-unit affordable multifamily development with one, two, and three-bedroom units, located near the Sheridan Station Light Rail Station on RTD's W line, co-developed with Brinshore Development.
• Ralston Gardens A 102-unit family/workforce affordable housing project located in Arvada's Ralston Valley redevelopment area, featuring a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units accommodating AMI levels between 30% and 70%.
• Northfield Flats A 129-unit, four-story workforce housing building located adjacent to the Shops at Northfield retail and entertainment center, serving AMI levels of 30% to 80%.
• The Point Crossing A 63-unit affordable workforce housing project located adjacent to RTD's Nine Mile Station in Aurora, Colorado, targeting AMI levels between 30% and 80% with income averaging.
• Capitol Square Apartments A 6-story, 103-unit affordable housing development located one block from the State Capitol, with one and two-bedroom units at AMI levels of 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%.
• University Station Apartments A 6-story, 60-unit senior affordable housing project adjacent to the University of Denver light rail station, serving seniors over age 62 at 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% AMI.
• Eaton Street Apartments A 118-unit affordable workforce housing project with 23,000 sq ft of retail space, built as an L-shaped wrap of a public parking garage in the Downtown Westminster redevelopment area, co-developed with Longs Peak Advisors.
• Ash Street Apartments A 5-story, 112-unit family/workforce affordable housing building with one, two, and three-bedroom units between 30% AMI and 60% AMI income levels.
• Garden Court at Yale Station A 66-unit affordable family/workforce housing project in a four-story, wood-framed, elevator-served building near Yale Station light rail.
• The Apartments at Yale Station A six-story, 50-unit senior affordable housing project valued at $11 million accommodating 40%, 50%, and 60% AMI income levels, located directly adjacent to the Yale light rail station at I-25 and Yale Avenue, co-developed with Koelbel & Company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple projects received AIA Awards of Honor for design excellence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Koelbel & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing co-development partner on multiple projects including The Apartments at Yale Station (2011), Garden Court at Yale Station, Ash Street Apartments, Eaton Street Apartments, and The Point at Nine Mile Station master development.
• Corporex ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Museum Residences luxury condominiums and The ART Hotel boutique hotel as part of the Denver Art Museum expansion project.
• Opus Northwest, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Lakewood City Commons, a 510,750 square foot government, office and retail complex in Lakewood, Colorado, developed in 1996-1999.
• Brinshore DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner on Sheridan Station Apartments (133 units), Capitol Square Apartments (103 units), and Northfield Flats (129 units) affordable housing projects.
• Urban Land ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for transit-oriented development projects. Urban Land Conservancy purchased parcels for Sheridan Station development and has collaborated on Yale Station Master Planning.
• Regional Transportation District (RTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for transit-oriented developments at multiple light rail stations including University Station, Sheridan Station, Yale Station, and Nine Mile Station. RTD provides land and transit access for TOD projects.
• Longs Peak AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner on Eaton Street Apartments in the Downtown Westminster redevelopment of the former Westminster Mall.
• Draper & KramerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner on Tempo Nine Mile Apartments luxury market rate project within the Point at Nine Mile Station TOD complex.
• Urban Roots DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner on Tempo Nine Mile Apartments luxury market rate project within the Point at Nine Mile Station TOD complex.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Opus: National commercial real estate developer that co-developed Lakewood City Commons with Mile High Development. Directly comparable in large-scale mixed-use and public-private partnership execution.
• McWhinney: Northern Colorado-based real estate investment and development firm active in mixed-use, multifamily, and master-planned developments. Comparable in scale and geographic focus on Colorado Front Range.
• Koelbel & Company: Denver-based real estate developer and Mile High Development's longest-standing co-development partner. Jointly delivered multiple Yale Station, Ash Street, Eaton Street, and Nine Mile Station projects, making it the most directly comparable operating peer.
• Brinshore Development: Affordable housing developer that has partnered with Mile High Development on Sheridan Station, Capitol Square, and Northfield Flats. Directly comparable in LIHTC-financed affordable multifamily development with similar AMI targeting.
• Continuum Partners: Denver-based real estate investment and development firm active in mixed-use, public-private partnership, and TOD projects (e.g., Larimer Square). Highly comparable in Denver urban mixed-use and civic-scale development.
• East West Partners: Colorado-focused real estate developer specializing in mixed-use, resort, and TOD communities. Operates in overlapping Denver/Colorado markets with comparable mixed-use and master-planned community capabilities.
• Urban Land Conservancy: Denver-based nonprofit that acquires and preserves land for affordable and community-oriented development. Active JV partner on Sheridan Station and Yale Station, with directly comparable TOD and affordable housing focus.

Broad incumbents

• Forest City Realty Trust (Brookfield Properties): Large-scale national TOD and mixed-use developer (now part of Brookfield). Comparable in transit-oriented and mixed-use development expertise at scale, though broader geographic and product portfolio.
• Trammell Crow Company: Major national commercial real estate developer with deep mixed-use, office, and multifamily practice. Comparable in mixed-use and master-planned development capability, though much larger and more diversified.
• Lendlease: Global real estate and infrastructure developer with significant TOD and mixed-use portfolio. Comparable in large-scale urban and transit-oriented development, though broader and international in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/milehighdevelopmentLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mile-high-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mile High Development