627 S Lipan Street

A rezoning breakdown sparks developer's call for reform. After nearly two years of meetings, neighborhood outreach, and revisions, redT Homes is speaking out.

In a detailed open letter to Denver City Council, the developer described their experience trying, and ultimately failing, to rezone 627 S Lipan (also known as 1200 W Gill) as “not just a denial, but a structural failure” of Denver’s public planning process.

The rezoning, which would’ve allowed for 23 attainable housing units on a long-vacant lot in Athmar Park, had full support from city staff and unanimous approval from the Planning Commission.

However, on April 7, City Council voted it down.

According to redT, the presentation time was abruptly cut from six minutes to three, key speakers were blocked due to a procedural technicality, and critical information about infrastructure upgrades and community benefits never made it to the record.

Over the course of 20 months, redT engaged with multiple Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs), hosted community meetings, and met with nearly every member of Council, some more than once.

Their timeline lists over 30 points of engagement, including seven meetings with the Athmar RNO and eight meetings with Councilmember Alvidrez. Despite this, support from the RNO was rescinded in August 2024, months before the final hearing.

The fallout doesn’t end with redT. The landowners, Joe and Jane Madrid, longtime Athmar Park residents and former RNO board members, had a contract contingent on the rezoning. With Council’s rejection, their sale collapsed and due to city rules, they cannot reapply for another two years.

“This isn’t just a planning misstep. This is a human consequence,” redT’s Nathan Adams wrote.

The letter doesn’t ask to overturn the vote. It demands a better process, one where rules aren’t rewritten at the finish line, expert recommendations matter, and families aren’t collateral damage in Denver’s housing crisis.