4995 N Washington Street

Globeville is getting its long-awaited library, paired with 170 affordable homes and a community café.

The five story, 250,000 square foot building will rise at 4995 Washington Street on land once used for a car lot. It marks the first time in Denver that a public library and affordable housing will share one address.

The development comes from a partnership between Evergreen Real Estate Group, Rocky Mountain Communities, and the Globeville Elyria Swansea Coalition. Their shared goal is to bring stability to the neighborhood while preventing displacement.

Families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area’s median income will be eligible for the new apartments, many of which are designed for larger households.

The building will use mass timber construction, a sustainable material that reflects the area’s industrial history. Designed by John Ronan Architects, it will feature exposed wood, glass facades, and two wings of apartments surrounding green courtyards.

The library will anchor the ground floor with study rooms, gathering areas, and transit access. The $12 million library investment comes from Denver’s 2021 RISE Bond.

Construction is led by Milender White and Gilmore Construction, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for October 23. When doors open in 2027, Globeville will gain more than a new building. It will gain a place where learning, housing, and community meet under one roof.