Fox Creek Park Development Taking Shape

The Steamboat Pilot
By Matt Stensland
Sunday, March 5, 2006

Imagine waking up, walking downstairs from your condominium to eat breakfast at the bakery below, and then walking 20 yards to work.

That is the kind of scenario developers envisioned when they broke ground in May on the 39,000-square-foot, mixed-use Fox Creek Park development.

Their vision could become reality when the GrizBear Bakery and Café open — possibly as soon as June — on the lower level of the three-story building on Hilltop Parkway next to the Australian Connection building. It has a similar look to its neighbor, with darker-stained cedar siding and porches.

“It’s gorgeous,” said David Marx, who is moving from Morrison to open the café with his wife, Gina. “I can’t wait to see it finished.”

The café will occupy one of the 12 commercial units that range in size from 1,875 to 3,100 square feet. The commercial units can be divided or expanded into additional units. The tenants will have the ability to expand horizontally or vertically into the vaulted ceilings that are in some of the units, said Sara Ross, who is handling Fox Creek Park’s sales and marketing.

Five of the 12 commercial units already are reserved or under contract, Ross said. The units also can be leased and range in price from about $155 to $220 a square foot. They are expected to be ready for tenants to finish by March 31.

Two potential tenants have expressed interest in constructing a residential unit into their commercial space that could be used for business owners or employees in a live/work situation, Ross said. They would be separate from the condos on the top floor.

All seven of the condos are on the top floor, and there is only one single-bedroom unit remaining.
“We have a real solid interest in it,” said developer Dave Dooley, who is building the project with David Tolson of Washington, D.C.

The units range in size from 900 to 1900 square feet and cost between $199,000 and $301,000. All the residential units are on the north side of the building and along Fox Creek. They should be completed by the end of April.

A bike path stretches past the north side of the building, where some of the commercial units are located.

“It is peaceful and serene in the summertime,” Ross said.

That is exactly what Marx was looking for. He chose the location because of the creek and views of Howelsen Hill and Sleeping Giant.

“It is off the beaten path,” Marx said “We kind of see that it will have a nice, peaceful atmosphere.”

— To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210 or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com