Lutheran Medical Center site in Wheat Ridge sold to subdivision developer

A prominent developer known for creating residential communities in the metropolitan area is in the process of acquiring the former Lutheran Medical Center site in Wheat Ridge.

The developer, Chris Elliott of E5X Management, is finalizing the purchase of the site located between 32nd and 38th avenues for a redevelopment project, as confirmed by a representative to BusinessDen.

Intermountain Health, the current owner of the property, is expected to officially announce Elliott as the buyer later today.

With a background in developing large master-planned residential communities, Elliott has worked on projects in various municipalities such as Parker and Arvada. His recent acquisition includes a 300-acre site in Erie.

The hospital campus became available after Intermountain relocated Lutheran Medical Center to a new 26-acre site three miles west in Wheat Ridge, near Interstate 70 and 40th Avenue. CBRE has been managing the sale of the former site since spring of 2024.

“The process of soliciting bids and selecting a developer was conducted efficiently to prevent the site from remaining vacant or deteriorating,” stated Intermountain in a recent press release.

Wheat Ridge recently approved new custom zoning for the site, allowing for a mix of lower-density homes along the property’s perimeter and taller buildings up to five stories in the center. The city also mandated that 20% of the property be designated as public open space, double the usual requirement for similar mixed-use projects.