Intermountain Health has selected Colorado development firm E5X as the buyer for the approximately 100-acre parcel that was home to Intermountain Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge for more than 100 years. Intermountain Health relocated hospital operations to a new campus in August 2024.
E5X Management Inc., based in Centennial, is a prominent real estate development firm with more than three decades of experience in mixed-use, master-planned communities in the Denver metro area. E5X focuses on sustainable design and community-based planning, offering thoughtfully-crafted communities ranging from 10 to over 3,000 acres.
Scott Peek, Intermountain Health Front Range market president, said, “The sale of the Legacy Lutheran Medical Center campus is a testament to Intermountain Health’s unwavering dedication to serving the Wheat Ridge community, which it has done for more than 120 years. This significant step in the redevelopment of the Legacy campus aligns perfectly with our mission to enhance community well-being through thoughtful and strategic decisions.”
Chad Moynahan, Intermountain Health region director of real estate, noted that E5X reflects Intermountain Health’s commitment to community well-being. “Their collaborative approach, in concert with the master plan adopted by the Wheat Ridge City Council in 2021, ensures that our mutual goal of fostering community health and prosperity will be realized,” Moynahan said.
The Wheat Ridge master plan, developed with extensive community input, serves as a framework for future development and sets expectations for prospective partners. E5X’s past projects, such as Parkdale in Erie and Tanterra in Parker, predominantly feature residential elements, including single-family homes, townhomes and multi-family residences integrated with commercial and office spaces. These communities aim to create vibrant neighborhoods with schools, parks, recreational areas and ample open space.
Chris Elliott, principal of E5X, said the firm is dedicated to creating places where people thrive, balancing innovation and functionality. Elliott highlighted E5X’s commitment to key expectations in the master plan, which include: Perimeter Buffer and Transition, ensuring compatibility with surrounding areas; Interior Flexibility, allowing diverse uses within the property; and Integration of Existing Assets, encouraging the incorporation of existing features into the new development.
Intermountain Health utilized a comprehensive Request for Proposal process to assess interest from developers. “After thoroughly evaluating ten distinct proposals, we finalized terms and conditions and are under a contract to sell the property to E5X,” Moynahan said. “This ensures that redevelopment will be handled by a team dedicated to the community’s well-being.”
Elliott mentioned that the redevelopment plan aims to protect important community assets like the Blue House and the chapel on the Lutheran site. The plan also allocates land for parks, trails and plazas to meet the community’s recreational and social needs.
The redevelopment plan includes low building heights next to homes (30 feet) and allows five-story buildings (70 feet) in the center, which is shorter than the existing hospital.
E5X and Intermountain Health stated their commitment to maintaining transparent communication with the community leading up to the final sale of the property, ensuring stakeholders are informed and able to provide feedback.
