Kennedy Wilson is pursuing a multifamily development that would replace the current Family Star Montessori School site on Federal Boulevard in Denver. The plan calls for a seven-story apartment building with 242 residential units, shifting the property from educational to residential use if the project moves forward as described. The school currently occupies the site but intends to relocate to a nearby location in Lakewood.
According to information reported about the transaction, Family Star Montessori School plans to sell its existing property to Kennedy Wilson in order to generate the cash needed to facilitate the move. The school originally purchased the Federal Boulevard property in 2000 for $1,340,000. Proceeds from the contemplated sale are expected to support the relocation, although the specific financial terms of the new transaction have not been disclosed.
The proposed design for the new building includes a mix of apartment types and an affordable housing component. Affordable units are planned for households earning 60% or less of the area median income. Within that affordable share, the developer has outlined four studio apartments, 13 one-bedroom units, and seven two-bedroom units. The total number of affordable units as a portion of the 242-unit program has not been specified beyond this breakdown.
The project also incorporates a ground-floor retail element. Kennedy Wilson has agreed to develop approximately 7,500 square feet of retail space as part of the building fronting Federal Boulevard. The specific tenants or merchandising strategy for this retail space have not been identified in available information.
In response to community sensitivities around certain uses, Kennedy Wilson has indicated that the ground floor will not be leased to what have been described as controversial business types. In particular, the company has said the property will not host adult bookstores or cannabis-related businesses at the street level. This commitment is framed as part of a broader set of design considerations for the project.
Public-facing enhancements are also contemplated as part of the development plan. Kennedy Wilson has agreed to incorporate public art, benches, and other design elements around the site. These features are intended to improve the pedestrian environment and contribute to the public realm along this segment of Federal Boulevard, though detailed design concepts have not been released.
With the Family Star Montessori School planning a relocation to Lakewood funded by the sale, and Kennedy Wilson advancing a 242-unit, mixed-income apartment project with 7,500 square feet of retail space and ground-floor use restrictions, the site is positioned for a significant transition in use and intensity within Denver’s Federal Boulevard corridor.
