Urban Villages

For the past 20 years, we’ve been on a mission to redefine what sustainable, community-driven development looks like—breathing new life into historic blocks, creating award-winning mixed-use spaces, and setting a new bar for eco-conscious hospitality. As we celebrate this milestone, our Co-Founder and CEO Grant McCargo sat down with 5280 Magazine to reflect on the journey so far. From reshaping Denver’s skyline to taking an innovative approach to housing to weaving nature into urban spaces, he shares the vision, challenges, and what’s next. Catch the full conversation here: https://heyor.ca/NaWUjX #UrbanVillages

"We believe humans are the critical heart of cities. We believe nature inspires the best properties. We believe real investment takes time. We believe every detail matters." – Grant McCargo, Co-Founder & CEO of Urban Villages Last month, we held the ribbon cutting for Populus, officially opening its doors and redefining sustainable hospitality. This milestone—ten years in the making—was celebrated alongside Mayor Mike Johnston and our valued and dedicated partners and colleagues. It takes a village, and we couldn’t be prouder of ours. Here’s to Populus setting a new model of environmentally conscious hospitality. #UrbanVillages

We’re excited to share that Populus has been recognized in Condé Nast Traveler's Bright Ideas in Travel 2024 – marking our second consecutive year on this coveted list! This year’s list is the most expansive and relevant yet—highlighting the players, places, and projects that are shaping the future of travel with bold and pioneering approaches in sustainability, community, inclusion, accessibility, conservation, innovation, and wellness. To be named among these trailblazers is an honor and a reminder of the industry’s potential as a force for good when we invest in people and the planet. Read more here: https://heyor.ca/8iDoi9 #UrbanVillages

Developing Populus was a journey of passion, innovation, and deep commitment to creating a new model of sustainable hospitality from the initial groundbreaking, to the completion of the striking Aspen eye inspired exterior, to our nature-inspired interiors, to welcoming our first guests. Every step in making this project a reality kept the urgency of climate change, with the preferences of today's eco-conscious traveler, top of mind. Now that it's open, we look forward to the lasting impact of Populus on the community, the city of Denver, and the future of travel. #UrbanVillages

Positioned to be one of the country's most significant adaptive reuse developments, Seattle’s micro-district RailSpur has an exciting addition coming in 2025... Hotel Westland. This 120-room boutique luxury hotel modernizes a historic 1907 building in RailSpur, highlighting our commitment to sustainability through adaptive reuse efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Fueled by an authentic connection to the community, Hotel Westland will feature Pioneer Square's first rooftop bar and house 328 pieces of art, inspired by the regional landscape, created by over 30 diverse artists at an immersive studio at RailSpur's own 419 Occidental Ave building. #UrbanVillages ??: Another Artist

After nearly a decade in the making, Populus is now open. We created Populus to be a catalyst for change – an innovative way for our industry to address the urgency of climate change, while allowing us to connect more deeply with nature and each other. Today, Populus opens its doors, marking a new chapter for this visionary project that puts our unwavering commitment to sustainable hospitality at the forefront of conversation. Unlike anything Denver has ever seen, Populus welcomes guests with skyline-defining architecture by Studio Gang, immersive interiors and art, and inspired culinary delights at Pasque and Stellar Jay. And, we’re planting a tree for every night’s stay – helping to better our planet in a tangible way. It has taken a dedicated, passionate, and innovate village to get here. We couldn’t be prouder of our team and our partners for bringing this vision to life. Welcome to Populus – we hope to see you there! #UrbanVillages ??: Jason O'Rear ??: Yoshihiro Makino

Meet Rod Lapasin, the new Managing Director and General Manager of Hotel Westland, opening spring 2025 at RailSpur, our adaptive reuse micro-district in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. ? Rod is a fifth-generation Seattleite and a seasoned luxury hospitality executive with over 35 years of experience. He has held senior leadership roles at renowned hotels like Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Salish Lodge. In addition to overseeing daily operations and elevating the guest experience at Hotel Westland, he will also serve as Managing Director of RailSpur, helping us transform this corner of Seattle's Pioneer Square into a vibrant social hub. We’re thrilled to have Rod on board as we write the next chapter for RailSpur and Hotel Westland! #UrbanVillages

Our vision to renovate the historic Great Western Sugar Company and develop two new projects in the Sugar Block was a long-term investment. After refurbishing the historic Sugar Building, we constructed the SugarCube, a 10-story mixed-use building with office space, retail, and 37 luxury residences. Then, we directed and oversaw development of the third project, SugarSquare, the cornerstone of our Sugar Block development and the smallest building ever to receive the Mayor's Design of the Year award. Revitalizing downtown Denver's historic structures and ensuring place-making efforts are thriving in urban environments have led to beloved tenants such as Illegal Petes, Eat'Ya Pizza, and Little Owl Coffee finding their home at the Sugar Block. #UrbanVillages

President Jon Buerge will be a part of the ESG & Sustainability in Real Estate Summit 2024, next month! He'll be connecting with fellow industry leaders and diving into the future of sustainable real estate. Don't miss out, join the conversation while there's still time: https://ter.li/e1mha3

Historically a haven for artists and creatives, our adaptive reuse project, RailSpur, brought community and art together at the debut of Hotel Westland's stunning art exhibit during the Seattle Art Fair last month. Curated by ARTXIV, this debut showcased over 320 pieces of art, inspired by the nature of the PNW and created by over 30 commissioned artists who spent the past three months in RailSpur's 419 Occidental Ave building producing original pieces that will eventually adorn the walls of Hotel Westland, coming to Pioneer Square early next year. The creativity didn't stop there - A neighborhood-wide initiative by Forest For The Trees brought vibrancy and community together in RailSpur's alleys through colorful murals, a permanent yet rotating art activation in the historic alleyways. Art created by, and in, the community it will be showcased in keeps our neighborhood connected in more ways than one. #UrbanVillages ??: zofotography