Urban Villages

Sneak peek at the interiors of our soon-to-open Hotel Westland in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Designed by Curioso, the vision reflects the balance of nature and city, past and present—where the rhythm of the railway meets the organic beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Exposed brick, timber beams, and forged steel are layered with soft textures, deep hues, and handcrafted details, creating a space that feels both historic and new. Opening soon as part of our RailSpur micro-district. #UrbanVillages

The only way to produce extraordinary results is with extraordinary talent. Our team of entrepreneurs, environmentalists, artists, and architects is uncompromising in how we approach each project and how we nurture our own culture. Like the neighborhoods we build, our organization is designed for the long term, with people in mind, and shaped by attention to detail and care. Today, on National Employee Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating the people who make it all possible. Thank you to our team for your talent, passion, and dedication—you are what makes Urban Villages.

Every year, 400,000 buildings are demolished in the U.S.—a staggering reminder of the environmental cost of unsustainable development. In just 35 days, the world adds the square footage equivalent of New York City. We believe there’s a better way. Our focus is on creating buildings that stand the test of time, avoiding the need for costly fixes and reducing the environmental impact of frequent demolitions. With projects like Populus, RailSpur, and West Village UC Davis, we’re showing that sustainable design can deliver real returns for investors while helping our planet. We hope these projects prove that business and consumer demand—not just policy—can drive the shift toward long-lasting, community-focused development. Over the next few years, we aim to set a precedent for other developers to follow. #UrbanVillages

Hotel Westland is making headlines! Forbes recently featured our upcoming Hotel Westland, opening this spring in Seattle’s RailSpur micro-district. The article explores how the hotel’s adaptive reuse design, Pacific Northwest-inspired interiors, and artist-driven collaborations are shaping a new cultural hub in Pioneer Square. With a rich history, a thoughtfully curated art collection, and Pioneer Square’s first-ever rooftop bar and restaurant, Hotel Westland will bring together the best of art, design, culinary, and hospitality. Read the full story here: https://heyor.ca/ckUvHL

With buildings accounting for 45% of U.S. emissions, the real estate industry must evolve. In 2025, we hope to see more developers take a long-term, sustainable approach—one that prioritizes thoughtful materials, lasting communities, and a lighter impact on the planet. That means using smarter materials, like the ECOPact concrete, beetle-kill wood, and biodegradable finishes we incorporated at Populus. It means choosing adaptive reuse over demolition, like we’re doing at RailSpur, where three historic buildings—including the future Hotel Westland—are being restored rather than torn down. It’s also about greater transparency, something we put into practice with Populus’ Carbon Positive Dashboard, which tracks embodied carbon, offsets, and sustainability efforts in real time. Beyond individual buildings, we hope to see more developers building villages, not just projects—creating entire neighborhoods designed for long-term vibrancy, like we did with Larimer Square, transforming it into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly destination. And finally, cities need more nature, which is why we’ve integrated green spaces into our projects, from RailSpur’s rooftop pollinator garden to Populus’ native plant sanctuary. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but we’re committed to pushing for a greener future in 2025 and beyond. What sustainable real estate trends do you hope to see this year? #UrbanVillages

Last month, Dwell Magazine featured Populus in its One Night In series, taking a firsthand look at how the hotel’s sustainability efforts hold up in practice. The article explores how every detail—from the locally sourced cottonwood reception desk to the rooftop garden designed to support Colorado biodiversity—was chosen to enhance both the guest experience and the environment. Read the full story here: https://heyor.ca/0ep1rp #UrbanVillages

Urban Villages was born out of a simple but profound idea: 'If you truly want to make the biggest difference, show people how to make money doing the right thing.' These words from our Co-Founder and CEO, Grant McCargo, have guided us since 2004, when the Sugar Building in Denver became the foundation for our vision. From preserving historic structures to creating spaces that foster human connection, we’ve always believed that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. This philosophy is at the heart of everything we do—building for today and for generations to come. #UrbanVillages

Too often, our urban neighborhoods lack a sense of true community. At Urban Villages, we’re working to change that. As our President Jon Buerge puts it, 'We want to bring that village mentality, that way of living as a community into our urban environments.' For us, people, profit, and planet are equal metrics of success. If we can’t improve lives, protect the planet, and generate meaningful returns for our investors, then we’ve missed the mark. It’s a model for smart, responsible growth that inspires the question: How do we build not just for today, but for 50 years from now? We believe that taking a multigenerational approach to real estate creates vibrant spaces that stand the test of time—anchoring our communities and cities for centuries to come. #UrbanVillages ??: Sam Horine

We’re proud to see Populus featured in a recent article in Vogue, highlighting how thoughtful design and environmental innovation can transform the hospitality experience. Read the full story here: https://heyor.ca/cMaBxP #UrbanVillages

Populus continues to make waves, this time featured in AFAR for its groundbreaking approach to sustainability and design. We’re proud to see how this project is redefining what’s possible when thoughtful development and environmental stewardship come together. Read the full story here: https://heyor.ca/EpjnnK #PopulusDenver #UrbanVillages