Lutheran Legacy Campus
New Developer Announced for Lutheran Legacy Campus
On Tuesday, May 20, community leaders and project partners gathered to announce the next major milestone in the future of the Lutheran Legacy Campus: a new developer has officially been selected.
Intermountain Health shared that E5X Management Inc., a Colorado-based firm with more than 30 years of experience in community-centered development, is now under contract to purchase and redevelop the 100-acre site. The anticipated closing date is September 30, 2025.
At the event, E5X Principal Chris Elliott emphasized the firm’s commitment to honoring the site’s history while building a walkable, inclusive neighborhood that reflects the community’s vision. Plans include a variety of housing types, a small retail area, trails and open space, and preservation of key historic structures like the Blue House and chapel.
What’s next? The project will move into a planning and design phase, with continued collaboration between the developer, the city, and community members. Construction will occur gradually over time, with updates shared regularly on this page.
Wheat Ridge City Council Approves Lutheran Legacy Campus Rezoning
On April 28, the Wheat Ridge City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the former Lutheran Medical Center property, taking a major step toward implementing a community-driven vision for the 100-acre site. The new zoning will ensure that future development delivers more parks and open space, walkable streets, and diverse housing options—all while preserving cherished assets and protecting the character of nearby neighborhoods.
One of the most significant changes: the developer will be required to dedicate 20% of the property to public open space, double the typical requirement for mixed-use projects. This will create new parks and a public trail through the campus and into the city’s regional trail network, making it easier for residents to walk, bike, and enjoy nature.
The custom zoning, known as MU-LLC (Mixed Use–Lutheran Legacy Campus), also guides where and how new housing can be built. Lower-density homes will be placed along the site’s perimeter to blend with adjacent neighborhoods, while taller buildings—capped at five stories—will be concentrated in the campus core. This thoughtful mix of apartments, townhomes, duplexes and single-unit homes supports walkability and maximizes open space while meeting housing needs for all ages and stages of life.
The zoning directly reflects the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, completed in 2021 and developed through extensive public engagement. Over 1,200 residents participated in surveys, meetings, and workshops to shape the plan’s goals and priorities. In 2024, Wheat Ridge voters reaffirmed this vision by passing a ballot measure—approved by 67%—that limited building heights in the center of the campus to five stories and lowers height allowances on the perimeter of the site to 30 feet.
In addition to parks and housing, the new zoning preserves cherished community assets like the Blue House and the chapel, which will be protected and incorporated into future development.
All development proposals will also be subject to traffic and parking studies, and the developer will be required to pay for infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, streets, drainage, and utilities. Bike and pedestrian connections will be prioritized to ensure safe, accessible routes throughout the campus.
Watch the April 28 rezoning hearing.
Explore the new zoning regulations.
Where are we now?
Lutheran Hospital moved to Clear Creek Crossing on August 3, 2024. Intermountain Health is selling the now vacant, 100-acre campus in the heart of Wheat Ridge, creating a once in a generation opportunity to shape this area to meet our community needs.
What's happened so far?
- Master Plan: The City of Wheat Ridge adopted the community-created Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan in 2021.
- Charter Change: Wheat Ridge voters voted 67% in favor in November 2024 to amend the city charter to enable the implementation of the Master Plan.
- Creating Zoning Rules: Wheat Ridge City Council voted to approve the new mixed use zoning regulations for the Lutheran Legacy Campus in early 2025.
- Zone Change: Wheat Ridge City Council voted to rezone the property to the new zone district.
- Metro District: Intermountain Health initiated the creation of a metro district to finance, build, and maintain public infrastructure at the campus.
What's next?
With the zoning regulations aligned to the community’s vision and the zoning applied to the property, the next step is for a new property owner to work through development approvals. These include a concept plan, site plans, and subdivision plats. These also include a variety of additional studies like a traffic study, drainage study, tree study, and infrastructure and utility plans. Each of these documents is reviewed by staff for compliance with the underlying zoning and other city regulations. This usually takes at least a year and often longer because each document is often submitted, reviewed, and revised several times. A neighborhood meeting is required prior to submittal of a concept plan, and project information will continue to be available on What’s Up Wheat Ridge.