Boulder developers getting set to build dormitory for Naropa University

BOULDER — A partnership between Boulder developers Allison Management and Element Properties will begin construction later this year on a 28-room dormitory for Naropa University, with hopes to have it ready by the fall of 2017.

The three-story building will be built on a vacant one-third-of-an-acre parcel at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. where a Dairy Queen once stood. Naropa will lease the facility from Allison and Element. Element and Allison bought the property last summer for $725,000.

The developers received approval for the $4 million project from city planning staff in late April, with planning board passing recently on an option to call the project up for a public hearing.

The 28 rooms are for single occupancy, and the facility will include a ground-floor common area with kitchen, dining, laundry, study and lounge space.

Developers will submit for building permits in the next 30 days.

“Boulder’s tight housing market seriously limits the availability of affordable and well located student housing,” Naropa president Charles Lief said in a press release. “I’m pleased we have been able to work in partnership with the developers to create a thoughtfully designed, student-centered residence hall.”

The project strikes a personal note for Element principal Chris Jacobs, who holds a master’s degree in transpersonal psychology from Naropa.

“We worked with city staff to craft a modern building that will add some innovative design to the Arapahoe corridor and serve the Naropa community. It was especially fun given my history as a student at Naropa,” Jacobs said.

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