Millennial renters want to live in urban neighborhoods with personality, ideally ones that are walkable, bikeable, and have shopping, service and entertainment amenities within a few blocks. Their desire for apartments in hip and up-and-coming city sectors is influencing multifamily development trends around the nation. An intensely local focus can be part of a great business plan as well as a way to meet consumer demand, and such an approach is serving Denver-based RedPeak Properties exceptionally well as the company grows in the city’s most popular neighborhoods. Not only is RedPeak solely focused on offering exceptional apartment experiences in the Denver area, but they are targeting the red-hot market for walkable urban neighborhoods, which are all the rage with young Colorado apartment renters. Apartment occupancy in Denver is at an 11-year high, and the city is a national leader in rent growth. Yardi client RedPeak celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2012, and the company’s 15 multifamily properties will be joined by two new developments built from the ground up, as well as a renovation of a historic Denver hotel, in the next 12-24 months. To help meet the Denver demand for urban housing with fun things to do nearby, currently under construction in uptown Denver is RedPeak’s One City Block project (rendering, left), a mixed-use community with 302 apartment units that will encompass an entire city block. Sidewalk level retail encompasses 9,800 square feet, with tenants yet to be announced, but the commercial leases are in high demand. Residents will enjoy views of the city and the Rocky Mountains from one of four uniquely themed rooftop decks, and the project is being constructed according to Silver LEED certification standards. A second mixed-use project with 150 apartments, Highland Square, is planned for the popular...