Baseline promises to be like no other place on the Front Range. One part neighborhood, one part job center, one-part urban dining destination, one part Colorado outdoors. And in just a handful of years, it has made great progress toward that promise. One step at a time.
We recently caught up with Kyle Harris, Senior Vice President of Master Planned Communities at McWhinney, the developer of Baseline. In addition to an informal progress report, Kyle provided some historical perspective about how the whole idea for Baseline originated.
Where it all started
“When we first began speaking to the City of Broomfield about the plan for Baseline, they reminded us that this part of Broomfield was envisioned to be both a business center and a residential community.”
Kyle explained the City also wanted the land to be used efficiently, making room for more homes than the conventional suburb. “But this is about more than just bringing homes closer together. It’s about thoughtful design. Making a place where people can walk from home to the park or to their job or to a local restaurant. Creating the sense of energy and community that make great urban places some of the most desirable places.”
What’s here today
Baseline is planned as a series of distinctive villages and districts, each with its own character. The first to emerge was West Village. Here you’ll find a thriving blend of contemporary new homes — rowhomes, townhomes, single-family homes and apartments — anchored by two great neighborhood parks.
Baseline’s second village is called Parkside West. Named for its adjacency to the Parklands, Baseline’s future central green space, Parkside West will also include three neighborhood parks as well as gardenways that make walking and biking not only possible but downright pleasurable. New single-family homes and townhomes are already available for purchase. And a home in Parkside West will bring you an easy stroll or bike ride from the future Center Street district, destined to be the urban heart of Baseline.
Speaking of Center Street
Kyle had some intriguing updates about this defining centerpiece of the Baseline community. “A well-known grocer has signed a lease to become the anchor for a portion of the district. And we’re in discussions with a number of other retailers — food and beverage, soft goods, health and wellness, and home furnishings. We believe this will create a great alchemy and a fun destination for people in Baseline and the whole region.”
Kyle says that if all goes according to plan, work should begin on roads and other infrastructure in Center Street sometime in 2026 with buildings beginning to emerge in 2027.
Here comes The Buzz
In other exciting news, Kyle says work is moving forward on the plan for The Buzz, the fun community gathering spot coming to the Parklands.
Think very casual hangout place. Grab coffee and pastries in the morning, maybe sandwiches and burritos in the afternoon. Your favorite frothy beverage or a glass of wine. Relax indoors in the community living room or outside in the open-air pavilion. Sit by the fire pits. Let your dog meet his buddies at the dog park. Maybe there’s a corn hole tournament in the beer garden. Or a concert happening on The Big Green, which is the wide grassy lawn next to The Buzz that will open this fall. It’s going to be a very buzzy place.”
So there we have it. A grand vision for community that’s coming to life as we speak.
