I recently reached out to Chris Elliott, principal at E5X and the developer behind the Lutheran Legacy Campus, to get an update on progress and next steps for the roughly 100-acre site where Lutheran Hospital once stood.
According to Elliott, the project is currently deep in the engineering phase, including demolition planning. The first structure scheduled to come down will be West Pines, with demolition plans expected to be finalized by the end of the month. As part of the early infrastructure work, the east side of the Wishbone intersection at Lutheran Parkway will be closed, while the west side will remain open to traffic.
When asked about the permitting process and potential obstacles, Elliott appeared unfazed. He described the process as “predictably slow, with no surprises,” adding that it has been consistent with their experience on similar projects elsewhere.
Interestingly, Elliott noted that questions about a groundbreaking timeline have been rare. “No one’s asked that of us yet,” he said. For now, the focus remains on preparation and sequencing, with confidence that the overall timeline will take shape as milestones are met.
Elliott did share new details regarding the development team. The current plan calls for four to five builders handling the lower-density residential areas, and three to four builders for the higher-density portions of the campus. A small number of those builders will specialize in custom homes. He also clarified that individual lots will not be sold separately; the size and structure of the project made that option impractical.
The concept plan for the Lutheran Legacy Campus has now been approved by the City of Wheat Ridge and will be shared with the approximately 1,000 homes that surround the site. Elliott emphasized that the final plan closely mirrors the original proposal, with almost no deviations and no major changes requested.
Environmental testing is also underway. Existing structures are being evaluated for harmful materials, which will determine what can be reused on site. Materials deemed safe will be crushed, recycled, and repurposed into building materials directly at the campus—an effort Elliott described as “as sustainable as possible.”
One option still under discussion is the potential relocation of Wheat Ridge City Hall into a remodeled portion of the former hospital building, in exchange for the land where the current city hall stands. Elliott joked that such a move would likely create yet another project for him and “delay his retirement.”
Despite the political challenges surrounding the site, Elliott said he remains enthusiastic. Seeing long-developed plans finally move forward has made the process rewarding.
The Neighborhood Gazette will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Readers are encouraged to submit questions or comments at WRgazette.com.
