Civic Area East Bookend Development Partnership Opportunity

For more information, watch this recording of the East Bookend Forum (previously recorded discussion held on October 29th, 2025) or email CivicAreaPhase2@bouldercolorado.gov.

The City of Boulder issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the Civic Area East Bookend’s city-owned properties to gather ideas and understand market interest in potential redevelopment of this significant Downtown Boulder block. The RFI for this project closed on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. MST. The RFI was an exploratory step to help the city learn from potential partners before issuing a future Request for Proposals (RFP).

Nine teams responded, based on guiding principles from the 2015 Civic Area Park Plan, representing a mix of development firms, design teams, cultural organizations, and local partners. The responses provide insight into how the site could support civic uses, cultural programming, and economic activity while remaining consistent with community priorities.

What the City Hoped to Learn

• How experienced and interested partners envision redevelopment of the Civic Area’s East Bookend and how it could support a vibrant civic destination.
• Ideas for an appropriate mix of uses, including arts and cultural programming, community space, commercial activity, residential uses, and/or hospitality uses.
• Potential public-private partnership models, including development roles, investment strategies, revenue generation, and approaches to financing.
• Perspectives on implementation strategies, including site development approaches, programming concepts, and phasing.
• Input on whether city-owned sites should be structured through sale, long-term lease, or other development agreements.
• Ideas for how to support and partner with the Boulder County Farmers Market, including opportunities for expanded market facilities, food-focused programming, and complementary uses that center the Civic Area as a regional food destination.
• Potential interest in other city-owned property in the West Bookend and related to the proposed “Nature Hub” near Broadway and Arapahoe.

Key Themes from Response

Mixed Civic, Cultural, and Commercial Uses

Most respondents suggested a mix of uses to create an active civic destination. Common ideas included cultural venues, food and hospitality spaces, event infrastructure, and flexible indoor and outdoor gathering areas. Respondents suggested that the site should function as a year-round civic and cultural hub.

Partnerships to Deliver Public Benefits

Many responses proposed some form of public-private partnership, where private investment delivers public amenities such as cultural venues, open space improvements, or community programming. Several teams suggested long-term ground leases or shared property structures that would allow the city to retain ownership while enabling private investment.

Opportunities for Cultural Programming

Many teams highlighted opportunities for the site to host arts, music, and festival programming that could attract both residents and visitors. Several responses discussed the potential for partnerships with cultural organizations to support events and performances while maintaining everyday public access to the Civic Area.

Integration within Downtown Boulder

Respondents highlighted the importance of maintaining strong connections to the Civic Area park space, Boulder Creek, and Pearl Street Mall. Many proposals focused on enhancing pedestrian activity, public spaces, and connections between existing civic destinations.

Historic Preservation

Several responses addressed the landmarked buildings on the site and suggested strategies for adaptive reuse, such as incorporating cultural, hospitality, or community uses within existing structures.

What Happens Next

City staff are reviewing the responses to determine next steps, which may include refining project goals, clarify partnership approaches, and evaluate how civic uses should be incorporated into redevelopment.

The city plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) later this year, which will invite interested teams to submit more detailed development concepts and partnership structures. The RFP process will allow the city to evaluate specific proposals and identify partners capable of delivering a project that aligns with community priorities. In keeping with the city's procurement policies, the complete RFI responses will not be shared publicly until the RFP process is concluded.

The feedback received through the RFI ensures future decisions about the Civic Area East Bookend site are informed by market insights and partner perspectives while continuing to prioritize the public character and long-term stewardship of this important place.

The City of Boulder is seeking an innovative partner (or team of partners) to redevelop city-owned properties through purchase or lease agreements on the “East Bookend” of its downtown Civic Area: home to the Dushanbe Tea House and Boulder County Farmers Market, adjacent to Boulder Creek and just blocks from Pearl Street Mall and the University of Colorado campus. There are also potential partnership opportunities in the Civic Area, as shown in the map below.

See larger image.

As part of a city-wide effort to rethink Boulder’s urban core, the Civic Area Plan envisions this block and its surroundings as central to a food and culture-focused hub of urban living connected to active recreation, lively commercial spaces and iconic views of the Flatirons. The city is in the final stages of planning for Phase 2 improvements to the Civic Area Park, to be implemented with $18 million in city funding. These investments will extend and enhance improvements completed in 2018 as Phase 1 implementation of the 2015 Civic Area Plan.

Redevelopment of city properties in the Civic Area will:

• Create a vibrant food-oriented destination in the heart of Boulder
• Integrate new uses and activities, from diverse cultural events to vibrant urban living
• Celebrate Boulder’s history and the properties’ iconic heritage buildings
• Connect downtown Boulder with University Hill and the CU Boulder campus
• Activate the area as year-round destination and community gathering space

The city is in the initial stages of exploring a potential “public-private partnership,” gauging interest and ideas from potential partners and various forms of partnership to achieve the community’s vision and goals.

• As a first step, the city is hosting a Civic Area Development Partnership Forum to provide an overview of the project’s potential partnership opportunities and engage in conversation with interested parties.
• It anticipates following the forum with release of a formal Request For Interest (RFI) in late 2025, leading to potential selection of a partner or team of partners in 2026.

The Civic Area’s East Bookend is envisioned as a vibrant mix of public, semi-public and private spaces and uses that embody the spirit of Boulder, nestled beneath the iconic Flatirons, including:

• Community Creation: supporting vibrant and active living community
• Local Business & Retail: a hub of entrepreneurialism, highlighting our natural food and local markets
• Art & Culture: showcasing our world-class creative and cultural community, now home to the Sundance Film Festival
• Health & Recreation: integrating with our renowned recreation opportunities and outdoor industries

To achieve its bold goals, the city is seeking an equally bold, innovative and experienced partner(s) to help refine the vision and build, operate and activate new buildings and spaces in the East Bookend (along with other potential opportunities on city properties in the immediate area, such as the West Bookend and Nature Hub) through various avenues of purchasing property and lease agreements.

See larger image.

The city believes it can best achieve its goals for the East Bookend and other properties through a public-private partnership.

City Partner Roles

• Utilize public sector tools to achieve project outcomes, potentially including the community’s vision and goals for the heart of Boulder’s downtown. This may include financial investment, tax increment financing, bonding and/or use of other authorities.
• Lead investment in the redesign, activation, and management of adjacent park and public spaces.
• Support ongoing success through the services of the Central Area General Improvement District and other city departments.

Private Partner Roles

• Create a diverse, integrated mix of private and semi-public buildings, like a year-round food market in collaboration with the Boulder County’s Farmers Market, housing and lodging opportunities, as well as commercial uses.
• Invest, through lease or purchase agreements, in key property assets to generate revenue.
• Activate and manage buildings and public spaces within the East Bookend in a manner consistent with community goals.