Last March, hundreds of Urban Land Institute (ULI) members gathered in a frigid airplane hangar in Aurora, Colorado for a Redland-sponsored event on “The Death and Life of American Retail”.  The focus of the discussion was the creative challenges and trends that retail development faces in a market that seems to be ever-shifting towards the convenience of online shopping.  The setting was not just an abandoned hangar, but the proposed location of the Stanley Marketplace, a bold project hoping to redefine the brick & mortar retail experience.  Fast-forward 10 months and Redland associates attended another ULI event at the now-open Stanley Marketplace.

At Redland, associates are encouraged to pursue continuing education through involvement in professional organizations.  One of those groups is the Urban Land Institute, which consists of professionals spanning the entire spectrum of real estate development and land use disciplines.  January’s meeting served as a display of the transformation that the Stanley Marketplace underwent over the past year.

The Stanley Marketplace, known locally as “The Stanley”, proves that retail is not about to disappear from urban real estate.  People will always look for places to congregate, and The Stanley facilitates this wonderfully with an eclectic and unique, food-centric experience.  At the tour, the Redland team got a firsthand look at the cutting edge of retail development.  We had a great time and will certainly be back to visit the Stanley.