Downtown Westminster New Construction Buyer's Guide (2026)
What is Downtown Westminster, and can you buy new construction there in 2026?
Downtown Westminster — locals call it "Downtown Westy" — is the 105-acre redevelopment of the former Westminster Mall into one of Colorado's largest walkable, mixed-use districts, sitting right on U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder. As of 2026 it already holds more than 1,000 apartments, 34 for-sale townhomes, a hotel, and over 120,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, with a new central park finishing this spring, more townhomes under construction, and condominiums breaking ground in mid-July. New construction townhomes and condos here generally start in the high $500,000s and climb past $1 million — the top of a Westminster market where the citywide median sits in the mid-$500,000s.
By Nick Ahrens | June 21, 2026
For two decades the Westminster Mall sat at the center of the city off U.S. 36. Then it sat empty. What's replacing it is the most ambitious thing happening in North Denver real estate right now: a brand-new downtown built from the ground up on 105 acres, halfway between Denver and Boulder.
If you're searching "Downtown Westminster new homes" or "Downtown Westy townhomes," you're not browsing — you're trying to figure out whether you can actually live in the walkable district everyone keeps talking about, and what it costs to buy in. Here's the honest 2026 picture.
What's built — and what's coming next
"Downtown Westminster" isn't a marketing name for a single subdivision. It's a real, phased district the city has been assembling for years, and it's one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in Colorado.
What's already delivered:
More than 1,000 apartment units
34 for-sale townhomes, including Westminster Row and the Townhomes on Harlan
The 125-room Origin Hotel
Over 120,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space
The amenities are the draw, and they're walkable: the Alamo Drafthouse, Sweet Bloom Coffee (named the best coffee shop in Colorado by Food & Wine), Tap & Burger, an H Mart, and a Costco, most of it steps from the homes. That kind of walk-everywhere density is rare in the north metro.
What's under construction in 2026:
A central park — Blossom Commons, a $26 million investment — finishing this spring
A new round of for-sale townhomes
Condominiums breaking ground in mid-July
So inventory is thin today. At any given moment there may be only a handful of new-construction homes actively for sale in the district. But the pipeline is real, and the next 12 to 24 months will bring meaningful new product to market — which means buyers who understand the process now will be ready when the next phase releases.
What new construction costs in Downtown Westy
Reset your expectations against the citywide numbers first.
Westminster as a whole is a mid-$500,000s market in 2026. The median home value sits around $535,000 to $570,000 depending on the source, townhomes citywide run closer to the low $400,000s, and the overall market has tilted toward buyers — roughly a third of all listings have taken a price cut, sale-to-list ratios are sitting near 97 to 98%, and homes are averaging 35 to 44 days on market with about 2.5 months of supply.
New construction in Downtown Westminster sits at the top of that range, not the middle. These are walkable, urban-format townhomes and condos with premium finishes, so the new-build product generally starts in the high $500,000s for smaller condos and climbs through the $700,000s and $800,000s and past $1 million for larger townhomes. One active builder, Koelbel Communities, has new townhomes starting around $774,900 for roughly 1,850 to 3,000 square feet. A representative new townhome on Eaton Street in the district shows the format: three levels, mountain or city views, an attached garage, and the retail core a short walk away.
Translation: you're buying the location and the lifestyle, and you'll pay a premium over a comparable resale home a few miles away. For a lot of relocating buyers and downsizers, that trade is exactly the point. Just go in with the right number in your head. If you're weighing this against an older home with more square footage and a yard, that's the same core decision I walk buyers through on new construction versus resale — the math is different for everyone.
The new-construction trap most buyers walk into
This is the part that costs people real money, and it's why this is a buyer's guide and not a brochure.
When you walk into a builder's sales office in Downtown Westminster — or any new-construction community in Colorado — the friendly person at the desk represents the builder. Not you. They're contractually obligated to protect the builder's interests, and the purchase contract you'll sign is 60 to 80 pages of builder-drafted language designed to do exactly that.
Three things every Downtown Westy buyer needs to know:
Bring your own agent on your very first visit. The cost of your representation is already baked into the home's price — builders use single-pricing, so you pay the same whether you bring an agent or not. But if you tour and register without an agent and try to add one later, the builder can refuse to compensate them, and you'll have given up your representation for nothing.
The base price is not the price. Lot premiums, design-center upgrades, and structural options stack up fast on urban townhomes and condos. The number on the sign is the floor, not the ceiling.
Concessions are negotiable — if you know what to ask for. Colorado builders are routinely writing $15,000 to $60,000 in concessions into contracts right now, especially with the market favoring buyers. That doesn't happen automatically. It happens when someone on your side knows which addenda are in play.
None of this makes new construction a bad deal. It means the deal is only as good as the representation behind it.
Metro district taxes and HOA dues — read this before you fall in love
New construction in Colorado almost always comes with a metro district, and Downtown Westminster is no exception.
A metro district is a public entity developers use to finance infrastructure — streets, utilities, parks, the central plaza — and you repay it through your property tax bill, not a separate invoice. The catch for new-build buyers: your first year or two of tax bills may not reflect the fully built-out mill levy. The number can climb as the district matures, and the ceiling is spelled out in the district's service plan. This is the single most common surprise I see new-construction buyers hit. The mechanics are identical to what I broke down for Broomfield metro districts.
On top of that, you'll usually have an HOA for the building or townhome community, with its own monthly dues. Metro district and HOA are not the same thing, and you can have both — so add both into your monthly math before you fall for a floor plan.
There's a Westminster-specific wrinkle, too. The city straddles two counties — Adams County on the east side, Jefferson County on the west — and your effective property tax rate depends on which side your address falls. The Jefferson County portion tends to run a little lower (effective rates around 0.54%) than the Adams County portion (around 0.61%), but metro-district levies can swamp that gap. The only way to know your real annual carrying cost is to pull the actual mill levy for the specific address.
Is now the time to buy in Downtown Westminster?
The 2026 market is giving buyers more room than they've had in years. Price cuts are common, supply is healthier, and builders are motivated. That's leverage — if you use it.
The risk is treating a new-construction purchase like a resale purchase. Different contract, different cost structure, different negotiation. If you want to buy in Downtown Westy, the move is to get pre-approved, line up your own representation before you ever walk a model, and run the full carrying cost — price, upgrades, metro district, and HOA — before you write anything.
The full Colorado buying process from pre-approval to closing covers the broader path, and if you're still deciding between Westminster and the suburbs just west and north, my honest Broomfield vs. Arvada vs. Lakewood comparison is a useful side-by-side on price, taxes, and commute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Downtown Westminster (Downtown Westy)?
It's the 105-acre redevelopment of the former Westminster Mall into a walkable, mixed-use district along U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder. It already includes apartments, for-sale townhomes, a hotel, shops, and restaurants, with a central park, more townhomes, and condominiums being added in 2026.
How much do new homes in Downtown Westminster cost in 2026?
New construction townhomes and condos generally start in the high $500,000s and run past $1 million for larger units. Active builder pricing in the district starts around $774,900 for townhomes of roughly 1,850 to 3,000 square feet, which sits above Westminster's citywide median in the mid-$500,000s.
Do I need my own agent to buy new construction in Westminster?
Yes, and you should bring one on your first visit. The builder's sales rep represents the builder, your representation is already priced into the home, and adding an agent after you register can mean the builder won't compensate them, leaving you unrepresented through a 60-to-80-page builder contract.
Will I pay metro district taxes in Downtown Westminster?
Almost certainly. New construction in Colorado is typically inside a metro district that repays infrastructure through your property taxes, and the mill levy can rise for the first year or two until the district is built out. You may also owe separate HOA dues, so confirm both before you buy.
Is Westminster in Adams County or Jefferson County?
Both. Westminster straddles the two, with Adams County on the east and Jefferson County on the west, and your property tax rate depends on which side your address sits. Always verify the exact mill levy by address rather than assuming a citywide rate.
Your next step
Downtown Westminster is the rare chance to buy brand-new in a walkable district that didn't exist a few years ago — but new construction rewards buyers who come in informed and represented. Get your financing and your agent in place before you tour, and run the real carrying cost, not just the sticker price.
If you want to walk Downtown Westy with someone who'll represent you and not the builder — or just pressure-test the numbers on a townhome or condo there — call or text me at 949-230-3625, or email NickAhrensRealEstate@gmail.com. I'll help you figure out what you'd actually pay and whether it's the right move.
About Nick Ahrens
Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker with The Apollo Group at eXp Realty, specializing in the Anthem and Baseline communities of Broomfield (80023). With 15+ years in the business and 350+ career closings, he helps North Denver sellers and relocating buyers navigate pricing, timing, and the path to closing. Connect with Nick at youranthemhome.com.
