Tiny lights sparkle on the hillside as you head west out of downtown Colorado Springs. The scene grows even cheerier as you turn into the neighborhood streets of Gold Hill Mesa. Laughing children sled or roll down the hill in the central park while yapping dogs try to keep up. Families build snowmen and wave at friends sipping hot chocolate on their front porches. Neighbors pass by on the sidewalks, heading to and from their daily walks at the nearby Bear Creek Dog Park. Even in the winter months, community lies at the heart of Colorado Springs’ Westside master-planned neighborhood.
“I think our residents really love and appreciate the connectivity and sense of community that Gold Hill Mesa brings,” says Stephanie Edwards, Executive Vice President of Gold Hill Mesa. “And it has a lot to do with the design and layout of Gold Hill Mesa. It’s designed for community and connecting.”
The new urbanist, Smart Growth neighborhood has community interwoven into every aspect of its design. The walkable development puts an emphasis on foot traffic over vehicular traffic. Garages sit on rear-facing alleys, while sidewalks stretch past wide front porches, drawing residents into front yard meeting spaces and broad surrounding greenways. Common mailboxes give neighbors another chance to connect. And at the central Community Center, residents treat themselves to laser skin rejuvenation and other beauty treatments at the Genesis MedSpa, or work out in the Fitness Center to stay in peak condition for the ski and snowboard season.
“The Community Center is the heartbeat of the community,” Edwards says. “It’s just full of activities like the Music on the Mesa concert series and the Art on the Mesa exhibit, and we love to gather there throughout the winter months. Every year with Genesis MedSpa we have the festive Holidaze party. We have live music. Sometimes we have carolers. This year there was a hot chocolate bar and a cookie and cupcake buffet.”
There’s an annual holiday party for the entire neighborhood, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced a move to the nearby Switchbacks FC Weidner Field in order to accommodate Gold Hill Mesa’s 614 households. Musicians from the Colorado Springs Conservatory played. And with only a five-minute drive, the new stadium provided not only a spacious place to gather safely, but also a tangible reminder of Gold Hill Mesa’s close proximity to downtown.
Gold Hill Mesa is a convenient intersection between downtown, Old Colorado City, and some of the city’s best trails and open spaces. Residents regularly head out into Bear Creek Park, Section 16, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Stratton Open Space and Cheyenne Cañon, all of which are accessible by foot or bike. Nearby Highway 24 also provides quick access to Ute Pass and the gateway to Pikes Peak and mountain ski resorts beyond.
“We have residents of all ages and stages in life, but one of the common denominators is a very active lifestyle,” Edwards says.
Amenities in the maintained neighborhood, such as common space landscaping and snow removal, free up time for residents to enjoy activities they love. “It really gives our residents more time to enjoy family and friends and to enjoy the beautiful area where we live. That burden is taken off the shoulders of residents, and the included maintenance keeps the community looking great. It gives people more time to do the things they value. Of course, if they value shoveling snow, they can still go out there and do it.”
A new Community Center is planned for Gold Hill Mesa’s next phase of development, which is scheduled to begin in spring 2022. Located near the intersection of 21st Street and Highway 24, the northward expansion will include restaurants, retail sites, and new homes featuring contemporary styles by David Weekley Homes.
“The highlight for me is going to be an amphitheater and outdoor music park,” Edwards says. “We’re going to improve the area around the historic chimney and honor the history of the property, while also creating an outdoor music park where we can expand our annual Music on the Mesa concerts. Combined with the new restaurant sites and homes, the amphitheater will help to make the new phase experiential and arts and entertainment focused.”
As it expands, Gold Hill Mesa will continue to prioritize community, drawing residents together and welcoming the broader city into connection with a healthy, active, sustainable way of life for all.
Learn more about new homes and events at Gold Hill Mesa at goldhillmesa.com.
