Listening and Looking: The Past and Future at 25th and Gray

The site at 25th Avenue and Gray that will become the Edgewater Town Center

Edgewater community members are experiencing a range of emotions as the structure that holds many memories is being demolished at 25th Avenue and Gray Street. The buildings at the northeast corner once held the Edgewater fire department, police department, city hall and library. Recently, the building was the home of the Edgewater Rec Room and the Edgewater Library before the Edgewater Civic Center was built.

City Street Investors purchased the property from the City of Edgewater in 2018 with plans to redevelop the property as the Edgewater Town Center. They held community meetings with residents to determine the best use for the property. This week the plans took a big step as demolition started on the main buildings at the site. The latest update is that the building being demolished in the picture above will become an outdoor beer garden and dining space. The old firehouse in the back, which will remain, will serve tacos and include a bar. The old library, which will remain, will house a smoothie business. Expected open will be in the spring of 2022.

Though members of the community are excited as they look to the future of the space, there are great memories from these buildings. The Edgewater Fire Department holds an important place in Edgewater’s history and the main building on the corner was where that story began. Much of Edgewater’s city business took place in the buildings until the City Hall was moved to 24th and Sheridan in 1995. The Edgewater Library to the east holds many memories for community members as well. It was a small library space, but it was intimate and one felt known and seen as they walked inside the glass doors and looked through the bookshelves. The corner at 25th and Gray was the site of many community events from the Edgewater Days parades to the holiday lighting events.

For us at Edgewater Collective, the Edgewater Rec Room was where we first connected with the community through the Greater Edgewater Community Connection collaborative group back in 2012. We listened to the needs and opportunities in our schools and community. We also held our first event, the Edgewater Art Walk in the Rec Room and along 25th Avenue in 2013.

As our motto states, this is an opportunity for us as a community to “listen to the past and look to the future.”

What are your memories of the spaces at 25th Avenue and Gray Street? What excites you about the redevelopment of the corner?

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.