Grain Elevator project hopes to create space for community

Slides, telescope and neighborhood hub in developer’s plans

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ornton received a proposal to transform the Eastlake Grain Elevator into a gathering space for residents, that includes food, drink and … slides.

Sam Rothman, the developer of the project, said his inspiration came partly from his time in Colorado and partly from his two daughters. After his rst daughter was born, his family moved to a cul-de-sac and noticed how everyone hangs out and enjoys each other.

“It made me think that there’s not really a business that allows that to happen,” he said.

His proposal would include a main bar area, an elevator, a patio area, outside picnic tables, re pits, cornhole, a repurposed caboose, an indoor/outdoor slide, a mini observatory, a mezzanine with 40 seats on the 2nd oor, event space, a game room, outdoor play spaces and 94 parking spaces.

Rothman plans to have food trucks serving at the site. He’s con dent he’ll be able to book them, citing that there are 600 food trucks in the Metro Denver area, and he will need four a day.

He hopes for the slide to go in and out of the building so it can be used year-round. He also plans to repurpose the aluminum bins on the side of the structure into a playground. e ground oor will host a bar with seating and the second oor will be 40 or more seats.

With the space close to the Grain Elevator slated to be developed into housing, he sees his project meshing with future plans and serving as a local hub.