Englewood moves upwards, seeks to emerge out of Denver’s shadow

Veteran developer Peter Kudla knew downtown Englewood well as a regular at the bingo nights that the Elks Lodge No. 2122 hosted. But for years the city remained a place he passed through but didn’t focus on. His investments centered on burgeoning communities elsewhere in the south metro area, places that weren’t landlocked, built out, and for a lack of a better word — tired.

As he searched for new opportunities, Kudla had an Englewood epiphany. Underused parking lots, strip malls and commercial sites were everywhere, offering a lower-cost way to acquire land. Downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center, major employment hubs, could be reached in about 20 minutes. The city had a unique character that would appeal to younger generations. And it was due for a reinvention, something…