Ryan Cos. Proposes Denver Warehouse Redevelopment
A new proposal aims to replace an aging manufacturing site with four modern industrial warehouses.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Commercial
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Ryan Cos. has proposed a major redevelopment project on a fifty-acre industrial site located at South Platte River Drive and West Dartmouth Avenue in Denver. The plan involves demolishing a 65-year-old brick and concrete manufacturing plant to construct four new warehouses.
Why it matters
The proposal represents a significant shift in land use for the property, moving away from long-standing manufacturing operations toward modern industrial storage capabilities. This project highlights the continued evolution of Denver's industrial real estate market as older facilities are repurposed to meet contemporary logistics needs.
The development plan calls for building four warehouses, each ranging between 100,000 and 200,000 square feet. The site also includes a 2.5-acre outdoor storage yard within the fifty-acre property boundaries.
The players
Ryan Cos.
This real estate development firm is headquartered in Minneapolis and entered the Denver market in 2022.
General Shale
This company is a manufacturer of building materials headquartered in Tennessee that has owned the Denver site since 2006.
Robinson Brick Co.
This company previously owned the industrial manufacturing plant before selling the property to General Shale.
The details
General Shale, which acquired the property from Robinson Brick Co. in 2006, currently holds the site. The existing facility was constructed in 1961 and previously supplied bricks for the construction of Coors Field in the 1990s.
Timeline
The industrial plant was originally constructed in 1961.
The plant produced bricks used for Coors Field during the 1990s.
General Shale acquired the industrial property in 2006.
Ryan Cos. expanded its operations into the Denver market in 2022.
Ryan Cos. proposed the redevelopment project in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a broader societal shift toward modernizing aging industrial infrastructure to support supply chain demands in growing urban centers. By repurposing land used for legacy manufacturing, the proposal mirrors larger trends of urban renewal occurring in major metropolitan areas.
The transition of this fifty-acre parcel could change traffic patterns and industrial activity levels in the immediate vicinity of West Dartmouth Avenue. Local residents should monitor future planning meetings for details on potential construction timelines and community infrastructure updates.
The takeaway
The proposed redevelopment highlights the practical challenges of transitioning historic industrial land to modern logistical use. Stakeholders in the area may see increased construction activity if the proposal to replace the existing plant moves forward.
Further reading
For more on the changing landscape of local industrial property, explore Denver Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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