Narrate Cos. Snags 4-Acre Parcel Next to Southmoor Park Synagogue
Denver, CO – May 2025 Narrate Cos., headed by local developer Adam Fenton, has quietly added another infill site to its growing Denver portfolio—this time in the Happy Canyon area of Southmoor Park, immediately adjacent to the Hebrew Educational Alliance (HEA) synagogue at 3600 S. Ivanhoe St.
A Strategic $4 Million Purchase
Location: 4 acres immediately east of the Hebrew Educational Alliance synagogue
Seller: Conservative Jewish congregation that acquired the land from Denver Public Schools in 1995 for $1.1 million
Partners: Adam Fenton’s Narrate Cos. teamed up with Jeff Palmquist of Palmquist Investments
Financing: $2.5 million seller-financed loan from the synagogue
Fenton told BusinessDen that he and Palmquist have been negotiating for “two to three years” to secure the parcel, and believe they paid “a very fair price” for a site so well positioned between a landmark synagogue and Thomas Jefferson High School.
What’s Planned?
Although Narrate has made its name developing apartments—most recently its Frameline project near Colorado Boulevard in Hale—this site’s existing single-family zoning opens up a broader playbook:
Single-Family Homes: Roughly 20–25 lots, based on typical lot sizes in Southmoor Park
Townhomes or Duplexes: Palmquist’s past developments suggest a possible multi-unit configuration
Future Rezoning?: No formal rezoning applications have been filed yet; Narrate remains in the “options‐evaluation” phase
Access is currently from the east side, but Fenton indicates an easement to Ivanhoe Street could unlock an additional entrance on the west, enhancing traffic flow for whatever product ultimately gets built.
Neighborhood Context
Surrounding Uses: Along with the HEA synagogue and Thomas Jefferson High School, the site abuts existing single family residential, duplexes and small multi-unit buildings.
Market Dynamics: The Happy Canyon area of Southmoor Park combines mature landscaping, strong school districts and convenient access to DTC and downtown. Infill single-family product here can command a premium—especially for families wanting neighborhood continuity.
Narrate’s Wider Footprint
Denver Projects:
Frameline apartments in Hale (wrapping up)
1000 S. Logan St. rezoning secured in West Wash Park for a future apartment community
Colorado Springs: Projects under way, signaling the firm’s regional growth trajectory
Why This Matters
Institutional Sellers Financing Locals: HEA’s seller financing underscores a growing trend where local nonprofits partner with developers to unlock value without traditional lenders.
Infill Opportunity: As Denver’s supply of large single-family parcels dwindles, well-positioned urban lots like this command developer attention.
Flexibility in Zoning: Holding ground with single-family zoning gives Narrate optionality—whether to build for-sale homes or push for higher-density townhomes.
Bottom Line: Narrate Cos.’s $4 million land play in the Happy Canyon area of Southmoor Park shows the firm isn’t just chasing apartments downtown—it’s quietly building an infill land bank that can pivot between for-sale and for-rent product as market demands shift. Keep an eye on S. Ivanhoe St.—official plans may be weeks or months away, but the stakes for family-oriented development here are already high
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