Denver’s Rocky Mountain Airport Prepares for Business Park

Part of one of Greater Denver’s regional airports is set to transform into a 100-acre business park.

On Monday, construction began on a $7 million taxiway, dubbed Taxiway K, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, the Denver Business Journal reported. The project includes 1,800 feet of taxiway that would eventually connect to hangars built by private developers hosting various businesses, airport director Erick Dahl told the Business Journal.

The airport isn’t necessarily looking for more aircraft to populate the hangars. Instead, it’s looking for other tenants, such as those that provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft. Currently, RMMA hosts hangars for aircraft like government planes, private and corporate jets as well as four flight schools.

Construction on the new taxiway is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Once that’s done, RMMA will put out a call for proposals for a mix of tenants. The regional airport already has a years-long waitlist for people who would like to use the T-hangars on site for small aircraft.

The goal is to “create jobs in the airport, things that create revenue for the airport and economic vitality for the region,” Dahl told the Business Journal. Most of the airport’s revenue comes from ground leases and fuel sales.

Once new tenants begin to move into the business park, the taxiway has the potential to be built out to 3,000 feet with the help of private investment. At full buildout, the expansion enabled by the new taxiway could increase revenue by $1.5 million to $2 million, though it could be three decades away from completion.

The airport recently sold about 500 acres south of the planned business park for between $4 and $10 per square foot, according to the Business Journal. That land can’t be used for aeronautical purposes or for hangars.

As the business park comes to life, the airport will emphasize infill and revitalization rather than expansion, Dahl said. The airport expects less flight traffic this year as it “focus[es] on different things that generate jobs and economic vitality, rather than sheer traffic,” Dahl said. — Chris Malone Méndez