History
For 75 years, Marycrest - the 25-acre campus of the Sisters of St. Francis - has been an oasis of peace and a site of innumerable works of goodness amidst the hustle and bustle of northwest Denver. The first Sisters came to Denver in 1917, and in 1938 they purchased the former Willowcrest Estate and converted the existing mansion for use as a convent. In 1953, the Sisters began construction of the Motherhouse (Convent), which was built in 2 sections: the first served as a dormitory for novices, two classrooms and the library. The second section of the Motherhouse was completed in 1958, increasing the capacity to 50 residential cells. At its peak, the Motherhouse housed about 40 Sisters and provided administrative offices which supported a province of 155 Sisters.
In the fall of 1958, Marycrest High School for Girls was opened with thirty-seven freshman students and continued at this location until 1986. Consistent with the Sisters’ mission, the convent property has also been home to child and adult daycare, transitional housing for women in need, assisted living facilities, and residences and offices for the Sisters. In 2006, after considerable thought and discussion, the Sisters of St. Francis decided to sell their campus in northwest Denver because of the declining number of residential members and the overwhelming responsibility and cost for oversight of the multiple buildings on the property. The Aria Denver redevelopment marks a new chapter in the site’s history, embracing the legacy of community improvement and environmental stewardship supported by the Sisters of St. Francis. Drawing on its rich past, Aria Denver envisions a future of connectivity by creating inspiring, affordable and diverse places that use resources efficiently and creatively.
Development Team and Partners
Development Team
Aria Denver is being co-developed by Urban Ventures, LLC and Perry-Rose, LLC, real estate development companies that are dedicated to creating healthy, sustainable communities. Other members of the Aria Denver development team include Weins Development Company, Moonstar Investments, and Habitat for Humanity.
Community Partners
Cultivate Health
Aria Denver is part of the Cultivate Health initiative, a partnership among Regis University, Aria Denver, and the surrounding neighborhoods. The goal of Cultivate Health is to support the health and wellness of residents in the neighborhood. The project creates infrastructure and programming that promote an active lifestyle, increase access to healthy food and offer integrated health services.
frontline farming
Frontline Farming, a food and farmers advocacy group focusing on food growing, education, sovereignty and justice operates the Sister Gardens at Aria. A one-acre haven for growing community and food, Sister Gardens grows and distributes over 8,000 pounds of produce each year. Both an education and production farm, Sister Gardens places as much emphasis on providing opportunities to learn about food as they do growing it. Food is distributed through several outlets, which include the Healing Food Program, Pay What You Can Farmstands, Restaurant Sales, and a CSA at Call to Arms Brewery. Through these programs, Frontline Farming aims to create greater equity across our food systems and create greater leadership and access for women and people of color. Sister Gardens is named in honor of the Sisters of St. Francis who have lovingly stewarded the site since 1938.