Former Hanson’s Site Set for Mixed-Use Redevelopment at South Pearl Gateway

DENVER, CO – A prominent corner at the entrance to South Pearl Street could soon see new life. Concept plans have been submitted to the City of Denver for the redevelopment of 1301 S Pearl Street, a 0.29-acre site located at the intersection of Pearl Street and Louisiana Avenue in Platt Park. The proposal calls for a three-story mixed-use building that would replace the now demolished structure formerly occupied by Hanson’s Grill & Tavern.

The site has remained largely inactive since the restaurant closed in 2019. It was later purchased for $2.9 million by local real estate investor Doug McKinnon, who moved forward with demolishing the existing building as part of a broader vision to reposition the property.

The new proposal outlines a mix of uses within a single building, including 12 residential units, ground-floor retail and restaurant space, and office uses on the upper levels. Parking would be provided on-site and accessed from the alley, consistent with the surrounding neighborhood pattern.

At the ground level, the layout is designed to prioritize activity along the street. Plans show a restaurant space anchoring the corner of Pearl and Louisiana, with additional retail frontage extending along Pearl Street. Residential units are positioned along Louisiana Avenue, creating a transition between the more active commercial corridor and the surrounding neighborhood.

While the building itself aligns with existing Main Street zoning, allowing up to three stories and a maximum height of 45 feet, much of the proposal’s focus is on the surrounding public realm.

The concept includes expanded sidewalks, additional landscaping, and designated outdoor seating areas intended to create a more active and pedestrian-oriented environment. These improvements are aimed at reinforcing the site’s role as a gateway into the South Pearl district, one of Denver’s most established neighborhood retail corridors.

That positioning has made the property highly sought after. According to previous reporting, more than a dozen groups expressed interest in acquiring the site, with concepts ranging from hospitality to office redevelopment before the current plan emerged.

The redevelopment also follows an earlier attempt by a previous owner to convert the existing building into office space, a plan that was ultimately never realized.

Now, with the site cleared and a new concept under review, the project represents a shift toward higher-intensity mixed-use development along South Pearl Street, where rising land values and continued demand are driving reinvestment.

The project is currently in the concept review phase with the City of Denver and may continue to evolve as it moves through the planning process.

Development Team

Developer / Owner: MMC FOUR LLC (McKinnon & Associates)

Architecture: OZ Architecture

Civil Engineering: Raptor Civil Engineering

Landscape Architecture: Superbloom

All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.

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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.