That Dirt Lot on Monaco and Hampden? Here's What's Actually Going On — and What It Means If You Live Nearby

A lot of people in Southmoor Park, the Denver Tech Center area, and Centennial have been asking the same question: what on earth is happening to that big lot at Monaco and Hampden where the old Regal Continental theater used to be? Here's what we know. The Regal Continental closed in April 2023 when its parent company, Cineworld, went bankrupt and shut down 39 theaters across the country. The building sat empty for a couple of years, and then last fall — in late summer/fall 2025 — the old 77,000-square-foot theater was demolished. So if you've driven by and seen a dirt lot with a fence around it, that's why. What's coming next? Plans have been filed with the City of Denver for a 326-unit mixed-use apartment complex right there at 3635 S. Monaco Street Parkway. That's on a nearly 7-acre site, sitting right next to the Southmoor Station light rail stop — about a 3-minute walk to the south. The developer involved is Century Living, the multifamily arm of Century Communities, which is based right here in Greenwood Village. Now, here's why I think this matters specifically for the folks I work with most — people who are thinking about their next chapter, whether that means staying in this area or making a move. This neighborhood — Monaco, Hampden, Southmoor, the I-25 corridor — is changing. New density means more people, more foot traffic, and more demand for the established single-family homes that already surround this site. Long-time homeowners in Southmoor Park and the surrounding streets have been sitting on real equity. A project like this tends to reinforce that value by keeping the neighborhood relevant and connected. But here's the other side of it. If you or a family member has been thinking about whether to stay in a larger home or make a move to something more manageable — this kind of development is exactly what changes the equation. More rental options and walkability to light rail can make a smaller, lower-maintenance home in this corridor more attractive. And that means more buyers looking at the inventory you'd be selling. I spent years in healthcare before coming back to real estate, and one thing I learned is that the timing of a big life decision rarely lines up perfectly with the market. But when your neighborhood is actively being invested in — when cranes show up and plans get filed — that's usually a good sign that the area still has real momentum behind it. This isn't financial advice, and no one can promise what happens to home values from any one development. But I can tell you this: a nearly 7-acre site, steps from light rail, in the middle of one of south Denver's most established corridors, being redeveloped by a Greenwood Village-based builder — that's not a small story. It's worth knowing about if you own or are planning to buy nearby. 📍 Sources: 9News — https://www.9news.com/article/money/business/denver-movie-theater-site-proposal-apartments/73-f9be5f64-cdf2-4c10-80c2-3040030956dd 📍 Sources: BusinessDen — https://businessden.com/2025/10/20/movie-theater-along-i-25-demolished-for-redevelopment/ 📍 Sources: Cherry Point Properties / Century Living — https://cherrypointproperties.com/articles/developer-proposes-riverfront-style-apartments-in-southmoor-area 📍 Sources: LoopNet — https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/3635-S-Monaco-Pky-Denver-CO/30410930/ If you've been in your home in this part of south Denver for 10, 15, 20+ years — have you started thinking about what your next move actually looks like, or is the plan still to stay put for now? — Kevin Lundy | The HomeBridge Group at eXp Realty