Broomfield Developers Claim City Trying to Derail Downtown Project

City manager denies allegations, says project changes need to be reviewed

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:09pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished, geometric model of a small lake or pond surrounded by abstract architectural forms, representing the conceptual vision for the Broomfield Town Square development.As Broomfield debates the future of its long-planned downtown project, a conceptual model captures the careful balance between developers' vision and the city's fiscal concerns.Broomfield Today

Two developers working on a $300 million plan to build a new downtown in Broomfield, Colorado say the city's top staffer is throwing up roadblocks to the long-planned project. The developers claim the city manager is trying to undermine the project, while the city says it's just following standard review processes for a development of this scale.

Why it matters

Broomfield, a growing bedroom community north of Denver, has lacked a true downtown for decades. This project represents the city's best chance yet to create a vibrant, walkable center with local retail, housing, and public spaces. The dispute highlights the tensions that can arise between developers and city officials over the pace and scope of major redevelopment efforts.

The details

Developers Joe Vostrejs and Tim Fredregill have been working on the 40-acre, $300 million Broomfield Town Square project for nearly a decade. Their plan involves expanding a small pond into a 12-foot deep, swimmable lake surrounded by waterfront retail and apartments. They say they've met all the city's requirements, but city manager Jennifer Hoffman is now claiming their $30 million in proposed infrastructure work doesn't qualify as a building permit, putting the entire project in jeopardy before a September deadline. Hoffman denies trying to undermine the project, saying the city is just following standard review processes.

  • In 2015, Broomfield purchased a vacant Safeway building with plans to incorporate it into a future downtown redevelopment.
  • In November 2019, Vostrejs and Fredregill inked a deal to redevelop the site themselves.
  • In 2022, a second fiscal impact study commissioned by the city found the project would have a net negative financial impact.
  • In September 2022, the project's zoning request received unanimous approval from city council.
  • In January 2023, the city told the developers their $30 million in proposed infrastructure work would not qualify as a building permit.

The players

Joe Vostrejs

A developer with City Street Investors who has been working on the Broomfield Town Square project for nearly a decade.

Tim Fredregill

Vostrejs' development partner with Outpost Partners on the Broomfield Town Square project.

Jennifer Hoffman

The city manager of Broomfield who the developers claim is trying to undermine the project.

Lynn Merwin

The planning director for the city of Broomfield.

Anna Bertanzetti

The deputy city and county manager of Broomfield.

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What they’re saying

“It just seems like the city manager, under her leadership, is doing her damnedest to throw up roadblocks to this project, and we don't understand it.”

— Joe Vostrejs, Developer, City Street Investors

“The code is designed to ensure meaningful advancement of the overall approved development, not isolated or minimal improvements that do not materially move the project forward.”

— Jennifer Hoffman, City Manager, Broomfield

“Apparently $30 million doesn't demonstrate enough 'intent'.”

— Joe Vostrejs, Developer, City Street Investors

“The city is going to again produce some form of fiscal impact cost-to-benefit analysis showing how much this is going to cost the taxpayers in Broomfield, and it's going to be done in a vacuum and sprung on us real time, similar to before.”

— Tim Fredregill, Developer, Outpost Partners

What’s next

The Broomfield City Council will take up the issue of extending the project's deadline at their April 21 meeting.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the challenges developers can face when working with city governments on major redevelopment projects, even when a community is eager for new investment and a downtown center. The clash over the definition of a 'building permit' and the city's fiscal impact analysis could determine the fate of Broomfield's long-awaited downtown.