Southern Land Company expands Westerly in Erie

ERIE, Colo. — Southern Land Company received approval on July 22 from the Erie Town Council to rezone 391 acres for the expansion of its Westerly master-planned community.

The Nashville-based real estate developer acquired the parcel in 2023 from the Colorado State Land Board. The land, now referred to as North Westerly, is bordered by Erie Parkway, County Road 10, County Road 5 and County Road 7. It is part of the nearly 800-acre Westerly community.

The approval reduces the maximum residential units allowed on the land from 4,266 to 2,146.

“This rezone approval allows us to bring our full vision for Westerly to life,” said Brian Sewell, president and COO of Southern Land Company. “We look forward to introducing more housing options, including single-family homes, rental and age-qualified residences, as well as new commercial offerings.”

Sewell said the design will emphasize walkability, open space and architectural variety. The reduced density, according to the company, reflects its commitment to intentional planning and community integration.

Plans for North Westerly include:

• A mix of single-family homes, townhomes, live-work townhomes, multifamily units and active adult villas
• More than 50 acres of parks and open space
• Over seven miles of trails connecting to existing Westerly paths
• Up to 150,000 square feet of commercial space
• Infrastructure improvements in and around the community

Once complete, Westerly will feature about 3,400 homes. The original 400-acre portion of Westerly, which welcomed its first residents in 2023, will include about 1,200 homes. Builders include Brightland Homes, McStain Neighborhoods and SLC Homes.

Amenities at Westerly include the Waypoint, a 6,100-square-foot wellness center with a resort-style pool, hot tub, fitness studio, coworking spaces and a community room. The facility also offers lifestyle programming led by a full-time community manager. A second, larger amenity center is planned for North Westerly, along with a town center featuring retail, restaurants and services.

Southern Land Company will also fund infrastructure improvements throughout the town. Plans include upgrades to County Road 5 and Erie Parkway, as well as contributions toward improvements on County Road 7. The company will also provide 22 acres and $7.7 million for two public parks and donate 12.5 acres for a future middle school in partnership with St. Vrain Valley School District.

In Colorado, SLC also manages Arden Karl’s Farm in Northglenn and previously developed Centric LoHi and Bespoke Uptown in Denver and REVE Boulder in Boulder.

Its national portfolio includes developments in Tennessee, Texas and California, including the award-winning Westhaven in Franklin, Tennessee, and the Mare Island mixed-use redevelopment in Vallejo, California.