Denver board backs rezoning at Family Star site as Head Start replacement remains unclear
The 5-0 recommendation could allow five-story zoning—or seven stories with an affordable-housing incentive—but the public record does not identify where the site’s Head Start services will move.
The Denver Planning Board recommended City Council approval Wednesday of a rezoning at 2246 North Federal Boulevard that would allow a five-story mixed-use building on the site of Family Star Montessori. The recorded roll call showed five votes in favor, with no opposing vote or abstention recorded, according to the Planning Board hearing record.
The recommendation is not final approval of a development. Application 2025-REZONE-000042 would change the property from GMX-3-DO-8, with a three-story base height, to UMS-5-DO-8, with a five-story base height. A future project could reach seven stories on eligible portions of the site if it qualifies for Denver’s enhanced affordable-housing incentive. The board’s action does not establish a building design, unit count or guarantee the incentive height.
Family Star plans to sell the Federal Boulevard property and move to a purpose-built campus in Lakewood. Its locations page lists a “New location” as “Coming 2027,” but does not provide a street address, firm opening date or details about whether Head Start and Early Head Start services will operate there.
As of Aug. 20, Denver Health’s Head Start location listing still identifies “Family Star Northwest Denver Head Start and Home-based Program” at 2246 Federal Blvd. The listing does not identify a replacement site, transition schedule or future service capacity.
Supporters told the board the rezoning would add housing and affordable-housing potential along a transit corridor, support ground-floor commercial uses and prepare the area for future bus rapid transit on Federal Boulevard. City staff said the request was consistent with Blueprint Denver and the 2024 Near Northwest Area Plan, whose maps show a five-story base height and a seven-story incentive height.
Opponents said the change could remove a community-serving child care and Head Start site without a confirmed replacement. They questioned the amount of affordable and family-sized housing a future project would provide and raised concerns about the potential seven-story height, parking, traffic, infrastructure and construction. Some cited area-plan policies calling for institutional sites to be reused for community-serving purposes, with child care prioritized.
Parking remained unresolved. Staff said Denver has no current parking requirement and expressed concern that a future project might not provide enough parking. The applicant said it would continue discussing parking, community-serving commercial space and construction management with neighbors.
The rezoning now moves to Denver City Council for consideration. The recommendation does not resolve where or when Family Star’s Montessori and Head Start services will operate after the Federal Boulevard property is sold.