In September of 2024, we lost Denver South icon and leader Buz Koelbel. Buz was longtime president of the family-owned real estate development business, Koelbel and Company, and co-founder and ever-present board member of our organization. Buz will leave a legacy of vision, passion, action, and leadership in the Denver South community.
Buz inherited his love of the region from his father, Walter Koelbel Sr. Walter, who along with visionaries George Wallace, John Madden, and George Beardsly, conceived and put in-motion, the development of our region. Koelbel and Company’s first land acquisition in Denver South over 65 years ago was a key driver of what we see around us today. Buz took up the charge in 1985 and during his tenure, worked tirelessly to shape the region and lead the way for the community to join in.
Seeing the value in both competition and collaboration, Buz knew, “the sum of the total was greater than the individual parts”. Telling Denver South, “The group of early developers, came together, even as fierce competitors, knowing we would all benefit in the end. And that was intentional on all sides. We were dedicated to what we were doing with our own properties, but we knew that if we didn’t come together and collaborate, none of us would reach the point where we could ultimately achieve what has now been accomplished.”
Buz was a founder of the Denver South organization, and he remained an integral leader for the organization for over forty years. He held dear the idea that people working together is how accomplishments that would otherwise not happen get done, and this has been the cornerstone of the organization since the beginning. By creating a public private partnership with the organization, the Denver South region has been able to withstand the shifting sands of time and evolve into a preeminent location for people to live, work, and play.
Buz Describes the History of the Corridor
Buz knew early on that transportation would make or break the long-term success of the corridor. Buz was a key player in the efforts to secure political support and local and federal funding for the largest transportation project in state history, T-REX. This was one of many transportation and mobility projects that he would support and advocate for in the years to come.
In addition to the work with our organization, the Koelbel Company, under Buz’s leadership, launched infrastructure projects that are now mainstays of the region. With a focus on legacy and longevity, we saw residential projects like The Preserve in Greenwood Village, TAVA Waters, and Rendezvous Colorado established alongside commercial development like Centennial Promenade, Village Center-DTC, and Pine Bluffs.
While Buz’s business accomplishments were unparalleled, his commitment to his community and family are even more important. His knowledge, time, and funding were given generously to components of the community focused on enhancing everybody’s lives. As said on Koelbelco.com, “Buz was a co-founder of the Denver South Economic Development Partnership, the Common Sense Institute, and the High Line Canal Conservancy. He was a board member of many core organizations along the Front Range, including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the CU Real Estate Center, and Economic Literacy Colorado (now joined with Junior Achievement)…and many more.”
Buz Koelbel left an indelible mark on Denver South, he was a friend and champion, and he will be missed. We are thankful for his unwavering passion for Denver South, and he was proud to be part of the collective that shaped history, saying, “I don’t think one individual can take credit for things that happened. It’s about the people, the collective working with people. I personally take pride in not only looking at the accomplishments that we’ve achieved here, but it is also working with all the people that helped us get that done. And it was an effort of a lot of people, but it was fun to be part of that initial visionary group that said, We have to come together as competitors, or we all lose, and that is what we did.”
A Tribute to Buz Koelbel
