Background
Expertise spans land use and zoning, general real estate matters and urban renewal and public finance. Over a decade of real estate experience. Brings strong local ties to Colorado-focused projects.
With an emphasis on land use and entitlements, Caitlin’s practice spans all areas of real estate development including acquisitions and dispositions, zoning and development as well as serving as special and general counsel to various governmental and quasi-governmental entities.
Working primarily on Colorado projects, Caitlin regularly interfaces with local municipalities and agencies. She advises clients on development and entitlement matters related to land use, including zoning due diligence, development agreements and intergovernmental agreements. She guides clients through board of adjustment, annexation, affordable housing, landmark preservation and historic designation, and planning and zoning processes. Her background in civil defense litigation also allows her to provide fluid representation in land use litigation, specifically 106 actions. She represents publicly traded REITS and privately owned development companies in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition of real property, including multi-family, retail, industrial and office properties.
Caitlin understands the interplay between the public sector and private real estate developers, working on various public-private partnerships for complex projects involving infill redevelopment, urban renewal, eminent domain, mixed use, transit-oriented development and PIFs and other public financing tools. Caitlin has negotiated on behalf of urban renewal authorities and developers for tax increment and other sources of public financing.
Representative Matters
- Represented Waterton, a Chicago-based real estate investor and property management company, in the acquisition of The Ridge at Thornton Station, a 280-unit apartment complex in Thornton, CO, from Louisville-based Real Capital Solutions. The property is at a prime location adjacent to Thornton Station on RTD’s North Metro Line, slated to open in 2020.
- Successfully represented GCC Energy, LLC, operator of an existing coal mine in La Plata County, CO, in much contested negotiations and interim hearings with the Board of County Commissioners for a land use permit for continued mine operation ensuring that over 250 local miners’ and truck drivers’ jobs remained secure.
- Caitlin Quander led the zoning and land use diligence of the Colorado properties for Starwood Capital’s acquisition of over $1.3 billion worth of Colorado multi-family projects from Equity Residential. The portfolio acquisition that includes 18 Colorado properties located between Boulder and metro Denver and totaling nearly 6,000 apartment units, was among a larger 72- property deal which also included apartment projects in D.C., Florida, California and Seattle and totaled 23,262 apartment units at a $5.3 billion aggregate sales price.
- Represented California Splendor, Inc. in its acquisition of Santiam River, Inc., a leader in the Northwest Blackberry industry.
- On February 19, 2014, a Colorado District Court Judge rejected Rule 106 lawsuit challenging a Douglas County rezoning decision that will now allow for the continued permitting and construction of Sterling Ranch, a planned 3,400-acre, mixed-use development. This ruling was critical for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s client Sterling Ranch, and more generally, for Colorado’s landowners and for local governments because the ruling confirms that a 2013 statute, Senate Bill 13-258, provides local governments with sole discretion to determine when during the permitting process a developer must demonstrate the existence of an adequate water supply for a proposed development.
- Counsel to Zocalo Community Development in its successful application and PUD rezoning before Denver City Council for a Sloan’s Lake property. The rezoning enables a mixed-use redevelopment, comprised of 160 affordable apartments, 10 affordable condominiums, and 150 market-rate condominiums. We also drafted the development agreement and affordable covenants with the City Attorney’s Office and Denver Economic Development Opportunity office.
Insights & Publications
Insights & Publications
News
News
Credentials
Education
- J.D., 2008, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
- B.A., 2005, University of Puget Sound, cum laude
Admissions
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Memberships
Immediate Past President of NAIOP
Colorado Lawyers Committee, Housing Task Force and Election Task Force
Colorado Bar Association
Denver Bar Association
American Bar Association
Colorado Women’s Bar Association
Community Involvement
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Chair, City and County of Denver, Denver Planning Board, Mayor Johnston Appointee
Selection Committee, Mayor’s Design Awards
Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, Historic Denver, Inc.
City and County of Denver, Advancing Equity in Rezoning Task Force
City and County of Denver, Blueprint Denver Task Force, Mayor Hancock Appointee
Former, Board of Directors, Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado
University of Denver Sturm College of Law Mentorship Program
Recognition
RECOGNITIONS:
Award of Excellence, NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, 2024
The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2026
Outstanding Women in Business, Denver Business Journal, 2023
Finalist, GenXYZ Top 25 Young Professionals, ColoradoBiz, 2022
Co-Chair, Historic Denver Annual Dinner and Awards 2021
Colorado Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2018
Colorado Bar Association, Board of Governors 2016-2018
Colorado Bar Association, Legislative Policy Committee 2013-2019
Downtown Denver Leadership Program, Class of 2016
Law Week Colorado, 2013 Up and Coming Lawyer
Colorado Bar Association Leadership Program, Class of 2013
Denver Women’s Commission, Mayor Hickenlooper Appointee and Mayor Hancock Re-Appointee, 2010-2014
National Institute of Trial Advocacy Exceptional Advocate, 2010
Articles Editor, University of Denver Water Law Review 2006-2008
