Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities Information

The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities (formerly the Stapleton Foundation) was founded in 1990 by beloved Denver oilman and philanthropist Sam Gary. Its mission: craft a plan to redevelop the city’s old Stapleton Airport (the city opened its replacement, Denver International Airport, in 1995) into a new urbanism project of mixed-use residential, commercial, retail, open space and parks. Redevelopment started in 2000 and 26,000 people now call it home. The plan, known as “The Green Book”, stresses the development's responsibility to promote and nurture lifelong learning, sustainable and healthy living, alternative transportation and affordable housing. The Foundation is the primary catalyst, along with the community, to advance efforts on those social issues. At 4,700 acres, Stapleton is the largest infill development in the country; nearly a third is parks/open space. It's home to 13 Denver Public Schools (K-12) -- all among the city’s highest performing. The city of Denver and the Foundation chose Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises (now Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.) as the master developer for the project.