The developers behind FLORA, a 12-story residential building in Denver’s River North Art District, have launched a new residency program, allowing creators to live and work on site while holding workshops and events.
Known as The Residency at FLORA, the program supports creators working across a range of disciplines, including visual art, music, writing, culinary arts, performance, mixed media, beauty, design, fashion, architecture and more.
Each resident will live rent-free in a furnished penthouse for one to four months and receive a project space, a $500 stipend and promotion through FLORA’s channels and partners.
The residency also includes community events such as workshops, process nights and public activations, all culminating in a final showcase.
Beyond offering space and resources, FLORA’s developers see the program as a way to build connections within the RiNo community.
“The Residency is only the beginning,” said Edee Anesi, one of FLORA’s lead developers.
Anesi, alongside Brock Fleming of Belay Development and part-owner of Flora, said they reviewed numerous residency models, many of which focus on a single discipline, and saw an opportunity to create a more inclusive, multidisciplinary program that could engage a broader creative community.
The goal, Anesi said, is to build a creative ecosystem while giving back to the neighborhood that surrounds it.
“We’re building Denver’s new creative underground, the kind of place people talk about before they ever step inside, and once they do, it leaves an imprint they’ll never forget,” Anesi said.
That vision is backed by FLORA’s physical space, a cultural idea disguised as a building, particularly expressed in its top-floor penthouses.
Anesi said the building features seven two-bedroom penthouses on the 12th floor, each of which will be occupied by a single artist. However, duos might share a unit if needed.
While residency participants live rent-free, units at FLORA span a range of prices. Generally, FLORA’s studio apartments start at $2,055 a month, with one-bedroom units at $2,099, according to its website.
Two-bedroom apartments begin at $3,400, and three-bedroom units start at $8,300. Penthouses are priced from $5,665, and the most expensive penthouse floor plan, a 2,596-square-foot unit, rents for $14,500 a month.
Residents will also have access to amenities including a community lounge, business center, kitchen, outdoor decks and a year-round pool.
In addition to on-site resources, FLORA plans to extend the residency beyond the building itself. FLORA will partner with local businesses to create cultural events and bring them into the community, according to Anesi.
To steward the program, FLORA has assembled a selection committee of six to seven members, including a mix of local and national creatives whose expertise spans art, food, fashion, music, film and beyond.
Applications for the 2025–2026 residency launched in November, and interest has been encouraging, Anesi said.
Applications will remain open through Jan. 16. Interested applicants can apply online at florarino.com and must submit a résumé or CV, samples of prior work and two letters of recommendation.
Cohort size will be determined based on application volume and the residency lengths applicants select. The inaugural residency will begin in February 2026, according to a program slide deck on FLORA’s website.
The remaining artist lineup for the year will also be launched, featuring a series of branded events including dinners, workshops and showcases.
The residency marks the latest chapter in a project several years in the making. FLORA’s lot, 3500 Chestnut Place, was purchased in 2018, construction of the building then broke ground in 2021 and was later completed in spring 2024.
FLORA features 92 residences with balconies and over 7,500 square feet of amenities.
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