A rendering of the proposed apartment building at 3800 W. Colfax Ave. (Public Records)
Billy Piranian is just a guy who wants to build a cool apartment building.
“It just blows me away that I’m doing something like this,” he said.
The 75-year-old owner of a framing company said he’s under contract to buy a 0.3-acre site at 3800 W. Colfax Ave., a vacant restaurant owned since 2021 by the real estate arm of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Earlier this month, Piranian submitted plans to the city for a three-story project there.
“What I told Nils (his architect) was: ‘Listen, I wanna make a 22nd-century apartment. I wanna be advanced, man. I don’t want to be restricted to the old way.”
The proposed 35-unit development would span roughly 40,000 square feet. The facade would incorporate lots of glass, with oak wood accents with green and white stucco. A large, back-lit metal art display would adorn the front of the building.
Inside, the property would hold mostly studios, with six one-bedroom units. The third floor spaces would all be loft-style. Piranian said he wants every apartment shower to have a steam option.
Billy Piranian
On the first floor, one of the units would be slightly enlarged — nearly 200 additional square feet — for an artist who wants to use it as a live and work space. The project’s architect, Nils Jergensen, who runs his own shop called Keeney Design, said the average studio would be about 500 square feet.
Other amenities include a shared storage space for people’s skis, bikes and other bulky items dubbed the “Colorado room,” a communal patio on the second floor for three one-bedroom apartments and 23 parking spaces, most of which would be in a garage.
“We’re not gonna go crazy and bring in some Italian cabinets or anything, but I don’t wanna go cheap either … something a little above medium, and be proud of what we make and what we own and give the people some good stuff,” Piranian said.
Piranian owns Genesis Framing. Commuting between two job sites on Colfax, the tradesman saw the cranes putting up apartment buildings and decided he should do the same. He hit up a broker who sent him “about 20” sites to choose from. Piranian selected 3800 W. Colfax since it has frontage on two streets and two alleyways, making it easy to access.
He expects to close on the property by year-end. After that, he’ll likely pick up his tool box and get to work, as he expects to do some of the trades in the building himself. He’s also bringing in a retired general contractor and friend in on the project.
His budget: $6 million. Piranian is open to selling upon completion.
“A wise man told me one time told me never fall in love with anything except your wife and God, so if someone comes around with the right amount of money I’ll sell it,” he said.
A rendering of the proposed apartment building at 3800 W. Colfax Ave. (Public Records)
Billy Piranian is just a guy who wants to build a cool apartment building.
“It just blows me away that I’m doing something like this,” he said.
The 75-year-old owner of a framing company said he’s under contract to buy a 0.3-acre site at 3800 W. Colfax Ave., a vacant restaurant owned since 2021 by the real estate arm of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Earlier this month, Piranian submitted plans to the city for a three-story project there.
“What I told Nils (his architect) was: ‘Listen, I wanna make a 22nd-century apartment. I wanna be advanced, man. I don’t want to be restricted to the old way.”
The proposed 35-unit development would span roughly 40,000 square feet. The facade would incorporate lots of glass, with oak wood accents with green and white stucco. A large, back-lit metal art display would adorn the front of the building.
Inside, the property would hold mostly studios, with six one-bedroom units. The third floor spaces would all be loft-style. Piranian said he wants every apartment shower to have a steam option.
Billy Piranian
On the first floor, one of the units would be slightly enlarged — nearly 200 additional square feet — for an artist who wants to use it as a live and work space. The project’s architect, Nils Jergensen, who runs his own shop called Keeney Design, said the average studio would be about 500 square feet.
Other amenities include a shared storage space for people’s skis, bikes and other bulky items dubbed the “Colorado room,” a communal patio on the second floor for three one-bedroom apartments and 23 parking spaces, most of which would be in a garage.
“We’re not gonna go crazy and bring in some Italian cabinets or anything, but I don’t wanna go cheap either … something a little above medium, and be proud of what we make and what we own and give the people some good stuff,” Piranian said.
Piranian owns Genesis Framing. Commuting between two job sites on Colfax, the tradesman saw the cranes putting up apartment buildings and decided he should do the same. He hit up a broker who sent him “about 20” sites to choose from. Piranian selected 3800 W. Colfax since it has frontage on two streets and two alleyways, making it easy to access.
He expects to close on the property by year-end. After that, he’ll likely pick up his tool box and get to work, as he expects to do some of the trades in the building himself. He’s also bringing in a retired general contractor and friend in on the project.
His budget: $6 million. Piranian is open to selling upon completion.
“A wise man told me one time told me never fall in love with anything except your wife and God, so if someone comes around with the right amount of money I’ll sell it,” he said.
