Commercial Development Land Horizon Drive in Grand Junction, CO

Prime Commercial Development Site: 697 27 1/2 Court, Grand Junction

Location & Market Position

This 0.92-acre commercial property sits at the intersection of Horizon Drive and 27 1/2 Road in Grand Junction’s expanding eastern corridor—one of the last undeveloped commercial parcels in a district that has seen sustained investment over the past five years. The site offers elevated positioning with direct visibility from Horizon Drive, the primary east-west connector between downtown Grand Junction and the growing residential developments in east Grand Junction, Mesa County.

The newly completed roundabout at 27 1/2 Road and Horizon Drive, combined with the recent Starbucks development directly below the property, signals the area’s transition from residential fringe to established commercial corridor. Traffic counts on Horizon Drive average 19,000 vehicles daily, providing consistent exposure for professional services or retail concepts that benefit from drive-by visibility.

Current Property Configuration

Two existing residential structures occupy the site. The front house, a historic property requiring substantial renovation, represents either adaptive reuse potential or redevelopment opportunity depending on buyer objectives. The rear structure functions as a short–term rental in move-in condition, generating immediate income while development plans proceed or providing temporary office space during construction phases.

Current zoning permits medical, dental, legal, financial, and general professional office uses without additional approvals. The site accommodates up to 20,000 square feet of commercial development under existing entitlements, though practical building size will depend on parking requirements and site layout preferences.

Expansion Opportunity: Adjacent Parcel Available

The adjacent property at 690 27 1/2 Court (listed by Sid Squirrell with Bray Real Estate) is also available, offering buyers the opportunity to assemble nearly two acres of contiguous commercial land. Combined, these parcels provide sufficient space for larger–scale development projects, campus–style office layouts, or mixed–use concepts that require expanded parking and building footprints. Assembly of both sites would create one of the largest undeveloped commercial tracts remaining on the Horizon corridor, with dual street frontage and flexible configuration options that accommodate phased development or single–build projects.

Immediate Area Amenities & Services

The property sits within a fully developed commercial and residential district with established infrastructure and daily-needs services. Bookcliff Country Club, less than one mile east, provides dining and recreational amenities for business entertainment and client meetings. Safeway anchors the nearby retail center, joined by restaurants ranging from fast-casual to full-service dining. The new Starbucks directly below the property serves the morning commuter traffic, while multiple hotel properties along Horizon Drive support visiting clients, consultants, and business travelers.

This amenity density creates a self-sustaining business environment where employees can access banking, dining, fitness, and retail services within a five-minute drive. For professional practices relocating staff from other markets, the surrounding infrastructure demonstrates Grand Junction’s maturity as a business destination rather than a frontier economy—a distinction that matters for recruitment and retention.

Why Grand Junction Commercial Real Estate Makes Economic Sense

Mesa County’s commercial real estate market operates on fundamentals that favor owner–occupiers and small investors. While Denver commercial properties trade at cap rates between 4.5-6%, Grand Junction assets typically price between 6.5-8%, reflecting a 150-250 basis point spread that translates directly to acquisition cost advantage.

According to Colorado Mesa University’s Business Research Bureau, Mesa County’s population grew 8.2% between 2010-2020, outpacing Colorado’s 7.8% growth rate during the same period. The Grand Junction MSA added approximately 3,400 residents between 2020-2023, with household income growth averaging 4.1% annually—above the regional average of 3.6%.

The local economy has diversified substantially since 2015. While energy extraction historically dominated employment, healthcare now represents the largest sector with SCL Health St. Mary’s Medical Center employing over 1,600 people and Community Hospital employing approximately 800. Colorado Mesa University contributes another 1,200 jobs, and the Grand Junction Regional Airport’s $340 million economic impact supports aerospace, tourism, and freight logistics activity.

Professional services employment in Mesa County increased 12% between 2018-2023, driven by firms relocating from Front Range markets where commercial lease rates are roughly double those of Grand Junction —a discount that enables professional practices to reduce overhead while maintaining service quality.

Development Considerations & Buyer Profile

This property suits three primary buyer categories:

Medical/Dental Practices: St. Mary’s Hospital sits 1.2 miles west. The Horizon corridor lacks specialty medical office space, forcing practices into converted retail spaces or older buildings near downtown. Purpose-built medical space commands $22-26 per square foot in lease rates, making owner-occupied development economically viable for established practices.

Professional Services Firms: Legal, accounting, financial advisory, and engineering firms relocating from Front Range markets or expanding locally. The site accommodates 8-12 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet—sufficient for professional office use without variance requests.

Small Developers/Investors: Groups seeking build-to-suit opportunities for tenant pre-commitments. The income-producing rear structure offsets holding costs during entitlement and construction phases.

Due diligence should address utility capacity (water, sewer, gas, electric all available at street), grading requirements given the elevated site position, and historic designation status for the front structure. Mesa County typically processes commercial site plans in 60-90 days, shorter than most Colorado jurisdictions.

Access & Infrastructure

The completed roundabout at 27 1/2 Road improves traffic flow and provides direct access from both directions on Horizon Drive. The site’s corner positioning allows two potential access points, increasing flexibility for site planning and reducing conflicts between customer and service vehicle traffic.

Grand Junction’s street maintenance and snow removal services operate reliably in this district. Fiber internet infrastructure reaches the property through multiple providers, supporting medical records systems, cloud-based practice management software, and video conferencing requirements common in professional office environments.

Property Details: 0.92 acres | Commercial zoning | Two existing structures | Utilities available | Horizon Drive frontage | Elevated visibility | New roundabout access | Adjacent expansion parcel available

For site plans, zoning verification, or showing appointments, contact United Country Real Colorado Properties Brokers Micheal Krieg, (970) 640-4772 and Teresa Rens, (970) 210-5190.