Construction on what will become the tallest building in Colorado Springs is now a major step closer to reality. On Monday, the City Council voted 6-1 to reject an appeal attempting to halt the development of the 27-story OneVeLa apartment tower. With the council's decision, a previous ruling by the Downtown Review Board — which determined the 312-foot-tall structure complies with city codes — has been upheld.

The OneVeLa project, spearheaded by VeLa Development Partners in collaboration with local firm the O’Neil Group, is set to rise on land owned by the O’Neil Group in the heart of the city’s downtown. If completed as planned, it would become a landmark addition to the Colorado Springs skyline.

“We think it will be one of the most beautiful apartment buildings in the country, in one of the country’s most spectacular settings,” said Nick Benjamin of VeLa Development Partners.

The project has been met with both enthusiastic support and strong opposition since it was first introduced. Critics have argued that the towering structure threatens to disrupt the traditional aesthetic and character of Colorado Springs — a city often described as “the biggest small town in America.”

“We currently don't look like the same old city after city with, in my opinion, unattractive modern and ‘iconic’ skyscrapers,” said resident Lisa Bigelow during the council session. “We like the current skyline of our city, and we don’t want that to forever be changed.”

The appeal to block the development was filed by Dianne Bridges, a local preservation advocate who chairs the city’s Historic Neighborhoods Partnership. Represented by attorney Robert Bruce, Bridges warned that allowing OneVeLa to proceed sets a precedent for additional tall buildings in the future.

“We believe that future skyscrapers will follow this approval,” Bruce said. Bridges has also championed the idea of placing a public vote on future building height limits, especially in areas near the city’s historic neighborhoods.

The path to approval for OneVeLa included multiple revisions by architects, who explored several design options at different heights before settling on the current 27-story plan last summer. The finalized proposal includes a mix of luxury apartment units and high-end amenities intended to serve professionals and residents seeking an urban lifestyle in Colorado Springs’ rapidly growing downtown.

Supporters of the project point to its potential to inject new life into the city’s urban core, especially as Colorado Springs experiences population growth and a changing demographic. The tower is expected to add around 400 high-density residential units, addressing a growing demand for housing in the area.

Representatives from several local organizations — including the Downtown Partnership and the Pikes Peak Housing Network — applauded the development’s potential impact. Colorado Springs Chamber CEO Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer stressed the importance of building for a younger workforce.

“It is about work, live and play. They want a walkable neighborhood where they can go to the dry cleaners, go to the grocery store and walk to work or bike to work,” Kleymeyer said. “We need to grow up as much as we’re looking at growing out.”

The OneVeLa tower, designed by architecture firm Hord | Coplan | Macht, will feature a sleek glass façade and a tan base, with several units offering private balconies. The building’s height will make it a dominant visual feature on the skyline, surpassing all other structures in the city.

City council member Dave Donelson was the only vote against the project. He expressed concern not about the building itself, but about the broader implications of introducing high-rise towers into downtown.

“I think it could become more and more like Denver. I am talking strictly about building heights downtown, and I don't think that is what citizens want,” Donelson said. “The issue isn't that this one building will block Pike's Peak. It's the impact it has on the skyline and the fact that it is opening the gate.”

Bridges’ appeal marked only the second direct appeal to City Council since Colorado Springs adopted a form-based zoning code in 2009. Under that code, most of the city has strict building height limits, with the exception of a small section of the downtown core — less than half a square mile — where no height limit applies.

With the appeal denied, construction on the OneVeLa project is now expected to move forward. The tower is currently scheduled to open in 2028, pending any future delays or changes to the development plan.

Originally reported by Dan Boyce in KRCC.