By McCarley Root

Two new hotels opened on University Hill over the past year, raising concerns among Boulder residents and students about the city’s priorities on housing. The Limelight Boulder opened in August and Moxy Boulder opened in May 2024. Together, they bring 441 new hotel rooms within walking distance of the University of Colorado campus. CU students worry that the developments shift attention away from the ongoing housing shortage. 

“Although it may provide jobs for students, I think it’s purely unacceptable,” said Partha Donda, a student housing property manager on University Hill. “CU needs to make housing affordable for students, not build luxury apartments.” 

During the city’s Downtown Management Commission meeting on Mar. 11, locals addressed concerns about how the hotels are reshaping the Hill, while commission members supported having more rooms for tourists. The Sundance Film Festival will come to Boulder in 2027, bringing an expected 100,000 visitors to town. City leaders say the added hotel capacity will help prepare Boulder for major events like that. 

A study published by the Denver Regional Council of Governments found that in 2022, 62% of renters in Boulder were cost-burdened. The City of Boulder says that the problem with producing affordable housing is the limited space available to build homes.  

The Limelight Boulder has 26,000 square feet of event space, including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom. Jared Moore has worked there for two months.  

“I can see why people are mad, but it’s a city that’s always building,” Moore said. “What else do you expect?” 

Area residents are also concerned with the Limelight Boulder’s towering six floors, which obstruct their previously direct sight of the Flatirons. 

“I loved the view we had living there,” said Evan Teague, a student who lived next to the Limelight before it was built. “I couldn’t imagine it being blocked, that would totally change the vibe of the place.”

The Limelight has 252 rooms and the Moxy has 189, and all at a steep price. A night’s stay at the Limelight ranges from $250 to $400 during the week and can go as high as $1000 a night at popular times, such as CU’s family weekend. 

While the brand-new hotels are up and running, other existing properties are seeing changes too. Hotel Boulderado, the city’s oldest luxury hotel, was recently sold to a Nashville-based real estate company. The St. Julien Hotel, which is one block off of the Pearl Street Mall, will be expanding after the city council gave it the go ahead earlier this year. And a popular parking lot at Broadway and Spruce Streets is being sought after by PassCo. Properties. If the $5.2 million deal is approved, a new hotel will be built.  

There is some relief coming for students though: the Millennium Harvest House, on the northeast side of campus, was demolished last year, and construction has begun for new student housing to replace it. 

 Story edited by Piper George.