Duo begin work on building in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood

Ilan Salzberg and John Cianci Going Vertical with New Apartment Building in Denver

Ilan Salzberg and John Cianci are taking a unique approach to development on their corner lot at the intersection of two Denver neighborhoods.

The duo, operating under SC&P LLC, began construction in January on a new apartment building located at 3301 W. 38th Ave. This half-acre lot sits at the border of the West Highland and Berkeley neighborhoods. The project has seen several changes in plans and partners over the past six years.

While many projects are currently on hold, Cianci expressed the importance of moving forward with their development plans. He stated, “A lot of projects, they’re hitting the hard pause button right now. And we’re trying not to do that.”

The property, previously home to a Thai restaurant, was purchased by Cianci and partners in September 2018 for $2.6 million. Salzberg later joined the project, and they anticipate completing the three-story building by the summer of 2026. The structure will feature 44 market-rate apartments on the upper levels and 7,000 square feet of retail space below. Constructed with steel, brick, and concrete, the building is expected to be more durable than traditional wood frame projects in the area.

Salzberg mentioned that the final cost of the project will be “well into the eight digits.”

Both 48 years old, Salzberg and Cianci are known as “self-performing” developers, acting as their own general contractors. With backgrounds in construction and engineering, the duo has completed numerous projects in Denver since the early 2000s, ranging from single-family homes to industrial developments.

The 38th and Irving project has evolved from initial plans for a hotel, which were scrapped due to the pandemic. After reevaluating the site, the current apartment building proposal emerged. The developers have also been working on additional projects in the area, including a development near Sloan’s Lake and plans for residential housing on 38th Avenue and Wolff Street.