The History and Vision of Windler: A Community Built for Belonging
The story of Windler is more than the story of a new neighborhood. It’s a story of legacy, vision, and what it means to create a place where people from all walks of life can connect. Our Windler’s History and Future mini-documentary captures this journey – from the farming roots of the land to the bold vision of a dynamic new home community in Aurora.
A Legacy of the Land
For generations, the land that is now Windler was home to a working farm and family homestead. The Windler family, whose name carries forward through this community, cultivated not only crops but also a spirit of resiliency and belonging.
This history grounds the community’s story and ensures that Windler is not just another development. It is a place deeply rooted in its location and honoring the land and people that will call this place home. And it’s perfectly placed to create an attainable Colorado lifestyle – whether at home in Windler or nearby with remarkable connectivity to what lies beyond.
A Vision for Something More
The foundation of Windler’s vision is placemaking – designing not just streets and lots, but shared experiences and emotional connections.
When Don Provost of Alberta Development first envisioned Windler, it was about creating a place that would bring people together.
As Don shares in the documentary:
“We saw an opportunity to do something truly unique here, something that’s about people first – about their experiences, their connections, and the kind of community they want to build together.”
That means making every resident feel like they belong. Whether you’re a young family buying your first home, empty nesters seeking a new chapter, or anyone in between, Windler is a community designed for you – that’s The Windler Way.
From the parks and gathering spaces to the mix of housing choices and neighborhood amenities, the vision is clear: Windler is a place where each and every person can find a home, and a sense of home.
Bringing this vision to life meant assembling a remarkable team of planners, designers, and development experts. Each brought their own perspective, but all shared a commitment to creating a community unlike any other; one where belonging isn’t an afterthought, but the very blueprint of the design.
Designing for Community
To translate this vision into place, Alberta Development partnered with Civitas, an internationally recognized urban design and landscape architecture firm. Founded in 1984, Civitas is known for transforming neighborhoods and public spaces around the globe with projects that seamlessly blend city and nature, prioritize sustainability, and put people at the heart of design.
Two of their leaders guiding the Windler plan are Mark Johnson, Principal & Co-Founder, and Craig Vickers, Principal. Both bring decades of experience designing communities that are as welcoming as they are functional.
As Johnson explains in the film:
“Design is about people. It’s about shaping places that make people’s lives better, places that invite them in.”
That people-first philosophy is evident in the way Windler avoids repetition and sameness. Johnson recalls the organic character of Denver’s older neighborhoods:
“In older Denver neighborhoods, homes were built by family builders who might only construct four houses a year. That meant no two blocks looked the same, and each street had its own character. We wanted to bring that back.”
At Windler, that idea comes to life through a careful mix of housing types, streetscapes, and public gathering places — all designed to foster connection, create vibrancy, and welcome residents from all generations and backgrounds. As Vickers notes:
“The goal is a wide range of human experience — neighborhoods that feel authentic, diverse, and alive.”
The Work Behind the Vision
Turning a vision this ambitious into reality requires seasoned leadership. That’s where Chris Fellows, Principal of Resolute Strategies, plays a pivotal role. With decades of experience shaping some of Colorado’s most successful master-planned communities, Chris has built a legacy of transforming land into neighborhoods where people want to live, work, and belong.
He has established a reputation for guiding developers, municipalities, and builders through the complexities of large-scale community building. At Windler, Chris ensures that the vision is not just aspirational – it’s achievable and successful for all parties involved.
“This kind of project isn’t done by one person or even one company. It takes a team with shared values and a shared vision to make it happen.”
That teamwork extends far beyond the core development group. A wide network of designers, strategists, and creative professionals have been engaged to shape the physical and cultural framework of Windler.
Each major park amenity was given to different local landscape architecture firms to pull on their distinct areas of expertise, and push the envelope of thinking:
Discovery Park, the community’s signature amenity, is being designed by Civitas, bringing their internationally recognized expertise in people-focused placemaking.
1881 Park, envisioned as a social and recreational hub built from (and using) original components of the original Windler homestead – like the existing farm home foundation and refurbished silos – is being designed by Superbloom, a Denver-based landscape architecture firm known for creating innovative and ecologically rooted outdoor experiences.
Butterfly Park, a future destination celebrating nature and pollinator habitats, is being designed by PCS Group, specialists in character-rich and innovative parks and open space planning across Colorado communities.
And it doesn’t stop there. A host of marketing strategists, branding experts, and content developers are working alongside the design and development teams to bring Windler’s story to life – ensuring that what residents experience on the ground is matched by a welcoming, authentic identity that resonates from the very first introduction.
Together, these partnerships are creating more than just a neighborhood. They’re building a community rooted in legacy, designed with intention, and elevated by the collaborative efforts of some of the best minds in development and design.
What It Means for Aurora
Windler is not just another development; it’s a community designed to shape Aurora’s future. With distinct neighborhoods, authentic gathering spaces, and homes for people of all ages and backgrounds, it reflects a belief that connection and belonging are at the heart of great places.
Windler’s History and Future documentary shows this philosophy in action: how heritage, design, and vision intersect to create a truly dynamic new home community in Aurora.
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