Coloradans can appreciate the legacy of real estate broker and consultant Mary Beth Jenkins through the lens of some of the projects she was involved with, including Denver’s McGregor Square and the redevelopment of the old Westminster Mall site.
The 66-year-old founder of the Laramie Co., a commercial real estate agency, died June 26, with loved ones nearby, according to her family.
A memorial service and reception will be held at 11 a.m. July 22 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 4900 Montview Blvd., with donations requested to be made to the National Western Stock Show’s Women in Agriculture campaign.
With more than three decades in her trade, Jenkins provided retail consulting and leasing for McGregor Square. She also worked as the lead broker and consultant for the city of Westminster in the purchase of the 108-acre former Westminster Mall property, with her part in the city’s redevelopment eventually spanning more than 1.7 million square feet.
“Mary Beth Jenkins was way more than a broker,” said Dick Monfort, owner of the Colorado Rockies and developer of McGregor Square, in a statement. “I considered her a partner and our visionary.”
In the Denver area, her experience extended to outdoor retail and lifestyle projects, including The Shops at North Creek, Southlands, The Shops at Northfield, and the Westminster Promenade. Jenkins also had a hand in resort retail, working in Vail, Snowmass Village and Silverthorne.
Other cities have turned to her for her project consultation expertise, such as Lone Tree, Aurora, Parker and Glendale.
“Mary Beth Jenkins was a driving force behind what you see here today in downtown Westminster,” said Mayor Nancy McNally in a statement. “She personally built relationships and worked directly with each of these development partners to deliver what you see constructed here today.”
After marrying in 1982, Jenkins, a Tulane University graduate, and her husband William “Bill” Jenkins first resided in Houston, where the young bride started her career in development at The Woodlands Corp. They moved to Denver in 1992 with their daughters Selby and Haley in tow.
That year, Jenkins founded The Laramie Co., with her husband joining later as partner.
Jenkins also served as the owner and managing partner of beef ranch The Laramie Cattle Co., and was a member of the National Western Stock Show Association.
The Park Hill neighborhood resident also invested her time and energy in the cause of education as a board member of both The Montessori Institute and Tulane University Dean’s Board of Directors. She stood at the helm of a $250,000 campaign for East High School — Project Angle Pride — to transform the school’s entrance and plaza.
Jenkins is survived by her husband, her daughters and three siblings.
“We were always so grateful and appreciative for our time together,” Bill Jenkins wrote in an email to The Denver Post on Tuesday.
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