The Greeley Creative District Begins Renovations on Recently Acquired Creative Center
In a symbolic groundbreaking, past and present Greeley Creative District (GCD) board members, founding donors and community partners gathered in the historic Macy-Allnutt building to celebrate its forthcoming transformation into a local creative center. It was the first public unveiling of the project, offering the community a chance to tour the premises, discuss future aspirations for the building and envision a collaborative future together.
Plans for the Center
Greeley Creative District Leadership & GH Phipps contractors standing in front of the soon-to-be Creative Center of Greeley
After over a decade of work in the community without a physical base of operations, the Greeley Creative District has finally found a place to call home — a hub for creatives to gather, access resources and enrich the broader community.
“We’ve long imagined establishing a place where everyone in our community can engage their creative interests, expand their talents and success and explore new ways to problem solve and interpret our world imaginatively,” said Board President Becky Safarik.
In 2024 community member Roy Wardell generously offered to initiate a fund to help make this vision possible, enabling the GCD to purchase the property that will become the center, a site originally owned and operated by the Macy-Allnutt Funeral Home (702 13th Street) for over a century.
Roy Wardell Speaking at the Groundbreaking Celebration on 7/16/25
“I grew up on and own a working ranch started by my grandparents over a hundred years ago a few miles from Greeley, which has been our primary go-to town for business, entertainment and people connections. I have come to very much appreciate the various forms of art that are fostered and promoted by the City of Greeley, the University of Northern Colorado, businesses that make their home here, and several creative art organizations,” Wardell said.
“Not being an artist, but loving many forms of art, I wanted to make a contribution to our thriving creative community. Working with the board of the Greeley Creative District, I have made a financial contribution to help purchase a site near downtown and initiate its redevelopment as a center for creativity and the arts. I hope others who also appreciate the arts will join me in bringing this project to its full potential.”
Situated in the middle of the Greeley Creative District, the center will strengthen the emerging creative corridor between UNC and Downtown Greeley and will catalyze new growth in the area.
While the final building plans and programming are still under development, the District has initiated phase one of the renovation process to enable a partial opening of the building by the end of 2025 in order to generate momentum and excitement for the project. Building upon interview and survey feedback gathered last summer, the GCD is actively gathering input from stakeholders to better understand the needs of the community in order to refine their designs during renovation.
The GCD is working with architects from alm2s, a firm based in Fort Collins, to redesign the interior. Wember will manage the project.
Once completed, the 14,000+ sq. ft. building will be devoted to creative spaces to accommodate performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, studio and maker spaces and a retail shop to sell works by local artists.
About the Greeley Creative District
The Greeley Creative District is a non-profit organization formed to highlight, promote, grow and support the local creative community and businesses. The District hosts events that showcase local talent, offer opportunities for creatives and celebrate Greeley’s unique cultural identity.
Fostering economic development through the arts remains a central aspect of the District’s mission. The nonprofit operates as an extension of Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a state program formed to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. According to The National Endowment for the Arts’ Participation Study, Colorado ranks first in the percentage of residents who personally perform or create artworks, in part because of CCI’s initiatives and the work of CCI certified creative districts across the state, like the Greeley Creative District.