Cranes are flying over Cherry Creek North

How is Cherry Creek North like the month of June?

It’s bustin’ out all over.

Last week, Julie Underdahl, CEO of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, led media types through a slide show of new construction as well as conducted a foot tour of a handful of shops in the popular shopping destination.

Cherry Creek North, whose boundaries encompass 16 blocks from First to Third Avenues, and from University to Steele, has several major building projects under construction or on the drawing board, which will increase the number of residents, office spaces and retail outlets in and around the burgeoning area.

But the pressing question, is how will the construction craze impact parking, which remains the No. 1 complaint of CCN shoppers and diners.

While the resolution to that issue remains to be seen, cranes are quickly becoming CCN’s official bird.

Projects on board to be added to the 400 businesses operating within the District’s borders, are:

* Adolph Coors Foundation headquarters, Second and St. Paul; 27,500 square feet of office and retail space set to open soon.

* Western Development Group (Christian Anschutz’s project), under construction at 250 Columbine St.; 273,000 square feet of office, retail and residential space slated to open in June 2015.

* Fillmore Residences, on Second Avenue between Fillmore and Milwaukee; 26 apartment units in 38,000 square feet with a projected opening of August.

* Columbine Development Partners, 245 Columbine St. in the old Post Office space with 94,000 square feet of office, retail and residential space.

* Paul’s Group, 100 St. Paul; 150,000 square feet of office and retail with a fall 2015 opening date.

* Whole Foods Market – Cherry Creek, adding one-third more seating to the cafe, a fresh juice and pickled items bar, more prepared foods, more shopping room on the retail floor and a food cart.

In Cherry Creek East and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, new projects include:

* The Rifkin Group – The Residences at Cherry Creek, 360 S. Monroe, 300 rental units in an eight-story building; completion date in 2015.

* Steele Creek, southeast corner of First and Steele, 230 residential units and retail with a slated opening in December.

* 3300 E. First Ave., northeast corner of First and Cook, 334,000 square feet of office and residential.

* Restoration Hardware – Cherry Creek Shopping Center, in the old Saks Fifth Avenue building, which will be demolished for a new 53,000-square-foot Restoration Hardware with an anticipated opening at the end of 2015.

Cherry Creek North facts at  your fingertips:

* Largest generator of retail sales tax in the city.

* Including the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, the Cherry Creek Shopping District is the No. 1 visitor destination in Colorado.

Restoration is taking over the old Saks 5th Avenue space at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.  The new location is slated to open in 2016. (Restoration Hardware photo)

Restoration is taking over the old Saks 5th Avenue space at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. The new location is slated to open in 2016. (Restoration Hardware photo)