New Residency Offers Artists a Chance to Live in Luxury RiNo Penthouse

Denver’s River North Art District is packed with art and opportunities for creatives, but with rent for a RiNo apartment averaging $2,095, most artists can’t afford to live there.

But what if they could? Not in a $1,700-a-month, 300-square-foot studio with one window, but a luxury penthouse overlooking the Platte River? That sounds too good to be true, but it’s what one RiNo apartment building is offering through a new artist residency program.

The Residency at FLORA is described as “a living, breathing creative lab where chefs, designers, writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists are invited to produce, experiment and engage.” Sounds very RiNo. Applications are being accepted through January 16; any artist selected will be awarded a furnished penthouse, a dedicated project space, a $500 stipend and collaboration opportunities with other local artists and businesses.

“It is thrilling to see this creative residency take flight at FLORA — it aligns with RiNo Art District’s mission by centering creatives expansively, and is sure to contribute mightily to the vibrancy of the district,” says new RiNo Art District Executive Director Daisy Fodness-McGowan.

While there are other artist residencies offered in Denver, none come with actual residences.

The residency is led by former art consultant-turned-real estate developer Edee Anesi, a manager for Chestnut Island, the partnership that owns FLORA. “I think RiNo has always been a cultural hub here in Denver, and we wanted to expand on what is already going on in RiNo and really support the creative scene here,” Anesi says.

The resident will be chosen and announced in early 2026; at the moment, Anesi doesn’t know how long the residency will last. “It’ll vary based on discipline and the length of time the artist can commit to coming to Denver, since this is a local/national/global call for artists,” Anesi notes. “And it’s across multiple disciplines, so it’s going to vary whether that’s a chef, a poet, a visual artist or a ballet dancer.”

The resident will be expected to put on activations and workshops throughout their time at FLORA (however long that might be), and the residency will end with a final showcase. “We’re really excited to throw some events with the artists and engage the local community through learning workshops,” Anesi says. “There will be multiple opportunities to get to know the artists, their craft and their process.”

The final showcase might look like a tasting menu, an unreleased short film alongside a DJ set and whiskey bar, or a performance-poetry collaboration intersecting with other types of art. “The final showcase isn’t a static moment,” Anesi explains. “It could be a one-night-only event with a performance piece or a special dinner. It’s more of an out-of-the-box residency than your typical visual arts residency. The workshops and events will all be special and specific to that artist and that moment in time.” Again, very RiNo.

The resident will be selected through a committee of creatives who will review applications and select artists of different disciplines. “Then we’ll work on local partnerships and collaborations here in Denver for that resident,” Anesi says. “We want someone who’s an emerging artist, who maybe doesn’t have access to opportunities where they’re currently residing and wants to come to Denver. Their passion and engagement with community is what we’re really looking for, someone who will come in and see the opportunity to collaborate with local Denver artists, businesses and elevate what they’re doing already.”

It’s all funded by FLORA, which has 92 units and over 7,500 square feet of amenities, including a year-round pool and hot tub. The building also has 16,000 square feet of commercial space, which is currently leased by a bespoke whiskey and wine store set to open in 2026. There are negotiations to bring a hospitality-driven restaurant and luxury beauty collective to FLORA next year, too.

“We purchased the property in 2018, and we started construction in 2021,” Anesi says. “We opened in May of 2024. …One of the unique features about FLORA is that it’s across from the RiNo Art Park, but it’s on the Platte River. Colorado doesn’t have a whole lot of water, so I think it’s just really special to be right there on the Platte and have that connection to nature when you’re still very much in an urban living environment.”

And in typical urban living fashion, FLORA’s studios start at $2,055 a month, one-bedrooms at $2,099 and penthouses at $5,665 — with the most expensive, which is 2,596 square feet, going for $14,500 a month.

FLORA art residents won’t have to worry about that, though. The penthouse they stay in will come furnished, with a balcony, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

“For them to be able to stay in a place that is comfortable and inspiring, but also gives them a place to relax as well as be creative, is a really important balance,” says Brock Fleming, principal at Belay Development, the development manager for FLORA. “And being across from the RiNo Art Park is an incredible amenity to the community and to FLORA. The RiNo Art District really manages so much of the programming and activation at the park, so for them to get to experience, see and engage with that will be really special as well. RiNo is a really collaborative and welcoming community, and I’m excited for them to be a part of this.”

Anesi also touts RiNo’s collaborative nature. “I think RiNo Art District is kind of going through an evolution right now, and we’re excited to get [the residents] involved in this,” she says. “Everyone has been such a great partner, and I truly think it’ll be successful for both the residency and for the artists, because that’s the kind of place RiNo is: We lift each other up.”

Applications for The Residency at FLORA are open through Tuesday, January 16. Learn more and apply at florarino.com.