WINTER PARK — Two large new development parcels at Lakota in Winter Park are now open to potential investors and developers.

Buck Creek and Lakota Pointe together comprise 110 acres around the existing Lakota subdivision.

“We see the local economy getting better and stronger, and we see some very inspiring sales activity,” said Bret Moore, one of the owners of Lakota Land Group LTD. “We think that the time is finally right to consider developing these properties.”

Additionally, Moore said the uptick in the Denver real estate market seemed to be trickling into the Fraser Valley.

Grand County’s gross transaction volume in January 2015 was up 0.33 percent from January 2014, according to data from Leslie Larkin with Land Title Guarantee Company.

The number of transactions increased around 36.4 percent, according to the data.

The two new Lakota parcels were originally conveyed to developer Rick Hermes, who returned the parcels to their current owner during the financial crisis, Moore said.

“We’ve been kind of laying low for several years and waiting for the economy to improve,” Moore said.

The announcement comes just weeks after the Town of Winter Park approved development agreements for the two Sitzmark properties located on the north end of Winter Park.

The agreements plan for a new community center, hotel and grocery store and approve 97 mixed-use residential units in total.

Moore said he’s currently looking for developers interested in the property.

“We’re in the preliminary stages here of putting plans together for these properties, and I would say a lot of that has to do with who might have an interest in developing them,” Moore said. “Obviously we’d like to find someone who would be interested in purchasing these parcels, but then again I have developed there before and I would certainly consider doing that again.”

The 54-acre Buck Creek parcel, located on the southern end of the Lakota subdivision, has been approved for 121 mixed residential units.

“A lot of it looks west downvalley and you can see mountains in the distance, but you don’t have ski area views,” Moore said.

Buck Creek also contain some more secluded, private parcels with views of the wetlands around the southern part of Lakota.

Lakota Pointe, a 56-acre parcel located at the northern end of Lakota, has been approved for 143 mixed residential units.

“Lakota Pointe is a very unique property in that it just has these huge 180 degree views from all over the property,” Moore said, adding the parcel has views of Winter Park Resort as well as the Continental Divide.

“There’s going to be a lot of diversity in terms of settings for development and homes, and I’d say there’s also the potential for some larger multifamily type projects,” he said.

Moore said his group is also exploring the possibility of a pedestrian bridge linking Lakota to Winter Park Resort’s drop-off area.

“We’ve held discussions with the ski area about that,” Moore said. “There’s no formal agreement in place about that, but the ski area does seem warm and receptive to the idea.”

For more information about Buck Creek and Lakota Pointe or to schedule a tour, visit buckcreekatlakota.com, lakotapointe.com or contact Moore at 303-591-4294.