The Whole Foods Market under construction near Denver Union Station will be the natural grocer’s flagship store in the Mile High City, offering expanded catering and delivery tailored to the downtown business community, a second-floor balcony overlooking the rejuvenated train station and unique programming that “fits in with that downtown nightlife lifestyle,” a store official said this week.

“That’s definitely what it will be in terms of size and really offering cutting-edge venues and design,” said Heather Larrabee, executive marketing coordinator for Whole Foods’ Rocky Mountain region. “The building that Holland Partner is creating is just gorgeous. We needed a store that could match that in terms of vibrance and aesthetics.”

When it opens in 2017, the 56,000-square-foot grocery store will anchor Pivot Denver, a 580-unit luxury apartment community that will cover an entire 2-acre city block bounded by Chestnut Place and 17th, 18th and Wewatta streets.

Developers Holland Partner Group and North America Sekisui House, along with Whole Foods, will celebrate the start of construction in a ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Dirt work began on the $240 million project this year, said Peter Petricca, senior development manager on the project for Holland Partner Group.

“We’re starting to go vertical now,” Petricca said.

Previously known as 17W, Pivot will feature three 10-story residential towers above one level of underground parking and three levels of above-grade parking.

A central amenity building connecting the towers will include a “grand hall” area inspired by Union Station, a private theater room and a kitchen/bar and fitness center. There also will be three outdoor areas with a swimming pool, multiple outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, Petricca said.

In addition to Whole Foods — the second grocer to put down stakes downtown following King Soopers at 20th Street and Chestnut — Pivot will include another 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

“Pivot is really an extension of what’s happening in that neighborhood,” Petricca said. “It’s really an extension of the energy and vibrance of the Union Station area.”

Construction on the first residential tower along Chestnut should be completed by April 2017, with Whole Foods looking to open in September 2017, Petricca said. The entire project should be done by spring 2018.

Its sister property, Platform at Union Station, is currently in the initial lease-up phase, with about one-third of apartments leased, Petricca said. Rent starts at $1,535 for a studio, with the largest two-bedroom units going for $5,925 or more, according to the property website.

Emilie Rusch: 303-954-2457, erusch@denverpost.com or twitter.com/emilierusch