LAKEWOOD — City leaders say the groundbreaking Thursday afternoon of a $31 million, multi-family development along the W light-rail line is another sign of revitalization happening along West Colfax.

“This development will be a catalyst for other projects to come to this area,” said Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul. “Years ago, this is the sort of project people envisioned would come once the light-rail was built.”

The five-story, 155-unit West Line Flats will be the first market-rate housing development along the W-line since the route opened in 2013, said Momentum developer Jamie Temple.

“We see this as a great opportunity being next to a light-rail station, being adjacent to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design along with the revitalization of the Lamar Station Plaza and West Colfax,” Temple said.

The site is at the corner of West 13th Avenue and Newland Street. Plans call for an adjacent park to be built along with two parking garages and a three-story clubhouse with a cyber cafe, fitness center, yoga room and administrative offices.

Construction is slated to be finished May 2017, with studio apartments renting for $1,100 a month, one-bedrooms for $1,350 and two-bedroom rentals at $1,700.

Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or @abriggs