A tiny slice of city-owned property along West Colfax Avenue could soon be home to a 12- to 14-story micro-apartment building that developers are billing as a “car-free community.”

Denver-based Urban Villages, in partnership with Larimer Associates CEO Jeff Hermanson, have entered into an agreement with the City of Denver to purchase the quarter-acre parcel at 270 14th St. that currently houses a free child care center for families with Denver County or district court business.

The Denver City Council signed off on the $2.5 million sale agreement earlier this week.

“The project at 14th and Court has the opportunity to showcase the city’s commitment to new urbanism and the shared economy by creating a 100 percent car-free community that embraces the shared economy, heavily encouraging the use of bicycle and car share services as well as nearby public transit options,” Hermanson said in a statement.

No project renderings were available Thursday, but project officials said plans call for a mix of residential and retail space. Completion is targeted for summer 2018.

One of the most notable features, though, is what the project won’t have: on-site parking will not be provided, other than a limited number of car-share spaces. Bike sharing services will also be available.

“One of the challenges of this site is the shape and size. It’s very difficult to make circulation possible for parking,” said Urban Villages vice president and partner Jon Buerge. “We wanted to embrace that lack of parking. With the connections to mass transit and the connections to downtown, people could live comfortably in this place without having their own car.”

Micro-apartment units, ranging in size from 300 to 350 square feet, will make up the bulk of the project.

“A lot of people are doing studio apartments and rebranding them as microhousing. That’s not really what we’re envisioning,” Buerge said. “By designing it new, we can be very thoughtful about maximizing storage and making it as livable as possible.”

On the ground level, the building will feature a signature restaurant, as well as small storefronts for chefs looking to test concepts in a less risky “restaurant incubator” setting.

“There are so many people working in that area and so much opportunity to activate Civic Center park, but there’s not a lot of good food and beverage options in that area,” Buerge said. “We’re hoping this becomes a catalyst for the whole Civic Center area.”

Depending on the floor-to-ceiling height in the final design, the building could be 14 stories, Buerge said.

View plane restrictions around Civic Center limit the building height to roughly 155 feet, according to a city spokeswoman.

The child care center currently located on the site will be moved to the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse building by the end of the year, city finance department spokeswoman Courtney Law said. The sale will not close before the daycare is settled into its new location.

Denver Warm Welcome Court Childcare provides free child care services for parents or caretakers who have business in Denver County or district court, including jury duty. Children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old are eligible for the program.

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