Denver has lost one of the quiet architects of modern RiNo. Byron Weiss, the longtime owner of the Rock Drill property on the edge of the neighborhood, died March 17 at 86. For decades, he kept the 6.7‑acre industrial campus intact while pushing forward a long‑range plan to turn it into a mixed‑use district that preserves the site’s distinctive sawtooth brick buildings. Neighbors and developers say his stubborn insistence on protecting the property’s character helped set the tone for how the entire block will be rebuilt.
How Weiss built the Rock Drill
Born in late 1939, Weiss attended East High School and later founded Porta Power in the 1980s. He bought the Rock Drill campus in 1993 and ran his warehouse‑supply business out of the old industrial buildings. The Weiss family has been under contract with OliverBuchananGroup and the sale is expected to close in staged transactions later this year, details noted in his obituary and recent coverage. As reported by BusinessDen, family members said Weiss "poured his heart and soul" into getting the property developed.
What’s planned for Rock Drill
Last year, the City Council signed off on rezoning, a development agreement, and up to $39 million in tax‑increment financing for a plan to remake the 6.7‑acre campus into housing, hotel rooms, and retail, according to Denverite. The developer’s public materials and renderings show a program that includes roughly 700–800 residential units, 100,000–150,000 square feet of retail, and a large central plaza.
Official rezoning filings indicate the map amendment sought C‑MX‑16 and C‑MX‑12 zone districts, which guide allowable heights and uses on the site; see the City of Denver for details.
Neighbors and family remember Weiss
Weiss’s son Brett said his father "poured his heart and soul into getting this developed," a sentiment echoed by local developers who described Byron as a steady presence at neighborhood meetings. City Councilman Darrell Watson called Weiss "a force in Denver and the Eastside," praising his commitment to preserving the site’s industrial fabric rather than scraping it for a blank‑slate build.
Longtime neighbors recalled his daily walks through the property and his hands‑on stewardship of the aging brick complex, memories captured by BusinessDen.
Next steps for Rock Drill
With approvals already in place, OliverBuchananGroup and its partners say acquisition, remediation and phased construction are still on the calendar, with actual ground‑breaking months away. The project’s official site lays out the program, including 700–800 units, 100,000–150,000 square feet of retail, hotel rooms and open space, and shows renderings that retain the historic sawtooth buildings; see Rock Drill RiNo.
Public filings for the Denver Rock Drill Metropolitan District also list a Weiss family member as board chair, underscoring the family’s continuing role as the project moves toward closing and construction. For more, see the Denver Rock Drill Metropolitan District transparency notice.
