A former Marathon Oil research complex will eventually become a mixed-use oasis of apartments, single-family homes and commercial space. But first, it needs the sewer and roads. (Otherwise you'd be spending a lot of money to live like pioneeers.)

We spoke with California-based Watt Cos' Jennifer McElyea about what's next for the 77.2 acres in Littleton the company purchased last month. We were first to report on plans by Watt to build a mixed-use community at 7400 South Broadway that used to be a former Marathon Oil research center. (Will each apartment come with a leftover Bunsen burner?) The company paid $21.5M for the site. Now, Jennifer says the company is master planning the site to see how it will fit in 900 residential units (in a mix of multi- and single-family) as well as 250k SF of retail and office space.

But first, it needs to add the infrastructure. Watt has begun a nine-month process of building roads, sewer piping and other assorted infrastructure on the site. Jennifer says once completed, we should be seeing the first of the commercial and residential (most likely single-family and apartments) coming out of the ground next year.

"The very, very strong demand right now is for residential," Jennifer says. Watt is looking to partner with a couple of residential developers—especially for the single-family product. The company has already received interest from potential residents, even though no marketing activity has begun. (Rumors spread fast around here.) "Littleton is certainly a community a lot of people want to live in. We've already been receiving inquiries from people who want to be put on lists for the homes."