John Lucero
About
John R. Lucero is the Founder and Principal of Lucero Development Services, Inc. and Founder/Employing Broker of iMPAX Real Estate Group, where he advises on complex real estate development, entitlements, public-private partnerships, housing strategy, and economic development initiatives across Colorado. With more than 30 years of experience spanning brokerage, development, government leadership, and public policy, John has contributed to more than $10 billion in completed real estate and economic development projects.
John is widely recognized for his expertise in mixed-income housing, workforce and affordable housing, adaptive reuse, transit-oriented development, public finance strategy, and complex stakeholder negotiation. His work focuses on aligning public and private interests to advance catalytic community redevelopment initiatives and long-term neighborhood investment.
Prior to returning to the private sector, John served under three mayors as Deputy Director of Denver’s Office of Economic Development, where he co-led Denver’s economic recovery strategy and oversaw housing, workforce development, business attraction, community development, and small business lending initiatives. During his tenure, he managed a $500 million loan portfolio, helped facilitate the development of more than 3,000 affordable housing units, and led Denver’s first citywide housing plan in more than two decades. He managed a $60 million operating budget and oversaw 320 employees in five divisions.
In the private sector, John has led or advised projects involving affordable housing, mixed-use redevelopment, entitlement strategy, public affairs, adaptive reuse, public finance, and brokerage services for developers, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and institutional stakeholders. He has also closed countless residential and commercial real estate transactions throughout his career and is a Certified Negotiation Expert.
John has held significant leadership roles within civic and industry organizations, including fourteen years on the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, where he served as First Vice President and President. During his tenure, he participated on the negotiation team for the historic Colorado River Cooperative Agreement involving 17 Western Slope water utilities and stakeholders.
He is also a longtime leader within the Colorado Association of REALTORS®, Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®, and National Association of REALTORS®, where he has chaired major housing, water, and policy committees and served as Federal Political Coordinator to multiple United States Senators. John is an active REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) investor and has been recognized for several years as a Golden R President’s Circle investor. He is also a National Association of REALTORS® RPAC Hall of Fame inductee, recipient of the Oliver Frascona Lifetime Achievement Award, REALTOR® of the Year, the CAR Political Service Award, and numerous other industry and community leadership honors.
John’s approach is grounded in one principle: real estate can—and should—drive equitable economic growth, community stability, and long-term community value.