Colorado doesn't require one to set up an LLC but our lender wants one so I need to write one.

This may include your qualified intermediary, the buyer, your attorney, your lender, or title company;Any party involved in your 1031 exchange transaction is killed, injured, or missing as a result of the Presidentially declared disaster.

I was looking for suggestions in regards to lender who can do commercial loan on LLC in California.

Have you tired any construction loan lender?

I realize there are a lot of details that go into the mortgage decision process for the lender that I couldn't include in here, but just looking for some general/creative ideas of ways that things  could be structured with a lender to make something like this work.tia,-Rob

The best is to prepare for the worst, talk to a lender now pre=quality for a refinance ,make sure of your numbers when buying the asset 

My lender had suggested I receive a gift for the down payment.

yes...no lender/bank is going to work directly with you unless they are that single branch local, community mom and pop bank that is two deals away from going into FDIC receivership.

I don't have the whole 70k I figure I see if they would come down and if they do Then i would try to find some lenders and/or ask some of my buddy to invest with me .

Call lenders local to the property until you encounter one that can spell "continuity of obligation" without the use of a spell checker.Talk to an estate planner, too.