A new rendering for this tall beaut (the possible NEW highest res. tower in Denver and between SF and Dallas)!
Rockymountainnews.com
AND...an article by the Rocky Mountain news, which claims a construction start by
December 2008 at the latest. Hopefully, it will begin sooner, but a go on this project now seems inevitable. I can't wait to move this baby to the construction thread! (600+ feet of glassy goodness!)
Keep looking for updates!!!
Courtesy of RMN:
The new sales center for what will be the tallest residential tower in Denver cost $1.2 million just to build and furnish.
That's also the most popular price for a unit in the planned 51-story building.
The sales center, which will be disassembled when construction starts in December 2008 on the $165 million, 145-unit project at 1401 Lawrence, features an exact replica of a 2,500-square-foot unit. Those units are expected to sell for about $1.2 million. Units start at about $800,000.
The media was given a tour of the center by the developer, Toronto-based Great Gulf, on Wednesday, but prospective buyers who have reserved units have been given private showings over the past few weeks.
The center, designed by Cecconi-Simone Interior Design of Toronto, will be open only for private showings and events.
What has drawn potential buyers?
"I think it has been the incredible attention to detail and the design," said Sandra Frasson, marketing director for Great Gulf Homes.
For example, some of the sinks, instead of having rounded or flat bowls, drain at a fairly steep angle. Art by Dale Chihuly, famed for his glasswork, will be displayed throughout the building.
The center also has a computerized screen that shows the views from each floor.
"If you're buying in a 51-story building, the reason you are buying is for the views," Frasson said.
"We thought a lot of people would want the mountain views, but we're also finding a great deal of interest in the downtown views."
Contracts are being accepted for condos in the building. So far, interested buyers have ranged from professionals in their 20s to 80-year-olds, Frasson said. At least 30 percent to 40 percent of the units must be presold before Great Gulf starts the 21/2-year construction process, she said.
The building will be constructed across from the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Denver. Dan Fead, a broker with Fuller Towne and Country, said he isn't sure if that is good or bad.
"That is a puzzler to me," Fead said. "You look at restaurants, and they do well when they are right next to each other. But if that carries over to new high-rise condo projects, I just don't know."
He said units in both buildings that look at each other might be tough to sell, because they won't have the commanding views people expect in that price range.
Fead said units in 1401 Lawrence are priced below the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton under construction, although they will be more expensive than Randy Nichols' Spire a few blocks away on 14th Street. Nichols has temporarily halted construction of the Spire while he lines up new financing.
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, when I noticed that they have added actual floorplans to the website. They have also added more interior photos and views of the residences. This is new to me, previously they did not have such a tab.
To be honest, I am somewhat surprised, especially considering it wasn't the financing that killed the project, or the location, or the planning to get it off the ground. There simply weren't enough units sold or demand for this tower's price range (I always thought 600k and up would be a tough sell). Still, surprising. Great Gulf seemed to be confident about their chances of continuing to get contracts for units to attain a substantial number by December for groundbreaking. I guess they forcasted there wouldn't be enough sold in the next 6 months. ChapinM1, don't read this. You won't like what you see. 
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