DENVER | 650 17th St. | 430 FT | 39 FLOORS

[Atlas]

Just announced today! The developer is Greystar and the parcel is zoned for unlimited height. I don't have access to the article but here's the rendering!



Some info from the development thread:

Originally Posted by rds70

A rendering of the proposed tower planned for 650 17th Street:

Per BusinessDen, Greystar is the proposed developer and the architect is Ziegler Cooper. 342 units are proposed. 573 feet in height.

[twister244]

Very nice. Solid 500-footer. I can't help but feel like this rendering makes the tower look taller than it really is.

[Dale]

I know I like it.

[TallBob]

At least it's a good looking box!

[rds70]

Here is the latest proposal for the project:

39 stories, 430 feet, 273 hotel rooms and 150 apartment units. The developer is now Harbinger Partners, the property owner. The architect is JNS Design of Denver:

[NYC2ATX]

Denver is like allergic to building above a certain height.

[Dale]

For all its strengths, Denver may have the stalest skyline of any major American city.

[colemonkee]

Bummer to lose the 125 ft, but the design is solid. Simple, but aesthetically pleasing.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Denver is like allergic to building above a certain height.

Yea, it's weird, and frustrating that some of the fastest growing cities (Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Phoenix etc.) struggle so much to build tall buildings.

The design was downgraded a bit too but it's still okay, I like the entrance.

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by Dale

For all its strengths, Denver may have the stalest skyline of any major American city.

Phoenix

[jbermingham123]

Originally Posted by BuildThemTaller

Phoenix

and San Jose

and San Diego

[Dale]

Originally Posted by jbermingham123

and San Jose

and San Diego

SD is adding tall ones (relative to existing height) ata pretty good clip.

[Matt]

Awful, just awful. So demure and uninspired. I prefer the existing surface parking lot.

[James Raymond]

Looks like a bland condo building that belongs in Chicago's Near North Side. Another Denver project that missed its potential.

[shakman]

Originally Posted by jbermingham123

and San Jose

and San Diego

All of these cities have strict height restrictions due to the proximity of their respective airports. I don't know the reason for Denver.

[jbermingham123]

Originally Posted by shakman

All of these cities have strict height restrictions due to the proximity of their respective airports. I don't know the reason for Denver.

Its pretty unfortunate. I lived in Denver for a little while as a kid and again in high school, and really like the city. younger me would be horrified to find out that the skyline hasnt changed and that the culs de sac and strip malls have continued to expand in all directions

Heres something crazy: even *Houston* had TWO supertalls when it was the size that Denver is now.



Anyway, as far as i can tell, there IS a concrete reason for Denver's lack of skyline: Its the fact that Denver is still, stucturally, a corporate outpost city; Pretty much every major corporation has an office there, but the city has relatively few headquarters.

And the large companies that ARE headquartered in Denver are all in things like logistics, raw materials, retail, manufacturing.. the types of companies that typically have a small main office and a ton of warehouses. I mean, for gods sake, the 3rd largest company in the state of colorado is an aluminum can company:

https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2...companies-2023

[Edmo]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Denver is like allergic to building above a certain height.

Growing up in Denver the reason any tall building proposals faced opposition was the fear that it would block people's view of the mountains. Of course, this is ridiculous, but it worked. It is a very underachieving skyline. The current three tallest were all built in the early 80's, if that tells you anything.

[rds70]

Originally Posted by Edmo

Growing up in Denver the reason any tall building proposals faced opposition was the fear that it would block people's view of the mountains. Of course, this is ridiculous, but it worked. It is a very underachieving skyline. The current three tallest were all built in the early 80's, if that tells you anything.

For anyone who would want to do any research rather than make stuff up, here are the reasons like it or not:

Prior to the opening of DIA, downtown was too close to the airport (Stapleton). FAA height restrictions applied.

Since that time, zoning regulations have limited height to 400 feet outside of a narrow core area. Even in that area, height can only be achieved through either mixed-use or TDR. An office only project, such as 1144 15th, required TDR. It is only 615 feet.

The answer to taller buildings would be to lobby the City Council to revise the zoning regulations.

Personally, I would like to see the continual development of 20-35 story buildings on parking lots vs. one taller building.

Right now there are 10 25+ story buildings planned in the core and surrounding neighborhoods, and many more 12+ story buildings. Those buildings will create urban street scapes that are better than one or two tall buildings would create.

Just my opinion.