DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[AHS1983]

"The Denver Way" sounds like it comes from a recipe or a guidebook for intimate positions.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by mr1138

I think our resident forum blogger may have misrepresented the outcome a bit here. The city is officially renaming the street to just "16th Street." This is what is being reported in every Denver media outlet, and seems like a good move to me (this just reverts back to the original name before "mall" was added).

He did indeed- the permanent signage all says 16th Street, while the temporary banners and signage on the vacant storefronts uses Denver Way. It's clearly a temporary slogan being used as part of the relaunch of 16th Street following the end of construction.

I'll add that the trees look damn nice, but they need to be pruned up a bit to provide more headroom and prevent the inevitable shithead from breaking the branches.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by Cirrus

"16th Street" sans Mall is ok. "The Denver Way" is forced. "16th Street Way" I actually would have liked.

Anyway, I trust y'all will post some pictures of the fabulous new mall way when it's worth photographing. Yes? Yes.

IDK if my five-year iPhone SE will be up to the task....

[TakeFive]

I'm grateful to you and mr1138 for properly educating me

Originally Posted by wong21fr

He did indeed- the permanent signage all says 16th Street, while the temporary banners and signage on the vacant storefronts uses Denver Way. It's clearly a temporary slogan being used as part of the relaunch of 16th Street following the end of construction.

You want to hear something really crazy? I didn't expressly think about it but in the back of mind I thought the street signs always just said "16th Street" without the Mall attached. But of course the signs read "16th Street Mall."

This has to be the biggest bull crap scheme I've ever heard of

Promoted as a rebranding turns out to be nonsense. It's actually (to pick a nit) an un-branding - not a rebranding. But to appease those that wanted something to latch onto, they're offering "The Denver Way" which is no more than a short-term promotional gimmick? What a farce.

TBH I don't mind NOT having any branding which is actually better than the obtuse "The Denver Way;" that would be more confusing than "Mall" was.

If you want to read something worthwhile about this whole cluster-mess, check this out:

A Mall No More: Looking Back at the Real 16th Street
May 21, 2025 By Alan Prendergast -- Westword

For a kid growing up in Denver in the 1960s, the bumper-to-bumper traffic along the old 16th Street was the apex of urban sophistication and cool. Downtown was where you took cousins from the suburbs and hick towns to impress them, showing off sky-scraping bank buildings and clock towers and venerable sandstone hotels as if you owned them. And 16th Street was the ribbon of light and noise and energy that held it all together. It was our Broadway, our Sunset Boulevard, our Champs-Élysées.

The street had everything. Elegant, hulking movie palaces fit for a rajah beckoned with huge marquees and lobby displays; the Denver and the Paramount squared off across the street from each other with the latest blockbusters, while the Centre pushed Disney fare a few blocks away. (Nothing better than plunking down 35 cents for a Wednesday matinee at the Paramount and being the first kid on your block to see Goldfinger.)

Note: I've long enjoyed reading anything written by Alan Prendergast; he's an amazing wordsmith.

[TakeFive]

Rockefeller still content to build in Denver/metro

MGL Partners and Rockefeller Group Launch The Moraine
May 13, 2025 -- Mile High CRE

MGL Partners, a Denver-based real estate investment, development, and management firm, in partnership with Rockefeller Group, has announced the launch of The Moraine, a 297-unit multifamily development in Longmont. This project marks a continued collaboration between MGL Partners and Rockefeller Group...

The Moraine comprises a diverse mix of floorplans ranging from studio apartments to expansive three-bedroom homes. The Moraine is designed by Santulan Architecture and constructed by B.C. Builders, with Allied Orion Group serving as the property manager.

The Moraine


Courtesy The Moraine/Santulan Architecture

This development team recently started leasing their new apartment project that's right on Main Street in Parker as they continue to finish the 2nd phase.

[TakeFive]

We have an office 'conversion'

Hotel conversion planned as architects sell Ballpark building for $6.5M
May 22, 2025 By Matt Geiger -- BusinessDen

Last week, Van Sistine purchased the 12,200-square-foot, three-story building for $6.5 million from Open Studio Architecture, the firm that developed the property in 2018 and has its office on the second floor. Van Sistine's plan is to turn the building's upper floors into a 16-room hotel.

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

IDK if my five-year iPhone SE will be up to the task....

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Rockefeller still content to build in Denver/metro

This development team recently started leasing their new apartment project that's right on Main Street in Parker as they continue to finish the 2nd phase.

James Beard-Nominated Bakeshop Relocates to Parker Mainstreet
May 22, 2025 -- Mile High CRE

Nationally acclaimed bakery Poulette Bakeshop will move to The Juniper in the fall of 2025, a brand-new luxury rental residence located at the gateway of downtown Parker’s Mainstreet. The agreement marks the first confirmed retail tenant at The Juniper, which was co-developed by Colorado-based real estate and investment firm MGL Partners and U.S. developer Rockefeller Group and began pre-leasing its 264 upscale apartments in April 2025.

The Juniper on Mainstreet -- 19865 Mainstreet Parker


Courtesy MGL Partners & Rockefeller Group

[TakeFive]

Who Knew?

New Brand Launches to Meet Demand for Active 55+ Living
May 22, 2025 -- Mile High CRE

Headwaters Group, a Denver-based vertically integrated real estate owner, acquirer and developer, has announced the official launch of its Aspendale brand. Aspendale, created to fill a growing need in the active adult 55+ housing market, will serve as the umbrella for a growing portfolio of communities across Colorado and the western U.S.

Aspendale Centennial -- 13857 E. Arapahoe Pl.

.....

.....
Courtesy Headwaters Group

Aspendale communities currently in development or leasing include:

• Aspendale Centennial | 13857 E. Arapahoe Pl. - Aspendale Centennial is scheduled to open in late 2025.
• Aspendale Northglenn | 10699 Melody Dr. - Broke ground in April 2024; Aspendale Northglenn is slated to open in early 2026.
• Aspendale Littleton | 5355 S. Alkire Street - the 190-apartment home community began in September 2024 with completion expected mid-2026.
• Aspendale Scottsdale | 13850 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. - The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired community began construction in December 2024

[Fritzdude]

Situation - Denver needs more parks in the worst way, especially near downtown. Consider ripping up the asphalt on Lawrence between Broadway and Downing Street. That 11 blocks that could be turned into a natural, landscaped, promenade that would provide a shady respite from the surrounding neighborhoods seeing increased development.

Proposal - Lawrence is already a quiet, primarily residential street that has no driveways accessible from Lawrence as every home has alley garages. Why not use the Panhandle in SF as a reference point and create our own long, albeit narrow, urban park/greenery. The are 90 feet between opposing sidewalks, so if they were replaced by a natural path surrounded by trees and grass, the houses would be fronting a quiet courtyard, as opposed to a street. Would this improve property values in the area? Imagine having a mile long park for people to run, walk, bike, and play. Would this work in Denver?

[mhays]

It would be nice from my perspective. However the uproar from taking away people's ability to park in front of their houses would make it implausible.

A quarter-block park somewhere like Lawrence & Broadway would be nice. Or even a full block, though land alone would be in the tens of millions.

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by mhays

It would be nice from my perspective. However the uproar from taking away people's ability to park in front of their houses would make it implausible.

A quarter-block park somewhere like Lawrence & Broadway would be nice. Or even a full block, though land alone would be in the tens of millions.

When you say land alone would be in the tens of millions, what do you mean? The city already owns the street.

I currently live on a courtyard and I love it. No loud cars ripping by at all hours of the day. And a nice greenway landscape to walk out onto from my front door. My property value reflects this amenity, so I’m wondering if people would consider giving up their street parking if it improved their home value by 10%.

And then, ultimately, what choice would people have, even those who are vehemently against the idea? The city provided the road, so can the city take it away? It’s not like they’d have to compensate anyone for the value of a road.

[Cirrus]

Interesting idea.

1. Skeptical you could ever get the politics to work, for sure. Guarantee that even with receptive city leadership, this would get tied up in court by NIMBYs for years.

2. What's so special about Lawrence in particular? Why that street? Not that this wouldn't be nice, but Curtis Park is already right there.

3. I think if your goal were a new linear park in that part of town then the path of least resistance would probably be to repurpose the 7 block long Rockies parking lot between Blake and rail tracks.

[mhays]

Sorry, I don't mean on the street, but the actual blocks, 1/4 of one or possibly a full one.

As for resident pressure, anything involving removing taking streets away would get a whole new level of fury. Politicians don't take that sort of thing lightly. If the goal is a nice thing for the neighborhood, step one is not making 50% of the closest people hate the idea and its leaders. There would be a well-funded and vociferous "no" campaign. Cities don't generally give big money to things that are that controversial.

[TakeFive]

I do like Fritzdude's vision

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Interesting idea.

1. Skeptical you could ever get the politics to work, for sure. Guarantee that even with receptive city leadership, this would get tied up in court by NIMBYs for years.

2. What's so special about Lawrence in particular? Why that street? Not that this wouldn't be nice, but Curtis Park is already right there.

Downtown Denver Partnership already has a plan for what they call the 5280 trail.

[mhays]

That looks far more doable.

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Interesting idea.

1. Skeptical you could ever get the politics to work, for sure. Guarantee that even with receptive city leadership, this would get tied up in court by NIMBYs for years.

2. What's so special about Lawrence in particular? Why that street? Not that this wouldn't be nice, but Curtis Park is already right there.

3. I think if your goal were a new linear park in that part of town then the path of least resistance would probably be to repurpose the 7 block long Rockies parking lot between Blake and rail tracks.

Ha.. I think it would a bigger fight with the Monforts to take away their parking than it would be to transform a city street. Interestingly, Lawrence is the one street in 5-points area that doesn’t have personal driveways entering the street, with the exception of 2-3 commercial properties, which means the city wouldn’t be taking away points of egress.

To compensate for the removal of streetside parking, perhaps the city can help fund the development of parking garages attached to street corner commercial entities at 24th, 27th, 30th, and 35th, all which happen to be empty? Would a resident prefer to park the car in a nearby enclosed garage rather than on the street? These garages could also be an asset to new businesses on Market and Larimer as well.. So, the question is, would the rise in property values for a house in downtown Denver fronting a natural Parkway calm the NIMBY outrage for anyone living on Lawrence? If done well, this natural amenity could be similar to New York City’s Highline Trail, which draws people from all over who just want to take a leisurely stroll without the hassle of cars. It would become a focal point of neighborhood activity, farmers markets, and outdoor events. I think Denver needs to think big because the surrounding area is booming with development and we have too much asphalt and not enough places to touch grass. The national press coverage would be crazy if this happened.

[mhays]

Parking garages and potentially a street fair in front of my (hypothetical) house? While some adjecent residents would love that, these points would add to others' fury.

One method seems realistic to overcome this politically: Let each block of homeowners vote. Build the blocks that get 100%. After completion, let the remaining blocks vote again, then do round 2 if any. The caveat: I doubt the idea would get a majority on any block, let alone 100%. Why 100%? Because of the visceral connection many people have with the ability to park in front of their houses. (Not me BTW, I don't drive.)

The High Line doesn't have street crossings. Also it has views.

[Cirrus]

It's way easier to build a gigantic parking garage for a stadium than to convince homeowners they have to walk multiple blocks to the neighborhood garage instead of parking in front of their home.

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by mhays

The High Line doesn't have street crossings. Also it has views.

Seems more like a cross between the Atlanta Beltline and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail to me.