DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[AHS1983]

The Waltons will use all leverage at their disposal to squeeze a new stadium from metro taxpayers.

That's how the NFL does it, and Johnson is providing the Waltons with justification. Sad.

[mr1138]

Originally Posted by AHS1983

The Waltons will use all leverage at their disposal to squeeze a new stadium from metro taxpayers.

That's how the NFL does it, and Johnson is providing the Waltons with justification. Sad.

While I am admittedly somewhat of a fair-weather football fan, this entire conversation about Mile High Stadium irks me in a different way too.

I used to be a member of the Denver-based Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in the early 2000s. The Blue Knights used to hold a MAJOR Drum Corps competition at Mile High Stadium called "Drums Along the Rockies." According to the wikipedia page for Mile High, this event ran from 1963 to 2019, making it the single longest-running event held at the stadium and at the new stadium.

After the pandemic cancelled the competitive drum corps season in 2020, the Blue Knights moved the event to Colorado State University's stadium in Fort Collins in 2022 - completely spoiling the fun of having a hometown show at a major NFL stadium and leading to a huge decline in the number of performing groups competing and in attendance.

It was brought to my attention by some of the others who used to march with me that, when lobbying for a new stadium in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Metro Stadium District made a promise that the venue would always remain available for non-profit events such as Drums Along the Rockies. Yet, in the early 2010s, the state High School Marching Band championship was pressured out of the stadium. Then, in 2023, I was told Drums Along the Rockies had to be moved because "Taylor Swift makes a lot more money for the stadium." It was as though everybody had forgotten about the less-than-25-year old promise to set dates aside for non-profit events, and as though everybody (including the Drum Corps leadership) had forgotten that this is actually a publicly owned and operated facility.

I realize this is a fairly niche complaint, but it really stings to see stadium management treat their longest-running event with such distain. This just reinforces your point about how the NFL does business. It really, really 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 living in the era of late-stage capitalism.

[AHS1983]

The NFL always has at least one team-ready but team-less city set aside as a credible threat to use against recalcitrant taxpayers. "San Antonio Broncos" sounds damned nice, doesn't it?

The whole charade is precisely extortion.

[gopokes21]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughin', people passin', meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you hear
Silver Bells (Songwriters: Jay Livingston / Ray Evans)


Denver’s huge sidewalk rebuild set to begin with $75M contracts
Jul. 15, 2025 By Paolo Zialcita -- Denverite



Credit Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

This ended up being a disappointing program, like every good idea that makes it to the execution stage I guess. I will never forgive Kevin Flynn for politically screwing this program up to the point it is now.

Originally, this was to be a direct fee on property owners who were getting the benefit of these new sidewalks. I live in a neighborhood with sidewalks, which I valued enough when I was house shopping, now I get a $175 invoice to build sidewalks everywhere except MY neighborhood.

The reason this happened is because some single-family homeowners in Flynn's district were going to get hit with $20,000 bills to build sidewalks along their multi-acre homestead. Good! Furthermore, this was said to potentially pressure these people to sell their homes. That would have been even better - sell and redevelop all of them.

They just sucked all the potential good out of the fee structure and turned it into yet another smaller fee for everyone to pay. It's a massive bailout for unwalkable council districts is what it is.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by gopokes21

They just sucked all the potential good out of the fee structure and turned it into yet another smaller fee for everyone to pay. It's a massive bailout for unwalkable council districts is what it is.

Given that the most unwalkable districts, as measured by the metric of not having sidewalks, are the Globeville and Elyria Swansea neighborhoods the bailout could rather be considered a subsidy. Hopefully it will continue the process of gentrifying these neighborhoods.

I really don't care too much on the implementation for already established neighborhoods, if you already have sidewalks you should absolutely go to the back of the line while the rest of the network is built out. My sidewalks are less than a decade old, I pay 40% higher property taxes because of them and a host of other infrastructure projects, and I know that I won't see a sidewalk project provided by this fund, of which I shall also pay, here in my lifetime.

At least it's not the abomination that's that Vibrate Denver bond package with it's massive $70M funding for the Park Hill Golf Course park. That proposal can 🞵🞵🞵🞵 balls.

[TakeFive]

It's a fascinating story: "The history of 1125 17th Street"

First and foremost this building dates back to 1980, a time when the Oil & Gas Boom was roaring; a period when banks liked to see their name on a building.

History -- According to Wikipedia:

The building was designed by the prolific architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The building was formerly known as the Bank One Tower, and in even earlier times, the Amoco Building, since Standard Oil once leased a significant part of the building. When JPMorgan Chase and Bank One merged, the building's name changed to the Chase Tower.[2] Now, according to the building's web site, the building's current name is simply its address, 1125 17th Street.

About 1125 Seventeenth Street

In 2017, Hines acquired 1125 Seventeenth Street, a 492,799-square-foot Class A office tower in downtown Denver. The property is located in the Midtown West portion of the central business district—a prime office location for a variety of tenants, at the gateway to LoDo, with easy access via road and rail.

The property was renovated in 2018, which included a complete lobby renovation, addition of a tenant lounge, conference facilities and outdoor space, spec suite program and many other upgrades.

1125 Seventeenth Street is proud to be a member of The SQ Collection, providing tenants with exclusive access to a worldwide network of offices, coworking spaces, outdoor terrace event spaces and top-notch amenities across the esteemed Hines portfolio.

1125 17th Street


Courtesy LoopNet


Courtesy Hines/Goldman Sachs

Dribs and Drabs: they all count, they all add up

Downtown Denver Office Signs 66K SF Of New Leases
July 16, 2025 By Jonathan Rose, Bisnow Denver

Tenants have signed 66K SF of new leases at 1125 17th St. so far in 2025, pushing occupancy past 80% following a $25M renovation, according to owner Hines.

New tenants include Guzman Energy, which expanded to occupy 21K SF on a full floor; Kurtz Fargo, leasing 7K SF; an unnamed tech firm that took 28K SF; and multiple law firms that signed for a combined 27K SF.

The leasing momentum comes alongside the late-April opening of HashTAG, a new rooftop brunch spot from chef Troy Guard. The property’s refresh includes a new lobby, wellness center, tenant lounge, upgraded boardroom and collaboration areas, and an outdoor terrace with a 150-foot mural by Magik Studios.

It depends on who you ask but this is a new high for the downtown CBD.

The announcement stands out in a challenging office market. Availability in downtown Denver hit 39.9% in the second quarter, with the central business district reaching 41.8%, the highest in the metro, according to Savills’ just-released Q2 office report.

BTW, Savills leases space in this building. I also read that Choozle left its 15,000-square-foot office in RiNo for ~8,000 SF in in this building in early 2024. Also in Oct. of 2024, Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes (GPMBF) signed a long-term lease for 21,040 square feet at 1125 Seventeenth Street.

For a building built in 1980, you have to be impressed with how well Hines is managing.

[TakeFive]

I guess some people are still learning that if you want to do business in Denver you do it the Denver Way or hit the Highway

Swire Coca-Cola scraps plans for large bottling plant near DIA
July 16, 2025 By Jessica Alvarado Gamez -- The Denver Post

Swire Coca-Cola, the Utah-based manufacturer and distributor, is canceling its plan to construct a 570,000-square-foot bottling plant at the northeast corner of Tower Road and Peña Boulevard near Denver International Airport.

“Unforeseen delays and ongoing timeline instability have severely impacted the viability and delivery of the project. As such, we will no longer pursue the originally proposed location for the development of a new production plant,” a company representative said in an emailed statement to The Post.

The company added that it still plans to make a significant regional investment in a new production facility at a different location, which is in the process of being identified.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

At least it's not the abomination that's that Vibrate Denver bond package with it's massive $70M funding for the Park Hill Golf Course park. That proposal can 🞵🞵🞵🞵 balls.

I was also wondering if this was the best time to run up the credit card. They yap about affordability but with the opportunity to lower property taxes... Nah, we don't want to do that. Admittedly, it's never a bad time to add infrastructure.

I also wondered about $90 million for the 8th Avenue Viaduct given they just replaced all the expansion joints and repaved it.

It turns out there's plans going on that weren't yet being disclosed... pending a decision from the Broncos.

Denverite has the story.

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by gopokes21

This ended up being a disappointing program, like every good idea that makes it to the execution stage I guess. I will never forgive Kevin Flynn for politically screwing this program up to the point it is now.

Originally, this was to be a direct fee on property owners who were getting the benefit of these new sidewalks. I live in a neighborhood with sidewalks, which I valued enough when I was house shopping, now I get a $175 invoice to build sidewalks everywhere except MY neighborhood.

The reason this happened is because some single-family homeowners in Flynn's district were going to get hit with $20,000 bills to build sidewalks along their multi-acre homestead. Good! Furthermore, this was said to potentially pressure these people to sell their homes. That would have been even better - sell and redevelop all of them.

They just sucked all the potential good out of the fee structure and turned it into yet another smaller fee for everyone to pay. It's a massive bailout for unwalkable council districts is what it is.

The originally proposed fee structure was asinine. This whole program isn’t going to work - Denver’s sidewalks are only going to get worse from here as both homeowners and the city will sit on their hands and fail to repair the crumbling existing infrastructure

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Given that the most unwalkable districts, as measured by the metric of not having sidewalks, are the Globeville and Elyria Swansea neighborhoods the bailout could rather be considered a subsidy. Hopefully it will continue the process of gentrifying these neighborhoods.

I really don't care too much on the implementation for already established neighborhoods, if you already have sidewalks you should absolutely go to the back of the line while the rest of the network is built out. My sidewalks are less than a decade old, I pay 40% higher property taxes because of them and a host of other infrastructure projects, and I know that I won't see a sidewalk project provided by this fund, of which I shall also pay, here in my lifetime.

At least it's not the abomination that's that Vibrate Denver bond package with it's massive $70M funding for the Park Hill Golf Course park. That proposal can 🞵🞵🞵🞵 balls.

I live in the Eastbridge neighborhood, house is now 20 years old. I live on a corner and my sidewalk is fine, so wouldn't expect/want them to touch it.

However, last year they came through our neighborhood and ripped out ever single curb cut on corners and replaced them with what appears to be the same thing! I honestly can't see that anything changed other than new concrete. I researched it and apparently there is some federal mandate on curb cuts being some very specific way (maybe the rise decreased by 1 degree?). So Denver had to comply and hired a contractor to fix curb cuts (wheelchair ramps) for sidewalks all over the city. The contractor has to do replace so many per year for however many years, so they started in our neighborhood because they're very easy to replace (since nothing was wrong with them). Rather than start in older parts of the city where you see jacked up curb cuts that really need to be replaced but would require more work by the contractor.

[RiNo Randy]

At least the pedestrian bridge proposed for the Capital is dead.

https://denverite.com/2025/07/22/jared-polis-capitol-pedestrian-bridge/

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

However, last year they came through our neighborhood and ripped out ever single curb cut on corners and replaced them with what appears to be the same thing! I honestly can't see that anything changed other than new concrete. I researched it and apparently there is some federal mandate on curb cuts being some very specific way (maybe the rise decreased by 1 degree?). So Denver had to comply and hired a contractor to fix curb cuts (wheelchair ramps) for sidewalks all over the city. The contractor has to do replace so many per year for however many years, so they started in our neighborhood because they're very easy to replace (since nothing was wrong with them). Rather than start in older parts of the city where you see jacked up curb cuts that really need to be replaced but would require more work by the contractor.

I noticed that when I was in Park Hill this week (where I used to live). Thanks for the explanation.

Agreed that there are areas within Five Points (and many others across the city) that could use prioritization.

[TakeFive]

DU classes starting soon; brand new apartments available in time for school

Modera University Park -- 2354 S High St

Welcome to Modera University Park, where sophistication is the standard. Located in an established neighborhood adjacent to the University of Denver, this new apartment community offers a lifestyle as elevated as its Rocky Mountain views.

Images courtesy Mill Creek

Units available starting Aug 24 -- ENJOY UP TO 8 WEEKS FREE!*

Limited-time special! Reserve your new Modera home by 7/31 and enjoy up to eight weeks of rent free living! *Restrictions apply. Offer valid on 12-15-month lease terms only.

[gopokes21]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Given that the most unwalkable districts, as measured by the metric of not having sidewalks, are the Globeville and Elyria Swansea neighborhoods the bailout could rather be considered a subsidy. Hopefully it will continue the process of gentrifying these neighborhoods.

I really don't care too much on the implementation for already established neighborhoods, if you already have sidewalks you should absolutely go to the back of the line while the rest of the network is built out. My sidewalks are less than a decade old, I pay 40% higher property taxes because of them and a host of other infrastructure projects, and I know that I won't see a sidewalk project provided by this fund, of which I shall also pay, here in my lifetime.

At least it's not the abomination that's that Vibrate Denver bond package with it's massive $70M funding for the Park Hill Golf Course park. That proposal can 🞵🞵🞵🞵 balls.

You pay 40% higher property taxes because you have sidewalks? You lost me there.

[TakeFive]

Maybe give it a second read

Originally Posted by gopokes21

You pay 40% higher property taxes because you have sidewalks? You lost me there.

40% higher property taxes because of them and a host of other infrastructure projects

And if Mayor Mike wasn't so keen on spending $935 million with the "Vibrant Denver bond package" then property taxes would drop.

And according to Kyle Harris/Denverite things are becoming controversial.

[TakeFive]

I do enjoy Mayor Mike's Can-Do attitude

Denver Mayor Wants To Convert 4M SF Of Vacant Office
July 22, 2025 By Jonathan Rose, Denver

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston pledged to convert 4M SF of the city’s vacant office stock into affordable housing for middle-income residents during Monday night’s 2025 State of the City address.

“We still have business owners on Broadway who don’t feel safe having staff members close up the shop and walk to their cars after work, and that’s not good enough,” Johnston said.

I'm also wondering if the Mayor isn't getting out over his skis with all the Happy Talk.

---------------------------------------

Things are getting interesting

Denver's DDA poised to pick projects in $175M funding round
Jul 28, 2025 By By Noelle Harff -- Denver Business Journal

The authority that Denver voters expanded in the fall to fund up to $570 million in downtown projects is poised to make its first choices.

[TakeFive]

Any of you ever travel far enough outside the city to run across Arvada?

It's a "Comer" -- although to be candid I've yet to see any sidewalk surveys.

Built in Arvada: Colorado's hidden hotbed of cutting-edge manufacturing: Denver7 | Your Voice
Jul 25, 2025 By: Russell Haythorn

ARVADA, Colo. — While Olde Town is obviously a major attraction, we’ve discovered Arvada is about much more than restaurants and retail. ... there's a major push to attract and retain manufacturing jobs in Arvada through a program called the Arvada Manufacturing Initiative. The Arvada Manufacturing Initiative started in 2014 and is the only initiative of its kind in Colorado, which pushes to create more manufacturing jobs and retain the ones that already exist here.

The goal is aimed at businesses who want to “optimize and utilize their staff and machinery to the best of their capabilities,” said Iza Petrykowska, executive director of the Arvada Economic Development Association. “We work with existing businesses and really help them to grow, expand and succeed here in Arvada.

From precision aerospace parts to cutting-edge custom vehicles, it's all part of a legacy of products proudly built in Arvada. Arvada has roughly 75 manufacturing businesses, thanks in part to the city’s manufacturing initiative and the support of the state of Colorado’s nonprofit partner — Manufacturer’s Edge.

Precisely how much precision are we talking about?

That takes us down the road to a different corner of Arvada, where another manufacturer is creating products that touch the world. “They give us a print and we produce the part,” said Alicia Svaldi, owner and president of Faustson Tool Corp.

Svaldi and her husband started their business 45 years ago and since then, it’s gone from a small shop to a leader in 3D metal printing – including some parts for satellites and fighter jets that are highly classified.

“Does the U.S. military tell you what the parts are for?” Haythorn asked. “No. I don’t want to know,” Svaldi said while laughing. “They make it perfectly clear that I’ll never know. And that’s fun to know that you’re helping people in the world and you’re defending your country. It’s a wonderful feeling. And the crew that I have now is the best crew that I’ve ever had.”

BTW, Arvada has added a couple of newer hotels so they now have two to pick from.

[DenvertoLA]

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[DenvertoLA]

https://businessden.com/2025/07/30/10-de...-downtown-development-authority-dollars/

Are the DDA’s plans for the lots behind the Pavilions public?

[TakeFive]

Nice Find

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

https://businessden.com/2025/07/30/10-de...-downtown-development-authority-dollars/

Are the DDA’s plans for the lots behind the Pavilions public?

10 Denver projects picked to get $100M in Downtown Development Authority dollars

The first 10 projects to receive a combined $100 million in funding from Denver's expanded Downtown Development Authority (DDA) were recently announced by Mayor Mike Johnston. The DDA's board unanimously approved the funding, though the Denver City Council must still officially sign off on the deals.

• Improvements to Civic Center Park.
• Purchase of parking lots at 15th Street and Glenarm Place for potential redevelopment.
• Conversion of the historic Symes Building into residential units.
• Conversion of the historic University Building into residential units.
• Renovations for dining and an arts marketplace at the McNichols Building.
• Improvements to Skyline Park.
• Retail space for Green Spaces Market.
• Expansion of Sundae Artisan Ice Cream