DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[mr1138]

If a web of interconnecting light rails is what we are after, the best analogy (at least in my mind) has always been to the way a spider builds its web. It should start with the main lines that connect the city to its center, which we already sort of have with Union Station and the existing LR network. Lines around the perimeter of the center add strength (ridership) to the structure, but real strength comes from adding more and more links all around the web. Taking routes completely offline for major upgrades can only happen later.

Speer Boulevard still feels to me like a MAJOR missing link in the initial hub-and-spoke backbone, with no rapid transit currently using what is otherwise, rather obviously, a street designed in the mold of a classic multi-modal European avenue.

[DenvertoLA]

I agree that a rail from lower highland down Speer to cherry creek would be the dream line. The reason I want heavy rail down Colorado is because then it can seamlessly connect to the route to DIA. If good proportion of people within a mile of Colorado blvd would opt for the train to DIA over driving, this would be massive for getting cars off the road. Also having a train on Colorado blvd would connect City Park/ Zoo / Museum to the network.

[TakeFive]

BRT is baked into East Colfax

Originally Posted by mhays

You either shut the BRT line for a few years to convert the existing ROW to rail, shut down car traffic entirely, or use a different ROW. I don't think Colfax has room for the former, whether surface, elevated, cut-n-cover, or deep bore (with big pits and logistical areas at stations).

AI Overview

Denver Water replaced more than five miles of a 130-year-old underground cast iron water main. Additionally, crews replaced approximately 60 lead service lines connecting local businesses to the main with modern, safer copper pipes as part of the Lead Reduction Program.

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One really Big Issue with adding light rail within Denver, is that the City of Denver is likely to have to fund the project themselves -- unless CDOT would be willing to help with Colorado Blvd. Speer Blvd is not a State road, it belongs wholly to Denver. There's no way (that I can see) that RTD funding would help with Denver specific projects. The money is not there to do that anyway.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Another downtown firm is changing locations. And another floor at 1900 Lawrence is spoken for.

https://www.nakeddenver.com/post/da-davidson-takes-floor-27-at-1900-lawrence

It's good to see that 1900 Lawrence is getting one more tenant. They have a long ways to go but presumably over time they will fill much more of their building

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

@TakeFive, did you intend to ignore my question on why a "Valet Entrance" would be necessary? Your comment was in regards to Ave Station House (which I will refer to as ASH from now on), but could relate to any project.

Thought I recalled that AVE Station House will not have any curb parking?

Despite the 'value engineering' AVS Station House intends to project the quality of the brand. This will mean appealing to corporate and out-of-town visitor. Here's their website.

301 units will mean how many tenants live there? For those considering not owning a car the opportunity to go from Point A to Point B likely makes all the difference in their choice. They can save a lot of money per month by being car-free.

Girlfriend may work downtown but boyfriend may work who knows where? The desire to go to Red Rocks, to a party in Aurora or to visit friends in Lakewood is made possible with a few clicks of the App.

FYI, LoDo and RiNo are crazy busy for rideshare drivers, especially on weekends.

I've heard there's a lot of women in Denver? Gals are much quicker to choose rideshare; they like to talk to their friends while riding. Certainly after dark most prefer the security of rideshare and would NOT ride a bus.

Consider Gen Z and Millennials (even Gen X); they all cling to their smart phones. They will easily prefer to 'buy' the time savings and convenience of rideshare. That's the world we live in.

So having a PLACE where they can pickup and dropoff saves traffic jams from occurring on the street.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Thought I recalled that AVE Station House will not have any curb parking?

Despite the 'value engineering' AVS Station House intends to project the quality of the brand. This will mean appealing to corporate and out-of-town visitor. Here's their website.

301 units will mean how many tenants live there? For those considering not owning a car the opportunity to go from Point A to Point B likely makes all the difference in their choice. They can save a lot of money per month by being car-free.

Girlfriend may work downtown but boyfriend may work who knows where? The desire to go to Red Rocks, to a party in Aurora or to visit friends in Lakewood is made possible with a few clicks of the App.

FYI, LoDo and RiNo are crazy busy for rideshare drivers, especially on weekends.

I've heard there's a lot of women in Denver? Gals are much quicker to choose rideshare; they like to talk to their friends while riding. Certainly after dark most prefer the security of rideshare and would NOT ride a bus.

Consider Gen Z and Millennials (even Gen X); they all cling to their smart phones. They will easily prefer to 'buy' the time savings and convenience of rideshare. That's the world we live in.

So having a PLACE where they can pickup and dropoff saves traffic jams from occurring on the street.

That's a lot of word salad.

The last sentence probably would have been sufficient.

Doesn't seem like you are familiar with the dynamics of this area.

I don't find your concerns about traffic jams in that area, or any others around the RiNo Art District, valid. You know, eyes on the street and all that.

[Fritzdude]

Hey, what would people think if the Waltons put in a few gondolas to ferry people to/from the new Bronco’s stadium? I remember speaking to a project coordinator at the Burnham yard kickoff and he really liked the deal. Ha.. or at least he was patronizing me. Nothing too extensive, but perhaps one running to the southern parking lot. Another one running east to La Alma Lincoln Park. And maybe even one crossing Colfax and landing in Auroria Parkway. It kind of enhances denver‘s brand as a mountain town, and would be a great visual aesthetic when broadcasting stadium views on TV. It might be a little gimmicky, but it could help offset congestion and provide a fun experience for people to access the stadium. Thoughts?

[RiNo Randy]

Downtown Activity Climbs as Foot Traffic Reaches 95% of 2019 Levels

https://milehighcre.com/downtown-activity-climbs-as-foot-traffic-reaches-95-of-2019-levels/

Anecdotally, I have seen a steady climb in foot traffic downtown, particularly on 16th Street, during my daily walks around the city.

[TakeFive]

I really like the idea

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Hey, what would people think if the Waltons put in a few gondolas to ferry people to/from the new Bronco’s stadium? I remember speaking to a project coordinator at the Burnham yard kickoff and he really liked the deal. Ha.. or at least he was patronizing me. Nothing too extensive, but perhaps one running to the southern parking lot. Another one running east to La Alma Lincoln Park. And maybe even one crossing Colfax and landing in Auroria Parkway. It kind of enhances denver‘s brand as a mountain town, and would be a great visual aesthetic when broadcasting stadium views on TV. It might be a little gimmicky, but it could help offset congestion and provide a fun experience for people to access the stadium. Thoughts?

If Idaho Springs can do it, why not Denver?

Mighty Argo Cable Car in Idaho Springs officially opens to the public
May 22, 2026 By Courtney Fromm -- KDVR

IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — The Mighty Argo Cable Car is officially open to the public to kick off Memorial Day weekend. The gondola is at the base of the Argo Gold Mill and Tunnel, which has been in Idaho Springs since the late 1800s.

FOX31 was able to catch a ride to the top before it officially opened at 10 a.m. Friday. The ride up takes about 10 minutes, and the further up you go, the more spectacular the views get.

Courtesy KDVR

[TakeFive]

Ready to Go

AI Overview

Lakewood-based Eaton Senior Communities and developer Urban Ventures secured the remaining $22.5 million in financing to purchase and redevelop Denver’s historic Barth Hotel

Key Project Details

The Development: Conversion of the 1882 historic building from a 62-room room-and-board setup into 50 modernized studio apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms.
Total Cost: ~$22.5 million, which includes $2.5 million for the property acquisition

Courtesy Urban Ventures

Initially I preferred the idea of restoring the property to an hotel but this should be quite nice.

[TakeFive]

For anyone interested in Affordable Housing tax credits awarded by CHFA.

chfa announces 2026 round one housing tax credit awards
May 21, 2026

(DENVER) – Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) is pleased to announce 14 developments have been awarded a reservation of federal and state Housing Tax Credits to support the construction or preservation of 634 affordable rental housing units in Colorado.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Downtown Activity Climbs as Foot Traffic Reaches 95% of 2019 Levels

https://milehighcre.com/downtown-activity-climbs-as-foot-traffic-reaches-95-of-2019-levels/

Anecdotally, I have seen a steady climb in foot traffic downtown, particularly on 16th Street, during my daily walks around the city.

ALSO THIS:

Denver tourism sets records in 2025 with 37.6M visitors
May 25, 2026 By: Shannon Ogden -- Denver7 News

DENVER — Denver welcomed a record 37.6 million domestic visitors in 2025, generating $10.5 billion in tourism spending, according to a new report from Visit Denver released Thursday. The figures represent new records for the city and reflect 1.4% growth over 2024, consistent with U.S. averages, according to data from Longwoods International.

Tourism is vital to the Denver economy, and last year was strong, with record-setting attendance at the Colorado Convention Center, the opening of the new 16th Street, a packed event calendar and so much more," Richard W. Scharf, President and CEO of Visit Denver, said in a release.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

ALSO THIS:

Denver tourism sets records in 2025 with 37.6M visitors
May 25, 2026 By: Shannon Ogden -- Denver7 News

A slight dip in 2024, but steady growth over the last five years:

2025 37.6M
2024 37.1M
2023 37.4M
2022 36.3M
2021 31.7M

Source: https://visitdenver.com/about-visit-denver/visitor-impact/

[TakeFive]

Why 2026 Could Mark a Turning Point for CRE Deal Activity
May 27, 2026 By Amy Aldridge, partner, TRE -- Mile High CRE

Very well written article even if a bit optimistic. Denver, of course benefits from one of the healthiest sub-markets in the country with Cherry Creek.

Few of my observations:

Lenders have become more active as the market clarifies itself. So-called trophy office buildings are all the rage but the other positive is that many properties have been reassessed so low that lenders find them not-so-risky. Many of these are candidates for an office to residential conversion.

Chicago - recently announced the completion of the last office building under construction. The outlook is for no new construction for ~ 5 years and any new projects are likely to be modest in size - like what Cherry Creek is building.

Dallas - for decades and continuing is a magnet for new HQ's as well as company expansions. The trouble with downtown vacancy is now attributed to Not Enough Parking (that's what they're saying).

Nashville - while hardly a trailblazer, has benefited from steady demand from company expansions; their vacancy is ~ 18%.

[TakeFive]

Coming Soon... to Denver???

Waymo opens Ojai robotaxis to select riders as company aims to lower cost of fleet expansion
May 28 2026 By Jennifer Elias -- CNBC

Waymo is starting to offer select customers rides in its new Ojai robotaxis, which are designed to work better in snowier conditions and are cheaper to manufacture than the company’s older fleet of cars.

Rides will be available to some public passengers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, before opening up in San Diego, Las Vegas and Denver this summer, Waymo said in a statement on Thursday.

The vehicles, integrating new hardware and software, are made by China’s Geely, and cost significantly less to manufacture than earlier Waymo cars made by Jaguar and others.

Courtesy Business Insider

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Dallas - for decades and continuing is a magnet for new HQ's as well as company expansions. The trouble with downtown vacancy is now attributed to Not Enough Parking (that's what they're saying).

Do you have a source for this? I didn't see any reference to Dallas in the article you posted.

Based on my experience living in the DFW area for 6 years (I was in the suburbs, but visited Downtown Dallas often), there is more than enough parking there. But just like in the CBD of cities like Denver, much of that parking is in structure or below grade. So is it actual parking they are missing or street/surface parking they desire?

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Do you have a source for this? I didn't see any reference to Dallas in the article you posted.

Based on my experience living in the DFW area for 6 years (I was in the suburbs, but visited Downtown Dallas often), there is more than enough parking there. But just like in the CBD of cities like Denver, much of that parking is in structure or below grade. So is it actual parking they are missing or street/surface parking they desire?

Why Downtown Dallas Can’t Fill Its ‘Zombie’ Office Towers
May 11, 2026 By Ben Swanger -- D Magazine

The downtown Dallas office market is at a crossroads. Overall vacancy is near 30 percent, but the city’s 10 largest office towers are half-empty, with a 48.8 percent vacancy rate, according to data from Downtown Dallas Inc. and Dallas CAD. In all, they account for 6.26 million square feet of empty.

THIS:

But many developers, brokers, and downtown investors argue the story is more complicated. In some cases, they say, the issue is not demand—it’s infrastructure. More specifically, parking.

Take Bank of America Plaza for example. Technically, the tower is roughly 70 percent leased. But the building is effectively full. That’s because it can’t accommodate additional tenants under modern parking expectations.

“You want to fix downtown?” Ablon says. “Go build 10 parking garages.”

[TakeFive]

I really like what they're doing with this adaptive reuse conversion

Financing and Construction Partner Secured for Park Hill Holiday Inn Conversion
May 20, 2026 -- Mile High CRE

HotelShift, the firm converting the Park Hill Holiday Inn at 3333 Quebec Street in Denver, has assembled a team that will provide the financial support and design and
construction expertise to provide future residents with A-grade apartments and amenities at attainably priced rental rates.

3333 Quebec Street


Courtesy HotelShift

HotelShift purchased the 11-story, 310-key hotel with fellow Texas hotel company Voyage Capital for approximately $9 million, according to property records. The duo will
deliver approximately 240 apartments from the existing rooms, with studios starting at $1,100. The hotel’s existing gym, pool, handball court and steam/sauna rooms are
all planned to be preserved for future residents. Its restaurant space is expected to be leased to a new tenant, and the firms are looking to add a golf simulator on-site.
All units will come with a balcony and a full-size fridge, range and dishwasher.

[TakeFive]

Small business owners look to the future as Aurora's Stanley Marketplace changes hands
May 22, 2026 By Tori Mason -- CBS News Denver

Nearly a decade after becoming one of Colorado's most recognizable gathering spaces, Stanley Marketplace is preparing for a major transition.

The mixed-use marketplace in Aurora is under contract to be sold to a new ownership group, something current operators acknowledge may sound scary to longtime customers and tenants, but insist will not change the identity that made Stanley successful in the first place.

Originally opened in 2016, the marketplace has grown into a destination filled with locally owned restaurants, boutiques, fitness studios and service providers.

Stanley Marketplace




Courtesy CBS Denver

"The original vision was really a community hub," said Jonathan Alpert, managing partner with Westfield Company, which manages Stanley Marketplace. "A place for entrepreneurs, first-time business owners to gather and break all the rules and just be an awesome place for the community to come and hang out."

"There's a million reasons to come here," Alpert said, pointing to everything from restaurants and retail to childcare and service businesses. "This is a daily trip for a lot of families and people that live in and around the marketplace."

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Why Downtown Dallas Can’t Fill Its ‘Zombie’ Office Towers
May 11, 2026 By Ben Swanger -- D Magazine

THIS:

So glad it is a parking they created by having the entire metroplex be a series of bedroom communities.

It's always parking though, isn't it? Never, let's expand the *insert mass transit system of choice here* to connect more people to the places they want or need to be.

As an example. I used to take DART to downtown Dallas on a regular basis. But I needed to take a rideshare from my townhouse in McKinney, to the Parker Road stop as that was where the line ended. I believe may be on an old/obsolete freight line, so most of the infrastructure is there to extend it to McKinney, but that hasn't happened yet.

Here's an article about that opportunity. Full disclosure, I wasn't aware that McKinney isn't part of the funding zone for DART, so I can see the trepidation. But it would be a key connector. US75 typically is a traffic nightmare, as is the Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

https://www.keranews.org/transportation/...-study-new-rail-line-plano-mckinney-dart

[RiNo Randy]

And to follow up on that, here is one example of a parking garage in a Berkshire Hathaway developed project called Grandscape in The Colony, TX. Yes, a northern suburb, but you can find parking garages of this stature all over the metro.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UWkPPKtAwftjWJJ77



Image from @livegrandscape

And maybe a quick reminder that there are something like 2B parking spaces in the USA. For about 300M registered vehicles. So there are always about 6 empty spaces for your car. Are they ever always in the right place? Of course not.