DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

That is a bit ironic and humorous.

I find it to be quite sad.

Ironically, Rooster Magazine reached out to the art/graffiti tour group I lead tours with for some feedback regarding the art scene in RiNo Art District. I may not be quoted directly, but my quotes could be attributed to our group in the future.

Time will tell.

I'm trying to do my part. I had a small piece painted on my mural balcony. Hopefully first piece of transforming all three walls (10X22) into something really cool. Calvin and Hobbes is the theme. The first artist is Chris Haven.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

I'm trying to do my part. I had a small piece painted on my mural balcony. Hopefully first piece of transforming all three walls (10X22) into something really cool. Calvin and Hobbes is the theme. The first artist is Chris Haven.

I grew up on Calvin and Hobbes and the comic served as my son’s path to love reading. Love that your murals will be a tribute to such an amazing slice of of culture.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

I grew up on Calvin and Hobbes and the comic served as my son’s path to love reading. Love that your murals will be a tribute to such an amazing slice of of culture.

He really captured my vision of the scene with his signature characters. I haven't been able to stop thinking how I want the rest of the space to be filled in!

His artwork was already in my building, both Pyramid People and his Cityscape styles.

Here's a link to my instagram post about it: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbG2uGbmUSa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[TakeFive]

RiNo gets some love

Schnitzer West Signs New Tenants at The Current
July 30, 2026 -- Mile High CRE

Schnitzer West has announced new leases at The Current, its Class A office property in Denver’s River North (RiNo) neighborhood. A few of the new tenants include Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX), Performance Drone Works (PDW), and Vibe Coffee & Wine. The building is now 63% leased, up from 38% earlier this year, reflecting continued demand for high-quality, move-in-ready office space and mixed-use environments.

The Current -- 3615 Delgany Street



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

CBRE Arranges 50,455 SF Expansion at Wells Fargo Center
July 29, 2026 -- Mile High CRE

CBRE has arranged a two-floor, 50,455-square-foot expansion for SM Energy at Wells Fargo Center, located at 1700 Lincoln in downtown Denver. The company now occupies five floors of the office tower, totaling a footprint of 124,333 square feet.

The expansion follows the merger of SM Energy and Civitas earlier this year, with 1700 Lincoln selected as the preferred consolidation location. Allison Berry and Chris Phenicie with CBRE represented the owners, BCSP Denver Property, in the transaction.

The article reminds us how special this building is:

Designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, its uniquely articulated granite facade, rising 52 stories, defines the skyline with a powerful statement that gives the building its landmark status. The most recognizable building in Denver includes an eight story curved glass atrium featuring the unique colors, shadows and forms of Ed Carpenter’s “Altaflora” sculpture, specifically commissioned by CommonWealth Partners for this space.

I wonder if some floors could be converted to apartments - I have no clue.

Wells Fargo Center -- 1700 Lincoln Street


Credit Marshall Gerometta

Misc thought

I wonder if Alterra might be considering the Energy Center's building to remain office space. It seems like it would be ideal for what Alterra wants to accomplish.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

RiNo gets some love

Schnitzer West Signs New Tenants at The Current
July 30, 2026 -- Mile High CRE


The Current -- 3615 Delgany Street

That's great and all.

But we still need a lot more restaurants over here. And while Emilia is apparently doing well, they aren't open for lunch. There is also a need for more lunch friendly options. Particularly near that office space and the others in close proximity. Many have vacant space - I'm looking at you, Rev360/3600 Brighton.

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

That's great and all.

But we still need a lot more restaurants over here. And while Emilia is apparently doing well, they aren't open for lunch. There is also a need for more lunch friendly options. Particularly near that office space and the others in close proximity. Many have vacant space - I'm looking at you, Rev360/3600 Brighton.

Excited for this new one: Señor Tanuki is the highly anticipated new Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant opening at 3001 Brighton Blvd in RiNo. Señor Tanuki: Described by its chef as an "elevated Asian Chipotle," the menu centers around a "Mexico City meets Osaka" flavor profile. It features a matcha cafe during daylight hours and shifts into a sleek cocktail bar at night.Helmed by veteran chef Katsumi Arai, who has crafted meals for major celebrities like Dr. Dre and Jimmy Kimmel, as well as Disney's top executives.Location: It is moving into the Fabrica office building at 3001 Brighton Blvd.Timeline: The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors in October 2026.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Excited for this new one: Señor Tanuki is the highly anticipated new Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant opening at 3001 Brighton Blvd in RiNo. Señor Tanuki: Described by its chef as an "elevated Asian Chipotle," the menu centers around a "Mexico City meets Osaka" flavor profile. It features a matcha cafe during daylight hours and shifts into a sleek cocktail bar at night.Helmed by veteran chef Katsumi Arai, who has crafted meals for major celebrities like Dr. Dre and Jimmy Kimmel, as well as Disney's top executives.Location: It is moving into the Fabrica office building at 3001 Brighton Blvd.Timeline: The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors in October 2026.

Totally agree.

But we still need more.

And they need to start NOW!

Case in point. Risica is another highly anticipated opening coming to the EDIT building sometime this year. When was the lease signed/announcement made? October of 2024 (https://www.denverpost.com/2024/10/18/il-posto-chef-andrea-frizzi-plans-new-restaurant-risica-rino/). I walk by there frequently - the restaurant looks like it is close to opening. Except for one major item - besides the pizza oven, there hasn't been any kitchen equipment installed.

Even Dear Emilia's opening was later than expected and substantially over budget. Read more here: https://www.westword.com/food-drink/what...n-a-restaurant-in-denver-today-40836126/

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Totally agree.

But we still need more.

And they need to start NOW!

Case in point. Risica is another highly anticipated opening coming to the EDIT building sometime this year. When was the lease signed/announcement made? October of 2024 (https://www.denverpost.com/2024/10/18/il-posto-chef-andrea-frizzi-plans-new-restaurant-risica-rino/). I walk by there frequently - the restaurant looks like it is close to opening. Except for one major item - besides the pizza oven, there hasn't been any kitchen equipment installed.

Even Dear Emilia's opening was later than expected and substantially over budget. Read more here: https://www.westword.com/food-drink/what...n-a-restaurant-in-denver-today-40836126/

Curious on your opinion. Why was the Zeppelin food hall such a disappointment? Seems like they could’ve fit that market need. Any word on turning the blue moon facility into a grocery store? And have you heard any long-term plans on either reuse/adapting the Pepsi bottling plant? Or will it likely be torn down for new development? That’s 30 acres in total - which hopefully some of it goes to expanding the park area near the river

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Curious on your opinion. Why was the Zeppelin food hall such a disappointment? Seems like they could’ve fit that market need. Any word on turning the blue moon facility into a grocery store? And have you heard any long-term plans on either reuse/adapting the Pepsi bottling plant? Or will it likely be torn down for new development? That’s 30 acres in total - which hopefully some of it goes to expanding the park area near the river

Not sure on Zeppelin Station, TBH. Obviously the ownership issues over the last few years haven't helped. Oddly, the food hall was mostly full when I moved back here in 2023. Now, being "adapted" for the future.

But certainly the inoperable elevators across the tracks at 35th and Blake don't help the situation. It isn't good for the hotels on that side either. Unfortunately, it seems that there isn't money to fix it and it didn't seem like a big priority to RiNo BID at their stakeholder meeting last week (I felt it was very poorly attended).

However, I think you could look at the Source as a bit of a case study. When it opened (first food hall here at the time, Denver Central Market, Avanti, Milk Market and others followed and really upped the game), it was booming for the first few years. And that was before Brighton was rebuilt. It seems it is starting to regain some of that momentum with El Chingon planning to open there soon.

I imagine the Pepsi facility will be torn down as I doubt that any of the buildings would have much reuse potential. Especially given the $158M price paid. It would be nice if they were able to include a greenway of sorts from Brighton to the park.

Nothing new on the Blue Moon space lately.

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Not sure on Zeppelin Station, TBH. Obviously the ownership issues over the last few years haven't helped. Oddly, the food hall was mostly full when I moved back here in 2023. Now, being "adapted" for the future.

But certainly the inoperable elevators across the tracks at 35th and Blake don't help the situation. It isn't good for the hotels on that side either. Unfortunately, it seems that there isn't money to fix it and it didn't seem like a big priority to RiNo BID at their stakeholder meeting last week (I felt it was very poorly attended).

However, I think you could look at the Source as a bit of a case study. When it opened (first food hall here at the time, Denver Central Market, Avanti, Milk Market and others followed and really upped the game), it was booming for the first few years. And that was before Brighton was rebuilt. It seems it is starting to regain some of that momentum with El Chingon planning to open there soon.

I imagine the Pepsi facility will be torn down as I doubt that any of the buildings would have much reuse potential. Especially given the $158M price paid. It would be nice if they were able to include a greenway of sorts from Brighton to the park.

Nothing new on the Blue Moon space lately.

Yeah - we need better access across the tracks to connect both sides of RiNo. Getting the elevators to work properly would be a start. But long-term, I believe there is a plan to install a pedestrian bridge at 35th correct? That is sorely needed. And with regard to The Source, I believe Koelbel is planning to build a 12 story apartment tower that will bring over 400 units next to the The Source. I think it would be great if the parking lot fronting Brighton could be turned into a plaza with shading, seating, and water fountains - rather than a depository for a dozen cars. They already have their garage that fits 305 stalls so they could liven up their entryway by activating it as an inviting extension of the building. Otherwise, the massing along Brighton gets to be too much without human scaled areas to break it up.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Yeah - we need better access across the tracks to connect both sides of RiNo. Getting the elevators to work properly would be a start. But long-term, I believe there is a plan to install a pedestrian bridge at 35th correct? That is sorely needed. And with regard to The Source, I believe Koelbel is planning to build a 12 story apartment tower that will bring over 400 units next to the The Source. I think it would be great if the parking lot fronting Brighton could be turned into a plaza with shading, seating, and water fountains - rather than a depository for a dozen cars. They already have their garage that fits 305 stalls so they could liven up their entryway by activating it as an inviting extension of the building. Otherwise, the massing along Brighton gets to be too much without human scaled areas to break it up.

There is a bridge at 35thish. The elevators on both sides have been inop for months.

We need something around 30th, but it is a challenge due to the Rockies massive and underutilized parking lot, the A-Line and the UP tracks.

But it sounds like the next priority for the BID related to big infrastructure is the bridge across the Platte to connect the Taxi development with the rest of the district.

Also, I don't understand some things. 1) how can LoDo have a Design Review Board that approves every project and RiNo doesn't. 2) apparently the city doesn't enforce the sidewalk/streetscape guidelines/rules. Why is that?

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

There is a bridge at 35thish. The elevators on both sides have been inop for months.

We need something around 30th, but it is a challenge due to the Rockies massive and underutilized parking lot, the A-Line and the UP tracks.

But it sounds like the next priority for the BID related to big infrastructure is the bridge across the Platte to connect the Taxi development with the rest of the district.

Also, I don't understand some things. 1) how can LoDo have a Design Review Board that approves every project and RiNo doesn't. 2) apparently the city doesn't enforce the sidewalk/streetscape guidelines/rules. Why is that?

Yeah, you’re right about that bridge around 36th.. such a poor design to get people to actually use (even if it were working)

[Fritzdude]

For consideration, extend a bridge from blake and 33rd.



Wind it down behind the Source.



Have it exit on Brighton Boulevard and then down to the river.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Excited for this new one: Señor Tanuki is the highly anticipated new Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant opening at 3001 Brighton Blvd in RiNo. Señor Tanuki: Described by its chef as an "elevated Asian Chipotle," the menu centers around a "Mexico City meets Osaka" flavor profile.

It is moving into the Fabrica office building at 3001 Brighton Blvd.Timeline: The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors in October 2026.

Asian Mexican fusion can do well if done right and it sounds like this one should be a winner.

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Totally agree.

Even Dear Emilia's opening was later than expected and substantially over budget. Read more here: https://www.westword.com/food-drink/what...n-a-restaurant-in-denver-today-40836126/

That was an amazing story and very well written. Since Antony Bruno recently joined the Westword staff it will be fun to read more of his articles.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

And with regard to The Source, I believe Koelbel is planning to build a 12 story apartment tower that will bring over 400 units next to the The Source.

I think Keolbel has had that property for a long time. The apartments were an early idea but I think they would rather sell that site at this point.

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Also, I don't understand some things. 1) how can LoDo have a Design Review Board that approves every project and RiNo doesn't.

The idea of making developers jump through more hoops is not a good one. It adds too many costs to any projects.

LoDo is the rare exception where having a "design review board" is okay due to the uniqueness of LoDo.

[TakeFive]

RiNo was the star for new apartment projects in the 1st half of the year

But if's feeling more and more likely to stagnate going forward.

The only thing moving forward that I'm aware of is EDEN's retail project.

Denver council OKs Edens’ dialed-back redevelopment of RiNo block
September 16, 2025 By Thomas Gounley | BusinessDen / The Denver Post

Edens has nixed the apartments, plans to develop just 60,000 square feet of retail space with surface parking

The Denver City Council has signed off on helping finance a RiNo landlord’s slimmed down plans to redevelop the block across from Denver Central Market.

AI Overview

Project Details

• Developer: EDENS
• Location: 2550 Larimer Street (Northwest corner of 26th and Larimer)
• New Structure: 14,550-square-foot, one-story commercial building
• Tenant Spaces: Designed for four future retail or restaurant users
• Site Updates: Surface parking, new sidewalks, utility upgrades, and fresh landscaping

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

RiNo was the star for new apartment projects in the 1st half of the year

But if's feeling more and more likely to stagnate going forward.

The only thing moving forward that I'm aware of is EDEN's retail project.

Denver council OKs Edens’ dialed-back redevelopment of RiNo block
September 16, 2025 By Thomas Gounley | BusinessDen / The Denver Post


AI Overview

I was hoping that Edens would also proceed with the redevelopment of the entire block across from The Market. Looking forward to that grocer on Lawrence between 26th and 27th. That would be a huge win for the neighborhood.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

The idea of making developers jump through more hoops is not a good one. It adds too many costs to any projects.

LoDo is the rare exception where having a "design review board" is okay due to the uniqueness of LoDo.

You don't think that Five Points and the larger RiNo Art District should have a say in what their historic neighborhoods should look like moving forward? I'll note that my building probably wouldn't be built here today, given the design guidelines that RAD already has. And to that point, the guidelines are already there...just a matter of enforcement.

Beyond that, I don't understand why businesses down here don't want to create and stitch together an actual neighborhood. Seems silly to me that F1 Arcade (as an example) spent $5.25M on a building, another $15M on renovations, but did nothing to change the streetscape. Baffling. Doubles Club (32nd and Larimer) is only planning to follow the streetscaping for the newly rezoned portion of their lot (what??).

I would much rather have some variation of a review committee (which shouldn't be too difficult to staff as there are at least three prominent architecture firms located within the boundaries) than have the EDs of the two organizations that are supposed to be leading basically say, "we have no control here"... https://denverite.com/2026/04/01/rino-art-district-development/

And on that note, another ten year business in the Art District announced it's closure today: "RiNo’s The Block Distilling Co. to close after 10 years". Article here behind a paywall...https://businessden.com/rinos-the-block-distilling-co-to-close-after-10-years/

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

I was hoping that Edens would also proceed with the redevelopment of the entire block across from The Market. Looking forward to that grocer on Lawrence between 26th and 27th. That would be a huge win for the neighborhood.

Agreed. If they had kept their proposal at 3 stories, I think it would have been fine, although with setbacks, 5 or 6 would have been fine there.

As far as the VOA building, I think the door is open for future development.

However, their development at their 26th & Larimer site is only going to be a single story with a surface parking lot covering approximately 1/2 the lot. First, exceptionally poor use of land in a downtown environment. Secondly, recovering the price of that lot will mean hefty rents at those storefronts...

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

RiNo was the star for new apartment projects in the 1st half of the year

But if's feeling more and more likely to stagnate going forward.

The only thing moving forward that I'm aware of is EDEN's retail project.

Denver council OKs Edens’ dialed-back redevelopment of RiNo block
September 16, 2025 By Thomas Gounley | BusinessDen / The Denver Post


AI Overview

There are currently four 300+ unit apartment projects under construction as we speak. There are three more lots with proposals, I believe. And then there is Denver Rock Drill, Wynkoop North, shovel ready Denargo Market, Pepsi Bottling redevelopment, etc.

A demolition permit was filed for the IMAC building.

Utility work has been taking place between 25th and 28th along Lawrence.

The word on the street is that Sprouts will be occupying the former Blue Moon Brewing space. I think it is around 30K sf and was previously a plumbing supply warehouse, so adaptive reuse should be fairly easy.

The other word on the street is that Trader Joe's will be building at 27th & Lawrence.

No official announcements on either of those.

And you've noted recent leasing activity as some of the newer office buildings.

But do go on...