DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[TakeFive]

Stuff in Denver you can't make up

Denver condo prices are down 14%
Aug. 05, 2026 By Sarah Mulholland -- Denverite

Aspiring homeowners in Denver should look at the condo market for a good deal.

To make a guess, the rising costs of HOA insurance could be one reason especially with older units which may be more vulnerable to special assessments.

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Denver wants to know how failed immersive theater spent $400,000
Aug. 05, 2026 By Kiara DeMare -- Denverite

The city of Denver is looking into how the failed Denver Immersive Repertory Theater spent a large loan from taxpayers — and whether that money is ever coming back.

DIRT made a big splash with a plan to spend up to $2 million in total to transform a downtown building into the “world’s first resident immersive theater,” including a bar, a cabaret lounge and other scenes for theatergoers to explore.

The allure of the Big Apple?

DIRT is owned by Steve Wargo and Blair Russell, two New Yorkers who relocated to Denver to launch the new theater. Wargo did not respond to a request for comment.

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Squatting swallows delay City Park bandstand demolition
Jul. 10, 2026 By Paolo Zialcita -- Denverite

The City Park bandstand is set to be demolished ahead of a full reconstruction — but first, the city has to wait for its tenants to vacate the premises.

[TakeFive]

Yeah, I remember when this was built

SkyHouse Denver residents claim recurring elevator outages, maintenance issues disrupt daily life
August 6, 2026 By Jasmine Arenas -- CBS News Denver

Residents at SkyHouse Denver say repeated elevator outages, maintenance problems and other building issues are making daily life difficult at the downtown high-rise.

"When we did return from our trip, we were told that we had to lug our luggage up 19 flights of stairs, and that's a huge safety concern for me," Lawson said. "We were told we didn't have any other choice."

Residents say the issues extend beyond the elevators. They describe weeks of uncollected trash and recycling, the loss of concierge service, package thefts and poor communication from management.

AI Overview

SkyHouse Denver was built between February 2015 and late 2016. The 25-story luxury apartment tower located at 18th and Broadway broke ground in February 2015, topped out in December 2015, and officially welcomed its first residents on November 1, 2016.

Skyhouse Denver -- 1776 Broadway Street



Big Boys play property roulette

Equity Residential Acquires 978 Apartment Units in Denver
August 8, 2024 -- Mile High CRE

Equity Residential has agreed to acquire 11 apartment properties — including three properties with 978 apartment units in Denver — from Blackstone Real Estate strategies in separate transactions, including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Blackstone Property Partners, for approximately $964 million.

Equity Residential is a REIT worth $25 billion. This property means nothing to them... although I don't know the specific ownership structure for this specific property.

[RiNo Randy]

I walked by Upton Residences tonight.

The sign on their sales center has been updated.

They are offering up to $50K in incentives and free parking.

[TakeFive]

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.

I'm assuming that Edens does NOT want to operate a Grocery store so they'd need to find an operator.

As RiNo Randy points out virtually every brand of grocery is somewhere around the periphery with the exception of Aldi's and Aldi's has already picked a site in Central Park.


Speaking of food deserts

7 Chicago Save A Lot stores set to close as SNAP cuts deepen food access concerns
July 24, 2026 By Kasey Chronis -- FOX 32 Chicago

CHICAGO - There is growing concern on Chicago’s South and West sides, where seven Save A Lot stores are set to close Saturday, July 25.

The closures are a result of Save A Lot cutting ties with Yellow Banana, which operates the stores — leaving the financially troubled operator with no choice but to shut them down.

The backstory is a convoluted mess but the above is the result.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

I'm assuming that Edens does NOT want to operate a Grocery store so they'd need to find an operator.

Trader Joe's is going in the space at 27th & Lawrence.

[TakeFive]

Fingers Crossed

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

Trader Joe's is going in the space at 27th & Lawrence.

Trader Joe's would be the ideal choice. They're certainly in expansion mode with a new store in Westminster, one under construction at the Shops at Northfield and another new store as as part of a 170 unit apartment redevelopment in Platt Park by Kentro.

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Fingers Crossed


Trader Joe's would be the ideal choice. They're certainly in expansion mode with a new store in Westminster, one under construction at the Shops at Northfield and another new store as as part of a 170 unit apartment redevelopment in Platt Park by Kentro.

It's happening. Bookmark this if you'd like.

[phxjack]

Anyone know what's being built?

[BrIced_Tea]

Originally Posted by phxjack

Anyone know what's being built?

There's a 3 story afforadable housing project proposed for this site by an organization affliated with Jehovah Witness. The SDP isn't approved yet though so maybe they are just clearing land?

[TakeFive]

Patricia Calhoun celebrates the 20th anniversary of RiNo Arts District

‘Welcome Back’ show a return for RiNo Art District founder Jill Hadley Hooper
August 7, 2026 By Patricia Calhoun -- Westword

Artist Jill Hadley Hooper had been working at home for a year, “feeling pretty isolated,” when a friend drove her by Ironton, a building in the dusty old warehouse at the corner of 36th and Chestnut streets. Four artists — Russ Beardsley, Mike Mancarella, David Walter and Debra Goldberg — had just bought and renovated the building into workspaces.

In September 2001, Hadley Hooper rented a small space there for painting and doing illustration work for Westword; she also began helping Goldberg with an 800-square-foot gallery at Ironton. By 2002, it had regular hours and a yearly schedule of exhibits that mixed studio artists with outside artists. “The outside artists never paid to show, kept any money from a sale, and just bought their own beer and wine for the openings,” she recalls.

"RiNo will celebrate twenty years as an arts district tonight, with a new show at the ArtPark"


Courtesy RiNo Arts District

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Patricia Calhoun celebrates the 20th anniversary of RiNo Arts District

‘Welcome Back’ show a return for RiNo Art District founder Jill Hadley Hooper
August 7, 2026 By Patricia Calhoun -- Westword


"RiNo will celebrate twenty years as an arts district tonight, with a new show at the ArtPark"

I thought the "welcome back" party on Friday was quite lame. I spoke to a few business owners on Larimer street that night. None are please with the direction RAD is going.

There is a feedback meeting for the recently held UMS. Will be interesting to hear other's takes on the event.

Here is another article with a bit of "here's what's happening here now" vibe.

The Death of Larimer Boy/Girl

https://therooster.com/articles/larimer-boy-girl-graffiti-removal/


Image courtesy Rooster Magazine

[TakeFive]

Finally a couple of meaningful groundbreakings

Construction for voter-approved Santa Fe Streetscape Improvements project set to begin
Aug 07, 2026 By: Lauren Lennon -- Denver7 News

DENVER — Starting Monday, construction for the voter approved Santa Fe Streetscape Improvements project will begin.

Denver Water will start improving utilities underground, replacing a 136-year-old water main that runs through the center of Santa Fe from 7th to 12th Streets. “That sort of underground work is important because then it protects all the investment we're about to do above ground,” Nancy Kuhn, the director of communications with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), said.

The $29 million project will rebuild Santa Fe with landscaping, public spaces, lighting and widening sidewalks between 6th to 13th Streets

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Images courtesy Visit Denver

[TakeFive]

Morrison Road infrastructure project brings new hope to Denver's Westwood neighborhood
Aug 07, 2026 By: Claire Lavezzorio -- Denver7 News

DENVER — In the heart of Denver's Westwood neighborhood, residents and business owners say the area's culture and community have always been strong — but for years, they've felt forgotten by the city. Now, a major infrastructure project led by Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is bringing new hope to Morrison Road, Westwood's main artery.

The plans include wider sidewalks, safer crosswalks, trees, and two new community plazas between Sheridan Boulevard and Nevada Place — all funded through more than $37 million in voter-approved bonds.

For many residents, the project marks a new chapter for a community that has kept its culture alive while pushing for change.

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Courtesy Denver7; Denverite; BuCu; Dwell Denver

[RiNo Randy]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Morrison Road infrastructure project brings new hope to Denver's Westwood neighborhood
Aug 07, 2026 By: Claire Lavezzorio -- Denver7 News


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Courtesy Denver7; Denverite; BuCu; Dwell Denver

You should tag the artists if you are sharing their art.

[mhays]

That's an interesting point.

On the flip side, if your art is on the side of a building it's at least a gray area. Maybe depending how much you zone in.

Architects and owners might also like credit if you photograph their buildings, which seems like overkill.

More to the point the average "my photos of Rome/Paris" thread on SSP might show statues without listing the artists.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by RiNo Randy

You should tag the artists if you are sharing their art.

Forum rules on image posting dictate that you properly credit the source of the images that you post:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219527

Now, I would hope that Denverite, Channel 7 News, et al would provide proper credit to the artists who's murals are in their images, but that feels like a bridge too far for moderation on this dusty, ol' forum.

Most participants on this thread do a pretty decent job of attributing their images, so everything is kosher in my mind.

But it is an interesting point and maybe something that could be done in the future with the planned forum upgrade that, iirc, will enable far easier hyperlinking and tagging.

[TakeFive]

Real Capital Solutions Launches Contrarian Office Fund
August 10, 2026 -- Mile High CRE

Real Capital Solutions (“RCS”), a Louisville, Colorado-based real estate investment firm with more than four decades of experience investing through market cycles, has announced the launch of the RCS Contrarian Office Fund, a private investment vehicle that will target Class A and B office properties in prime and secondary U.S. markets experiencing financial distress.

Marcel Arsenault, founder and CEO of Real Capital Solutions, will serve as the fund’s anchor investor through a $50 million personal commitment, fully aligning the interests of RCS with the fund’s investors.

They claim to have "generated a 24.0% realized gross IRR" but who can predict the future, eh?

IN 2024 they bought several buildings locally mostly in the DTC. In January they bought a 750K SF office building in Chicago with a local partner who both invests and manages office buildings.

In places like NYC and San Francisco lots of vacant office space has been grabbed for AI purposes. It's hard to know how much of this space is needed OR how long it will last. The demand could come and just as easily go away.

It's also unknown how much AI may contribute to WFH or at least three days a week? Buying office buildings is not for the faint of heart.

[TakeFive]

In the News

BusinessDen is reporting that Brookfield Properties owned Republic Plaza is facing receivership. Metlife is also a 50% owner. This is not a surprise and both owners are ready to move on to the next chapter in life. What's interesting is what happens to the building from here.

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The City closed the 'tiny homes' Monroe Village

AI Overview

Denver's oldest tiny-home village at the former Monroe Street site (4001 and 4121 Monroe St) closed in mid-2026 after the city chose not to renew its contract. The Colorado Village Collaborative placed the tiny homes in storage.

Proposed Future Plans for the Site

• New concept: Proposals filed for the vacant Monroe Street parcels outline a transition from decentralized micro-homes to large-scale congregate shelter structures,
• Facility layout: Conceptual site reviews detail plans for two large buildings totaling over 40,000 square feet
• Planned amenities: The new buildings are intended to feature mass sleeping quarters, dining areas, warming kitchens, intake offices, and on-site hygiene and support

[TakeFive]

Going with the notion of 'Treading Water'

It has seemed like there's been Green Shoots over here but brown grass over there. So it wasn't a surprise to see this update:

Uneasy CU economists cut their new jobs forecast by more than half
Aug. 12, 2026 By Sarah Mulholland -- CPR News

Colorado’s job growth in 2026 is weaker than expected, according to a report from CU’s Leeds School of Business. CU economists cut their forecast from 17,000 new jobs this year to 6,000.

Weak employment in retail and leisure and hospitality jobs are the main reasons for the slimmed-down expectations, according to Brian Lewandowski, a CU economist.

Interesting summary

“We've got this labor force headwind where if we don't have population growth in the labor force, why would we expect to have job growth like we did a few years ago or a decade ago?” Lewandowski said. “And so why are people chasing other states or not chasing Colorado? And is it a cost of living issue? Is there something more? But … if we don't have that supply of labor, how do we maintain growth on the job front?”

[TakeFive]

Bill Mosher moving on as Denver’s Chief Projects Officer
August 14, 2026 By Patricia Calhoun -- Westword

Patricia Calhoun does a nice job of writing as expected; few highlights:

Bill Mosher is still up on downtown Denver, even after staying months longer than he’d originally intended at a job he didn’t ask for.

“It’s been an honor, being entrusted with this job by a mayor I didn’t know that well, in a system I didn’t understand,” Mosher says, as he prepares to leave his consulting role as the city’s Chief Projects Officer. “Fifty years ago, I got into the community development business. I think 50 years is a good milestone. Hopefully, I have made a difference with what I’ve done. It’s been a great experience.”

From the start, Mosher ignored people suggesting that downtown’s empty buildings should be demolished. He also didn’t want to spread grants around “like peanut butter,” he says. Instead, he focused on a three-point strategy for the DDA: ... The strategy divides 16th Street into three physical areas. The biggest challenge is Upper Downtown, starting at Broadway, which is lined with empty storefronts and office buildings.

“Is it better off than it was five years ago, three years ago? Safer? Absolutely,” Mosher says. “But this is slow going.” ... “All you’re doing is managing change, hopefully leading with some direction,” concludes Mosher. “It was an honor to be able to bring my experience and serve my hometown of Denver.”