DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Wizened Variations

I also have to admit that nothing in the metro area including DIA is outstanding, when compared to world competition.

I'd disagree with respect to DIA but I'd be more interested in it's domestic appeal than worrying about Dubai or Beijing.

First some context. City of Denver is the 22nd largest by population. More importantly the MSA is 21st largest so virtually the same.

Given that air travel has seasonal variations, I'll use 2013 final numbers for passenger traffic (not freight) per Wikipedia.

• Atlanta is #1
• Chicago and LAX are #'s 5 & 6
• Dallas is #9
• Denver is #15
• JFK is #19, San Francisco #22, Charlotte #23, Las Vegas #24,
• Miami is #26, Phoenix #27, Houston #28

Notes: LAX is about to pass O'Hare. In recent years Dallas, Miami and Charlotte have had good steady growth. Denver has had tepid growth of late actually contracting in 2013. I do expect DIA to once again experience good growth.

DIA has the distinction of breaking the record for being picked #1 by business travelers for 6 consecutive years. I assume that streak is over and I don't recall the specific question or the travel entity that conducts the annual survey. Clearly though that's hardly a low class result.

DIA's one disadvantage is that it is some distance from downtown or other business centers. Oh well, can't have everything. It's also why the new commuter rail and light rail will help. DIA really does have an impressive number of international flights. Phoenix would die for a few more. They're too close to LAX is their biggest issue.

Given Denver's relative size and location, DIA is an amazing accomplishment and is still growing nicely and performing well.

[DownhomeDenver]

Sorry for the huge image I'm in the car. But do my eyes deceive me and is that really work happening at 3200 Blake??? I wonder if it's going to be a self storage facility as I had seen on Denvergov?

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by enjo13

What we need to do is get our absolutely horrific city government out of the way. We are one of two cities on the planet that are taxing software as a service (Austin is the other). My company was just hit with a property tax assessment for property that we don't even own (the city just "estimated" it). Don't get me started on Denver's occupational use tax.

This city puts a ton of roadblocks in the way of entrepreneurship. Which is driving people back to Boulder (Talent Riot just cancelled a planned move to the city). The city leadership is, unfortunately, 100% tone-def on the issue.
/rant

With respect to the occupational tax that is older than dirt. I think they've already applied for an historical designation.

Colorado is at a disadvantage in many cases as the state constitution prescribes how commercial and non-commercial property taxes should be allocated. With the tendency to take things for granted...
I'd agree with you that the personal property tax on SaaS is ridiculous. Also agree that the city needs to simplify things. They could have a Mayoral level ombudsman that does much of the work or coordinates the various steps for prospective companies for example.

I assume that Tom Clark and his group do a terrific job. In fact I just noticed that they have a fresh new web site. The Governor has raised the effort at the state level.

Many companies who are looking to relocate or expand will remain undisclosed through initial fact finding phases.
In many cases our recruiters may never know who eliminated Denver (or the front range) or why.

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Many companies who are looking to relocate or expand will remain undisclosed through initial fact finding phases.
In many cases our recruiters may never know who eliminated Denver (or the front range) or why.

Well we can start locally. I'm focusing specifically on technology here, but I bet much of this applies elsewhere.

It's interesting, most companies in the metro that aren't located in Denver, have at least some interest in relocating. The advantages are pretty obvious.

The big issue, of course, is rent. Not much we can do about that.

There is also a real fascination with Boulder, and that has everything to do with the money that's there. That's definitely part of the problem, Boulder is doing it's very best to recreate Palo Alto. Denver desperately needs to recreate San Francisco and that means a real emphasis on drawing more investment capital into the city (a situation that has steadily but not spectacularly improved over the last 5 years).

The other thing is a perception that Denver is just a hard place to run a business. Much of this is FUD spread by the aforementioned Boulderites, but it's very present. To me this is the low hanging fruit. Simplify the tax structure and send a very clear message to companies ALREADY IN COLORADO: we get it and we're going to do everything possible to make it easy for you do business here.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by enjo13

Well we can start locally. I'm focusing specifically on technology here, but I bet much of this applies elsewhere.

There is also a real fascination with Boulder, and that has everything to do with the money that's there. That's definitely part of the problem, Boulder is doing it's very best to recreate Palo Alto. Denver desperately needs to recreate San Francisco and that means a real emphasis on drawing more investment capital into the city (a situation that has steadily but not spectacularly improved over the last 5 years).

The other thing is a perception that Denver is just a hard place to run a business. Much of this is FUD spread by the aforementioned Boulderites, but it's very present. To me this is the low hanging fruit. Simplify the tax structure and send a very clear message to companies ALREADY IN COLORADO: we get it and we're going to do everything possible to make it easy for you do business here.

Yeah you're right.

Like navyweaxguy I do fantasize about Denver getting one Big Boy, a Lead Dog (or two).
DownhomeDenver getting the HQ for Ardent Mills was awesome. Credits to the Governor for literally stealing that one. Not a large deal but every deal counts.

FUD flying between Boulder and Denver, eh? That's hilarious. Interesting how "FUD" is peculiar to the tech industry. I often read about FUD flying between tech companies on one of my fave investment sites (Seeking Alpha) but that's another topic.

So Boulder wants to be like Palo Alto? Hope they succeed. Let downtown Denver be like South of Market in San Francisco and the metro area become like Menlo Park. That kind of synergy would be a combo to die for.

Thinking back to when Hickenlooper was first elected Mayor of Denver he made making the city friendly to creative types one of his themes. While it's hard for me to see the tech energy from my back porch, I've read about the efforts so I'll assume as you assert that there's some good seeds being planted.

enjo13, here's where I'll agree wholeheartedly. Denver has done a nice job of appealing to young creative types, has a positive buzz. It needs to not drop the ball now. Making things easier and more cost friendly for startups and young businesses should be a Top Priority.

[Wizened Variations]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

I'd disagree with respect to DIA but I'd be more interested in it's domestic appeal than worrying about Dubai or Beijing.

First some context. City of Denver is the 22nd largest by population. More importantly the MSA is 21st largest so virtually the same.

Given that air travel has seasonal variations, I'll use 2013 final numbers for passenger traffic (not freight) per Wikipedia.

• Atlanta is #1
• Chicago and LAX are #'s 5 & 6
• Dallas is #9
• Denver is #15
• JFK is #19, San Francisco #22, Charlotte #23, Las Vegas #24,
• Miami is #26, Phoenix #27, Houston #28

Notes: LAX is about to pass O'Hare. In recent years Dallas, Miami and Charlotte have had good steady growth. Denver has had tepid growth of late actually contracting in 2013. I do expect DIA to once again experience good growth.

DIA has the distinction of breaking the record for being picked #1 by business travelers for 6 consecutive years. I assume that streak is over and I don't recall the specific question or the travel entity that conducts the annual survey. Clearly though that's hardly a low class result.

DIA's one disadvantage is that it is some distance from downtown or other business centers. Oh well, can't have everything. It's also why the new commuter rail and light rail will help. DIA really does have an impressive number of international flights. Phoenix would die for a few more. They're too close to LAX is their biggest issue.

Given Denver's relative size and location, DIA is an amazing accomplishment and is still growing nicely and performing well.

You are correct about the traffic load. Relative to the rest of the world, Stapleton also was busy. Denver has the geographic position to be a great transfer point.

I do not consider the architecture of DIA world class anymore. Prior to 9/11 DIA stood out, despite being almost in Kansas.

My point still stands, however, that Denver is a tier II town and faces intense competition from it's peers. For example, while Denver has DIA, Portland is near serious shipping facilities and a long history of interacting with the Far East. Another example, while Austin does not have a DIA, Austin is the seat of the 3rd most powerful government in the US and the site of the very huge University of Texas. Similar comparisons can be made between Denver and other noteworthy second tier cities.

US tier I cities: LA, SF, Seattle (major Pacific port, headquarters of a few of huge corporations), Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, Philadelphia, NYC, and, Boston.

[RyanD]

Soooo who's all going to the meetup tonight?

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by RyanD

Soooo who's all going to the meetup tonight?

When and where?

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

When and where?

It's the every other month urbanist meetup!

http://denverurbanism.com/2014/07/denver-urbanists-unite-meetup-7-coming-july-30-2014.html

[bunt_q]

Which was great on Thursdays. Haven't been since it got moved to Wednesdays.

[denconyny]

Does it look as if a new and unique college/school is going to be operating in Denver now?

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2...isexpanding-efforts-to.html?iana=ind_cre

I wouldn't think that there is too much competition at this point in this field? Could it eventually attract students from all over?

Maybe end up turning all this into a 4 year degree program?

I wonder how high of a skyscraper this is going to require once it gets in traction, eh?

[CharlesCO]

There's a marijuana business school in Oakland. They call the area around it Oaksterdam, but it looks nothing like Broadway in Denver.

[denconyny]

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

There's a marijuana business school in Oakland. They call the area around it Oaksterdam, but it looks nothing like Broadway in Denver.

Oh yeah, forgot about them. I somehow thought that they were closed down with the raids that they withstood, but they reopened with a new owner, per Wikipedia

Anyways, they claim to graduate some 15,000 students to date. I wonder how much it is similar to an accredited college, since it is patterned after the Cannabis College in Amsterdam. Oaksterdam also had campuses in Los Angeles, Sebastopol, and Michigan.

Wonder how far this local Marijuana Business Academy will be able to further advance this industry, since basically (at least locally) marijuana is legal for a much more expanded population than just the medical community?

[rds70]

A building permit application has been submitted to the City for the Alexan Uptown apartment project.

Glad to see that one is moving forward.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by rds70

A building permit application has been submitted to the City for the Alexan Uptown apartment project.

Glad to see that one is moving forward.

Aw snap.




http://denverinfill.com/blog/2014/03/new-uptown-project-alexan-uptown.html

[TakeFive]

Nothing beats summer in the city.

[DownhomeDenver]

And then there's this:

2014M00271 - 1600 Wewatta St / 1881 16th St - Block A Hotel and Office - SUPERSTRUCTURE

[RyanD]

Yessssssss! I've been waiting for this one! Silly question, what's the difference between the 'D' and 'M' in the permit strings? ie 2013D00839 vs 2014M00273?

[DownhomeDenver]

Oh and this is interesting:

2014D00273 - 1750 Little Raven - AMLI Little Raven

This is the lot across the street from Glass House

[DownhomeDenver]

Originally Posted by RyanD

Yessssssss! I've been waiting for this one! Silly question, what's the difference between the 'D' and 'M' in the permit strings? ie 2013D00839 vs 2014M00273?

I believe the "D" is for development plan and "M" is permit or something like that. There's probably someone else who knows exactly.