DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[TakeFive]

navyweaxguy... You should be right up there at the top of the list then.

[blm3034L!fe]

In other news, suburb but transit oriented development news. Westminster will be moving forward with their mall redevelopment plan. Which will be infused with the rtd transit stop.

Even though this isn't downtown, it's still beneficial to the metropolitan area.

Listed by the Denver Post Business Section.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26915687/westminster-gives-green-light-rebirth-dead-mall-site

[DownhomeDenver]

BTW there's construction fencing up at the old Mile High United Way site in the Highlands. I never realized how large that site is.

[DownhomeDenver]

Then this happened too...

2014M00374 - 1776 Broadway St - Skyhouse I Denver - New Apartment building - SUPERSTRUCTURE

[Scottk]

Superstructure??

what does that mean?

[Sam Hill]

Originally Posted by blm3034L!fe

I Know someone among us is coveting this information, but I heard a development is coming to downtown Denver soon. To the extent of 90 Stories I'm height! Very big project. Visited with a friend of mine the other day, he wouldn't give specifics. But he also wouldn't blow smoke up my ass or have any reason talk about something like this, if there wasn't some truth behind it.

I'm trying to find any information out there, coming up empty handed though. Either way I'm so excited to see Denver finally end up getting over the 1,000 foot Mark, and see our skyline move onto the next level...

Even if we had more than this vague rumor from an anonymous character on a skyscraper message board, who might literally be more obsessed with "Denver's next tallest" than anyone else on the planet - even if we had an actual proposal for some ambitious supertall being reported in the major papers - I'd still put its odds of actually breaking ground at far, far below 50%.

This is not to say I don't enjoy such rumors. I love dreaming about this kind of stuff as much as the next guy.

Speaking of which, I did happen to catch a glance of that fleeting image of the observation tower thingy. I thought the sharp corners were really cool and unique (for an observation tower). The world already has enough "Space Needles" with a disk at the top.

[Sam Hill]

because, at 3-1/2 blocks away, it is too far for conventioneers to travel.

This makes absolutely no sense to me.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by DownhomeDenver

Soooooo according to Sprockets website and their renderings with map of the project, this looks like 3325 DENARGO ST. This property is owned by:

PROJECT RINO LLC
27777 FRANKLIN RD STE 200
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034-8205

It's currently an old warehouse and vacant land. Additionally, there is a rezoning request on the land from industrial to a PUD which there will be a hearing on November 19th. If I can remember correctly.

Now, if the article from the DBJ mentions Brighton Blvd between 31st and 35th then they may be referring to 3101-3301 Brighton Blvd which is owned by:

RIVER NORTH PROPERTIES LLC
10231 PRESTWICK TRL
LONE TREE, CO 80124-9747

However, this appears to be a pretty large site AND the current industrial buildings on the site are being cleaned up by an environmental company. So, perhaps theyre cleaning up asbestos, etc then the buildings will be torn down. This site is adjacent to the old Beleza development on 31st and Brighton.

But not sure....only my observations from being in that area lately.

The article did mention that that the site between 31st and 35th is a 4.5 acre site, which is about 196,000sq. ft. or 440'x440' square and that some existing buildings had to be removed...pretty big area, so I would bet it is those two building at 3101-3301 Brighton Blvd.

Originally Posted by Interzen

I'm betting it is around 3101-3301 Brighton Blvd. and not the exact project on Denargo as pointed out earlier. Still could be related. Maybe the location is shifting north to be adjacent to the proposed park I referenced.

It could be both sites possibly, there is nothing saying Sprocket isn't working on a couple different projects in that area.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by Scottk

Superstructure??

what does that mean?

Means they are going for a superstructure permit (the portion of the building above ground) separate of a foundation permit. It is done pretty frequently so that the foundations can be submitted and earthwork/foundation placement can begin while the superstructure work is still in the design process. Its called Fast-tracking in the construction industry.

What is strange is that they are submitting superstructure before foundation, but that might be because Skyhouse is a cookie cutter type design (they already have a number of them around the country) and they already basically had the superstructure designed and decided to submit, whereas the foundations are site specific and can't really be "predesigned" like the superstructure.

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

This makes absolutely no sense to me.

I get it, it's nice to be able to pop to your room between sessions. You can't do that over three blocks, then you basically pack for the day. That of course does not apply to everybody. But if you're buying a block of rooms for an entire convention, I can see wanting one block proximity, because some people will like that.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I get it, it's nice to be able to pop to your room between sessions. You can't do that over three blocks, then you basically pack for the day. That of course does not apply to everybody. But if you're buying a block of rooms for an entire convention, I can see wanting one block proximity, because some people will like that.

Which is why the Gaylord conference resorts do so well because it keeps everyone in one place in an all inclusive setting...that and they like to stick them in BFE so there really isn't any other options than to stay at the Gaylord resorts. I don't particularly care for them, but they do have a pretty successful business model.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I get it, it's nice to be able to pop to your room between sessions. You can't do that over three blocks, then you basically pack for the day. That of course does not apply to everybody. But if you're buying a block of rooms for an entire convention, I can see wanting one block proximity, because some people will like that.

Exactly. Business conventions are really closed-events where you want everything as close as possible. An attendee might attend the main exhibition/conference session for a couple hours, break-off to attend a secondary presentation, have 2-3 meetings with customers and peers in meeting space, and then run-up to their room to answer e-mails and write up a review of that morning's events. Proximity is very important as you don't want to be wasting time walking several blocks in between everything. Evenings are different as that's when you want to venture out for cocktail hour and dinner, usually another damn meeting, which is when the attractiveness of the host city location comes into play.

This isn't so important for consumer conventions like a Comic-con, but those aren't the type of conventions that these conference hotels are set-up for.

[enjo13]

wong has that exactly right. Just to add to it. When you hit a convention you also want to make sure everyone in your company is in the same hotel. It's a nightmare to deal with multiple hotels when you have 20+ people attending a conference.

So you're going to want:

- A hotel very close to the actual convention. This is where you'll hold meetings, organize your people every day, and deal with the logistics of the conference.
- A hotel that can hold your entire team
- You'll be transporting computers and materials back and forth every day so close is really important.


Right now the one and only hotel I'd consider is the Hyatt. If that thing were full, I'd probably just not go to the conference at all. Which is why those conference organizers might overlook Denver.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

Which is why the Gaylord conference resorts do so well because it keeps everyone in one place in an all inclusive setting...that and they like to stick them in BFE so there really isn't any other options than to stay at the Gaylord resorts. I don't particularly care for them, but they do have a pretty successful business model.

Well stated. Although not within walking distance there well be plenty of nearby additional rooms.
Gaylord does seem to have their own sphere of influence. I can easily envision some planners and others wanting to hop the commuter train to check out downtown Denver. There may be professional planners along that work with many different groups. Nothing like taking advantage of of the opportunity to check out the facilities downtown in person.

Denver has very little in the way of larger, nicer resort hotels with conference facilities. Down here they thrive on those. While many are concentrated along Scottsdale Road the newer 1400 room JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is around the bend near the 101. Then there's The Boulders a tucked away Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Point being... I can't think of much in Denver other than the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center. There's some modest offerings in the Tech Center. Eventually as the metro area continues to grow the odds increase for more competition. I wouldn't be surprised if Douglas County floats some ideas for convention facilities.

I've always viewed Gaylord as the least threatening and even having synergies with downtown and potential future business. I have no idea when the court proceedings will be resolved.

[DenvertoLA]

What about the Embassy Suites that's right next to the Hyatt?

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by enjo13

wong has that exactly right. Just to add to it. When you hit a convention you also want to make sure everyone in your company is in the same hotel. It's a nightmare to deal with multiple hotels when you have 20+ people attending a conference.

So you're going to want:

- A hotel very close to the actual convention. This is where you'll hold meetings, organize your people every day, and deal with the logistics of the conference.
- A hotel that can hold your entire team
- You'll be transporting computers and materials back and forth every day so close is really important.


Right now the one and only hotel I'd consider is the Hyatt. If that thing were full, I'd probably just not go to the conference at all. Which is why those conference organizers might overlook Denver.

Bravo! You really articulate the meat of the issue.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

What about the Embassy Suites that's right next to the Hyatt?

Probably would work, but it only has 400 rooms and if you've got 20 people attending a conference,you're trying to reserve 5% of the hotel (not to mention meeting spaces). That can be a challenge. But a large conference organizer would want to reserve large blocks of hotel rooms. i.e hundreds or rooms, that only a facility like the Hyatt can offer. There's definitely a need for another large hotel next to the convention center, though I'm not sure if it needs to be the size of the Hyatt with over a thousand rooms. Maybe the 800 room variety?

[Chucolo]

I don't think Denver's hotels are *that* far away from convention center. But getting to those hotels, because of the blechh that is now California Street, is perceived as an obstacle. (In fact, getting anywhere from convention center to where the major hotels are requires a walk down some crappy block, whether it's California or parts of 15th Street or Glenarm or Tremont or Stout.) As for the Gaylords of the world, those have their own special hell. Usually, the convention part of the complex is far from where the rooms are, and after a few days eating at the same few (overpriced, and I do mean overpriced) dining spots, you are definitely ready to check out.

[TakeFive]

At least downtown Denver doesn't have this problem.

"2 Workers Trapped on Scaffolding Dangling 68 Stories High Off One World Trade Center"
according to nbcnewyork.com


per #FDNY

[Sam Hill]

hmmm. I guess it all makes sense now. I can't say I've ever been to a convention so I only have a vague idea of what goes on in those convention centers.