DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[Fritzdude]

I've often wondered why some hotel doesn't build a "superstructure" right above the convention center..

It's a big flat rooftop up there. It would obviously need to be massed to support a "pop top", which it isn't, but it would certainly be efficient for convention goers who want to be close.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

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.

I do think there are a couple options for hotel/conference centers around the metro area, the Omni Interlocken, Inverness as you stated, Marriott DTC, the Westin at the Westminster Promenade, the soon to be Westin at DIA, soon to be Hyatt at Anschutz, and the Hyatt downtown, but really the options are pretty limited around a metro our size. The mountains do open up that opportunity quite a bit though, there are a fairly large number of conference centers up in Summit and Eagle counties, and COS has the Broadmoor.

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

I've often wondered why some hotel doesn't build a "superstructure" right above the convention center..

It's a big flat rooftop up there. It would obviously need to be massed to support a "pop top", which it isn't, but it would certainly be efficient for convention goers who want to be close.

I've always thought the same, or especially over the parking garage. I'm sure none of the structure was originally designed for vertical expansion so it would be quite an undertaking, but the airspace over the convention center is very underutilized. You would think at the very least they would have covered the roof in solar panels as its in a pretty prime position for them.

[TakeFive]

Right on Cue....
Ed Sealover has the update at DBJ.

Denver Lodger's Tax way up in record-breaking convention year

Denver Lodger's Tax revenues are up nearly 22 percent through the first two-thirds of 2014 — another sign of exactly how important the city's record-breaking year for conventions has been to the local economy.

Given it's the slower time of year Mayor Hancock speculated that the full YOY comparison would be closer to 14% at this morning's annual Visit Denver meeting.

Something I didn't know or hadn't thought about:

When the state, Regional Transportation District and cultural-facilities taxes imposed on hotels are included, the total hotel tax revenues reach $70.4 million for the first two-thirds of the year.

Also: Cha-ching, cha-ching

... now estimating that 421,544 convention goers will meet in the Mile High City in 2014, spending an estimated $723 million by the end of this year, Visit Denver officials said.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

...the soon to be Westin at DIA,

I would think that the new DIA hotel would be an additional amenity for many convention attendees. Depending on timing/scheduling I could see many moving to the airport for one night to be right there for when their flight leaves the next morning etc.

Once Gaylord opens up I would guess that Visit Denver, in addition to the normal freebies, might want to purchase some nice display advertising. I also wonder if Visit Denver could purchase advertising at convention sites with reservations for Gaylord? "Special one/two-night stay in vibrant downtown Denver for those attending XYZ."

Gaylord still has a "reserved" site in Mesa (BFE) AZ. That was arranged before the Great Recession hit (with a vengeance down here). Plus I'm sure Gaylord got a better offer from Aurora considering the state's contribution. I still think it's cool that Aurora is "paying" to entice Gaylord to Denver's doorstep. I mean it's not called "Aurora International Airport."

[Fritzdude]

Pretty cool brownstones going in near Five Points; about 2 blocks away from the Safeway on Washington St.. 26 units will replace a parking lot.


http://www.confluence-denver.com/devnews...s+and+Leopold+Open+%26+Arts+Panel+Recap+

[Mulligan]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

I mean it's not called "Aurora International Airport."

They probably want it. Or at least the Aurora-Denver International Airport...

[DenvertoLA]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

I've often wondered why some hotel doesn't build a "superstructure" right above the convention center..

It's a big flat rooftop up there. It would obviously need to be massed to support a "pop top", which it isn't, but it would certainly be efficient for convention goers who want to be close.

I always wondered why they haven't put solar panels on that thing, or a rooftop restaurant.

[DownhomeDenver]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

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.

There is one already for foundation. I just didn't post it. It's been around for a few months now

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by DownhomeDenver

There is one already for foundation. I just didn't post it. It's been around for a few months now

Ah OK, that makes more sense. Bet this one gets under construction pretty soon then.

[DenverInfill]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

I always wondered why they haven't put solar panels on that thing, or a rooftop restaurant.

There are solar panels on the roof of the convention center. A bunch of them.

[LAM]

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

Pretty cool brownstones going in near Five Points; about 2 blocks away from the Safeway on Washington St.. 26 units will replace a parking lot.


http://www.confluence-denver.com/devnews...s+and+Leopold+Open+%26+Arts+Panel+Recap+

Although they look nice, they look more like Brownbricks than Brownstones.
What is the deal with the term Brownstone being used for non-Brownstones lately? Oh well, I'm sure it's just a marketing ploy. I guess I'll have to get used to it.

I usually think of this when I think of brownstones:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/59222
Photo by Matthew Rutledge originally posted on Flickr

[soonermeteor]

I've been to quite a few Meteorology conventions and my main issue has been finding places to eat. For some reason the areas nearby seems to be devoid of casual eateries. I haven't been around the CCC so I'm not sure of the situation there but I ran into this problem in New Orleans and Austin. Both were great for evening fun (French Quarter and Sixth Street), but it was a struggle to grab lunch. I specifically remember walking several blocks in Austin just to find a small Taco place. I guess even if there isn't stuff right outside the CCC there is at least 16th street nearby.

Anyways, back to the room issue. I've been sent to conferences (meaning I get the pricey room at or next to the convention center) and have also paid my own way (meaning I'm a mile down the street in the La Quinta). I haven't had much of an issue either way - I rarely return to my room whether its close or not and am not the type of person to worry about having to walk a few blocks. However, I know of a lot of people who prefer the convenience of a close room, especially if they want to grab a nap during the afternoon. I agree that they may want to save the last couple of spots near the convention center to at least get in one or two more options for large hotels like the Hyatt.

I can also attest to conventions in Denver picking up. Our annual Meteorology conference will be at the CCC in 2023, 2027, and 2031. I've already been bragging to colleagues about being able to take the light rail line in from DIA.

[comoneymaker]

Another way this mystical 90 story building will get built is they will put out a rendering soon (I would say just after New Years) that will make us all cry and poop our pants. 5 months later they will knock it down to 60 stories. 3 months later they will bring it down to 30 and change the whole design to another turd of a building. Can I put my money on that block of the betting pool? lol

[DenvertoLA]

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

There are solar panels on the roof of the convention center. A bunch of them.

Well that's great! I just can't see them on google maps.

[navyweaxguy]

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Another way this mystical 90 story building will get built is they will put out a rendering soon (I would say just after New Years) that will make us all cry and poop our pants. 5 months later they will knock it down to 60 stories. 3 months later they will bring it down to 30 and change the whole design to another turd of a building. Can I put my money on that block of the betting pool? lol

Just like 4S!

[bobg]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

Well that's great! I just can't see them on google maps.

Yeah you can:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7406696,-104.9962012,183m/data=!3m1!1e3


It's a lot of panels, but it still doesn't come close to covering the entirety of the roof. It still leaves room for a rooftop urban garden, a softball/kickball field, a multi-use soccer field, and an additional 40 story convention center hotel (one can dream right?)

[DenvertoLA]

Originally Posted by bobg

Yeah you can:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7406696,-104.9962012,183m/data=!3m1!1e3


It's a lot of panels, but it still doesn't come close to covering the entirety of the roof. It still leaves room for a rooftop urban garden, a softball/kickball field, a multi-use soccer field, and an additional 40 story convention center hotel (one can dream right?)

That's them in the bottom corner? O brother, they were just a publicity stunt. meh

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by bobg

It's a lot of panels, but it still doesn't come close to covering the entirety of the roof. It still leaves room for a rooftop urban garden, a softball/kickball field, a multi-use soccer field, and an additional 40 story convention center hotel (one can dream right?)

The Convention Center is designed so that another level can be added to it (asides from the hotel probably). You could build all of that crap, but I'd rather save the space for an expansion of the meeting space.

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

That's them in the bottom corner? O brother, they were just a publicity stunt. meh

Just like most rooftop solar panels.

[bobg]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

The Convention Center is designed so that another level can be added to it (asides from the hotel probably). You could build all of that crap, but I'd rather save the space for an expansion of the meeting space.

Hmm didn't know that. Still like my random ideas for the roof better. Convention centers only need to be so big and unless we start going after the ultra large conventions of which their are very few to justify the public cost it just doesn't make sense. Also if we keep building convention center hotels with additional meeting space how much more additional meeting space do we need?

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Just like most rooftop solar panels.

Hey at least we are not building solar bike lanes. If BikeDenver starts seriously advocating that they lost me.

[DenvertoLA]

Originally Posted by bobg

Hmm didn't know that. Still like my random ideas for the roof better. Convention centers only need to be so big and unless we start going after the ultra large conventions of which their are very few to justify the public cost it just doesn't make sense. Also if we keep building convention center hotels with additional meeting space how much more additional meeting space do we need?



Hey at least we are not building solar bike lanes. If BikeDenver starts seriously advocating that they lost me.

but they would look so cool!