DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 176

wong21fr · #**3501** Posted **Apr 9, 2015, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denverite

Indeed, I am well aware that this already exists to varying degrees in most, if not all, municipalities. I have been through the review process before. Not sure they're doing a good job at times. It's been my experience that they tend to be either extremely militant about design changes or extremely lax. Little in-between.

I think that's because the ideal that you suggest, "Ideally, this would be a required step in the process with input from a group of architctural professionals who are open minded and diverse, and who can, at a minimum, suggest and advise reasonable recommendations of the external appearance with respect to the project location, budget, and purpose." is extremely hard to achieve. It's a design by committee setup with no codified rules to fall back on. Instead, everyone is going to argue about what a building should look like which would slow the development process and increase the cost of building and this negative will be magnified because there's nothing on the books to fall back on.

But what currently exists with the current regulatory environment results in the two extremes that you mention between a laissez faire and total control approach. Is a happy medium even possible?

bcp · #**3502** Posted **Apr 9, 2015, 8:12 PM**

it already exists...building code, fire code, zoning code provides plenty of control...design review is included with re-zone / PUD...the free market provides the rest - if developer builds a total turd, the project is more likely to fail, and then they won't build more....

but if it sells / rents...then it's working.

OT - Congrats Bunt!! That sounds like a very cool job.

CPVLIVE · #**3503** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 12:06 AM**

The old garage at the Z Block development is gone and the property is being cleared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeFive

RyanD... My kind of photo!!

denconyny... waiting to hear myself.

ALEC has an interesting map that rates all states from 1-50 based on economic outlook. The article is entitled: Rich States, Poor States, 2015 Edition

Anything ALEC puts out is extremely useful ... as toilet paper.

denconyny · #**3504** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 1:07 AM**

It seems as though Union Tower West did have their groundbreaking ceremony today.

http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/04/union-tower-west-breaks-ground/

Another empty lot bites the dust.

Fritzdude · #**3505** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 1:31 AM**

So... I was admiring the new development that's planning to go in at 3100 Brighton, which will be located close to the new brewery:

I like that color brick. Posted by Denver-CityScape.com

pablosan · #**3506** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 3:36 AM**

They are just starting the second level on 1401 lawrence

rds70 · #**3507** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 3:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

So... I was admiring the new development that's planning to go in at 3100 Brighton, which will be located close to the new brewery:

I like that color brick. Posted by Denver-CityScape.com

I have corrected the post. The correct address is 3063 Brighton. The 3100 block is the location of the Broadstone at RiNo project.

TakeFive · #**3508** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 3:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by denconyny

It seems as though Union Tower West did have their groundbreaking ceremony today.

http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/04/union-tower-west-breaks-ground/

Another empty lot bites the dust.

Shovels - were there shovels?
Ah yes

per http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/04/union-tower-west-breaks-ground/

Quote:

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, President & CEO Tami Door of the Downtown Denver Partnership, along with members of the development team break ground on Union Tower West.

Woo Hoo. The groundbreaking is now official.

per giphy.com

balugajames · #**3509** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 4:36 AM**

Sweet!

TakeFive · #**3510** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 5:36 AM**

balugajames... I assume that comes from http://www.denver-cityscape.com/

rds70... Talk about dropping some apartment porn, dang (LOL). That makes two new pipeline projects for later in the year groundbreakings along Brighton Boulevard: a 6 story by Mill Creek and now an 8 story project by Lynd.

I wasn't familiar with Lynd Real Estate of San Antonio but a little searching reveals quite an interesting history. The project architect, Valerio Dewalt Train Associates for RiNo was also the architect for their award winning EnV apartment tower in Chicago.

I like what AMLI is doing with Riverfront Green. Nothing special but solid.

DenvertoLA · #**3511** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 6:19 AM**

Daaaaang

CharlesCO · #**3512** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 7:33 AM**

Looks nice, but why does there need to be above ground parking at the lot that's right f&^*!ing across from the LRT station? Shouldn't that be the one project downtown that has restrained parking, or are we all really that insecure and still need our cars for when we all move downtown? *cues rant from bunt*

bunt_q · #**3513** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 7:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

Looks nice, but why does there need to be above ground parking at the lot that's right f&^*!ing across from the LRT station? Shouldn't that be the one project downtown that has restrained parking, or are we all really that insecure and still need our cars for when we all move downtown? *cues rant from bunt*

Well of course, that's easy. Because our trains are slow and don't actually go anywhere useful. They bring you downtown for work. Not especially helpful if you already live downtown, or if you don't work downtown.

Denver · #**3514** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 8:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

Looks nice, but why does there need to be above ground parking at the lot that's right f&^*!ing across from the LRT station? Shouldn't that be the one project downtown that has restrained parking, or are we all really that insecure and still need our cars for when we all move downtown? *cues rant from bunt*

A) I could not agree more with Bunt_Q

B) Even if Denver's intracity was better, are we really going to be pissed off that a developer is putting in more parking spaces than is needed? I mean at the end of the day we should be happy that someone is willing to build something of this quality at this site and not be pissed off over the little things. I for one could not be happier that this is 5x taller than alta....

balugajames · #**3515** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Well of course, that's easy. Because our trains are slow and don't actually go anywhere useful. They bring you downtown for work. Not especially helpful if you already live downtown, or if you don't work downtown.

I certainly agree the trains are slow (I honestly prefer taking the bus for this reason and the seats) but completely disagree on living downtown and transits usefulness. One of the things I love about living downtown is how easy it is for me to take transit to any part of the metropolitan. Almost always only one leg. Now with the Bustang coming, even more intercity options are available. I can get to Fort Collins in an hour and half or Frisco in 2.

Transit downtown could certainly be improved and doing so would greatly improve the usage of the other routes however its relatively easy to get around downtown. I use those bcycles. 10 minutes from Uptown to Union Station. And a beautiful ride along the way! If it snows, take the new free metro ride or grab a car2go..

Living downtown ensures I will 'almost' always be within a transit route of my employment. Currently the model is Bike + Transit... With better downtown routes we could remove the Bike necessity and really increase ridership.

But yea, the damn trains are way too sloooowww! Anyone who is not extremely patient probably finds them quite annoyingly so....

Leaving Union Station on route to Golden. Its almost faster to take the BV to Interlocken and then carpool to Golden than it is to take the rail directly to golden. Sad.. Obviously this is a contrived example but it makes the point.

Riverfrontbrewer · #**3516** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 2:31 PM**

There is a community info meeting being held at the Amli Riverfront on the 14th from 6-7:30 to discuss the Amli Riverfront Green proposal (305 units/353 parking spaces). Renderings look pretty interesting.

wong21fr · #**3517** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 2:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Well of course, that's easy. Because our trains are slow and don't actually go anywhere useful. They bring you downtown for work. Not especially helpful if you already live downtown, or if you don't work downtown.

While it's always a valid point it was always going to be impossible to get the train to get where people wanted to go in the 'burbs. The SE corridor will take decades, if ever, to reverse the way it was developed so that the train stops resemble Tyson's Corner more than butt-fuck suburban Houston. Wait, that's unfair to Houston- they do development better than the SE corridor has ever done.

Speeding up the trains is something that can be done in the future and something that needs to be done now on the West Line- the speed on that line is deplorable. Screw neighborhood concerns and ramp up the speed. Express trains can also be done now and should be.

Dogpatch · #**3518** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 2:44 PM**

That rendering for 17th and Chestnut looks pretty amazing. So nice to see maximum height and a lot of density on that lot. But I'm even more excited to see the proposal on the lot at 18th and Little Raven. It seems long overdue. I remember hearing a rumor that the owner of the lot intended to build a single home there. Very happy that turned out to be just a rumor. One lot to go and the CPV is built out!
: )

bobg · #**3519** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 2:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

Looks nice, but why does there need to be above ground parking at the lot that's right f&^*!ing across from the LRT station? Shouldn't that be the one project downtown that has restrained parking, or are we all really that insecure and still need our cars for when we all move downtown? *cues rant from bunt*

That parking actually makes sense to me. The parking spaces appear to be a few spots for pickups/deliveries/drop offs in an area that is essentially functioning as the alley for that development, and is on the other side of the bus ramp from the LRT station.

The parking/alley may not look good depending on how well the landscaping hides it, but I get it given the layout of the parcel, density of the building, and surrounding streets (or lack thereof).

rds70 · #**3520** Posted **Apr 10, 2015, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogpatch

That rendering for 17th and Chestnut looks pretty amazing. So nice to see maximum height and a lot of density on that lot. But I'm even more excited to see the proposal on the lot at 18th and Little Raven. It seems long overdue. I remember hearing a rumor that the owner of the lot intended to build a single home there. Very happy that turned out to be just a rumor. One lot to go and the CPV is built out!
: )

There is actually still a small parcel designated for a single family home at the corner of Little Raven and Bassett. You can see it "ghosted in" at the right of this rendering: