DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[TakeFive]

So is THIS something everybody would like to see in downtown?

[Brock Landers]

Tower crane base is installed at the skyhouse site.

Originally Posted by TakeFive

So is THIS something everybody would like to see in downtown?

It's a building people can live in, so I would have to say yes...

[Denver]

I know most of you likely already read this in the DBJ, but 400,000 square feet of office space in RiNo. Does this have a chance of happening? That seems like an extremely large amount of space for an area that really does not yet have an office market.

Construction is underway now on a 28,685-square-foot building that will house a tasting room and brewery at 1910 38th St. in RiNo, said Bernard Hurley, owner of Menalto LLC, the company developing the entertainment district. The project will include another 80,000 square feet of retail space, Hurley said, as well as 400,000 square feet of office space and 400 parking spaces.

Also what is meant by an "entertainment district?"

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/r...ng-to-anchor-new-rino-entertainment.html

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by Denver

Also what is meant by an "entertainment district?"

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/r...ng-to-anchor-new-rino-entertainment.html

An entertainment districts is a legal term. It can be designated by the city. Has to be of a certain size and contain a certain square footage of entertainment uses. And it can be designated a common consumption area (basically, open containers are allowed between bars, etc.). A promotional association will be formed that basically controls the common consumption area, has to file reports, etc. Same thing Glendale is doing. I do not know if it is part of the plan here, but Denver could probably also allow longer serving hours within this area (4:00am, 24-hours, whatever).

[bcp]

omg..the glass on triangle building is SO..WELL..DONE. bravo EW

oh, and nice photo Ryan!

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by bcp

omg..the glass on triangle building is SO..WELL..DONE. bravo EW

oh, and nice photo Ryan!

Hey thanks! The glass on Triangle sure is somehing!

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by mr1138

I find it hard to take architects seriously when they propose that we need to re-invent the wheel when it comes to site layout in order to design for the modern world. This is basically what Corbusier was saying when he designed the "Radiant City," and the kind of thinking that gave us Pruitt-Igoe. A couple months ago somebody posted an article on here by an architect who was trying to claim that "innovative" modern structures should all include at-grade parking courtyards.

Claiming that Taxi is the answer to all our urban design problems is similarly ridiculous. As Stonemans_rowJ points out, it's surrounded by a sea of private surface parking lots. And it's actually a super-block with only one, poorly defined public street frontage.

I do agree with the criticism that structured parking can have a negative effect on the massing of urban structures. But short of putting it all underground, or simply eliminating parking entirely (which may be possible someday, but not now), I haven't seen any solution that works better from an urban context. I'm convinced that the correct answer is NOT to throw away classic urban design principals of density, lot coverage, and a public ROW that's well defined by a street-wall of buildings.

Well said. Underground parking is prohibitively expensive for most projects, it's usually very difficult to get it to pencil out unless you are charging very high rents/price per sq. ft. Which obviously then leads to the complaints about the price of living in Denver going up.

And damn that Triangle building looks fantastic!

[CharlesCO]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again— the Taxi building is a cult. This is just one more example of it. Everyone on the inside zealously loves it for whatever reason when it's still not that great, for reasons already mentioned here by others.

[TakeFive]

Giggity

State may help pay for $856M stock show redevelopment
Apr 13, 2015 by Cathy Proctor, Denver Business Journal

Supporters of a bipartisan bill that would allow the state to help pay for the transformation of the National Western Stock Show complex in north Denver into a gleaming, new research and education site say they believe the new National Western Center will help agriculture statewide.

The state’s share, capped at $250 million, could come via House Bill 1344, sponsored by House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, and Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling. The bill would allow Colorado State University to sign 20-year lease-purchase agreements, up to $250 million, to help pay for the construction of buildings the university would use at the center.

Duran said support for the bill was “off to a very, very good start,” with 30 co-sponsors that included a mix of Republicans and Democrats, as well as rural and urban representatives.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

Taxi, The Source, and Industry all have a very suburban feel to the sites- massive surface parking lots. That's one thing I hate about the Source. I rode my bike over there. First off, its an inhospitable environment along Brighton for bikes but I know that is changing. There were 5 bikes locked up at the Source and about 200 cars. I wonder how many people walked? Probably not too many...

I LOVE the Source but agree it's an island in that area. I hope when Brighton Blvd is redone and the area continues to add residential density that it will be better from an urban standpoint. I like the plans I've seen for Brighton. The whole area needs better connectivity to Walnut/Market across the tracks.

[TakeFive]

Dang... "growing like a weed."
according to Russell Haythorn, 7NewsDenver
and hotel bookings are up 60%

Hotels.com says Denver now ranks 14th on the list of most popular domestic destinations, up from 19th two years ago.

Denver’s 4/20 event begins Saturday, April 18. It will be a three-day event in Civic Center Park that ends on Monday, April 20.

courtesy of www.coloradogreentours.com

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by BG918

I LOVE the Source but agree it's an island in that area. I hope when Brighton Blvd is redone and the area continues to add residential density that it will be better from an urban standpoint. I like the plans I've seen for Brighton. The whole area needs better connectivity to Walnut/Market across the tracks.

The Source won't be an island for long, they are supposed to get a hotel and garage in the empty lot next door.

[bcp]

Originally Posted by CharlesCO

I've said this before, and I'll say it again— the Taxi building is a cult. This is just one more example of it. Everyone on the inside zealously loves it for whatever reason when it's still not that great, for reasons already mentioned here by others.

surface parking, far flung locations, not-so-great materials, and market-rates for everyone!

that said...good branding and urban-design-"speak".

[LAM]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

So is THIS something everybody would like to see in downtown?

I'd like to see it!

[Dogpatch]

i would too. That would mean condos are being built in Denver.
And then a high rise condo boom to follow!
(At least a few anyway.)

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

State may help pay for $856M stock show redevelopment
Apr 13, 2015 by Cathy Proctor, Denver Business Journal

Couple of things: Also within that article/bill was this:

The bill also creates a “Capitol Complex Master Plan” fund, capped at $80 million, to pay for projects included in the master plan for the Capitol’s complex.

New office space for the state?


With respect to the National Western site, in addition to the up to $250 million for CSU buildings the RTA request is still in process as well. Let's say that Denver starts with $350 million towards their total funding needs. This is all contingent on Denver voters approving of the extension of taxes on hotel rooms and car rentals which now is more enticing given the state's role.

Sounds like the bipartisan and more rural support comes from many wanting to support a nice CSU presence in Denver. The article also points out that this is similar to the state's funding help with Anschutz Medical Center.

[Cirrus]

Denver from Red Rocks, via natydg on reddit

[DownhomeDenver]

1. Looks like another prime development assemblage is up for sale in Cherry Creek

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18548023/36-Steele-Street-25-Adams-Street-Denver-CO/

2. Theyre putting up construction fencing at 2300 Welton. Hooray!

[BG918]

Condo defect bill passes the Senate...will it make it through the House? If it does do we start seeing new high rises proposed?

http://m.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/04/14/construction-defects-reform-bill-gets-final.html

[rds70]

Another suburb to downtown business relocation:

Prologis to Move to LoDo

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/r...elocating-operations-hq-to-downtown.html