DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 309

CherryCreek · #**6161** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Anyone got more info on this ?

http://www.9news.com/story/homepage/2015...ruct-central-denver-rec-center/75067400/

Also nice update by Denver Urban Review. Can you imagine what our skyline is going to look like late spring with all these cranes up for all these towers rising up at once!
http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/11/denver-construction-update-november/

What an amazing boom for Denver. The only real rival has to be the 1979-85 period when many of Denver's tallest buildings were built. But that was a period when the core city population was stagnant or even declining. This boom is far more well rounded, both in terms of residential vs. commercial as well by fact that it is not single industry (energy) driven. In fact it is thriving in the face of one of the biggest energy price declines in history.

I really think the impact of the Airport train may well be underestimated. That will be huge boost for convention business and a big feather in the hat for attracting new businesses. I think we are still "early" in this boom cycle.

EngiNerd · #**6162** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 3:14 PM**

That's terrific news on 999 17th!

www.sheaproperties.com

CherryCreek · #**6163** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 3:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

That's terrific news on 999 17th!

www.sheaproperties.com

Since many of us on here are the first to criticize crappy architecture and building materials, I must say I love this one.

REALLY cool.

EngiNerd · #**6164** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Anyone got more info on this ?

http://www.9news.com/story/homepage/2015...ruct-central-denver-rec-center/75067400/

Also nice update by Denver Urban Review. Can you imagine what our skyline is going to look like late spring with all these cranes up for all these towers rising up at once!
http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/11/denver-construction-update-november/

https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/de...Council_Committee_Presentation.FINAL.pdf

Everything you could ever want to know about the CDRC

TakeFive · #**6165** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

WAHOO!

I've touted this one as one of my faves for so long that I'll not celebrate until I see pretty shovels.

Where's wong when you need him? He often is aware of the funding status.

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Also nice update by Denver Urban Review. Can you imagine what our skyline is going to look like late spring with all these cranes up for all these towers rising up at once!
http://denverurbanreview.com/2015/11/denver-construction-update-november/

Thanks.

I still like the way Via Denver wraps around and frames that little BBVA Compass Bank building.

Nearing completion, Joule is looking very nice.

This one would be my photo fave. What a backdrop. I also like this shot of SkyHouse Denver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

What an amazing boom for Denver. The only real rival has to be the 1979-85 period when many of Denver's tallest buildings were built. But that was a period when the core city population was stagnant or even declining. This boom is far more well rounded, both in terms of residential vs. commercial as well by fact that it is not single industry (energy) driven.

I think we are still "early" in this boom cycle.

Famous last words.

Certainly the scope of current projects is indeed simply amazing though.

PLANSIT · #**6166** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 5:55 PM**

No one is talking about the Denver Cityscape post regarding Market St. Station?!

RyanD · #**6167** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 5:59 PM**

Speaking of trippy architecture, this guy has some very interesting angles:

Union Station: Triangle Building Final Update – Part One
via DenverInfill

Starting with my favorite, it totally goes 2D:

CherryCreek · #**6168** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

No one is talking about the Denver Cityscape post regarding Market St. Station?!

Well? Talk it about it then!

I can't get to that website from work, our web secure software blocks it! Must be some real development porn on there that our servers are blocking!

wong21fr · #**6169** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

No one is talking about the Denver Cityscape post regarding Market St. Station?!

I was a little too happy about what went down, apparently, on 999 17th St to comment on this new one, but Continuum proposing a kick-ass mixed used project at the Old Market Street Station is pretty awesome as well. Can't say that I'm in love with the facades, but the retail promenade is superb.

From Denver Cityscape

Quote:

Continuum Partners of Denver is planning a mixed-use redevelopment of the former RTD Market Street Station property at 16th and Market Streets. The station permanently closed last year. However, RTD still maintains offices in buildings facing Blake Street which will remain as part of the redevelopment. The new project will include 197 residential units, approximately 89,500 square feet of office space and approximately 88,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The two new buildings will be 5 and 10 stories in height. The project will also include a Paseo with retail and cafe space where the alley for the block historically existed. 343 parking spaces in two levels of below grade structure will also be provided. The project architect is BOKA Powell of of Dallas. Here are a few renderings and a site plan of the project:

RyanD · #**6170** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:16 PM**

^ It looks like an early day 16M. I'm sure it'll get refined by the LoDo board and we'll have a nice compliment to 16M.

PLANSIT · #**6171** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:25 PM**

That is a ****load of retail.

PLANSIT · #**6172** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:37 PM**

^Looking at the siteplan, it seems as though there is an escalator/elevator to 2nd level retail off of Blake.

Same thing with the Market side (it clearly states "2-story).

TakeFive · #**6173** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanD

Speaking of trippy architecture, this guy has some very interesting angles:

Union Station: Triangle Building Final Update – Part One
via DenverInfill

Starting with my favorite, it totally goes 2D:

- That is so cool, a flat building.

Quote:

PLANSIT - That is a ****load of retail.

Awesome

wong21fr · #**6174** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

That is a ****load of retail.

And not a ton of eateries. Bodes well for getting some additional trendy retail downtown.

Now as soon as we can get the private security force set up on the Mall to bust the miscreants' heads.... Triple Canopy comes to mind.

EngiNerd · #**6175** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeFive

I've touted this one as one of my faves for so long that I'll not celebrate until I see pretty shovels.

Where's wong when you need him? He often is aware of the funding status.

Thanks.

I still like the way Via Denver wraps around and frames that little BBVA Compass Bank building.

Nearing completion, Joule is looking very nice.

This one would be my photo fave. What a backdrop. I also like this shot of SkyHouse Denver.

I agree with that first photo being awesome, so crazy to think most of those buildings didn't exist more than 10 years ago, and nothing in that shot existed before 2000.

wong21fr · #**6176** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

^Looking at the siteplan, it seems as though there is an escalator/elevator to 2nd level retail off of Blake.

Same thing with the Market side (it clearly states "2-story).

If the ~80,000 sq ft of retail doesn't include the promenade areas, then there's ~30,000 sq ft of retail space on the second floor. It looks as if the 2nd floor retail isn't contiguous, which rules out the tantalizing possibility of a 2nd floor City Target going in.

wong21fr · #**6177** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 7:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

Sorry continuum...that's not a good site plan, especially compared to other work. It turns inward way too much, yet it's not a public square. This is like the interior retail on Larimer square, which is not a big hit....Denver needs people and services on the edges and at corners.

why hide the cafes and patrons?

I think it's more like Writer's Square than Larimer. Though the promenade might have more to do with emergency access than a unique retail space.

mr1138 · #**6178** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 7:20 PM**

Yeah, I have to disagree here. The lack of pedestrian side-streets, and places to escape the bustle and monotony of the primary street grid, is one of the things that American downtowns are largely missing. Part of what makes cities like Boston and those in Europe so charming, and livable, is that there is a wide variety of streets including narrow places just for pedestrians. It all depends on the design of course, it needs to be well executed, but I don't see this as being anything like what is on Larimer. It reminds me more of what Boulder has between Walnut and Pearl st, except better activated with retail; or maybe something like Maiden Lane in San Francisco. A full block development site like this is one of the only opportunities to create such a space, since our historic alleys tend to work best as alleys. I'm cautiously optimistic that this could be very cool.

TakeFive · #**6179** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 7:53 PM**

^ my thoughts as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Now as soon as we can get the private security force set up on the Mall to bust the miscreants' heads.... Triple Canopy comes to mind.

Makes me wonder if over time 16th Street doesn't de-emphasize retail. I can't visualize it well enough but can I assume there are opportunities along the street for residential towers?

mr1138 · #**6180** Posted **Nov 3, 2015, 8:17 PM**

Again, I have to disagree. I think that any American downtown can use more variety to its spaces. It's one thing to "escape" to a quiet residential neighborhood, or to the mountains, but it's completely another to have lively pedestrian alleys in a dense urban context; and I think this is something downtown IS missing. It's only partly about getting away from the bustle of the main streets, it's largely also that these can be extremely charming and lively spaces - they're oftentimes some of my favorite kind urban spaces and are more pleasant than a busy city street. And I don't think it matters if it's visible from the street or not. If it's well done, it can easily draw plenty of people in, and being tucked away actually enhances the space.

That said, I was anticipating and hoping for some sort of plaza or square on this site as well, and was a bit surprised to see that this isn't what they are going for. That doesn't make it an urban design "fail" though, it's just a different approach. Seeing how little square-feet of public space they're actually required to provide, I'm not sure this would have been a large enough plaza anyway. A "pocket park" style plaza wouldn't have really been worth it, in my opinion. Denver needs something more like Union Square in SF, and we weren't ever realistically going to get that here.

Edit:
I don't want to beat a dead horse with a new post, but I was thinking some examples might be helpful here.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.894282,1...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLDjfwJQ-FfD75n8XHvB7RA!2e0
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.364386,-...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sUcLgQWZgK_usEFiLu7Beaw!2e0
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boulde...!1s0x876b8d4e278dafd3:0xc8393b7ca01b8058
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.788285,-...3m4!1e1!3m2!1srq0v9vQqsvx_bVfHRmNAeg!2e0

I don't think these places are just historical anomalies, and they certainly aren't dead, unlively, or "bad urban design." Quite the opposite, they are charming additions to the variety of the cityscape. And they don't always have to be the same either. We won't ever get a medieval alley, or narrow colonial street. So why not try it some other way?