DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 350

Denver Dweller · #**6981** Posted **Jan 12, 2016, 11:42 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2...ts-actual-construction.html?ana=e_du_pap

Denver · #**6982** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 12:49 AM**

21st and Welton: 18 stories with 4,000 sqf of retail.

https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/de...16-01-05_PLANNING%20SUBMITTAL_final1.pdf

bunt_q · #**6983** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 2:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

21st and Welton: 18 stories with 4,000 sqf of retail.

https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/de...16-01-05_PLANNING%20SUBMITTAL_final1.pdf

Good GOD that building is horrible. Atrocious. Worst thing I have ever seen. It looks like a suburban cookie cutter developer decided to come build commie block rentals in a city that's about ten years behind when it comes to thinking about better urban form. Oh wait... Like seriously, that's the planning director equivalent of what happens to a police chief when cops bust into a house and put 15 bullets into a sleeping ten year old - they should be fired.

navyweaxguy · #**6984** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 4:45 AM**

Needs more glass and curves.

The Dirt · #**6985** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 5:01 AM**

Anything over 8-12 stories that covers half a block needs to be a couple of point towers. The AS design guidelines can't come soon enough.

corey · #**6986** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 6:00 AM**

I think its funny that everyone hated 5 story stick built "Dallas Donuts," but now that steel and concrete 15-20 story buildings are now being built all over town they are derided as "ocean liners" and "commie blocks."

DenverInfill · #**6987** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 2:40 PM**

The main problem is the form.

1. Lose one level of parking and put all parking underground
2. Make 75% of the ground floor retail and recruit an anchor retailer
2. Break the tower into two towers and increase each by 6 floors

EngiNerd · #**6988** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

21st and Welton: 18 stories with 4,000 sqf of retail.

https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/de...16-01-05_PLANNING%20SUBMITTAL_final1.pdf

Reminds me a lot of 8th and Acoma.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

The main problem is the form.

1. Lose one level of parking and put all parking underground
2. Make 75% of the ground floor retail and recruit an anchor retailer
2. Break the tower into two towers and increase each by 6 floors

So turn it into the Beauvallon in the Golden Triangle basically?

transistor · #**6989** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 4:14 PM**

As somebody from a formerly communist country: I like it and would definitely live there, assuming that rent is free like in Soviet times.

BG918 · #**6990** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Reminds me a lot of 8th and Acoma.

I lived in that building. For being a half block 15 story behemoth with no ground floor retail it actually has a decent street presence. Lots of glass and landscaping/trees, and the apartments wrap the parking garage so you can't see it from the surrounding streets. Some units are even walk outs. If you're going to build one like that the Acoma and Joule are good examples

CherryCreek · #**6991** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 6:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Good GOD that building is horrible. Atrocious. Worst thing I have ever seen. It looks like a suburban cookie cutter developer decided to come build commie block rentals in a city that's about ten years behind when it comes to thinking about better urban form. Oh wait... Like seriously, that's the planning director equivalent of what happens to a police chief when cops bust into a house and put 15 bullets into a sleeping ten year old - they should be fired.

Agreed. Whoever designed that building should never work as an architect again. What an embarrassment to anybody associated such an abysmal project.

wong21fr · #**6992** Posted **Jan 13, 2016, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Agreed. Whoever designed that building should never work as an architect again. What an embarrassment to anybody associated such an abysmal project.

Probably out of the local office of RNL. Proof once again that Denver architects are bush league.

Why does it seem that local architects always start out omitting any kind of screening on the parking podiums? Is it because it's so blatant that the planning department focuses on that and let's other obvious design shortcomings slide?

Matt · #**6993** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 4:35 AM**

Par for the course in Denver. Seriously, horrible architecture has become such an ongoing, long-term trend that I'm beginning to think the UN or NATO should intervene. Perhaps carpet-bomb entire parts of the city and hire architects from Dallas or Houston to rebuild.

Denver Dweller · #**6994** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 5:02 AM**

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/heath...ty-light-rail-station-apartment-complex/

texcolo · #**6995** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 6:13 AM**

bunt_q · #**6996** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 12:08 PM**

Maybe carpet bombing is a bit much. Condemning architects to the stocks for some good old fashioned public shaming might even be a bit far. But aren't architects licensed? Seems to me we should legislate ourselves the ability to revoke licenses to practice. If Boulder can let neighborhoods do zoning (or try), maybe citywide referenda on especially egregious (fugly) designs could be a thing. Like retention votes for judges - let the people decide if an architect should be allowed to continue to peddle their garbage designs to the good people of Colorado. My inner lawyer certainly thinks there's a sound health/safety/welfare justification for getting some of these folks off the streets.

Curtis Park · #**6997** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 1:36 PM**

This is planned for my neighborhood. I have no sympathy for the people complaining that the new residents will have to use the same free parking that they have been enjoying for so long. http://kdvr.com/2016/01/13/new-apartment...for-parking-in-curtis-park-neighborhood/

EngiNerd · #**6998** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver Dweller

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/heath...ty-light-rail-station-apartment-complex/

I love the complaint of one of the commenters:

"Anytime you add a 425 unit rental apartment complex you chance a ghetto developing."

That's the most Aurora thing anyone could say.

If Heather Gardens thinks they are too good to be next to an apartment building, then they should have nothing to worry about since the spillover property values and demographics from Heather Gardens won't allow it to turn into a ghetto....right?

enjo13 · #**6999** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

I love the complaint of one of the commenters:

"Anytime you add a 425 unit rental apartment complex you chance a ghetto developing."

Well it's pretty clear that 425 unit rental apartment complexes are ghetto inducing. The answer seems clear, add another unit. 426 unit complexes are just fine.

RyanD · #**7000** Posted **Jan 14, 2016, 4:49 PM**

Well... I was going to invest into Two Tabor Center for fun to gamble the odds of an economic crash, because why not? But I didn't win last night... Sorry guys...