DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by rds70

Sweet, we're getting a bus from Minneapolis!

[TakeFive]

For the times they are a changin'

"Even with record leasing, office builders are taking a more cautious approach"
14 April 2016 By STEVE BROWN - Dallas Morning News

That was the largest first-quarter leasing total for D-FW in more than a decade. It was more than twice as much net leasing as the second-busiest office leasing market, Denver.

Who remembers? Did The Patrinely Group/USAA Real Estate buy the land on Block 162 or do they just have an option?

Developer Bill Cawley’s new Addison office building is still under construction, but the project is already 80 percent leased.

“Our partner USAA Real Estate told us they were ready to start another one if we could find some tenants,” said Cawley, who’s drawn up plans for a 2-building, 400,000 square-foot development.

“If we can get like 50,000 square feet of preleasing we’ll start that next one,” he said. “We are already talking to tenants.”

“Would I build a speculative building? No, I want some preleasing.”

Obviously the Dallas metroplex and downtown Denver are not synonymous but you wonder if Patrinely/USAA won't want some amount of preleasing before breaking ground. It may also be that because they have a distinct fondness for the long term potential of Block 162 that they'll look for every reason to proceed.

Bonus image - A Patrinely development

Image credit - Patrinely Group
ANADARKO ALLISON TOWER - Houston, TX - Completed March 2002
An 800,000-square-foot corporate headquarters for Anadarko Petroleum

[TakeFive]

I know with my discerning eye I tend to like everything that gets built but is it Okay if I describe 1401 Lawrence Street as "understated elegance"?

Originally Posted by RyanD

[CherryCreek]

This turned much better than I expected. Very cool!

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Gables Speer Blvd

What a waste of such a great urban space. The faux brick and shoddy construction. Lame effort to match the elegant brick of many classic facades in the nearby Capitol Hill neighborhood. Even the plainest of the Poet's Row buildings look far better than this classic mid-decade Denver dreck. This one is DOA - demolition would be a more humane choice than actually opening the project and accepting renters.

Check out what LA got in a similar urban space.



I would have been happy with something like this, which we got down the road on Speer:

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by bcp

wasn't that supposed to be a smokey grey glass? bigger fan of that over this blue...maybe its highly reflective.

It's super reflective. Here's your smokey grey-ish glass on a cloudy day:





And for the sake of comparing:

[bunt_q]

Highly reflective to the point that I was wondering if it might start burning things up in Larimer Square. I was walking over there after work a few weeks ago, and the sun was hitting that west-facing side just right, and you could see an intense beam of light shining off the building directly down toward 15th and Larimer. Impressive as hell from a distance.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Highly reflective to the point that I was wondering if it might start burning things up in Larimer Square. I was walking over there after work a few weeks ago, and the sun was hitting that west-facing side just right, and you could see an intense beam of light shining off the building directly down toward 15th and Larimer. Impressive as hell from a distance.

Try 1601 Wewatta at just the right time. It's curved and focused so that sun is hot, hot, hot!!!

[rds70]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

I love that look. Most of RiNo and North Larimer would kill for buildings of that quality.

Looks like this project is moving forward. The developer is asking for easements to encroach into the right of way for planters and entry canopies along Grant Street.

[Robert.hampton]

I hear a developer has put an offer in to the city to redevelop nearly the entire block between Colfax and 16th and Washington and Clarkson (currently a police station parking lot and admin building). Supposedly the city is evaluating the offer.

I heard it would be a mixed use development that would integrate apartments, retail and a new police department. Would be a huge boost for that intersection......the blank wall of that police station facing colfax is god awful.

Anyone else have info on this project?

[Scottk]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Poet's Row buildings look far better than this classic mid-decade Denver dreck.

Thanks for reminding me about one of the coolest gems in Denver!!


I especially love the Mark Twain and The James Russel. Such a cool part of town with all of that art deco architecture.

Capitol Hill is cool I wish I could be richer and live there.

[Scottk]

Originally Posted by rds70

The residential building posted above is to be constructed on the south side of the site adjacent to the light rail station. Number 3 on the site plan:

I am confused it looks like the shitty blank wall might be only partially hidden????

[bunt_q]

It might be where they are planning to put their signage. I think it is supposed to be fairly massive.

[DenverInfill]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

I hear a developer has put an offer in to the city to redevelop nearly the entire block between Colfax and 16th and Washington and Clarkson (currently a police station parking lot and admin building). Supposedly the city is evaluating the offer.

I heard it would be a mixed use development that would integrate apartments, retail and a new police department. Would be a huge boost for that intersection......the blank wall of that police station facing colfax is god awful.

Anyone else have info on this project?

Yes, I can confirm.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

What a waste of such a great urban space. The faux brick and shoddy construction. Lame effort to match the elegant brick of many classic facades in the nearby Capitol Hill neighborhood. Even the plainest of the Poet's Row buildings look far better than this classic mid-decade Denver dreck. This one is DOA - demolition would be a more humane choice than actually opening the project and accepting renters.

Check out what LA got in a similar urban space.

Maybe it's just me but if we're critiquing exteriors I detest those balconies jutting out like a sore thumb. Recessed balconies are so much cleaner and I know for a fact that tenants much prefer them; they're definitely considered to be more classy/private than those stark things.

[LAM]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Maybe it's just me but if we're critiquing exteriors I detest those balconies jutting out like a sore thumb. Recessed balconies are so much cleaner and I know for a fact that tenants much prefer them; they're definitely considered to be more classy/private than those stark things.

I agree 100%!!!

[Denver Dweller]

http://www.businessden.com/2016/04/15/affordable-housing-project-sought-for-20th-avenueclarkson/

[comoneymaker]

I think one thing Denver needs but we don't really want is a few towers of affordable housing. Like 30 stories+. But that will also be the beginning of a ghetto?

[RyanD]

We really needed 25 Brooks Towers when Brooks Tower was built.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by RyanD

We really needed 25 Brooks Towers when Brooks Tower was built.

ain't that the truth