DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 454

ddvmke · #**9061** Posted **Sep 12, 2016, 4:07 PM**

Article posted today to update on potential Denver Housing Authority HQ relocation.

I would love to see more varied use near this station, other than the affordable housing and single family homes we see now. Seems like a great station to further connect into the fabric of the neighborhood by extending commercial/retail/cultural corridor from Santa Fe along 10th Ave to the station, and someday even over the track to the decommissioned Burnham rail yards.

RyanD · #**9062** Posted **Sep 12, 2016, 4:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pablosan

I took this SAME exact perspective yesterday for my post on The Huron coming up. It's such a good view!

Has anyone ever seen aerials from Prospect?

Visualizing the Union Station Boom From an Aerial Perspective

I did the same map / aerial thing I did for Cherry Creek. Click this one to embiggen:

...And a fun throwback from 2012 when the Cadence crane was the only thing standing.

ejwill04 · #**9063** Posted **Sep 12, 2016, 4:36 PM**

[QUOTE=RyanD;7558393]I took this SAME exact perspective yesterday for my post on The Huron coming up. It's such a good view!

Has anyone ever seen aerials from Prospect?

Ryan,
Check the Union Place condos link below for a nice 360 aerial perspective from Prospect. It's a little dated, though.

http://www.unionplacecondo.com/#section5

RyanD · #**9064** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 2:38 PM**

^

I meant that as a, hey I took aerials from Prospect Union Station North, I don't know if that's been done yet? But alas, it has. Those are neat aerials!

The Huron:

And Union Station North sign:

mhays · #**9065** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 2:47 PM**

I'm jealous of that brick, which Seattle doesn't get much in new buildings.

Also jealous of the non-retail frontages, which allow retail to concentrate so it's good vs. scattered and failing. The difficulty is that living on the first floor means people can see in. That wasn't a problem pre-ADA when the first floor was usually up a few steps.

Stonemans_rowJ · #**9066** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 2:51 PM**

And the award for "Longest Building in Denver" goes to...

Interzen · #**9067** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 3:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddvmke

Article posted today to update on potential Denver Housing Authority HQ relocation.

I would love to see more varied use near this station, other than the affordable housing and single family homes we see now. Seems like a great station to further connect into the fabric of the neighborhood by extending commercial/retail/cultural corridor from Santa Fe along 10th Ave to the station, and someday even over the track to the decommissioned Burnham rail yards.

I agree. The Mariposa development is a step up from the previous DHA complex but no where near as inspiring as the concepts presented in the first few planning meetings.

It does seem like a better use could be found for the parcel with closest proximity to the station (directly adjacent). I was disappointed to read "The first five floors would be mostly parking space."

All we can hope for now is that DHA doesn't get their hands on the now nearly demolished Barnum yard on the other side of the tracks. That is where the real potential is. Combined with several other vacated and under-utilized properties in the area, the re-development at the Denver Water campus, STEAM on the Platte, and other area projects, this will be an attractive area for investment over the next decade or so. I hope they are working on plans to lower most of the 8th ave viaduct.

PLANSIT · #**9068** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 5:05 PM**

^DHA's next focus is Sun Valley.

bunt_q · #**9069** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interzen

All we can hope for now is that DHA doesn't get their hands on the now nearly demolished Barnum yard on the other side of the tracks. That is where the real potential is. Combined with several other vacated and under-utilized properties in the area, the re-development at the Denver Water campus, STEAM on the Platte, and other area projects, this will be an attractive area for investment over the next decade or so. I hope they are working on plans to lower most of the 8th ave viaduct.

See, and I would like to see that kept as industrial. Cities need land uses other than luxury apartments and yoga studios.

Interzen · #**9070** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

See, and I would like to see that kept as industrial. Cities need land uses other than luxury apartments and yoga studios.

I understand the need for large amounts of industrial land somewhere in or near the city but the land value for the Barnum yard, and best public return for property directly adjacent to a light rail station, a mile from the center of the downtown core both indicate this is no longer the place.

EDIT: snark removed positive input added

Possibly condo defects could be ironed out in the years before this area gets going. It would be a good area for a partially owner occupied high density neighborhood.

RyanD · #**9071** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 9:15 PM**

1975 18th Street:

I'll reserve judgement.

The Dirt · #**9072** Posted **Sep 13, 2016, 10:37 PM**

Is the beige construction paper paneling on the back of the building going to be painted a less vomity color later or is that the final product?

transistor · #**9073** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 3:24 AM**

Jesus... how did this make it past review.

ejwill04 · #**9074** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 2:22 PM**

The City of Ottawa put out this neat video illustrating the negative consequences of minimum parking requirements. I think the video presents the subject in a simple, easy to understand format that helps draw much needed attention to parking requirements.

I feel like Denver is going in the opposite direction with the City Council's temporarily ban on small lot developments without off-street parking. I'm not sure how it works, but I would love for Denver to propel the benefits of eliminating parking requirements into the cities conscience.

I think the topic needs to be understood not only in strictly urban environments, such as downtown, but also from a neighborhood perspective. Consider South Pearl Street and Tennyson - both have walkable main streets that are approachable to those who may not generally seek out urban, walkable environments. Both streets have on-street parking with only limited off-street options.

The other takeaway from Ottawa is the removal of minimum parking requirements near transit stations. This is an area that I feel Denver could champion as so many of our transit stations have room for expansion and, thus, time to change.

Link to video:
https://youtu.be/uYPMmKrwgPc

Link to CityLab article, including video:
Laura Bliss; Sept. 13, 2016
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2016/09/o...ian-victory-ever/499763/?utm_source=SFFB

CherryCreek · #**9075** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanD

1975 18th Street:

I'll reserve judgement.

Ugh. Ugly scar on the Union Station neighborhood. The original design was pretty cool. The final reality looks like a major downgrade.

comoneymaker · #**9076** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 3:43 PM**

Page 500 ?

Stonemans_rowJ · #**9077** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 3:47 PM**

The most recent Streetsblog podcast (Talking Headways) interviewed the former chief planner in Vancouver and it was really interesting his take on why some cities get crappy buildings from the same developers who build nice buildings in Vancouver. Worth a listen...

RyanD · #**9078** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Page 500 ?

Still got 40 pages to go buddy. Here's the deal. You are not forced to visit this forum and you are not forced to contribute. If you don't like what you are reading then close your browser tab instead of whining about the 'next thread'. Or actually contribute to the conversation. #6 is going to be the same thing. #5 is no different than #4 and #6 will be no different than #5. So please stop.

Anyways...

Pivot

Looking good!

TakeFive · #**9079** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 5:05 PM**

I may not be a photo taker but I am a photo watcher.

PIVOT... Looking very nice.

"Sprawling suburbs, not tall towers, lead to affordable housing, study finds"
Sept 14, 2016 By Laura Kusisto - MarketWatch

Quote:

Building sprawling suburbs is better at making cities affordable than building tall towers, according to research released Wednesday.

I assume nobody is surprised by this. Denver is among those in Exhibit 'A' for unaffordability.

ddvmke · #**9080** Posted **Sep 14, 2016, 5:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

The most recent Streetsblog podcast (Talking Headways) interviewed the former chief planner in Vancouver and it was really interesting his take on why some cities get crappy buildings from the same developers who build nice buildings in Vancouver. Worth a listen...

Can we please hire this guy to come in and educate our developers, design review boards, city council, nimby/yimby groups, etc???