DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[Alchemist]

In case you were wondering how the new Welton Street Corridor is shaping up. Click it to see a huge version.



Taken from the Craine Architects website here.
http://www.crainearch.com/the-welton-corridor-in-five-points/

[Dogpatch]

^
THAT is amazing. I was wondering what Welton was looking like these days.

Also...I stumbled across this webcam for the Rollick Hotel in CC...

https://api.ibeamsystems.com/?session=dGNjbzpzdG9uZWJyaWRnZQ

[PLANSIT]

Looks like the "sales" trailer at 1901 Arapahoe is gone.

[Denveropolis]

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Looks like the "sales" trailer at 1901 Arapahoe is gone.

I noticed this as well. I emailed them asking if the project was still alive and received this reply:

"Yes, just clearing the way for ground breaking next summer. The trailer was also not appropriate for the quality of this project. Our web site is almost ready to launch and you will be informed."

[Curtis Park]

Originally Posted by Denveropolis

I noticed this as well. I emailed them asking if the project was still alive and received this reply:

"... The trailer was also not appropriate for the quality of this project. "

Maybe they can rent a few benches and set up shop in the Greyhound station across the street.

[Curtis Park]

Miami dude is out.
http://www.businessden.com/2017/09/19/de...b1506f0c-6d7d6d4bad-148031901#newsletter

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by Denveropolis

I noticed this as well. I emailed them asking if the project was still alive and received this reply:

"Yes, just clearing the way for ground breaking next summer. The trailer was also not appropriate for the quality of this project. Our web site is almost ready to launch and you will be informed."

http://www.businessden.com/2017/09/19/developer-proposed-downtown-condo-towers-bows-project/

Sounds like this thing is good as dead. The guy left behind has --- um-----Rory's Tavern in his portfolio. Oh and Buzz Geller. Great sign.

[Keesy9]

I saw "draft" documents for buyers either on their website or part of their email list and they were looking for 10% down to reserve a unit, another 10% down to sign the purchase and sale agreement and an additional 10% down when they start construction. Buyer's would have to put 30% down before construction started. The 30% down payment would go into the "development fund".

Those were "draft" documents, but I can't fathom why buyer's would put a non-refundable 30% down before construction starts to fund the developer's equity on the project.

[mhays]

Did the reporter have no BS detector at all? This rendering is more like 30 stories depending on the base height. It still looks like a rendering of a smaller project where they've clicked on the image and widened it to fit the block.

The down payment concept sounds like someone's fantasy about how to do things. As a condo owner and contractor, I've never heard of anything like it.

[twister244]

I inquired about a unit there when the website first went live. My experience with the guy on the phone was not positive, or professional. He definitely did not do a good job trying to hook me into buying a unit. So.... I am not surprised this thing is struggling.

[Robert.hampton]

Welp Alexan Uptown turned out every bit as hideous as the renderings. This thing is so out of place -- might of fit in jefferson park or w colfax/sloans lake, but not uptown. And no retail to boot.

Thanks Trammel Crow for continually bringing the most awful projects to market in Denver! You lower the bar to amazing new lows every day!

[twister244]

Good god that is hideous indeed......

I kept trying to forget about this project. I drove by it a few months ago and remember thinking how ugly it was going to turn out back then. I was 100% right. Although I'd rather have this in Uptown than down by Union Station. The Grand (1709 Chestnut) is turning out to be a nice looking residential project with the blueish glass.

[ddvmke]

You know it's kind of funny looking at it now, if it was just the first 4 stories on the northern portion of the block and then stepped up to the max on the 19th Avenue side I don't think I'd mind it.

However, given it's actual size, that thing is way to close to the sidewalk. Walking by it feels like it's falling all over you (and itself for that matter) as opposed to the condo building across the street that gives the sidewalk some cushion. I also think it would have been much better off without that white section flared out in the middle...doesn't appear to add anything to function or form, although something tells me the developer thought that would make it "interesting." Nice try.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Welp Alexan Uptown turned out every bit as hideous as the renderings.

Hideous is good? Variety is my spice.

Although I do have to agree with ddvmke about the white. Change the white, get a whole different feel.

Originally Posted by Keesy9

I saw "draft" documents for buyers either on their website or part of their email list and they were looking for 10% down to reserve a unit, another 10% down to sign the purchase and sale agreement and an additional 10% down when they start construction. Buyer's would have to put 30% down before construction started. The 30% down payment would go into the "development fund".

Those were "draft" documents, but I can't fathom why buyer's would put a non-refundable 30% down before construction starts to fund the developer's equity on the project.

They were obviously taking a flyer that "Who knows" maybe the premarket will be HOT, hot, hot; instead it was NOT.

[mhays]

I like the straight-up nature of Alexan Uptown. Setbacks don't feel urban.

[twister244]

I recall there being something in the city records indicating a large development for this site. This article seems to validate that. Will be interesting to see what ends up coming through the pipeline in terms of proposals for this site. Let the RiNo train keep going.....

http://www.businessden.com/2017/09/20/8-acres-rino-trades-38m/

[CastleScott]

^ Just looking at whats going on-that neigborhood will have some big density in a few short yrs..

[zerkman]

This article suggests that the 432 acre campus in Louisville off of 36 might be a good location for Amazon HQ2

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...-20&j=78856271&s=article_du&t=1505948384

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by zerkman

This article suggests that the 432 acre campus in Louisville off of 36 might be a good location for Amazon HQ2

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...-20&j=78856271&s=article_du&t=1505948384

It again goes to show how silly the whole RFP process is. Why should cities/metros/states decide in a vacuum what's most important to Amazon?

The RFP says they really emphasize public transit. Do they really? How much do you weigh that? If it's really critical, Louisville is out of the question. If a great campus, close to Boulder with amazing mountain views makes up for the lack of transit, then by all means, go with with Louisville. But why should metro Denver decide that for Amazon?

I see two possible logical answers:

1. As mentioned earlier, Amazon likely would feel free to ignore a specific site proposed if they are interested in another site within the same metro. They would simply come back and say "we like your response, and might be interested in your city, but your site Z proposed isn't really what we were looking for, we prefer site W which you also looked at. If we can get the same incentives for site W, then let's chat.

2. There are back channel communications going on between Amazon and the "unofficial" favorites where Amazon is signaling its preferences as cities consider multiple alternatives to put forward.

[PhilipDDG]

Actually, the article doesn't suggest the U.S. 36 site may be a good location. Only the land owner--as quoted in the article--says that his site is a good location, even though it apparently meets only three of the criteria mentioned in Amazon's RFP.