DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[mojiferous]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Telling that the Dikeou's have owned two of the parking lots since the 60's and 70's and have done zero improvements in that entire time.

The plan is good, but this particular set of owners ensures that nothing will ever come of this.

Not just no improvements, but they don't care about upkeep and obviously pay the absolute minimum possible for maintenance. The Dikeous are egregious slumlords and it's offensive to the people of Denver that they would try to paint themselves as a group of people that are concerned about urbanism or the city. If this plan doesn't involve them selling the land or involves them managing the properties it's guaranteed to be a disaster.

Those lots are usually the last to get plowed on snowy days and the most likely to turn into sheets of ice and not get cleared. AND there have been a couple of person-sized sinkholes along the 18th side of the lot at 18th & Broadway for a couple of years and the only thing they've done about it is to put up a traffic cone. I've actually seen people stumble into the hole on snowy days because the sidewalk hasn't been cleared.

It sounds horrible, but I kind of hoped someone would get hurt and sue for enough to make their continued slum-lording of those lots unprofitable.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Telling that the Dikeou's have owned two of the parking lots since the 60's and 70's and have done zero improvements in that entire time.

The plan is good, but this particular set of owners ensures that nothing will ever come of this.

This plan has 0% chance of happening. I would not be surprised if this was all a ploy to drum up interest in the lots for a potential future sale.

[SnyderBock]

The changes to the zoning code being proposed, do need to be made. Plus there is a commitment by the family to make those streetscape repairs with in one year of the zoning changes. So change the zoning, make sure the family is held accountable for their commitments and then maybe they will sell the land to new owners.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by twister244

This one appeared to fly under the radar a bit yesterday....

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...7-denver-hotels-raise-own-taxes-for.html

Seems like a win-win though.

Not unexpected but definitely exciting to be able to move forward on the CCC expansion and upgrades


Not in RiNo, not in downtown or Cherry Creek or even Cap Hill. This exciting project of apartments and condo's is in sunny Sunnyside

Renderings courtesy of Confluence Co via Denverite




Massive housing complex planned for Sunnyside on former industrial site
November 24, 2017 by Adrian D. Garcia - Denverite

[lumos]

Now that the crane is down on 1144 here is the new 10 000ft view of Denver

[BG918]

Nice aerial, and really highlights a lot of the changes we've discussed here.

A few things:
1. Arapahoe Square is starting to infill but has a long way to go and a lot of potential, how long will the concentration of homeless services hold things back in that area?

2. Is a green roof part of the convention center expansion? That's a massive roof where it would actually make a difference.

3. Lodo really has two last large infill areas now that Market station is U/C: 18th & Market and Coors Field West Lot.

4. Auraria has quietly developed into a more urban campus over the past 5 years, hope to see that continue and "bridge the gap" between the CBD and campus.

5. You can clearly see where the buildings step down around the 16th St Mall and that 15th St is ripe for taller towers.

6. Why hasn't the Lincoln Park/La Alma neighborhood developed as fast as LoHi and others? It has a great location, too much nearby public housing?

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by BG918

6. Why hasn't the Lincoln Park/La Alma neighborhood developed as fast as LoHi and others? It has a great location, too much nearby public housing?

Actually it's been some time, maybe 3-4 years, since Lincoln Park/La Alma was a topic on Denver SSP. While Ken could better provide the particulars as I recall when Denver finished its yuge rezoning project, Lincoln Park/La Alma was zoned to help protect and preserve its historical significance.

The NEW 'public housing' which replaced the previous 'ghetto' housing is 'affordable' and award-winning with appealing designs and meets sustainable standards. It includes mixed income projects. There's more than enough room for shiny, new, gentrification density; it's also invaluable to acknowledge and protect some of Denver's awesome history. That includes Denver's multi-ethnic history.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Actually it's been some time, maybe 3-4 years, since Lincoln Park/La Alma was a topic on Denver SSP. While Ken could better provide the particulars as I recall when Denver finished its yuge rezoning project, Lincoln Park/La Alma was zoned to help protect and preserve its historical significance.

The NEW 'public housing' which replaced the previous 'ghetto' housing is 'affordable' and award-winning with appealing designs and meets sustainable standards. It includes mixed income projects. There's more than enough room for shiny, new, gentrification density; it's also invaluable to acknowledge and protect some of Denver's awesome history. That includes Denver's multi-ethnic history.

That makes sense, though the zoning around the 10th & Osage station was changed to allow more density there and that is finally occurring.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Actually it's been some time, maybe 3-4 years, since Lincoln Park/La Alma was a topic on Denver SSP. While Ken could better provide the particulars as I recall when Denver finished its yuge rezoning project, Lincoln Park/La Alma was zoned to help protect and preserve its historical significance.

The NEW 'public housing' which replaced the previous 'ghetto' housing is 'affordable' and award-winning with appealing designs and meets sustainable standards. It includes mixed income projects. There's more than enough room for shiny, new, gentrification density; it's also invaluable to acknowledge and protect some of Denver's awesome history. That includes Denver's multi-ethnic history.

I have a friend who lives in some of that "new" public housing in the Lincoln Park area - and its pretty good. The model of having mixed subsidized and "market rate" housing is a good one.. He has a really nice "market" rate apartment that really is well below market rates (doubtlessly because of the significant amount of subsidized apartments) but really likes the place and hasn't had any issues.

A good model to follow (and one that is being followed!).

[Fritzdude]

That overhead shot of Denver is interesting to see what has filled in and the long way we have to go to fix the holes left by the bulldozers of the 60's-80's.

1. We have a lot of cement in this city and we need more green. Seeing our city all without a tree canopy is kind of depressing. I know it's the time of year, but I'd love to see the "green roof" initiative provide a means to tamper down the heat index. Imagine seeing several football fields of green on top of the convention center?

2. Getting 18th/Market filled in will be key. Same with the Rockies lot on Wazee. And the development on 14th/Larimer will help bridge the gap between Auroria.

The city is making progress!

[CherryCreek]

Speaking of gentrification, boy did INK! create a firestorm with their gentrification comment on a chalkboard!

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/27/ink...toward-denver-city-council-albus-brooks/

I get it, it was sort of "in your face comment". You could read it as a taunt (and some people obviously do).

That little remark may cost INK! a fortune. In fact, it won't surprise me if that coffee shop NEVER opens.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by lumos

Now that the crane is down on 1144 here is the new 10 000ft view of Denver

Fun comparison:

[Fritzdude]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Speaking of gentrification, boy did INK! create a firestorm with their gentrification comment on a chalkboard!

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/27/ink...toward-denver-city-council-albus-brooks/

I get it, it was sort of "in your face comment". You could read it as a taunt (and some people obviously do).

That little remark may cost INK! a fortune. In fact, it won't surprise me if that coffee shop NEVER opens.

What the heck.. I lean left on a lot of things, but it always amazes me what some people are willing to get angry about. Some store manager puts out a sign on Larimer about gentrification and then we get comments like this:

“We occupied the street, we occupied the sidewalk and we let people know that we won’t stand for corrupt politicians pushing black and brown residents out to gentrify our neighborhoods.”

Um... ok. That's a bit of a leap.

“How come rent is so high and how come we can’t cap rent?”

Because it just doesn't work that way.

The sign was needlessly flippant about a change that is happening around the city, but new retail, service shops, and nice sidewalks is something we're all excited about. I remember how vacant and dilapidated upper Larimer was for so many years, but the new demand means that prices will go up. On the flip side of the coin, I don't know how you can have nice neighborhoods without people wanting to live there, so how do you have a community that is prospering without prices following suit? It unfortunately does price some people out, but what's the alternative? It's a tricky topic.

[twister244]

I almost posted a link to the story as it's starting to gain national traction (The NYT has a piece on it now...).

I am right there with you. In fact, the reaction of some of these protestors has my blood boiling a bit. Yes, the sign was bad taste, but the intention was to make a silly joke about whats happening in the neighborhood in terms of it being improved by new businesses. The reaction here has been to turn this into an effort to shut the business down, which leaves no one winning. If you are unhappy with gentrification in Denver, run for office and try to change things in a constructive manner that benefits all in the community. Or, one could try working with city leaders to enact some sort of change that is beneficial. Many of us are impacted by gentrification to one degree or another, but this is part of a changing Denver. Yelling at a coffee shop for making a silly joke isn't going to get anything done.......

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Fun comparison:

WOW, that is an amazing contrast.

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

I have a friend

That's also amazing

Originally Posted by Fritzdude

The city is making progress!

You can say that again.

Originally Posted by twister244

I am right there with you. In fact, the reaction of some of these protestors has my blood boiling a bit.

Welcome to the wonderful world of social media. BTW, that's a Millennial thing not a geezer thing.

[CastleScott]

^ This photo is roughly spring 1976, in the upper right you can see the construction for the back then Dravo Plaza (the triangle one which is now a UCD office and classroom building) and the other site is I believe the parking garage for the Performing Arts Center. Btw just to show my age I was a sophomore in high school then.

[Stonemans_rowJ]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

WOW, that is an amazing contrast.


That's also amazing


You can say that again.


Welcome to the wonderful world of social media. BTW, that's a Millennial thing not a geezer thing.

That's kind of a broad brush with the whole millennial thing. I for one am as tired by the cheap use (or mis-use) of that word as I am by the cheap use (and mis-use) of the G word.

I've watched numerous vidoes of protestors. Didn't see many 18-35 year olds.

Also, is anyone buying the notion that people are actually displaced due to an increase in their property taxes, as in, a tax lien on the property? Anyone who owns a home knows that the property taxes are absurdly low in Denver, and we even have the senior tax exemption for people over 65.

[DUPio]

These folks who are pissed about "gentrification" are off their rockers. Much nicer neighborhood now and property owners there are now effectively land-weathly. We'll hear the same nonsense about Colfax and Dayton in a few decades

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

That's kind of a broad brush with the whole millennial thing. I for one am as tired by the cheap use (or mis-use) of that word as I am by the cheap use (and mis-use) of the G word.

I've watched numerous vidoes of protestors. Didn't see many 18-35 year olds.

Also, is anyone buying the notion that people are actually displaced due to an increase in their property taxes, as in, a tax lien on the property? Anyone who owns a home knows that the property taxes are absurdly low in Denver, and we even have the senior tax exemption for people over 65.

The whole Ink! protest is not really about Ink!, i think its about the fight between community activists in Sunnyside/Globeville/Five Points/Elryia-Swansea who have been resisting almost all redevelopment in those areas. The insensitive, in-your face message on gentrification (whether or not intended that way), was just an opportunity to continue the battle with the mayor and city council.


If the conversation is about "affordable housing" and finding ways to help existing residents benefit from the economic development that's happening in these neighborhoods, I get it. But in many cases it seems to have a tone of "all development = bad" and "just keep these neighborhoods exactly as they are." The massive I-70 opposition was bordering on irrationality. Yes, it's a disruptive development, but I-70 is already there and the current version through those areas is a decrepit mess that, like the old viaducts that were replaced downtown, is an increasing safety hazard. Kicking the can down the road and allowing further decay and obsolescence (while maintaining a roadway that increasingly is becoming choke point for traffic and commerce) was always out of the question.

At the end of the day it may be nothing more than posturing -- the protest and bashing of city leaders will apply pressure for more city supported development for existing residents.

We will see.

[twister244]

In other gentrification news.....

It appears we finally have some more information on the "Campden" development in RiNo.

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...dware-store-in-rino-to-be-converted.html