DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by rds70

Speer and Market development site under contract:

https://crej.com/news/bell-tower-site-under-contract/

Highly intriguing, interesting. Although sworn to secrecy there's this morsel.

Geller told me that he thinks the new building on the site could very well be as stunning and attractive as what he proposed a decade ago with Bell Tower.

[TakeFive]

This


Rendering courtesy Davis Parnership

Has now broken ground.

[daveed]

Originally Posted by jama

In your opinions, what are the top 3-5 sites downtown for a new ground-up 30 story residential tower? Thanks in advance!

17th & California (Last deal (residential) fell through, but now under contract with new builder)
19th & Arapahoe/Lawrence (Developer made big splash but the site is still under contract with no recent news) https://businessden.com/2017/09/19/developer-proposed-downtown-condo-towers-bows-project/

[mojiferous]

Originally Posted by jama

In your opinions, what are the top 3-5 sites downtown for a new ground-up 30 story residential tower? Thanks in advance!

I'm no expert but just spitballing some ideas:
the little triangle at 12th & Galapago/Colfax - it's within the downtown zoning, would have unimpeded western views for the foreseeable future, and is only a couple of blocks from a supermarket and transit.
20th and Welton, northeast corner - across the street from transit (that will one day connect to the A-line), this could also be a very visible spot for people coming into downtown from the south on Lincoln as the site bookends the street.
Giant holes in our urban fabric that filling or partially filling would help Denver immensely: 18th & Welton/Broadway & 19th st, Court between 14th & 15th, anywhere south of the Convention Center in the Silver Triangle, 20th & Arapahoe, 20th & Market.
Smaller empty lots in downtown zoning that need redevelopment to complete blocks or streetwalls: 15th & Champa, 18th & Champa, 18th & Glenarm

[BG918]

Originally Posted by mojiferous

I'm no expert but just spitballing some ideas:
the little triangle at 12th & Galapago/Colfax - it's within the downtown zoning, would have unimpeded western views for the foreseeable future, and is only a couple of blocks from a supermarket and transit.
20th and Welton, northeast corner - across the street from transit (that will one day connect to the A-line), this could also be a very visible spot for people coming into downtown from the south on Lincoln as the site bookends the street.
Giant holes in our urban fabric that filling or partially filling would help Denver immensely: 18th & Welton/Broadway & 19th st, Court between 14th & 15th, anywhere south of the Convention Center in the Silver Triangle, 20th & Arapahoe, 20th & Market.
Smaller empty lots in downtown zoning that need redevelopment to complete blocks or streetwalls: 15th & Champa, 18th & Champa, 18th & Glenarm

I have heard 18th & Champa currently has a proposal for a 20 story hotel tower.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

This


Rendering courtesy Davis Parnership

Has now broken ground.

Love the look of this project!! Compare it with the awfulness that is Speer Gables on a similar piece of property on the other side of Cherry Creek.

Kudos!




Rendering courtesy Davis Parnership[/SIZE]

[mr1138]

I'm holding my judgement until I see if they choose to completely disregard the primary (Speer) sidewalk frontage, like other recent developments have.

[The Dirt]

I don't really understand why people on here hate Speer Gables. what's so terrible about it?

Originally Posted by BG918

I have heard 18th & Champa currently has a proposal for a 20 story hotel tower.

18th and Glenarm should have something in the works, too.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

I don't really understand why people on here hate Speer Gables. what's so terrible about it?



18th and Glenarm should have something in the works, too.

I was going to write something, then seemed to recall that Westword had designated Gables No. 1 on their examples of god awful Denver architecture. I disagree that it's the worst, but it's pretty bad. The Westword author provides a good summary:

Neo-CAD-itional differs from legitimate Neo-Traditional architecture with that reference to CAD, a category of software allowing the operators of computer cursors to appropriate outlines of elements, then assemble them with as little aesthetic judgment as is allowable under the laws of physics. Digitization permitted the developers of Gables Speer Boulevard to fill its triangular lot to capacity, and that’s why the gormless building takes on such an unpleasant bulky and blocky shape that strikes such an oppressive pose on the street. Buildings of this style are meant to conjure up nostalgic memories about the way we weren’t. It’s like a landmark in a small town from an old Christmas movie; trouble is, it’s the county jail. Given how bland yet vulgar Neo-CAD-itional can be, compared to the other enumerated styles — Baroque-a-cola, Merde-i-terranean, Arts & Craps, Tuscan’t, Barfhaus and McCentury Modern — it’s very nearly a real architectural style, like its quirky cousin Chicagoogie. But in this hall of dishonor, close doesn’t count.

http://www.westword.com/content/printView/7818984

I doubt this will age well and will likely look even more mediocre as time goes by. The good news is that this and the gawd-awful Via apartments just a few blocks away will (also in Westword's Hall of Shame), in a few more years, be Denver's affordable housing.

[The Dirt]

Since DUS is wrapping up, Denver really needs to focus on upper downtown/uptown. Just look at it (red are existing surface parking lots, green are lots that were recently/currently/soon to be redeveloped):

[BG918]

Was this posted? Lennar, which is currently building the 7 story 2401 Blake apartments, purchased the half block of surface parking and an adjacent office building at 9th/10th & Acoma/Bannock. One of the last large lots in GT along with 12th & Acoma and 13th & Cherokee.

In December, Lennar VP of development Lee-Ryan Busse submitted two project concepts to the city, proposing a 14-story apartment tower with ground-floor retail at 921 Acoma St., and a 15-story apartment tower with ground-floor retail at 990 Bannock St.

The five-story office building at 990 Bannock St. is surrounded by chain link fence. Busse’s project concept shows that building getting torn down.

https://businessden.com/2018/05/07/golden-triangle-lot-and-vacant-office-fetch-19m/

[twister244]

I feel like the Uptown area (along with Arapahoe Square) will probably fill in slowly with time. I could totally see the River Mile project sucking up developers if it actually starts to get off the ground.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

There has been a lot mid-rise residential infill in the Golden Triangle area. If you were to compare that neighborhood two years ago with two years from now, I think that it would be one of the more pronounced changes in Denver.

[derek.berardi]

New 2018 State of Downtown Denver report stats....designed by this guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you enjoy the stats, material and the new digital approach we've taken. Thanks to Ryan D for all the great photos and vids!

https://sodd.downtowndenver.com/

[FunctionForm]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Love the look of this project!! Compare it with the awfulness that is Speer Gables on a similar piece of property on the other side of Cherry Creek.

Kudos!




Rendering courtesy Davis Parnership[/SIZE]

That's an awfully long flat wall. Fairly certain it will not help create a quality pedestrian environment. All of these apartments bring in thousands of transient residents and do nothing to contribute to building a community. And those who do live here end up with an urban fabric that isn't all that great. But it's got a sharp pointy angle for those who are just driving by.

[Sam Hill]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

This

Rendering courtesy Davis Parnership

Has now broken ground.

Wow. I absolutely hate the scale and the fact that it looks like every other damn thing under construction (except for fact that maxing out the square footage on that particular parcel means it just happens to get a sharp corner).

Look at all those skinny little mid-century towers in the background. I used to think they looked a bit ugly. Now I think they look like intrical parts of a real, authentic neighborhood and not like the freaking starship enterprise just landed on earth.

[spr8364]

Originally Posted by FunctionForm

That's an awfully long flat wall. Fairly certain it will not help create a quality pedestrian environment. All of these apartments bring in thousands of transient residents and do nothing to contribute to building a community. And those who do live here end up with an urban fabric that isn't all that great. But it's got a sharp pointy angle for those who are just driving by.

What!? Are you talking about that wall with all the glass on it facing the street? Seems like that is what it is supposed to be, to be walkable. Unless that glass is hiding a bunch of ground level parking. In which case, you are absolutely correct.

[twister244]

Awesome report Derek!

It's a great "feel-good" summary of what many of us have been experiencing in Denver over the last few years. I moved here in 2015 and have continued to be impressed by the rapid change that's occurring here.

Hell, just being in RiNo for nearly two years has been incredible to see the transformation.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by FunctionForm

That's an awfully long flat wall. Fairly certain it will not help create a quality pedestrian environment. All of these apartments bring in thousands of transient residents and do nothing to contribute to building a community. And those who do live here end up with an urban fabric that isn't all that great. But it's got a sharp pointy angle for those who are just driving by.

Isn't Capitol Hill composed disproportionately of rentals? Albeit one's that are older and shittier. Though this massive amount of rentals in a small area catering to transients doesn't seem to have a terrible negative impact on the community building that occurred there.

I suppose that the parking lots were a better community builder in the long term. Local residents who have been there for decades could gather at the local coffee shop and philosophically wax about could be built there.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by spr8364

What!? Are you talking about that wall with all the glass on it facing the street? Seems like that is what it is supposed to be, to be walkable. Unless that glass is hiding a bunch of ground level parking. In which case, you are absolutely correct.

I don't get what all the fuss is about; I also agree with The Dirt.

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Local residents who have been there for decades could gather at the local coffee shop and philosophically wax about could be built there.

If it's not the gentrification, now it's no more waxing. What a dumpster fire Denver has become.