DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

I was there. What a fucking shit show that was.

Lemme guess Amanda Sawyers contingency of recent-transplant stay-at-home-moms showed up in force to let everyone know their nativist feelings on how the ‘character’ of the neighborhood should be preserved in the vision of gentrification they brought over the last 5 years?

[The Dirt]

Yeah, pretty much. They want to limit Colfax to 3 stories max and think millennials should live in Highlands Ranch.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Lemme guess Amanda Sawyers contingency of recent-transplant stay-at-home-moms showed up in force to let everyone know their nativist feelings on how the ‘character’ of the neighborhood should be preserved in the vision of gentrification they brought over the last 5 years?

Eh, I'll disagree. These are more long-timers that live in the affected areas. Presumably Candi CdeBaca has their back, she of anti-gentrification fame.

Originally Posted by The Dirt

Yeah, pretty much. They want to limit Colfax to 3 stories max...

My understanding is current zoning is 3-5 stories with a proposal to upgrade to 5-8 stories as the sign objects to.

It's all a part of the process and Colfax has to be allowed higher density.

[trubador]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

Yeah, pretty much. They want to limit Colfax to 3 stories max and think millennials should live in Highlands Ranch.

Let me guess, they want to limit density but they also want a streetcar, a Subway system, and monorail down Colfax.

[The Dirt]

They also understand that affordability and climate change need to be addressed, but not in a way that impacts them in any way.

[SnyderBock]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

https://www.cpr.org/2019/08/07/what-shou...me-piece-of-downtown-denver-real-estate/

So RTD doesn’t want the land at Colfax and broadway to be developed into a park for the medal of honor museum, which frankly is ridiculous because it fits in PERFECTLY with the civic center station master plan (as a ‘dynamic public space’) and would be a huge improvement to that area. Not to mention the huge increase in ridership RTD would see from having the museum a block from civic center — this would generate revenue for RTD in spades.

Worse though is the complete lack of vision of the RTD board which it seems is run by a bunch of backwards thinking dotards, who think the space could better be used as ‘nothing’ or ‘I guess we could rent it to food trucks or something’.

How do these lame asses get on the RTD board??? Really wonderful that they see value in the buzz geller parking lot slumlord squatter model of doing business—which reflects about how well they run the rest of the transportation district

I Invision that land being used for a Civic Center Station expansion. When Denver builds the Colfax BRT and some urban Streetcar lines, with Civic Center Station as it's hub, this land will be critical for integrating those lines into Civic Center Station. Building a Museum there, would be a terribly short-sighted idea and a fairly permanent mistake.

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

I was there. What a fucking shit show that was.

How many of the people didn't need oxygen and a cane?

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Eh, I'll disagree. These are more long-timers that live in the affected areas. Presumably Candi CdeBaca has their back, she of anti-gentrification fame.


My understanding is current zoning is 3-5 stories with a proposal to upgrade to 5-8 stories as the sign objects to.

It's all a part of the process and Colfax has to be allowed higher density.

That explains why that "Phoenix" apartment building just west of Quebec was built. It's only 5 stories.

At least all the crack motels are 2 stories or less. They certainly add a little je ne sais quoi to E. Colfax.

[rds70]

Originally Posted by SnyderBock

I Invision that land being used for a Civic Center Station expansion. When Denver builds the Colfax BRT and some urban Streetcar lines, with Civic Center Station as it's hub, this land will be critical for integrating those lines into Civic Center Station. Building a Museum there, would be a terribly short-sighted idea and a fairly permanent mistake.

They don't want to build the museum there, it would be developed as a "gateway park" to make sure the museum is visible. The museum itself would be located on the northeast corner of Colfax and Lincoln.

[rds70]

A concept plan has been submitted for Denargo Market "phase 4":

The project is anticipated to provide 16 above grade levels of multi-family residential units with ground floor leasing and amenity spaces. Parking will be provided in an above-ground structure which will generally be wrapped with units and provide approximately 406 spaces. The units are a mix of efficiencies, one and two bedrooms with approximately 336 residential units for lease. There will be both retail and residential provided. The ground floor amenity and leasing space is anticipated to be up to 2,600 SF along with retail/restaurant space of approximately 3,200 SF which will provide activation along the Wewatta Way right-of-way.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by rds70

A concept plan has been submitted for Denargo Market "phase 4":

What's the latest on Phase 3? This was planned for the SE corner of Delgany and Wewatta Way, is Phase 4 just to the east closer to Brighton Blvd?

https://denverinfill.com/blog/2018/09/new-project-denargo-market-phase-3.html

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by BG918

What's the latest on Phase 3? This was planned for the SE corner of Delgany and Wewatta Way, is Phase 4 just to the east closer to Brighton Blvd?

https://denverinfill.com/blog/2018/09/new-project-denargo-market-phase-3.html

Phase 3 is U/C right now- foundations are going in.

[PLANSIT]

Real conversation at one of the public meetings (paraphrasing):

SPH Resident: If this zoning change happens and more people move here, I'm going to have to move. I'm going to be displaced.

City Person: Where would you have to move?

SPH Resident: Aspen



Another conversation (paraphrasing):

SPH Resident: I bought the house next to me because I wanted to preserve it's character.

City Person: That's nice.

SPH Resident: It's vacant. I don't want anyone living there. I use it to pot plants (or something like that).

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Eh, I'll disagree. These are more long-timers that live in the affected areas. Presumably Candi CdeBaca has their back, she of anti-gentrification fame.

Haha, I sincerely doubt there is much allegiance between Candi Cdebaca and a bunch of rich old white dudes in mansions of 17th ave parkway that don't want affordable housing built on Colfax.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Haha, I sincerely doubt there is much allegiance between Candi Cdebaca and a bunch of rich old white dudes in mansions of 17th ave parkway that don't want affordable housing built on Colfax.

Rich ironies of life?

In hindsight I wasn't paying attention or aware of the specific neighborhood areas for this meeting. Now that I see we're in the vicinity of Monaco ie Park Hill, Mayfair, I have a truer picture of those who were 'concerned'.

[Stonemans_rowJ]

it's not just rich people with second homes in Aspen, it's old(er) people in general, no offense Take5. I live in Mayfair and same here, mostly older folks, boomers, the kind that make stupid posts constantly on nextdoor. they are very concerned with their parking. probably the same people concerned with the mexicans taking all the jobs. the younger people who would benefit and be excited about these changes rent and therefore don't know what's going on, or really have a dog in the fight right now.

[PLANSIT]

Cirrus can elaborate a bit, but I'm pretty sure we are seeing an interesting alignment of wealthy NIMBY and anti-displacement/gentrification factions regarding density and development.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

it's not just rich people with second homes in Aspen, it's old(er) people in general, no offense Take5. I live in Mayfair and same here, mostly older folks, boomers, the kind that make stupid posts constantly on nextdoor. they are very concerned with their parking. probably the same people concerned with the mexicans taking all the jobs. the younger people who would benefit and be excited about these changes rent and therefore don't know what's going on, or really have a dog in the fight right now.

Even within my assisted living complex there's disagreement. It's why I go to extreme measure to stay relevant - like hanging out at places like this.

I have acknowledged that those invested in their neighborhood are more likely to be long-timers and old-timers. But context is always a key. The East Colfax (transit) corridor is exactly where increased density should be allowed.

In a lot of cases people just want/need to express their two cents. It's a valuable part of the process. If a valid case is made for needed change and once done, most of these people merely sigh and move on to watching the Rockies, Broncos etc which is more important anyway.

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Cirrus can elaborate a bit, but I'm pretty sure we are seeing an interesting alignment of wealthy NIMBY and anti-displacement/gentrification factions regarding density and development.

As they say: "Politics makes strange bedfellows."

Consider the disparate interests that opposed Central 70. The transit proposal in Nashville combined anti-tax conservatives with anti-gentrification minorities. So I would agree this kind risk can happen.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Phase 3 is U/C right now- foundations are going in.

Ha noticed that today when I drove by. Looks like there are two additional phases after Phase 4 on either side of 28th St that will get extended from Delgany to Arkins Ct.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

What do you guys think is Denver's signature skyscraper? The cash register building? Are you content with it staying that way for a while?

While this boom-cycle has brought new/developed neighborhoods (Union Station/RiNo), towns like Austin seem to be growing much more vertically with much more interesting looking towers. Just look at this one that is under construction in Austin