DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[wong21fr]

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.

It costs RTD $123K per year to lease the land, and the MoH Foundation would lease it for $1 per year. Do you honestly think that this museum would generate a daily increase of 125 riders just for the deal to break even?

Hell, most people have no goddamn clue what a MoH museum entails- they probably think it's a tribute to the video game series.

If the foundation or the state comes forward and drops some real money, or a clause is included that RTD can still seek redevelopment of the parcel I'll change my tune, but this is probably a good move by the RTD Board. It doesn't make sense to tie up such a prominent corner as a park for the next few decades without some development flexibility.

That said....

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

RTD is truly incompetent when it comes to divesting their real estate assets and trying to raise some pennies to maintain their funding. I have zero faith in RTD ever executing a decent real estate transaction short of another entity holding a gun to the Board's collective head to get it done.

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

It costs RTD $123K per year to lease the land, and the MoH Foundation would lease it for $1 per year. Do you honestly think that this museum would generate a daily increase of 125 riders just for the deal to break even?

The projections I saw were 1,000,000 visitors annually — no idea of that is realistic or how they come up with the projection, but If it’s anywhere near true it would increase ridership far more than 125 daily — and would add additional a line trips in the tens of thousands I would imagine. Really you only need ~5,000 a line round trips for it to be revenue neutral.

In any case it certainly would generate more revenue than squatting on it (a lot which you don’t even own!) or ‘renting it to food trucks or something’. From the comments in the article it’s clear the board has spent zero time or energy thinking about what to do with a prominent plot of land that they are losing money on every year and that is currently a huge gash in our urban fabric.

[TakeFive]

Go ahead; tell us how you really feel


Credit CBS4 Denver

This is with respect to a Public Forum on the East Area Plan along East Colfax.

[The Dirt]

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

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

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

I won't ask you how you really feel...

but you did nicely provide my chuckle for the day.

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

Also, I start too many posts with, "Hmmmm."

No, not really; that's my favorite part.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

The projections I saw were 1,000,000 visitors annually — no idea of that is realistic or how they come up with the projection, but If it’s anywhere near true it would increase ridership far more than 125 daily — and would add additional a line trips in the tens of thousands I would imagine. Really you only need ~5,000 a line round trips for it to be revenue neutral.

In any case it certainly would generate more revenue than squatting on it (a lot which you don’t even own!) or ‘renting it to food trucks or something’. From the comments in the article it’s clear the board has spent zero time or energy thinking about what to do with a prominent plot of land that they are losing money on every year and that is currently a huge gash in our urban fabric.

This is exactly why I believe public bodies should not be permitted to own/hold vacant ground. Unless there is an identified need within 5 years, there should be a state statute mandating public agencies inventory their vacant land and if no use moves forward within 5 years (hell make it 10) then they should be required to offer the land for sale to the public for affordable housing development or another beneficial public use - if none can be identified, then it goes to the highest bidder. Can you imagine how much of a dent we could make in affordable home inventory if all of the publicly held land by municipalities and governmental bodies was developed! It's density waiting to happen.

[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.