DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by ohiotoco

Just wondering, but how did you find this rendering? I went to the permitting page and saw the permit was submitted, but would love to access additional info like this for new projects. Thanks!

Your best bet is to go to the developer or architect's website first, though stuff like this typically stays under wraps. If nothing there, sometimes the renderings get posted on the contractor or design consultant's websites too...you can take their names off the plans. It's hard to get renderings unless they are submitted through the permitting process. The Ken and Ryan show is your best bet by far.

[TakeFive]

This is not a good thing and it didn't come from me

Panic buyers driving home prices up in metro Denver real estate market
Aug 27, 2020 By: Russell Haythorn - 7Denver

Despite record unemployment, home sales are outpacing last summer and bidding wars are still commonplace. “I’m literally getting a text message every second,” Lori Abbey said.

Experts say instability near downtown with homeless encampments and ongoing unrest is driving people out.

“I’m seeing a lot of people moving out of the city and into the suburbs where they can see 3,000 to 4,000 more square feet in their lawn and a couple thousand more square feet in their house,” Abbey said.

Whether as The Dirt might suggest this is becoming a 'meme' or whether it's 'trending on twitter' this is not a good thing. This is not Los Angeles, this is Denver.

Originally Posted by wong21fr

When you end up homeless in say, Douglas County, do you stay in Douglas County or do you migrate to downtown? Homelessness is certainly a metro-wide problem but it's Denver that bears the brunt of the problem. It also gets the most funding and spends the most of it's finances on it as well but it's still an uneven solution. The proposed Denver specific tax would equitably be a metro-wide tax to provide homeless treatment solutions that could then be spread across the metro area. Screw another shelter in Five Points- ...

100% This

I've had the same exact thought process:

• This should be seen as a metro-wide problem and should be addressed by a metro-wide effort.
• Today's homeless population is very different than it was ten years ago. It's younger and more drug-induced. It's no longer just the unfortunate and harmless few. There's too many stories like THIS.

I've read enough sympathy-worthy cases where 'cheap' housing would be the best solution for many. Given pandemic conditions it should be easier to find and convert older hotels to homeless housing in the suburbs. The NE corner of I-25 and Arapahoe Rd is but one location that comes to mind.

With .25% cent metro tax, it would be much easier and smarter to address Homelessness. When the City of Denver 'volunteers' to take on a metro-wide problem then it's not hard to guess what follows.

It's also worth noting that in 2018 Denver voters approved the Caring 4 Denver initiative for a .25% tax increase to fund mental health services. This was a good thing (it passed with 70%) to help with homelessness and opioid addiction, etc.

But the City of Denver can't find enough money to fix the homeless issue by themselves. Do they want to bear the negative burden by themselves?

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

But the City of Denver can't find enough money to fix the homeless issue by themselves. Do they want to bear the negative burden by themselves?

The issue here is that none of the surrounding suburbs want to touch homeless funding. In their myopic, self-serving view this is a big city issue and there's no way on god's green earth that any elected official in Parker, Westminster, Aurora, etc is going to man up and admit that homelessness is an issue in their community and advocate for services to be placed there. No, it's far easier for their social workers to give some poor soul the address of a shelter in Denver than it is to establish a local alternative.

— the suburbs and their craven apathy. Denver should ask during sweeps where a homeless individuals last address was and drop them off their with $100 in their pocket. Let the suburbs deal with their own.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

The issue here is that none of the surrounding suburbs want to touch homeless funding...

To me, the homeless issue (and related housing issue) isn't worth further discussion. We spend just over $25k/yr in philanthropic and governmental funding per homeless person - this doesn't even include the annual prison, court, and public health agency expenditures outside Denver proper. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably north of $40k per person annually. For that kind of money, we could literally build all of the homeless people their own house (not tiny home, but a real home) and provide mental health services to them. We could, but we don't, and we won't. It's a completely solvable problem but we essentially can't "commit" folks to a better path anymore AND way too many people's jobs rely on the homeless remaining homeless, so they will never re-tool their resources to contribute to a larger "good". The homeless are here to stay in urban centers.

Anecdotally, I tried having lunch downtown last week along one of our new street promenades. After the third aggressive homeless person approached me, the first two were nice enough but rave dance twitching from their drug of choice, he chided me and the person I was with for not buying him lunch and then screamed at everyone enjoying their meal. I determined it's no longer worth spending money downtown. I'm sure many others are taking the same position - cities are letting themselves fall victim to the same decline they suffered in the post-war era.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by laniroj

Anecdotally, I tried having lunch downtown last week along one of our new street promenades. After the third aggressive homeless person approached me, the first two were nice enough but rave dance twitching from their drug of choice, he chided me and the person I was with for not buying him lunch and then screamed at everyone enjoying their meal. I determined it's no longer worth spending money downtown. I'm sure many others are taking the same position - cities are letting themselves fall victim to the same decline they suffered in the post-war era.

The homeless are emboldened. Downtown is at 30% of normal workday population and that's turned several areas of the CBD into a no man's land where the remaining workers and patrons are the focus of increased harassment (that the Rescue Mission is closed for renovations doesn't help either). It's likely not going to improve until more bodies come back to downtown in a sense of normalcy.



But let's be honest. We're not doing enough to deal with the issue. The average cost for incarceration in CO is about $32K per inmate- the cost at the county level is a lot higher than that (I believe it's about double). That doesn't include a ton of mental or physical health services, it's just the cost to store bodies and keep them alive. If you look at the figures that were produced during the Initiative 300 debate, the total amount of funding that was available metro wide to deal directly with homelessness was about $140M for a population of about 5.3K- that's about $26K per individual. So if all that was needed was to get people in housing, it could probably be done with what we're spending now.



What's missing from the above funding structure is the expensive cost of dealing with the ~50% of the homeless population that requires extensive mental, physical, and substance abuse services. Getting a chunk of those people, we're not going to get all of them, taken off the streets is going to require more funding and if takes the upcoming sales tax initiative, I'm all for it. But that's also my limit. The well of goodwill isn't bottomless and this is more of a cost of doing business in in Denver, though it's also an example of low-life suburbs trying to shift a societal cost from one municipality to the other which is infuriating.


Oh, and the camping ban needs to stay in place.

[BG918]

I’ve thought the same thing when I’ve been downtown recently. I find it hard to believe the people who have invested millions in revitalizing downtown would let it turn into the cesspool it has become. Denver needs a new mayor whose main issue is cleaning up the homeless before the situation gets worse.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by BG918

I’ve thought the same thing when I’ve been downtown recently. I find it hard to believe the people who have invested millions in revitalizing downtown would let it turn into the cesspool it has become. Denver needs a new mayor whose main issue is cleaning up the homeless before the situation gets worse.

What can Hancock do that he isn't already doing though? Wong's post is spot on in giving an overview of what needs to take place to really put a dent in the situation. Hancock does sweeps when the situation becomes bad, but beyond that, he can't do much else. He can't increase the budget for homeless funding without a vote. He can't just perform an involuntary commit for those who are really off the deep end. All he can do is help police enforce the camping ban.

[The Dirt]

Seriously. Not that Hancock or most of council is great, but they really don't have as much power as everyone seems to think. The solutions here from the "I was in downtown for the first time in 6 months" crowd are also pretty myopic. You just don't want to see homeless people, right? Maybe we should bus them out to Cherry Hills because when you sweep problems under the rug, that solves them.

[rds70]

A new apartment project is under review for the Belleview Station area:

Alexan Belleview Station - 17 stories, 251 units, ground floor retail on Newport Street, 184 feet in height, construction start fall 2020:

[TakeFive]

Belleview Station area is cooking

Originally Posted by rds70

A new apartment project is under review for the Belleview Station area:

Alexan Belleview Station - 17 stories, 251 units, ground floor retail on Newport Street, 184 feet in height, construction start fall 2020:

That is one nice-looking Alexan.

6900 Layton


February BizDen file photo

https://businessden.com/2020/08/28/new-d...00-layton-lands-72994-square-foot-lease/

A new office building nearing completion in the Denver Tech Center has landed its second major tenant.

Atlanta-based LogistiCare Solutions LLC has leased the 11th and 12th floors of the 15-story 6900 Layton building.

That adds up to 72,994 square feet, according to Kentwood Commercial, whose broker Solveig Tschudi Lawrence represented the tenant. Cushman & Wakefield’s Ryan Stout, Nathan Bradley and Zachary Williams have been marketing the building’s office space on behalf of the developer, Denver-based Prime West.

Some might recall that Newmont (mining) Corp. is moving their HQ to this building. They are leasing 142,000 Sq Ft.

The top three floors are still available so call me in the morning, we can talk turkey.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Originally Posted by rds70

A new apartment project is under review for the Belleview Station area:

Alexan Belleview Station - 17 stories, 251 units, ground floor retail on Newport Street, 184 feet in height, construction start fall 2020:

For DTC, I think that apartment building looks great. I'm really interested to monitor a few different transit oriented developments going forward. I think 38th and Blake will be most active, then Belleview Station, and then Broadway Station will unfortunately be slow and disappointing. On the plus side, we will have about 100 miles of active rail lines when the N line opens this month. That is about the same as in LA's main system.

[TakeFive]

Three Strikes and then what

As homes fly off the market across the Denver metro, downtown's condo market stumbles
Aug 31, 2020 By James Rodriguez – Reporter, Denver Business Journal

Downtown Denver's condo market has struggled in recent months to keep pace with the rest of the metro, where homes have been flying off the market in record numbers.

BG918 and laniroj have already pointed this out anecdotally.
But there might be a light at the tunnels end according to some.

Regardless, Leggett and other experts who spoke with Denver Business Journal were adamant that they view the slowdown in the downtown condo market as temporary. The fact remains that Denver is thousands of condo units short of meeting demand in the city, and the continued influx of residents and high-profile companies bodes well for continued demand for downtown living, they said.

Pandemic Pariah Paranoia

What makes an urban area — is all the activity and options to eat, sleep etc nearby. As wong referenced above that isn't currently the case. Add in the homeless crowd and a lot of the shine comes of the city center. Credit The Dirt for the third issue which is costs of condos in and around downtown are very high.

This current existing scenario makes for a toxic brew downtown which then makes the suburbs look all the more inviting.

[TakeFive]

Three Strikes and then it's still not the end of the world

My knowledge of the city center/neighborhoods goes back to the early 1980's. Post-white flight, it was one of the more affordable places to live.

Ironically, downtown office building construction was booming. At that time most employees drove in from the suburbs. But it was also a fun place to hang out given all the new activity and the O&G boom.

To an extent those were the 'good ole days,' a city life that no longer exists.

Originally Posted by wong21fr

What's missing from the above funding structure is the expensive cost of dealing with the ~50% of the homeless population that requires extensive mental, physical, and substance abuse services.

The 1980's and 1990's had a modest homeless population. They were usually referred to a 'winos' and they weren't visible for the most part. That was still the case when I left in 2006. Unfortunately, today's drug of choice is a toxic mix and much more expensive.

I can recall radio conservative talker and attorney Dan Caplis on occasion putting aside his B.S. and speak eloquently of his 'homeless' brother who had Big Mental issues. Dan (who married Amy Sporer of CBS) had tried everything to help his brother to no avail.

The challenge is daunting. The biggest issue today includes addiction and a growing, younger population that has been both enabled and emboldened.

Originally Posted by twister244

What can Hancock do that he isn't already doing though?

There was (at least one) court decision that came out of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that limits to a significant degree what cities can do. Basically it goes to whether cities have enough housing beds they can offer which is why this is a very good thing.

Denver City Council approves lease agreement for new homeless shelter in the Park Hill neighborhood
Aug 31, 2020 By Óscar Contreras - The Denver Channel

DENVER – Denver City Council approved a new lease agreement Monday evening that will provide shelter to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness.

The 82,000-square-foot facility will shelter between 350-450 people and will offer flexible space to serve a variety of needs as well as various gender groups, Woodbury said in a statement after the vote.

This is notable and encouraging

“We have seen many benefits to deploying 24/7 sheltering this year, including lower levels of anxiety among guests who can count on an assigned bed that remains the same night after night,” said Britta Fisher, executive director of Denver’s Department of Housing Stability. “Guests are resting better, with increased sense of safety and security, leading to improved relationship building with partners, volunteers and service providers.”

(No more homeless talk from me)

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Three Strikes and then it's still not the end of the world

My knowledge of the city center/neighborhoods goes back to the early 1980's. Post-white flight, it was one of the more affordable places to live.

Ironically, downtown office building construction was booming. At that time most employees drove in from the suburbs. But it was also a fun place to hang out given all the new activity and the O&G boom.

To an extent those were the 'good ole days,' a city life that no longer exists.

Only during the day and on weekends, no one hung out downtown at night except the "winos" and a few adventurous types.

As a suburban white kid of the 80s who's father worked downtown, I remember hanging out at my dad's office in the Park Central building and playing around in the Skyline Park fountains, going to the Tabor Center at Christmas Time, parades, etc....but that was about the extent of time that we (and pretty much anyone of the suburban types) would hang out downtown. Even as a kid, I remember being told we don't stay downtown past dark (unless you were heading to a Petroleum Club event, I wasn't old enough for those...)

No way those were the "good ole days" of Downtown Denver, it was a place for city "getaways", but not city life.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

Only during the day and on weekends, no one hung out downtown at night except the "winos" and a few adventurous types.

As a suburban white kid of the 80s who's father worked downtown, I remember hanging out at my dad's office in the Park Central building and playing around in the Skyline Park fountains, going to the Tabor Center at Christmas Time, parades, etc....but that was about the extent of time that we (and pretty much anyone of the suburban types) would hang out downtown. Even as a kid, I remember being told we don't stay downtown past dark (unless you were heading to a Petroleum Club event, I wasn't old enough for those...)

No way those were the "good ole days" of Downtown Denver, it was a place for city "getaways", but not city life.

Ha sounds almost identical to my adolescent life growing up in Tulsa, even the Petroleum Club part.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

Only during the day and on weekends, no one hung out downtown at night except the "winos" and a few adventurous types.

As a suburban white kid of the 80s who's father worked downtown, I remember hanging out at my dad's office in the Park Central building and playing around in the Skyline Park fountains, going to the Tabor Center at Christmas Time, parades, etc....but that was about the extent of time that we (and pretty much anyone of the suburban types) would hang out downtown. Even as a kid, I remember being told we don't stay downtown past dark (unless you were heading to a Petroleum Club event, I wasn't old enough for those...)

No way those were the "good ole days" of Downtown Denver, it was a place for city "getaways", but not city life.

Funny; interesting; I wouldn't disagree with what you say but we come from different perspectives. For most, I'd agree that downtown was mainly a 9 to 5 place.

The 1980's were a tale of two halves. I think it was the 3rd quarter of 1986 when they changed the tax laws for depreciation. In today's $'s I probably had the equivalent of over $300,000 in commissions on deals set to close in the fourth quarter. I believe I ended up making $15,000. Everything else cratered.

The 1st half of the 1980's saw oil & gas guys crawling the happy hour bars downtown as well as many dinner spots.

But generally I'd agree with your point of "Only during the day and on weekends" and I also specified "city center/neighborhoods." I didn't usually stay out late during the week but grabbing a lunch along So Broadway wasn't unusual. For weekends or Wednesday nights which was always "Ladies Night" there was a number of near downtown places. Racines started out at 850 Bannock on the corner of Speer and Bannock in 1983. Then there was Governors Park, Larimer Square and Manhattan Cafe (for one) in LoDo.

Downtown died in 1987 with what we called see-through buildings for unleased space in new building that had no blinds. But things slowly improved and then Coors Field opened in April of 1995.

"Good ole days" (to me) in the sense that it was affordable and there were plenty of places to eat and party. Spent many a late night eating breakfast at (one of the) White Spots.

So very different perspectives, both of them accurate.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Funny; interesting; I wouldn't disagree with what you say but we come from different perspectives. For most, I'd agree that downtown was mainly a 9 to 5 place.

The 1980's were a tale of two halves. I think it was the 3rd quarter of 1986 when they changed the tax laws for depreciation. In today's $'s I probably had the equivalent of over $300,000 in commissions on deals set to close in the fourth quarter. I believe I ended up making $15,000. Everything else cratered.

The 1st half of the 1980's saw oil & gas guys crawling the happy hour bars downtown as well as many dinner spots.

But generally I'd agree with your point of "Only during the day and on weekends" and I also specified "city center/neighborhoods." I didn't usually stay out late during the week but grabbing a lunch along So Broadway wasn't unusual. For weekends or Wednesday nights which was always "Ladies Night" there was a number of near downtown places. Racines started out at 850 Bannock on the corner of Speer and Bannock in 1983. Then there was Governors Park, Larimer Square and Manhattan Cafe (for one) in LoDo.

Downtown died in 1987 with what we called see-through buildings for unleased space in new building that had no blinds. But things slowly improved and then Coors Field opened in April of 1995.

"Good ole days" (to me) in the sense that it was affordable and there were plenty of places to eat and party. Spent many a late night eating breakfast at (one of the) White Spots.

So very different perspectives, both of them accurate.

This was also a time when most of the late-night partying was happening not downtown but in Glendale or a handful of neighborhood spots around Wash Park, Cherry Creek and on Colfax.

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Belleview Station area is cooking

That is one nice-looking Alexan.

6900 Layton


February BizDen file photo

https://businessden.com/2020/08/28/new-d...00-layton-lands-72994-square-foot-lease/

Some might recall that Newmont (mining) Corp. is moving their HQ to this building. They are leasing 142,000 Sq Ft.

The top three floors are still available so call me in the morning, we can talk turkey.

Is that 20 something story building still going up where the extended stay was? I drove by the other day and forgot to pay attention.

[Matt]

Block 162 photographed over the last few days:

Sunrise (notice Wells Fargo Center casting a shadow on Republic Plaza):





Nighttime. We now have aircraft warning lights!

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by Matt

[SIZE="5"][B]Block 162 photographed over the last few days:

Imagine if the center of that mechanical well extended 2-3 stories above the edges how much sharper this building would look, even as a shorty! Looks great nonetheless and hopefully they find some techies to anchor it.