DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[The Dirt]

We're also over 10k posts.

[bunt_q]

Do we have much infill that is worth drooling over? We have plenty of infill, but I can’t think of any projects I’m going out of my way to watch go up these days. We have plenty of growth, but nothing really exciting, no big projects or programs to speak of, City government pretty much disappoints people of all stripes these days. I think the forum banter represents Denver perfectly.

[rds70]

A new rendering of the Amacon towers on Block 176 (18th and Glenarm). It looks like construction might be starting soon, as elements of the building permit are receiving final City approval.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

If these go up, this will be an infill project worth "drooling over". Looks like something from Vancouver

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

If these go up, this will be an infill project worth "drooling over". Looks like something from Vancouver

Indeed. Although that podium could use some work.

That rendering, though. RTD must be buying new trains.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by davedensf

I hope Casa Bonita isn't torn down, but then I'm a child at heart. I have great memories of my adventures there from the 1970s.

--Dave

Lucky are those of us who can maintain such a pleasant trait as well as our memories.

Originally Posted by mr1138

The "Gables" apartments a block away from Channel 7 encompasses pretty much everything both good and bad I just described. It isn't great architecture, but it's a hell of a lot better than the gas station that was there before. It actually defines the shape of the city block, which along this stretch of Speer is a HUGE improvement over the previous condition and makes it feel more like a proper urban boulevard.

This and the following post were 'much better than average' as they benefited from good context and explanation. Very relatable.

Speaking for myself (and others) lacking 'formal training' language more suitable for a 4th grader is always preferable. It also brought back various memories of previous discussions going back many years over 1) whether every apartment project should include retail 2) building to the property line 3) etc.

I can still recall the debate over Gables Speer Blvd. While not as nice as their Cherry Creek projects, I thought you put it into great context.

Originally Posted by Ndj

If a building is bad it better be extra historic to be worthy of preservation. It ought to be even more historic in proportion to the potential highest and best use of the land it occupies. The Denver 7 building is moderately bad, barely historic and occupies high value land. That adds up to no preservation for me.

Exactly!

Channel 7 is not the topic. What is lost is that they're the property owner and these few who are obsessed with preservation should 'Man Up' and pay the fair market value so that Channel 7 becomes irrelevant. So childish that a few want to impose their 'loophole' without consequence or proper compensation.

Hopefully the Denver City Council does the right thing here.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Indeed. Although that podium could use some work.

That rendering, though. RTD must be buying new trains.

Indeed on the trains. Plus the L line has got some seriously beefed up service.

Those towers..... this is the kind of stuff that’s now the threshold to get excited about. That’s why the attitude of the forum is currently meh. If 1900 Lawrence starts progressing again you’d see enthusiasm for that as well.

[TakeFive]

Side Pocket Topic

Soaring lumber prices add $36,000 to the cost of a new home, and a fierce land grab is only making it worse
APR 30 2021 By Diana Olick - CNBC Real Estate Correspondent

The surge in lumber prices in the past year has added $35,872 to the price of an average new single-family home and $12,966 to the market value of an average new multifamily home, according to the NAHB.

Originally a West Coast company Taylor Morrison is now headquartered in Scottsdale and has grown their Denver presence.

“We just have no supply in either the new home or resale market today,” said Sheryl Palmer, CEO of homebuilder Taylor Morrison in an interview on CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange.

Palmer said she has seen demand rise across all geographies and all segments of the market, particularly first-time buyers and 55+ buyers. Builder costs, however, are out of control, she said. “We have seen, over the last four or five months, what I have never seen in my career before, is lumber to move to the level it has,” said Palmer.

Consider:
Whatever the petulant moment that caused Trump to impose lumber tariffs on our Canadian neighbor, (afaik) it would take only an Executive Order to eliminate them. What do you suppose the chances are (as is often the case) that our Gubment has grown dependent on the Tariff revenue? Instead, the MBA Dems concoct some liberal scheme for creating affordable housing which is years away and won't work. Maybe consider doing the simple thing and get rid of the damn Tariffs?

It's not just lumber that's causing pain.

Steel mill product prices are at a new record high, up nearly 18% in March year-over-year. This is beams, sheet metal products and wiring.

The price of copper also set a new record high this month. It is now up 27% year-to-date.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

If these go up, this will be an infill project worth "drooling over". Looks like something from Vancouver

If you click on This Link; then click on "British Columbia," you'll see Amacon has built a number of projects in Vancouver.

BTW, Burnaby is a suburb of Vancouver. It's 25 min (12.9 km) via E 1st Ave to downtown Vancouver according to Google.

[rds70]

Here is a new rendering of Denargo Market Phase 4. Another project that should be underway soon:



This is sort of the angle you would see heading north on Broadway.

[Cirrus]

The requirement to close threads at 10,000 posts and start anew no longer exists. The forum software was updated at some point and >10,000 post threads no longer gum it up.

But we can close & start anew if you want. Doesn't really matter.

[TakeFive]

Just for Grins:

Originally Posted by rds70

Here is a new rendering of Denargo Market Phase 4. Another project that should be underway soon:

This is sort of the angle you would see heading north on Broadway.

https://denverite.com/2020/12/15/a-rezon...ve-points-that-will-have-325-apartments/

Councilmember Candi CdeBaca, whose district is home to the development, compared the planned building to “a bomb in the middle of this community” that would lead to longstanding residents being priced out. CdeBaca voted “hell, no” and was joined in opposition by Amanda Sandoval, Amanda Sawyer and Jamie Torres.

But this is what's important.

The measure that passed Monday by a vote of 9 to 4 was the second attempt by Austin-based Cypress to get a rezoning for a project it envisions taking up several lots

This is also interesting partly since it's dated last December.

Chase Hill of Cypress told council members that each unit, whether offered at below-market rents, would each cost $400,000 to build.

Assuming that figure is now obsolete maybe add another 10%?

Originally Posted by Cirrus

The requirement to close threads at 10,000 posts and start anew no longer exists. The forum software was updated at some point and >10,000 post threads no longer gum it up.

But we can close & start anew if you want. Doesn't really matter.

Either which way is fine by me.

[twister244]

Cool renderings of the Amacon development, but again.... I will believe it when I see it. Still no sales website.....

[TakeFive]

You May Proceed; This Project is SkyscraperPage approved

FoundryLine Apartments


Image courtesy McWhinney via Mile High CRE

17-Story Apartment Community to Break Ground at 38th & Blake
May 3, 2021 - Mile High CRE

McWhinney, in a joint venture with PGIM Real Estate, plans to break ground on FoundryLine this month, a new 17-story lifestyle-driven and luxury apartment community in the heart of Denver’s RiNo.

Located on a 1-acre site adjacent to the RTD’s 38th & Blake A-Line commuter rail station, FoundryLine will feature 348 refined apartment homes, ranging from elegant studios to spacious three-bedroom residences and top floor penthouses. Unique to this property, 30 units are planned to be attainable homes offered to qualifying residents who meet the income requirements set by the City of Denver.

Is everything lined up and ready to go?

Hensel Phelps is serving as the general contractor on the project, in partnership with AvroKO, Craine Architecture, Inc., and Dig Studio Office of Architecture. Dedicated to sustainable building practices, McWhinney is working with Denver’s Group 14 Engineering to design a building that is planned to earn two Green Globes & National Green Building Standard Bronze certification.

“As the first major luxury development in the River North area, FoundryLine will define a new standard for housing in this neighborhood. Influenced by a legacy of craft and curation, FoundryLine bridges and celebrates the past, the present, and will become the trendsetter for its future,” said McWhinney President and Chief Operating Officer Ray Pittman.

[Curtis Park]

Originally Posted by CurtisParkChris

38th St Underpass reconstruction, please

I hope that this happens. But how do they improve it? I am curious what people think the solution is. Is it a bridge? Another underpass? I don't know how the current underpass can be widened given the private property and development on either side. I'm all for a bridge but since the railroad requires such a high clearance, how would that work? Maybe adding a crossing at 36th, 39th or 40th?

[The Dirt]

The Blake St and commuter rail bridges are already wide enough to handle it and there's enough ROW on either side. It's just a matter of expanding the freight tracks bridge. There's a lot of tracks there, so they could probably do it in two phases.

[Curtis Park]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

The Blake St and commuter rail bridges are already wide enough to handle it and there's enough ROW on either side. It's just a matter of expanding the freight tracks bridge. There's a lot of tracks there, so they could probably do it in two phases.

Thanks. I guess I didn't really notice that those two bridges were built a bit wider. I had to look at Street View to see it better. So the probable plan is to just widen it? No other bridges or underpasses?

[mr1138]

It seems to me that the RR underpass at Alameda is at least as important as the one at 38th. But I presume it would be significantly more complicated and expensive?

[gopokes21]

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

If these go up, this will be an infill project worth "drooling over". Looks like something from Vancouver

The thing is, not only is the City permitting process expensive and arduous to undergo and complete as they nearly have, but Davis is an incredibly expensive arch firm. Pulling permits for two towers could cost $500,000 or more and the design from Davis is probably at least a million dollars of fee, and much more for construction oversight. That's a lot of sunken cost for Amacon, so they have to have some form of equity in place.

[DenvertoLA]

I'd love to see the Amacon towers built. I'm just worried that private equity and foreign investors are going to eat it up. Does Denver have rule on the books to prevent that ?