DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Here's photos of the Thompson Hotel and McGregor Square fr last night

[TakeFive]

Source

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

Here's photos of the Thompson Hotel and McGregor Square fr last night

I'm really glad you got these shots of history being made. It is so cool the way that Denver was unexpectedly awarded this year's All-Star game and festivities. The timing couldn't have been better with McGregor Square being finished in time and a chance to show the rest of America, Denver's downtown up close and personal. Plus, the Thompson Denver photo piggybacks nicely on my post.


What about those that came before?
Yeah, those guys; what were they doing?



Courtesy John Hickenlooper via CPR

What Was LoDo Like The Last Time Denver Hosted The MLB All-Star Game More Than 20 Years Ago?
July 13, 2021 By Sarah Mulholland - CPR

A lot has changed in Denver since the last time Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game was in town more than 20 years ago. Not the least of which is the area surrounding Coors Field.

In 1998, the city’s Lower Downtown neighborhood — or LoDo — was a decade into its rebirth. Abandoned warehouses were rapidly giving way to bars, restaurants and galleries by the time Major League Baseball first tapped Denver for its annual extravaganza. But the city’s oldest neighborhood was still evolving, and that transformation continues today.

Among the area’s original pioneers is John Hickenlooper — the current U.S. senator, former Denver mayor and Colorado governor, and erstwhile proprietor of the state’s first brewpub. He and his partners opened Wynkoop Brewing in 1988 — seven years before Coors Field was built just two blocks away — when it was still a desolate neighborhood.

Remind us what is was like back then.

“Our rent was one dollar per square foot per year, and that’s a reflection of how abandoned all of lower downtown was,” Hickenlooper said in a recent interview. “There was a giant parking lot out in front of Union Station and there was never anybody in that parking lot.”

“It was all broken glass and rubble and acres of abandoned freight yards, but we kind of loved it because we were ... building a brewpub and nobody had ever seen that in Colorado before.”

Props to Sarah Mulholland/CPR for such a great article.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by BG918

Aerotropolis is really starting to heat up. Lots of new residential underway and planned in this area along with developments like this and other warehouse/logistics projects. I give it 10 years before it’s wall-to-wall sprawl from the airport to I-70 along Pena Blvd

It's actually taken a lot longer than originally anticipated. I see where the land was bought from Glendale-based Westside Investment Partners. At some point they managed to acquire a good chunk of (what is now) prime land. As they've sold of their land in pieces, they then moved on and 1st acquired the Loretto Heights campus in southwest Denver and more recently the Park Hill Golf Course for redevelopment.

Originally Posted by bulldurhamer

the train goes along pena with stops. what do you want? sprawl? that's not really it.

Yup, the intent is for land along Pena to be developed with more density. Given the suburban nature it will be more mid-level urban-suburban density of course. There's also a preference for commercial development; I'm not sure why some would snub their noses at good 'blue collar' jobs being added by Denver... oh my.

https://milehighcre.com/34565-2/

• According to the document, the proposed project is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the city to retain and grow manufacturing employment without displacing any existing businesses. Construction will begin March 2022 and take approximately one year to complete.
• Development of the project will also facilitate development of 34 acres of the Second Creek Greenway. Pepsi will not be purchasing this open space; the current owner of the property and master developer of High Point will create this portion of the greenway as part of the transaction allowing the development of the project.

Off-beat humor of the day

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

Looks like Pepsi is moving from RiNo to out by the airport.

https://businessden.com/2021/07/12/pepsi...48-acres-by-dia/#newsletter%23newsletter

The day after you posted that, this happens: Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Boeing, PepsiCo, Electronic Arts and more

A mere coincidence? I think not.

----------------
How-To shut down a freeway entrance ramp



Truck Crashes, Spills Lumber On Highway 285 Onramp To C-470

I get the 'idear' that with the shortage of drivers that some of the newer ones haven't learned to respect the loads they're carrying.

[TakeFive]

Source

Central Park is home to the latest city-backed affordable housing project: 132 condos near the RTD station
July 14, 2021 By Esteban L. Hernandez/Denverite

After convincing his wife to move to Florida for retirement, he decided to come back to Colorado, where the two used to live. Zack Gibson felt skeptical when he saw the listing. A condo, in Denver, in a complex not yet under construction? Months later, it’s no longer a listing. It’s his future home.

“Ultimately, it was the only way I was going to redeem myself with my wife, to be able to get her to Denver,” Gibson said on Tuesday. “And it’s been a great process, a process I’ve never gone through before, but everybody that we have worked with has been excellent.”

Source

[rds70]

The renovation and new construction at Colfax and Franklin is moving forward through the Landmark Preservation Commission. The seven story addition has already been approved, with the renovation of the two retail/residential buildings being reviewed next week.

Overall the project will include 34 underground parking spaces, 68 residential units, 3,000 square feet of retail and 1,250 square feet of office.

Of interest, the building on the east side of the site will be converted into a five bedroom residential unit, with the retail remaining along Colfax.

[TakeFive]

This should be nice

Originally Posted by rds70

The renovation and new construction at Colfax and Franklin is moving forward through the Landmark Preservation Commission. The seven story addition has already been approved, with the renovation of the two retail/residential buildings being reviewed next week.

Overall the project will include 34 underground parking spaces, 68 residential units, 3,000 square feet of retail and 1,250 square feet of office.

------------------------------------

Stanley House

Stanley apartments rendering, courtesy of SAR+ vis Mile High CRE

Alliance Construction Solutions Breaks Ground on Stanley House
July 14, 2021 - Mile High CRE

Alliance Construction Solutions (Alliance) has broken ground on Stanley House—a collaboration between Westfield, Shears Adkins Rockmore (SAR+), and Alliance. The 190,000-square-foot project, located just south of Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, will provide two 4-story buildings and include 168 Class A apartments with a boutique approach to amenities targeting the workforce housing demographic.

Stanley House is expected to be completed in Q4 2022.

What about this Stanley Marketplace? Is it really what it's cooked up to be?

“The Alliance team is excited to be part of such a great project,” says project manager Alex Landis. “In our short time on-site, we’ve seen the Stanley Marketplace thriving on a daily basis, and I feel that the new apartment buildings will be a prominent addition to the community and the Stanley Marketplace complex.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by rds70

The renovation and new construction at Colfax and Franklin is moving forward through the Landmark Preservation Commission. The seven story addition has already been approved, with the renovation of the two retail/residential buildings being reviewed next week.

Overall the project will include 34 underground parking spaces, 68 residential units, 3,000 square feet of retail and 1,250 square feet of office.

Of interest, the building on the east side of the site will be converted into a five bedroom residential unit, with the retail remaining along Colfax.

Wonderful news, and great project. I feared that streamline corner building (and the rest of them) were being demo-ed. Would LOVE to see more adaptive re-use like this in Denver (preserving a unique structure while adding housing/density) - even the new mid-rise looks nice for a change.

[The Dirt]

I remember reviewing this a couple of years ago for our RNO and I'm happy to see that the developer is still able to pencil this one out. The two Colfax buildings need to have their facades completely restored and the interiors gutted.

[DenvertoLA]

Does anyone know the status of the Ace hotel project in Uptown? I know the city council approved funds but then covid...

That project looked quality

[BG918]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

This should be nice
Alliance Construction Solutions Breaks Ground on Stanley House
July 14, 2021 - Mile High CRE

What about this Stanley Marketplace? Is it really what it's cooked up to be?

Stanley Marketplace is busy all day every day. It’s the most “mixed-use” of all the market halls and has everything from restaurants to gyms to ice cream shops to hair salons to dentists. It’s a true community center like we haven’t seen since the indoor mall craze in the 80’s. I know Stapleton er Central Park residents think of it that way.

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by BG918

Stanley Marketplace is busy all day every day. It’s the most “mixed-use” of all the market halls and has everything from restaurants to gyms to ice cream shops to hair salons to dentists. It’s a true community center like we haven’t seen since the indoor mall craze in the 80’s. I know Stapleton er Central Park residents think of it that way.

I live within walking distance of the Stanley and lately, there is little to no available parking there (but I walk, so not my problem).

I was worried it wouldn't make it initially, or through the Pandemic. But it's very busy. They do a good job of hosting events that bring in even more people. The new apartments will only add to its success.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by BG918

Stanley Marketplace is busy all day every day. It’s the most “mixed-use” of all the market halls and has everything from restaurants to gyms to ice cream shops to hair salons to dentists. It’s a true community center like we haven’t seen since the indoor mall craze in the 80’s. I know Stapleton er Central Park residents think of it that way.

Beyond the nice mix of uses, it's also a hub for popular local businesses in an otherwise pretty generic/chain-filled environment; actually it's the only such place east of Monaco, other than the little strip at Oneida Park. Let's be honest, the community formerly known as Stapleton missed the mark on their own town center (sterile and corporate in terms of the retail makeup), so Stanley essentially functions as the cool neighborhood strip for a pretty large area (Central Park, East Colfax, Aurora, Montbello). When you think of it that way, of course it's always packed!

Excited for the new apartments, and hoping it further revitalizes that immediate neighborhood. I see that vicinity turning around way faster than Aurora's main drag on Colfax.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by kemachs

Beyond the nice mix of uses, it's also a hub for popular local businesses in an otherwise pretty generic/chain-filled environment; actually it's the only such place east of Monaco, other than the little strip at Oneida Park. Let's be honest, the community formerly known as Stapleton missed the mark on their own town center (sterile and corporate in terms of the retail makeup), so Stanley essentially functions as the cool neighborhood strip for a pretty large area (Central Park, East Colfax, Aurora, Montbello). When you think of it that way, of course it's always packed!

Excited for the new apartments, and hoping it further revitalizes that immediate neighborhood. I see that vicinity turning around way faster than Aurora's main drag on Colfax.

The high property taxes in Central Park due to the Metro District have been a huge hurdle to getting local businesses to thrive there. It's an unfortunate trade-off.

[CONative]

As most of you know, Stanley Market is just barely on the Aurora side and not part of the Central Park taxing district.

Additionally, these apartments will be immediate south of Stanley Market. TWO other apartment complexes/mixed used developments are also happening to the south of this one -- all the way to Montview (and getting rid of the dilapidated shopping center). They have been approved and are under construction or about to be. It will be a total of 900 apartments between the 3 projects -- with a 4 story parking garage, office space, some retail, and one small new stand-alone retail/movie theatre/restaurant building.

https://frontporchne.com/article/ne-news-updates-jul21/

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by CONative

As most of you know, Stanley Market is just barely on the Aurora side and not part of the Central Park taxing district.

Additionally, these apartments will be immediate south of Stanley Market. TWO other apartment complexes/mixed used developments are also happening to the south of this one -- all the way to Montview (and getting rid of the dilapidated shopping center). They have been approved and are under construction or about to be. It will be a total of 900 apartments between the 3 projects -- with a 4 story parking garage, office space, some retail, and one small new stand-alone retail/movie theatre/restaurant building.

https://frontporchne.com/article/ne-news-updates-jul21/

So this development is where that old strip mall is on Montview that has fencing around it? If I'm reading the map correctly...

[CONative]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

So this development is where that old strip mall is on Montview that has fencing around it? If I'm reading the map correctly...

Yes, hence my "getting rid of the dilapidated shopping center"...

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by CONative

Yes, hence my "getting rid of the dilapidated shopping center"...

Wow. Somehow I didn’t connect that Tramwell Crow is building two projects along Clinton Street. So everything along Westerly Creek from Montevideo to the Stanley will be redeveloped. That’s impressive.

I will say that the 29th Ave Town Center gets a bad rap even though it’s a lot less corporate chains than it was five years ago. It provides another community hub that is more enjoyable to walk than the Stanley IMO.

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

I remember reviewing this a couple of years ago for our RNO and I'm happy to see that the developer is still able to pencil this one out. The two Colfax buildings need to have their facades completely restored and the interiors gutted.

Nice that they made it work, but the renderings also really show how little archicterual integrity those houses actually have. It will be funky/quirky I guess, but not exactly a great example of historic preservation (they haven't been since they added the cigarette shop and Bourbon Chicken additions decades ago).

Also would be nice if they updated the BK rendering with a bunch of tents, a few bonfires, some needles and human excrement.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Nice that they made it work, but the renderings also really show how little archicterual integrity those houses actually have. It will be funky/quirky I guess, but not exactly a great example of historic preservation (they haven't been since they added the cigarette shop and Bourbon Chicken additions decades ago).

I think what makes Colfax unique is where they built retail into those old Victorian mansions - not only is it an interesting vernacular that you don't see everywhere, but it shows the history/layers of development along the street. Homes for the wealthy on the outskirts of Denver in the early days, then gradually becoming a major commercial corridor.

Even though the existing buildings are in rough shape (hence why I thought they didn't stand a chance), IMO it's worth preserving & restoring a little slice of that condition, especially since added housing units are in the package. And let's get some taller (7+ story) buildings on sites like the Burger King plat, instead of converting them into a dumb bank like the former Arby's down the street. Speaking of which...is there already a development proposal for BK?

[mr1138]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Nice that they made it work, but the renderings also really show how little archicterual integrity those houses actually have. It will be funky/quirky I guess, but not exactly a great example of historic preservation (they haven't been since they added the cigarette shop and Bourbon Chicken additions decades ago).

Count me as one who really appreciates this kind of architectural-layering in the urban environment. They may not have "integrity" as houses anymore, but I feel that structures like these DO have historic integrity as an example of a common form of mid-century retail structure. There are actually MANY examples houses being transformed into retail uses around metro Denver during this era and they are an example of how buildings and their uses were able to morph in response to changing circumstances before the advent modern zoning. They also help tell the story of the evolution of Colfax from a promenade of stately homes into a noisy, bustling retail corridor during the early 20th century. Are they beautiful? Perhaps not. But quirky and historically interesting? Absolutely!

I have learned through conversations with many different people that there are two very different points of view on this. Some people HATE these houses-turned-retail both inside and out. But as somebody who likes adaptive reuse and the adding-on to buildings over time, I think this sort of thing is super cool and I'm happy to see them get refurbished. Not to mention a new layer added! A building doesn't loose all of its historic integrity simply because it was once changed from its original form - sometimes it actually gains interest from this kind of change.

Originally Posted by kemachs

I think what makes Colfax unique is where they built retail into those old Victorian mansions - not only is it an interesting vernacular that you don't see everywhere, but it shows the history/layers of development along the street. Homes for the wealthy on the outskirts of Denver in the early days, then gradually becoming a major commercial corridor.

Looks like we were writing almost the same argument simultaneously!