DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Thanks, Ryan! I am excited for this one. Probably the best location in RiNo where you are right beside RiNo Art Park, RiNo promenade, Number thirty eight, the Platte River, the Source, multiple breweries, and a short walk to the the 38th and Blake station.

[Robert.hampton]

It sure feels like we have arrived in a post land-barge and texas-donut era with new development in Denver. Seems the vast majority of recently proposed projects are higher quality and have a certain level of interest and individualism that we didn't see much of for a good 5 years. Is this an evolution unique for Denver or something we are seeing all over?

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Yeah. If One River North, that big Aspen tree looking hotel near Civic Center Park, and Evolve Towers end up being built anything like the renderings, that will be impressive

[Agent Orange]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

It sure feels like we have arrived in a post land-barge and texas-donut era with new development in Denver. Seems the vast majority of recently proposed projects are higher quality and have a certain level of interest and individualism that we didn't see much of for a good 5 years. Is this an evolution unique for Denver or something we are seeing all over?

That is true, in the city center at least. I'm assuming the higher prices this market commands now have something to do with that. An exception being recent projects in St*pleton/Central Park that Wong recently highlighted. Those appear to be disappointingly Texas donut-like. I had higher hopes for the Central Park A-line station area. New housing of any sort is preferable to empty lots and long term RV parking.

Continuing the former-airport-neighborhood conversation - I think someone in this thread pointed out a few months ago that the 29th and Quebec "town center" area is actually pretty nicely designed area that is aging well. I have to agree. I think the trees and the relatively narrow streets have something to do with it. I wish it could serve as a model of how to build neighborhood retail and multifamily in other parts of suburbanish Denver, but nearly everything else in 80238 that followed it is much less inspired.

[jbssfelix]

The donuts are one thing...what really is a headscratcher to me is the onslaught of large national chain food and retail offerings that are in queue or recently built.

New: Taco Bell, Panda, Murphy Express, Enterprise Car Rental, etc
In Queue: In-n-Out, Quiktrip, Raising Cane's, Popeyes, Chili's

Is it the cost of land that's driving out smaller local players, or something I'm just not seeing altogether? I feel like with the half-decent density and high household income, it would drive more options into the neighborhood...

Originally Posted by Agent Orange

That is true, in the city center at least. I'm assuming the higher prices this market commands now have something to do with that. An exception being recent projects in St*pleton/Central Park that Wong recently highlighted. Those appear to be disappointingly Texas donut-like. I had higher hopes for the Central Park A-line station area. New housing of any sort is preferable to empty lots and long term RV parking.

Continuing the former-airport-neighborhood conversation - I think someone in this thread pointed out a few months ago that the 29th and Quebec "town center" area is actually pretty nicely designed area that is aging well. I have to agree. I think the trees and the relatively narrow streets have something to do with it. I wish it could serve as a model of how to build neighborhood retail and multifamily in other parts of suburbanish Denver, but nearly everything else in 80238 that followed it is much less inspired.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by jbssfelix

The donuts are one thing...what really is a headscratcher to me is the onslaught of large national chain food and retail offerings that are in queue or recently built.

New: Taco Bell, Panda, Murphy Express, Enterprise Car Rental, etc
In Queue: In-n-Out, Quiktrip, Raising Cane's, Popeyes, Chili's

Is it the cost of land that's driving out smaller local players, or something I'm just not seeing altogether? I feel like with the half-decent density and high household income, it would drive more options into the neighborhood...

The property taxes/land costs are definitely a contributor to what's going in and the focus on national retailers who are more in a first to market role. It's also that the current retail development is centered around the CBP interchange and it's been marketed not just for the neighborhood population but the traffic counts off of I70 and the pads are being sold as single-use development with no multi-tenant space. It incentivizes the larger players and you don't see those smaller spots that a local business needs. Look at the retail strips that have been put in north of I70: a bike shop, a boutique, a barber, a nail salon, three local food places, a few national chains, and the inexplicable bevy of dentists. It's not perfect, but it's reflective of the kind of spaces that are needed to foster small businesses that aren't currently being built.

I'm going to run with the mantra that it takes time for businesses to flip over and to respond as the area reaches buildout. A few more multi-tenant space would also help. That said, I'm hoping that the rumor of a Trader Joe's just north of I70 at CPB comes to fruition. Put that in and my quasi-suburban ass is happy.

[bunt_q]

“Quasi” suburban? Lol.

[twister244]

Just gonna comment on Quicktrip from someone who grew up with them, you will be happy they are coming to Denver....

They are some of the nicest gas stations out there (assuming Denver gets the newer models). I'm all for supporting local businesses, etc, but gas stations in Denver don't hold a dime to QTs.

Also, oddly, really nice restrooms for a gas station.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

“Quasi” suburban? Lol.

Quiet wealthy, Country Club resident.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Man I hope 2C passes. It would be great to get some dedicated money behind the 5280 trail

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

The property taxes/land costs are definitely a contributor to what's going in and the focus on national retailers who are more in a first to market role. It's also that the current retail development is centered around the CBP interchange and it's been marketed not just for the neighborhood population but the traffic counts off of I70 and the pads are being sold as single-use development with no multi-tenant space. It incentivizes the larger players and you don't see those smaller spots that a local business needs. Look at the retail strips that have been put in north of I70: a bike shop, a boutique, a barber, a nail salon, three local food places, a few national chains, and the inexplicable bevy of dentists. It's not perfect, but it's reflective of the kind of spaces that are needed to foster small businesses that aren't currently being built.

I'm going to run with the mantra that it takes time for businesses to flip over and to respond as the area reaches buildout. A few more multi-tenant space would also help. That said, I'm hoping that the rumor of a Trader Joe's just north of I70 at CPB comes to fruition. Put that in and my quasi-suburban ass is happy.

I hadn't heard the Trader Joe's rumor, but would love that! All the rest of the crap being built, I won't use. Applebees??

I know people who've moved from down south (old Stapleton) up to the far north end/new homes. I don't care for it at all and they'll never have a grocery store or local businesses to walk to. It's rather isolated. I like my Eastbridge location where I can walk to the Stanley and King Soopers. I think we have something like 19 local restaurants within walking distance of our house.

[The Dirt]

So... we're now talking about "really nice" gas stations in fully-suburban Northfield/Central Park on the Denver Skyscraper page forum.

<long, hearty lol>

[bulldurhamer]

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

For most of this metropolis, alternative forms of transportation will never overtake cars, period. It’s literally impossible to replace our sprawling suburbs with the dense neighborhoods that would be required to make public transportation even remotely more practical or appealing than SOVs. Limiting the capacity of our freeways in the hopes it will eventually force people living in sprawl to use public transportation is not smart.

The sprawl already exists. And it’s politically impossible to change it from sprawl into anything other than sprawl. In terms of ecology, I’m afraid electric cars are our best hope.

When it comes to alternative forms of transportation overtaking SOVs, let’s focus on urban areas where it’s actually viable. Our recourses are limited and they’re not being used wisely when they’re wasted on a sprawl-serving system of park-n-rides and freeway-hugging light rail lines, while the urban areas in which transit is actually viable are left with inadequate, inconvenient public transportation, and our suburbs are left with inadequate, clogged freeways.

of course electric autonomous vehicles will solve these issues.

better to expand the current highway infrastructure since we're still headed that way anyway. i also prefer not to wait until my children are grandparents for something to happen, which is exactly where we're headed if do nothing with our highways.

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

I hadn't heard the Trader Joe's rumor, but would love that! All the rest of the crap being built, I won't use. Applebees??

I know people who've moved from down south (old Stapleton) up to the far north end/new homes. I don't care for it at all and they'll never have a grocery store or local businesses to walk to. It's rather isolated. I like my Eastbridge location where I can walk to the Stanley and King Soopers. I think we have something like 19 local restaurants within walking distance of our house.

Beeler Park. Jelly.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

So... we're now talking about "really nice" gas stations in fully-suburban Northfield/Central Park on the Denver Skyscraper page forum.

<long, hearty lol>

I heard that the urban crowd is complaining about the temporary fence going up around Urban Peak and how it makes the homeless feel threatened.... Candi and Hinds are heading down there right now to asses the situation and possibly protest.

Originally Posted by jbssfelix

Beeler Park. Jelly.

Are you saying a Jelly Cafe is coming to Beeler Park? Better than the hipster mall aka the Stanley.


It feels as if there's a hangover after Ryan's blitz of RiNo project construction announcements. The banality of Central Park is what's called for.

[Denver]

nm

[Denver]

nm

[twister244]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

So... we're now talking about "really nice" gas stations in fully-suburban Northfield/Central Park on the Denver Skyscraper page forum.

<long, hearty lol>

Hey man.... I promise - You will walk out of a QT for the first time and say "Wow Twister244 was right, this IS a damn good gas station I am happy to see land in Denver".

[RyanD]

Here's one that flew under the radar (at least for me):


3901 Wynkoop


https://denverinfill.com/2021/11/excavation-begins-at-3901-wynkoop.html

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Has there ever been this much active construction in RiNo?