DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[SirLucasTheGreat]

I'm also curious to see what happens with Bell Tower or Kenect next year. Seem like they had significant momentum prepandemic, were sidelined by COVID, and are now back in play. Bell Tower will have more visual impact than most other projects on the radar I think

[Arapahoe]

Originally Posted by RyanD

I have received numerous complaints about the homeless / civic issues that we have been discussing in the "Development" thread. I created a new thread to continue these discussions. Please use the below thread from here on out for these topics and keep only development here. As always, follow forum rules and stay civil please.


https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249410


While this is a heated topic, I think it's very important to discuss because these issues are severely affecting the well-being of our city. I have felt the impacts first hand and it's really disheartening.
Sorry for not getting to this sooner, I was moving and that occupied pretty much all of December up to today.

Thank you!!!

[rds70]

Per the Denver Business Journal, 1900 Lawrence has secured construction loans:

Riverside Investment & Development Co. has reached key milestones in the development of a 32-story tower planned for downtown Denver, closing on the land and securing key financing.

1900 Lawrence is a Class A office tower located at the intersection of Lawrence Street and 19th Avenue in Denver’s Central Business District. It’s being developed by two Chicago-based real estate firms, Riverside and Convexity Properties.

Now, Los Angeles-based Canyon Partners Real Estate LLC has joined the partnership and made an $80 million preferred equity investment in the development. That funding is concurrent with the closing of a senior construction loan from Bank OZK (Nasdaq: OZK), formerly known as Bank of the Ozarks.

Construction is expected to begin in March 2022 and to be completed in early 2024.

Full article: https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...e-land-close-financing-construction.html

[Robert.hampton]

Found a novel uptown rendering. Not particularly exciting but there was some speculation from the submitted plan that this would look like one of the land barge on Welton — certainly no where near that bad, this will be a solid if unassuming addition.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Found a novel uptown rendering. Not particularly exciting but there was some speculation from the submitted plan that this would look like one of the land barge on Welton — certainly no where near that bad, this will be a solid if unassuming addition.

Nice find. It certainly does look better than any of the Welton landbarges. The strong vertical lines are nice as is the pedestrian engagement. I am willing to bet that those trees are hiding some fairly hideous screens on the 2nd parking level, but at least they're screened. It's a solid filler all around.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Nice find. It certainly does look better than any of the Welton landbarges. The strong vertical lines are nice as is the pedestrian engagement. I am willing to bet that those trees are hiding some fairly hideous screens on the 2nd parking level, but at least they're screened. It's a solid filler all around.

What’s the address?

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by Denver

What’s the address?

1585 Logan Street

[gopokes21]

I agree that is better than the Welton landbarges. Or the Golden Triangle landbarges (which have a cleaner, modern aesthetic that I generally prefer). This is contextually appropriate though... probably the best Highest & Best Use outcome for this site.

[coolmandan03]

BusinessDen posted the image below and the headline "Texas developer pays $15M for Golden Triangle site of planned apartments". Anyone know the location or information on the development?

[coolmandan03]

I figured out the location - the building image is from Colfax and Galapago - looking in this direction

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by coolmandan03

I figured out the location - the building image is from Colfax and Galapago - looking in this direction

So this is the same project as what SirLucas posted earlier? Looks like it to me.

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

Speaking of Golden Triangle, here is a rendering of a 7 story apartment planned for 650 W Colfax that I was unaware of.

[jhwk]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Found a novel uptown rendering. Not particularly exciting but there was some speculation from the submitted plan that this would look like one of the land barge on Welton — certainly no where near that bad, this will be a solid if unassuming addition.

Good one from Tryba. It follows my two primary contemporary architecture opinions, which are that you should use only one primary material and only one secondary material on the street facing facade, and that you should line up the windows unless you have a really, really good reason not to.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by jhwk

Good one from Tryba. It follows my two primary contemporary architecture opinions, which are that you should use only one primary material and only one secondary material on the street facing facade, and that you should line up the windows unless you have a really, really good reason not to.

It seems like SO MANY people are desperate for the more traditional balanced design components you reference, but we just can't seem to turn the corner toward those being the dominant design. Base, middle, top...the classic that the masses yearn for!

[jhwk]

Originally Posted by laniroj

It seems like SO MANY people are desperate for the more traditional balanced design components you reference, but we just can't seem to turn the corner toward those being the dominant design. Base, middle, top...the classic that the masses yearn for!

I am not a rank traditionalist especially as many associate traditionalism with expensive ornamentation (my favorite styles are art deco with austere detailing and mid-centry modern with no detailing) but I would strongly like to see the current contemporary “deconstructed” or “articulated” facade go away as it is rarely successful. By trying to be many things, the buildings end up being nothing. I see many of the proposals here that lack a lot of Architecture 101 and feel like sending the studio that designed them the copy of Ching’s Form, Space, and Order that is sitting on my bookshelf.

Of course, it is not always the architect’s fault. I think our design reviews in Denver are generally balanced and improve projects, especially in Lodo, but in some parts of the country the “deconstructed” style is legally mandated out of an extremist view of preservation or a misguided desire to assuage NIMBYism.

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by jhwk

but in some parts of the country the “deconstructed” style is legally mandated out of an extremist view of preservation or a misguided desire to assuage NIMBYism.

Genuinely curious about this, because I did not know this. Do you have examples of cities where this is (explicitly, or just in practice, effectively) mandated?

[jhwk]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Genuinely curious about this, because I did not know this. Do you have examples of cities where this is (explicitly, or just in practice, effectively) mandated?

Seattle is where I hear the biggest complaints along these lines: https://www.sightline.org/2017/09/06/how-seattles-design-review-sabotages-housing-affordability/

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Reflecting on the past year, what is your favorite development that delivered in 2021? Mine is McGregor Square and by a good margin

[mhays]

Originally Posted by jhwk

Seattle is where I hear the biggest complaints along these lines: https://www.sightline.org/2017/09/06/how-seattles-design-review-sabotages-housing-affordability/

This is a good analysis of Seattle's problem circa 2017. Some aspects are better now but the basic dysfunction remains. Projects still face significant delays and costs due to a process that doesn't necessarily have value to begin with.

The aesthetic topic is a subset of the problem. It's not that a "deconstructed" style is necessarily preferred, but the seven district boards often try to slant things to their preferences, which tend to be modern and "honest." In this example, a proposal “took design cues from the historic buildings in the neighborhood too literally, mimicking historic architecture rather than complementing it.” Starting on Page 16 (huge file) here's the offending old version shown next to a new proposal in response to this: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3033940AgendaID8811.pdf

Denver should NOT add a design review process unless it's done by staff following specific rules. Don't let volunteer boards throw random wrenches and bias into every project.

[mayco]

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

Reflecting on the past year, what is your favorite development that delivered in 2021? Mine is McGregor Square and by a good margin

Block 162 is my favorite, based on the infill added to the skyline and an overall great looking building. It would have been great to see it extend further up in the skyline, especially with it's unique roofline.

Looking forward, watching One River North come together over the next couple of years will be a treat. I still can't believe how quickly that moved forward.

[Arapahoe]

Originally Posted by SirLucasTheGreat

Reflecting on the past year, what is your favorite development that delivered in 2021? Mine is McGregor Square and by a good margin

I also would pick McGregor Square. A whole lot of positives - new retail, restaurants, outdoor public plaza, office and residential replacing a whole block of parking!! Also, like how they have events and it helps extends the Union Station activity towards the Ball Park.

Block 162 second place, its an actual skyscraper afterall.

The "Market Station + Thomspon Hotel + Fitzgerald" is a another impressive string of high-quality developments. Although not fully delivered yet, it is going to have a major impact in post-pandemic downtown.