DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[jhwk]

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

The Fitzgerald is mine. I want a whole city of similar quality developments.

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by mhays

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.

That is interesting. I am no expert, but it sure seems design review made that building less attractive and less welcoming at the street level. They turned it from something art-deco-ey and somewhat urban-feeling into something that looks copy-pasted from a shitty ski town.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Market Station would be up there for me if they had more retail tenants. Just tricky timing with the pandemic. Hopefully things are better next year and they can draw some quality tenants.

[laniroj]

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

Architecturally, the Thompson. Use/Activation wise, McGregor.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by jhwk

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....

I'm with ya. My favorite style is art deco as well. I'm determined to build an art deco building in Denver before I die. That said, I loathe everything mid-century and attribute every bad architect's inspiration to it in our modern day.

I have tried very hard to understand how some could find beauty in the Boston city building and FBI building in DC - icons of the brutalist movement (which I often group with mid-century modern). I cannot make the connection to how a brain could find that to be aesthetically pleasing but to each their own.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3605077,...ziz8wWhpfTy-IEKEWBj6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.896157,-...-qgeICeWQz0zyGnUepxrw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Curtis Park]

Originally Posted by laniroj

I'm with ya. My favorite style is art deco as well. I'm determined to build an art deco building in Denver before I die. That said, I loathe everything mid-century and attribute every bad architect's inspiration to it in our modern day.

I have tried very hard to understand how some could find beauty in the Boston city building and FBI building in DC - icons of the brutalist movement (which I often group with mid-century modern). I cannot make the connection to how an a brain could find that to be aesthetically pleasing but to each their own.

]

Ha! I absolutely love mid-centry and brutalism, but I see how many don't. I live in a victorian home that was remodeled before I moved it. And I'm fine not having the flourishes that normally come with homes from this era. To me, the outside of Victorian homes is beautiful, but that's where the appreciation ends.
Give me mid-mod any day, but I wouldn't kick art deco out of the house.
https://www.habitat67.com/en/about/

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by Curtis Park

Ha! I absolutely love mid-centry and brutalism, but I see how many don't. I live in a victorian home that was remodeled before I moved it. And I'm fine not having the flourishes that normally come with homes from this era. To me, the outside of Victorian homes is beautiful, but that's where the appreciation ends.
Give me mid-mod any day, but I wouldn't kick art deco out of the house.
https://www.habitat67.com/en/about/

I'm having anxious nightmares over this property! Nice that everyone gets a piece of paradise though!

[i4isoar]

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 vote Block 162 - as mentioned above, it fills in a niche in the skyline and (hopefully) sets a precedent for nicer-looking skyscrapers (together with 1144 15th). I only wish it was a few floors higher, but I'll take it. McGregor Square comes in at a close second though, and only loses out because it's not a skyscraper.

Originally Posted by laniroj

I'm with ya. My favorite style is art deco as well. I'm determined to build an art deco building in Denver before I die. That said, I loathe everything mid-century and attribute every bad architect's inspiration to it in our modern day.

Seconded. I love art deco and my favorite non-skyscraper in Denver is the Telephone Building (though I think The Link is a fantastic modern addition to the site); it definitely has a very "old school Superman" feel to it. If you ever start a fundraiser for an art deco project, I'd be happy to donate a few dollars.

[jhwk]

Smiley’s and the apartment building next to it at Colfax & Downing are fenced and demo appears to be underway. There have been several proposals for this site - not sure if one of them is underway of if they are just removing the building.

Demo is also underway at the Ramada across the street - it would be a major transformation to get new buildings on both corners.

[Arapahoe]

Originally Posted by jhwk

Smiley’s and the apartment building next to it at Colfax & Downing are fenced and demo appears to be underway. There have been several proposals for this site - not sure if one of them is underway of if they are just removing the building.

Demo is also underway at the Ramada across the street - it would be a major transformation to get new buildings on both corners.

two pretty ugly apartment blocks side by side with weird articulations. Guess its better than what was there before.

Here's ugly #1.



Here's ugly #2 (replacing the Ramada):

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by Arapahoe

two pretty ugly apartment blocks side by side with weird articulations. Guess its better than what was there before.

Here's ugly #1.



Here's ugly #2 (replacing the Ramada):

I feel like the Kairoi will be interesting -- and they seem to put out a good product.



Route40 could also be interesting, or a complete disaster depending on the materials. [IMG]https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11614603/screen-shot-2020-02-25-at-51531-pm*750xx1287-724-2-0.png[/IMG] Not sure what the portfolio of the developer looks like, I'll lean towards thinking it won't be too great.

Either way it will be transformational for Colfax. First market rate apartments in decades on Colfax between Broadway and York. The idea of someone gazing from their pool onto that papa johns parking lot is crazy. And progress.

Add to that the new building/restoration at the old Bourban chicken on Franklin and the Toms Diner makeover (which is finally getting underway as well) will probably put a few ugg-wearing yuppies on the Fax (and upset more than a few I am sure!).

[Arapahoe]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

I feel like the Kairoi will be interesting -- and they seem to put out a good product.

Route40 could also be interesting, or a complete disaster depending on the materials. [IMG]https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11614603/screen-shot-2020-02-25-at-51531-pm*750xx1287-724-2-0.png[/IMG] Not sure what the portfolio of the developer looks like, I'll lean towards thinking it won't be too great.

Either way it will be transformational for Colfax. First market rate apartments in decades on Colfax between Broadway and York. The idea of someone gazing from their pool onto that papa johns parking lot is crazy. And progress.

Add to that the new building/restoration at the old Bourban chicken on Franklin and the Toms Diner makeover (which is finally getting underway as well) will probably put a few ugg-wearing yuppies on the Fax (and upset more than a few I am sure!).

maybe an up-to-date full color render will make the Kairoi design look better, but I was never a fan of balconies completely surrounded by cement & metal railings, too much sunshine blocking.

Here is another Route 40 render:

[Arapahoe]

a couple things happening in Arapahoe Square today:

They've started demolishing the main Greyhound station structure after pausing for the holidays. At this rate, it looks like it will be gone this month.

The tower crane for XD2 has started the self-build process to increase its height for the next ~125ft of vertical construction. They have 12 stories completed and 10 to go.

[SirLucasTheGreat]

That's exciting! I'm very interested to see how X2 takes shape. It is already pretty prominent in the area but it still has a lot more to grow.

[gopokes21]

There is also a huge project (as in they will max out the zoning) on the surface lot behind Anytime Fitness on Colfax. Also there's the All Inn.

Those 5 right around the Colfax/Franklin/Park corner will drastically improve our most important corridor. It's been getting rough as predevelopment activities drag on and on...

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by gopokes21

There is also a huge project (as in they will max out the zoning) on the surface lot behind Anytime Fitness on Colfax. Also there's the All Inn.

Those 5 right around the Colfax/Franklin/Park corner will drastically improve our most important corridor. It's been getting rough as predevelopment activities drag on and on...

Nice I didn’t know about the anytime fitness parking lot. Between the pre-development blight and the music venues largely being shuttered Colfax has gotten a bit of a dystopian vibe at times. Although that’s also the vibe that has always given Colfax it’s charm. But looks like there might be a future not far away where new storefronts are filled by something other than a vape shop or dildo emporium.

[Arapahoe]

Construction permit has been opened for Evans West according to https://businessden.com/2022/01/06/building-permits-1-6-22/

[twalm]

I know that it is not major infill, but does anyone know what the strange structure being build by the I-25 and Evans exit is? Looks like it could be a big fancy billboard.

[Interzen]

Your probably referring to this:



Tall, glass parking garage marketed as car ‘vending machine’ approved for southeast Denver

source: denverite.com

[Ich]

Originally Posted by Arapahoe

Construction permit has been opened for Evans West according to https://businessden.com/2022/01/06/building-permits-1-6-22/

Couldn’t fully see behind the pay wall but looks like one was also filed for Amacon. 525 18th Street?

Does anyone have a rendering of the other projects mentioned on Colfax?

Also looks like something is about to break ground next to Movement gym on 6th and Kalamath