DENVER | Main Development Thread #7

[i4isoar]

So, little random and out of the blue, but here's something interesting I've recently discovered: the Hyatt Regency at the Convention Center may be shorter than it's "official" height.

This very website, and many other sources too, list the official height of the Hyatt Regency as 489' or 149 m, including the spire at the top of it. However, if you visit Downtown, or look at the Denver skyline from afar (including in some of the photographs posted on this very forum and over on Denver Infill as well), you can see very clearly that the Hyatt is actually roughly the same height as Block 162, located just across the street from it, or even possibly a little shorter. The Hyatt also looks a little shorter than the 473' Spire, located just over a block away from it, though that could be an optical illusion. While I know the streets downtown have a slight incline, if I recall correctly, the change in elevation across those blocks is only a few feet at most.

According to the blueprints filed with the City's website, Block 162 has an official height of 452', or 138 m, up to the top of the parapet. However, I couldn't find the blueprints for the Hyatt on the same website, so unless the city has some sort of archive where these blueprints are stored and publicly available, there's no way of confirming the Hyatt's exact height.

I double-checked the height on Google Earth, which shows that the highest point on the Hyatt (i.e. the tip of the spire) is at an elevation of 1725 m above sea level, while the street level on all four streets surrounding the Hyatt sits at an elevation of 1591 m above sea level. This gives a height of 134 m, or approx. 440', nearly 50' shorter than its official height listed in most sources. Granted, Google Earth is not the most reliable source of measuring a building's height, but that's the best source I could find, short of actually going to the top of the Hyatt and measuring it in-person.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? It makes me wonder how many other "official" building heights are inaccurate, here and in many other cities.

[Sam Hill]

Originally Posted by jimijam35

does anyone know where Channel 7 moving too?

Channel 7 uses their rooftop as a filming location for some of their reporting - with downtown as a backdrop. The out of focus view of Lincoln Street’s Golden Triangle streetwall, leading toward the taller towers of the CBD in the background, is actually pretty badass. I’ll miss it.

[Curtis Park]

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

Channel 7 uses their rooftop as a filming location for some of their reporting - with downtown as a backdrop. The out of focus view of Lincoln Street’s Golden Triangle streetwall, leading toward the taller towers of the CBD in the background, is actually pretty badass. I’ll miss it.

I think the new backdrop with downtown even closer will be cool too. The satellite farm will probably go on the roof. As for the location, this one seems like a great spot! Plenty of parking, plus super easy access to downtown, the civic center, I-25 and I-70.

[MovinOnUp]

Never thought I'd be thinking about news station views, but this is a pretty great angle of the skyline with Coors in the foreground.

As Arapahoe square gets built out with new towers, this angle of the city will continue to look more modern and glassy in the coming years.

[UrbanRoy]

26th and Alcott

[Matt]

Originally Posted by i4isoar

So, little random and out of the blue, but here's something interesting I've recently discovered: the Hyatt Regency at the Convention Center may be shorter than it's "official" height.

This very website, and many other sources too, list the official height of the Hyatt Regency as 489' or 149 m, including the spire at the top of it. However, if you visit Downtown, or look at the Denver skyline from afar (including in some of the photographs posted on this very forum and over on Denver Infill as well), you can see very clearly that the Hyatt is actually roughly the same height as Block 162, located just across the street from it, or even possibly a little shorter. The Hyatt also looks a little shorter than the 473' Spire, located just over a block away from it, though that could be an optical illusion. While I know the streets downtown have a slight incline, if I recall correctly, the change in elevation across those blocks is only a few feet at most.

According to the blueprints filed with the City's website, Block 162 has an official height of 452', or 138 m, up to the top of the parapet. However, I couldn't find the blueprints for the Hyatt on the same website, so unless the city has some sort of archive where these blueprints are stored and publicly available, there's no way of confirming the Hyatt's exact height.

I double-checked the height on Google Earth, which shows that the highest point on the Hyatt (i.e. the tip of the spire) is at an elevation of 1725 m above sea level, while the street level on all four streets surrounding the Hyatt sits at an elevation of 1591 m above sea level. This gives a height of 134 m, or approx. 440', nearly 50' shorter than its official height listed in most sources. Granted, Google Earth is not the most reliable source of measuring a building's height, but that's the best source I could find, short of actually going to the top of the Hyatt and measuring it in-person.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? It makes me wonder how many other "official" building heights are inaccurate, here and in many other cities.

Exact height of the Hyatt is 438' 6" to the top of its lightning rod, per the elevation drawings I obtained many many years ago.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by Matt

Exact height of the Hyatt is 438' 6" to the top of its lightning rod, per the elevation drawings I obtained many many years ago.

A recorded site development plan would typically have this information. Conveniently, it looks like the City didn't do one for their own development (or they haven't recorded it or plugged it into their GIS mapping system in the last 15 years.

[mojiferous]

Somewhat off-topic, but I just saw this on twitter

The Housing Politics Political Compass:


Personally, the bottom left 4 squares are my zone

[TakeFive]

Have I ever mentioned that Politics is silly, stupid and irrational

Originally Posted by mojiferous

The Housing Politics Political Compass:

I have mentioned I often like to ask "What is missing?"

There's no mention of the impact from rising or falling interest rates; there's no mention of the cost of construction nor inflation from supply chain problems. There's no mention of available capital (flows).

One very key component that is alluded to a couple of times is that the majority of people much prefer to preserve the status quo. Generally people find a comfort zone and distrust disruption. Whether right or wrong it's the most basic of emotions of the human condition.

As for politics I feel privileged to be able now claim a U.S. Senator of my own now that Senator Kyrsten Sinema is a registered Independent.

[TakeFive]

Thanks for the Update

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

Very active in development review. Site Development Plan submitted in October and in November the Transportation Plan was submitted for review.

The only thing I could remember is that I couldn't remember reading any updates.

It's not as if PMG and Greybrook aren't capable.

Society Las Olas (Fort Lauderdale)
300 Southwest 1st Avenue - Completion value: $655,000,000 USD




It turns out this partnership just broke ground Oct 27, 2022 on a new Trophy project:

Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami

Greybrook invested equity capital alongside PMG and is overseeing their development of 300 Biscayne.

Located in the heart of downtown Miami, rising 100 stories and 1,049 feet above Biscayne Bay, the highly anticipated Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami will stand as one of the tallest hotel and residential towers along the East Coast

Expected to be completed by 2027 with an estimated completion value of $970,000,000 USD

Once Greybrook and PMG finish 'Society Denver' what Trophy project will the build in Denver?

[i4isoar]

Originally Posted by Matt

Exact height of the Hyatt is 438' 6" to the top of its lightning rod, per the elevation drawings I obtained many many years ago.

Interesting, and thanks for the info. I'm glad my hunch turned out to be correct, though I wonder where the 489' "official" figure cited by SSP and CTBUH came from.

Originally Posted by laniroj

A recorded site development plan would typically have this information. Conveniently, it looks like the City didn't do one for their own development (or they haven't recorded it or plugged it into their GIS mapping system in the last 15 years.

Good point. There's a lot of properties and site-developments missing from that map. Though I wonder if there is an archive somewhere where the City keeps all of its architectural plans from over the years, and where we could do a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request to see any site-development plans missing from the online map.

[Robert.hampton]

Anyone have renderings for the projects at 601 e 17th and 1717 Washington? Looks like they’ve both been making steady progress through permitting and design review

[UrbanT]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Anyone have renderings for the projects at 601 e 17th and 1717 Washington? Looks like they’ve both been making steady progress through permitting and design review

I was right there yesterday. They have the lot fenced for 1717 Washington and the site is being cleared as well.

[Denver]

Here are some renderings of the new tower U/C at Belleview Station (4885 S Quebec Street)

The Beck Group has begun construction on its design-build project, the upscale high-rise tower in Denver’s tech center. The project uniquely blends hospitality services with residential urban living.

The firm broke ground on the North Tower in mid-September; it is the first of two planned high-rises on a three ½-acre site in the eastern corner of Belleview Station. Beck designed both towers.

The 609,000 SF, 20-story North Tower and its three levels of below-grade parking will be the first of its kind in Denver’s Tech Center, both from design and amenities standpoints.

Slated for completion in Spring 2025, the hi-rise will offer a soft-branded 175-room Residence Inn hotel and 189 luxury for-rent apartments. It offers expansive views of the city’s prominent skyline of mid- and high-rise buildings and the surrounding mountainous landscape.

The developer, Stonebridge Companies, and Beck envision the tower elegantly combining high-end hospitality services and luxury apartments into one building.

Designed with a nearly all-glass façade, the tower sits near a stretch of northbound I-25, providing high visibility of the building to passing traffic.

Building Offers Residents More Space, Flexibility and Lavish Amenities

The building’s apartments will provide more space, flexibility and top-notch amenities than neighboring residential towers. The apartments will have an average size of 1,300 SF, providing tenants with larger-than-normal living and storage spaces. Also, the building’s nine penthouses will have expanded layouts.

Most units will have balconies that enable tenants to enjoy Denver’s mountain views and access natural ventilation.

As for amenities, the building’s top level will feature an interior lounge for social gatherings. There is also an enhanced fitness center, concierge services, and an outdoor pool and spa. The building will also feature an ornamental staircase leading to a rooftop viewing deck.

The lobby will include a business center and a fitness facility for hotel guests. The other lower levels will also include hospitality-type amenities like a “grab-and-go” market and a bar. Next to the mailroom will be lockers for packages and a temperature-controlled storage area for hot and cold food deliveries.

[rds70]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Anyone have renderings for the projects at 601 e 17th and 1717 Washington? Looks like they’ve both been making steady progress through permitting and design review

1717 Washington:

[rds70]

Here is a final rendering of the Parq II project at 10th and Cherokee:

[SirLucasTheGreat]

Is Parq II close to starting? This building will have pretty good street presence from Speer.

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by rds70

1717 Washington:

Thx - looks like the same investor for the project across the alley at 601 e 17th, but different owner. Both are condo projects which is nice, and those two lots have always been pretty atrocious, will be nice to have a couple small projects weave the fabric of 17th back together.

[mishko27]

Originally Posted by Denver

Here are some renderings of the new tower U/C at Belleview Station (4885 S Quebec Street)

I honestly vastly prefer this to the initial Stonebridge project, which would have included a hotel and a LOT of office space, 11 floors to be exact. Considering the WFH shift, I think a stable population base of the apartments will serve the area better than offices (potentially) sitting empty.

[laniroj]

Originally Posted by i4isoar

Interesting, and thanks for the info. I'm glad my hunch turned out to be correct, though I wonder where the 489' "official" figure cited by SSP and CTBUH came from.


Good point. There's a lot of properties and site-developments missing from that map. Though I wonder if there is an archive somewhere where the City keeps all of its architectural plans from over the years, and where we could do a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request to see any site-development plans missing from the online map.

There is a place. Go to the clerk and recorder's office, they should be able to grab the recorded mylars for the site development plan or they'll already have them available electronically for you to look at.