DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

So from the Skyhouse web cam it looks like they are starting excavation on the parking structure.

Is there any validity behind the rumor that they are building the structure with the ability to base a future tower?

That's an interesting rumor. But nothing on the webcam suggests such a thing is occurring. Once they start sinking caissons and putting in form work we might know more.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

So from the Skyhouse web cam it looks like they are starting excavation on the parking structure.

Is there any validity behind the rumor that they are building the structure with the ability to base a future tower?

Unless there is someone here on the inside, we won't really know until the parking structure is nearly done, and even then we may never know for sure. If they leave all of the columns, walls, etc. at the interior sticking above the top level, its sometimes (but not always) a good indication that they have designed the garage for additional levels as they intend to tie into the structure below.

For instance, the newest garage at the Anschutz Children's Hospital has been designed to be 11 stories at full build-out (the one at the SE corner of 17th Pl and Victor) from the current 4, but the one directly to the south of that on has not been designed for any future levels, though they looks similar structurally. The garage behind (and below) the Four Seasons has been designed for a tower in the future and you can tell because they left the columns sticking above grade, when they didn't have to. It will be nearly impossible to tell just by looking at the foundations if it has been designed for future levels.

[Cirrus]

Pittsburgh? Omaha? Mesa????


from etsy user teenytinytantrums

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

So from the Skyhouse web cam it looks like they are starting excavation on the parking structure.

Is there any validity behind the rumor that they are building the structure with the ability to base a future tower?

Interesting thought but I highly doubt it. If you look at the other SkyHouse projects, they're all precast like the garages at The Douglas / City House / AMLI Riverfront, etc. You wouldn't want to build a tower on that:

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by RyanD

Interesting thought but I highly doubt it. If you look at the other SkyHouse projects, they're all precast like the garages at The Douglas / City House / AMLI Riverfront, etc. You wouldn't want to build a tower on that:

Unless you're in China where anything goes:

Source

If we do see a precast structure rising, that would certainly refute any rumor of a structure built to support a future tower.

[RyanD]

^ Lol.

So Charlotte SkyHouse is pretty much the only one without precast construction. (Top left).

[PLANSIT]

Some new renderings of 9th + Colorado:

Source: SAR

[RyanD]

That looks really nice, actually. I hope they can pull something like that off. Also, they're imploding the high-rise next Saturday (8/29). I'm totally going to drone that shiz!

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Unless you're in China where anything goes:

Source

If we do see a precast structure rising, that would certainly refute any rumor of a structure built to support a future tower.

Not necessarily, it can be done still (I have worked on a project with it). What would tell me right away that they are not planning for expansion is if the column grid is the typical long span type grid, where the beams/precast members span ~60' wide, because its very difficult to get a residential or commercial building above to use that type of column grid layout. If it's a short span type construction (~30'x30' grid) then that could very well be an indication it could be designed with expansion in mind.

[EngiNerd]

I guess we all had it wrong, we are affordable after all!

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2...best-place-to-live-in-the-west-says.html

Denver's the best place to live in the West, says Money magazine

Money cited Denver's relatively affordable real estate, when compared with Boston or San Francisco, as well as its access to recreation.

[bunt_q]

Originally Posted by RyanD

That looks really nice, actually. I hope they can pull something like that off. Also, they're imploding the high-rise next Saturday (8/29). I'm totally going to drone that shiz!

Very European looking, I like it. Of course, it it were in Europe, there'd be decent transit access to support that density, but nevermind that.

Also, you might need somebody big and tough to watch your back during that drone episode. M alone ain't gonna cut it.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Very European looking, I like it. Of course, it it were in Europe, there'd be decent transit access to support that density, but nevermind that.

Also, you might need somebody big and tough to watch your back during that drone episode. M alone ain't gonna cut it.

Whaaaa? Density of this caliber doesn't need good, solid, more-than-bike-lanes transit.




Also... Yes. You should join. M's Latina fire could set off the explosives themselves. Gotta have the drone ready for that moment.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Pittsburgh? Omaha? Mesa????

This rating clearly had a bias to smaller Big Cities.

Pittsburgh - I have heard very nice things about Pittsburgh. mojiferous recommended it as well. If you're a baseball fan PNC Park along with Coors Field is as good as it gets. I know of a former Rockies fan living in Pittsburgh that would take the light rail to work and to baseball games.

Omaha - If it's good enough for the 2nd richest, Warren Buffett... and you just might be able to rub elbows with him at one of his local Dairy Queen's. A lot to be said for mid-western values. Or you could just pick up a few of his stock shares. They're bargain priced now for $212,000 per share (BRK.A).

Mesa - They are extending light rail to downtown. During Spring Training Wrigelyville West is a fun place to go. Admittedly a head-scratcher though.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Some new renderings of 9th + Colorado:

Going way back, I have a few good memories of eating in the area either on a date before a movie or late night after tipping a few in Glendale. I always liked the Mayfair neighborhood area; Congress Park of course. Be really great to see this project move forward.

[TakeFive]

"Mayor sees Denver at a moment of transformational change..."
Aug 18, 2015 by Monica Mendoza Denver Business Journal

The thing that keeps Denver Mayor Michael Hancock up at night is the fear that the region will miss its chance to invest in big public projects.

“Nothing scares me more than this great city missing its calling for the time,” Hancock told a group of 500 people at the State of the City luncheon hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Tuesday at the Seawell Grand Ballroom in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Good read.

I'm fascinated by the proposed redevelopment of the National Western Center site, as much for all the infrastructure changes as the center itself. This along with the Trammell Crow redevelopment of the old Asarco smelter site now called Crossroads Commerce Park will add invaluable diversity near downtown. Denver becomes just that much more interesting and productive with these additions.

[corey]

I like the 9th and Colorado design. It is not your typical, conservative, run of the mill design that everyone is tired of and are written off as "filler" buildings. Maybe other developers are starting to take note of Zeppelin's projects. I am soooo glad, and surprised, they kept the 1960's "bridge" building from the UCHSC! I love that building, but I am kind of obsessed with MCM design. So CU bought the naming rights for the A Line train? What is it going to be called? Sounds like a waste of money since everyone will just call it the A Line or the "airport train." I like the name Flatirons Flyer for the Boulder Turnpike bus, though. We need a good name for the train system now. Too bad Salt Lake City already uses the "Front Runner" (for the Wasatch Front) and Dallas's is called D.A.R.T. (Dallas Area Rapid Transit). Those are good names that would've worked for Denver. Front Runner as in the Front Range.

[seventwenty]

Meh. I don't mind calling every train in Denver lightrail, which is probably what the general public will do. Maybe we'll call it "the train".

[Cirrus]

Scale looks nice. Quality materials. I like the mural on the parking garage. The courtyard right next to the giant park is a little weird.

The architecture... well, it's OK as long as we don't get too much of that. As long as it's a novelty, it's great.

[seventwenty]

nvm already covered.

[Brainpathology]

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Some new renderings of 9th + Colorado:

The neighborhood basically chased CU out of that area because of parking and crowding concerns. They weren't AS overt as "No Highrises in Highland" as no one would take "No Doctors in Mayfair/Park Hill" seriously. However, this looks a lot more dense than the neighborhood is going to like. They were able to piggyback hatred of Walmart and other retailers to derail earlier iterations, if I remember accurately. But I wonder how they will voice their objections to this latest plan - or if they will just become exhausted and accept something eventually. 9th and CO isn't QUITE as bad at Tabor II for me.. but it's close. I'll believe something happens when it happens, and I'd also bet the rendering isn't going to be any more similar to reality than my imaginings of the attractiveness of past blind dates ever turned out to be.

But regardless of that the buildings.....