DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 288

DenverInfill · #**5741** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 3:17 PM**

The 1709 Chestnut project's current recommendation for denial is due to some technical issues about how the building's design relates to the corner and a few other things. These things always get worked out, so I have no worries that the project is in jeopardy. No developer or architect would allow a minor design issue to scuttle a huge project like this. They'll tweak the design and come back and get their approval.

bunt_q · #**5742** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 3:19 PM**

Because why spend $10 on a project when you can spend $6 and rent it for the exact same price. We really are the Mecca of the West. 1400 years later, nobody has noticed that Mecca sits in the middle of a God forsaken desert wasteland. It will probably take at least that long for people to realize that Denver isn't all that special either. Or at least until some other sunny cities figure out how to brew halfway decent beer and legalize pot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

The 1709 Chestnut project's current recommendation for denial is due to some technical issues about how the building's design relates to the corner and a few other things. These things always get worked out, so I have no worries that the project is in jeopardy. No developer or architect would allow a minor design issue to scuttle a huge project like this. They'll tweak the design and come back and get their approval.

Only took the city the better part of a week to fix the Planning Board website. Hope the Mayor found room for some IT support in his budget.

seventwenty · #**5743** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 4:02 PM**

Hey Ken.

comoneymaker · #**5744** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 4:04 PM**

Can I get a list of all the council people who are denying these projects so I can B slap them till they get it right?

mojiferous · #**5745** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 4:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

Can I get a list of all the council people who are denying these projects so I can B slap them till they get it right?

It was actually the planning board, and I'm pretty sure planning board denial happens pretty often -- how many design revisions have we gone through for all the projects under construction right now? In fact, the biggest danger to the project is actually what Ryan pointed out -- that it gets cost-valued into something smaller and cheaper like the 8th & Broadway project did.

And someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the city council has any power in final approval of projects unless zoning issues are at stake or city funding is involved.

PLANSIT · #**5746** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Only took the city the better part of a week to fix the Planning Board website. Hope the Mayor found room for some IT support in his budget.

The entire CCD website went through a revamp (tens of thousands of pages, links, etc.). Rollout was last week.

EngiNerd · #**5747** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 5:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojiferous

It was actually the planning board, and I'm pretty sure planning board denial happens pretty often -- how many design revisions have we gone through for all the projects under construction right now? In fact, the biggest danger to the project is actually what Ryan pointed out -- that it gets cost-valued into something smaller and cheaper like the 8th & Broadway project did.

And someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the city council has any power in final approval of projects unless zoning issues are at stake or city funding is involved.

In the City of Denver, yes that is correct. There are instances where it has to go before a design review board if it's in one of the districts that require it (e.g. Lodo Historic District). There are other cities (Ft. Collins) that do require a council and public review on every project, its a huge pain in the rear.

mr1138 · #**5748** Posted **Sep 16, 2015, 7:16 PM**

I'll echo everyone else in saying that 1709 Chestnut looks pretty great! My only criticism would be that I wish it would have treated the rear property line with the light-rail plaza with a bit more care. It should ideally have a zero-lot-line wall with retail all the way up to where the bus ramp truncates the plaza. Instead, it appears that plaza pedestrians will have a nice view into the auto-service courtyard, with only a minimal amount of plaza-front retail at the corner. And I'm guessing that this is likely not the issue that staff has, or else they would have raised it earlier in the review process and the updated designs would have addressed it.

It may be a tiny nit-pick, but it seems strange in this location to treat that property line as an after thought, considering the thousands of passengers a day that will board and alight the light rail right there, and the huge opportunity for retail that pedestrian plazas such as this present. An active edge here seems more important than an active edge along the N-S portion of the plaza, or even along Chestnut for that matter. Just my .02

DownhomeDenver · #**5749** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 1:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

RDS has given us a couple more renderings and a floor plan of 1709 Chesnut in addition to the ones he posted last week. This one is going to round out the DUS area very nicely IMO, and it's going to make ALTA city house look pretty silly for only building 5 levels.

http://www.denver-cityscape.com

This is what Alta Cityhouse should've looked liked. Not the "really nice" squat POS we got.

CherryCreek · #**5750** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 2:03 PM**

The dumpy, blighted carpet store on Colorado Blvd. is peeved that it's been designated as blighted, and is demanding that Glendale "unblight" it. Glendale says no, your dump store is indeed blighted by any reasonable definition.

The carpet store vs. City Hall saga has been fun to watch, and I'm not sure if i admire the cojones of fighting city hall and rejectng an $11 million offer for their blighted dump, or think they are complete idiots.

Anyways, they won the condemnation fight, so carry on and sell some rugs!! Meanwhile, I hope that Arapahoe county fully assesses the property at the $11 million offer rejected by the ruggers. If you want to run a carpet store on an $11 million lot, you are free to do so but it's still an $11 million dollar lot and you should pay taxes on that value.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/r...ys-it-cant-remove-rug-stores-blight.html

DenverPoke · #**5751** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 2:33 PM**

Crane #1 is up at Country Club Towers and it looks like the second is going up right now.

enjo13 · #**5752** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DownhomeDenver

This is what Alta Cityhouse should've looked liked. Not the "really nice" squat POS we got.

It has retail so it's 100% better just off the top.

bcp · #**5753** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 5:47 PM**

Bunt (or others) - is it possible to tax the parking lot portion of a developed lot at a different rate than the built portion? If possible from a mechanism perspective, is it legal?

DenverPoke · #**5754** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 9:59 PM**

Isn't the tag in corner and the blurb below about 3Q 2017 new?

http://www.sheaproperties.com/office/detail/23/999-17th-street

RyanD · #**5755** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 10:14 PM**

^ That means it'll break ground reeeeeeeeeaaaalllllllllll soon. Just a speculation. I have... no verifiable sources to back that.. Yeah!

TakeFive · #**5756** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 10:26 PM**

^ Which made me suspicious that the estimate was dated.

Caitlin Hendee DBJ, has the growth numbers on Colorado last year.

On a percentage basis there were four counties and two cities that grew faster than Denver in Colorado.

rds70 · #**5757** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanD

^ That means it'll break ground reeeeeeeeeaaaalllllllllll soon. Just a speculation. I have... no verifiable sources to back that.. Yeah!

The residential portion is in the building permit review process, so that will start near the beginning of the year.

DenvertoLA · #**5758** Posted **Sep 18, 2015, 7:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverPoke

Isn't the tag in corner and the blurb below about 3Q 2017 new?

http://www.sheaproperties.com/office/detail/23/999-17th-street

Hell Yeah! This is the one I've been waiting for!!!

PLANSIT · #**5759** Posted **Sep 18, 2015, 3:53 PM**

RDS with the scoop:

Quote:

9/18/15 - Lynd Development Partners of San Antonio is planning the development of a 205 unit apartment project at 17th Avenue and Park Avenue West. The 8 story building will also include approximately 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail and structured parking. The project architect is Valerio Dewalt Train Associates of Chicago. Construction is proposed to begin in mid to late 2016. Here are a few renderings:

Location

wong21fr · #**5760** Posted **Sep 18, 2015, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeFive

^ Which made me suspicious that the estimate was dated.

Methinks that Ryan is being sarcastic. He's got verifiable sources like seventwenty has crabs- Deadliest Catch amounts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanD

^ That means it'll break ground reeeeeeeeeaaaalllllllllll soon. Just a speculation. I have... no verifiable sources to back that.. Yeah!