DENVER | Main Development Thread #6 - Page 328

The Dirt · #**6541** Posted **Nov 25, 2015, 4:46 PM**

"Character" is so subjective. It can be applied to almost anything. One person could define the character of a neighborhood as "quiet", meaning all of the streets are narrow and there's little traffic. Another one may define it by an architectural style or building form. Finally, someone could just mean no minorities.

Denver is not dipped in amber and no city can function when development is subject to such ambiguous standards. If West Highland wants to get together and create an overlay district with some design guidelines like LoDo then go for it. However, if their motivation is "ALL CHANGE IS BAD ARRRRRRRRGH!!!" and reverends that live in carriage houses next to their church want to build a small medical services facility on their property are part of some evil greedy developer cabal, then these people need to reevaluate their lives.

TakeFive · #**6542** Posted **Nov 25, 2015, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

Is it though? I think the strong preservationist values for a neighborhood like park hill is why property values there are so high and why it is a desirable area to live. Not necessarily in lohi, but the rest of highlands probably would be better off in this mold. Preserving and improving the craftsman bungalows rather than going the monstrosity townhome route that jefferson park and sloans lake is going would probably be better for property values in the long term.

Of course blocking something like the medical facility is totally over the top, and I dont agree with the hostile historic designation in Jeff Park, but I dont think splattering stick construction townhomes all over highlands will be great for the neighborhood.

In 20 years I think Jeff Park and Sloans Lake will be tow neighborhoods where people think "WTF?" It will basically be how we see the current crappy ranch houses in sloans lake but on a much more imposing and offensive scale.

That's very nicely stated; I couldn't agree more - except for the last paragraph maybe. Time will tell I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

If Highland thinks it's Bonnie Brae (it's not)

Part of my affection for Highlands is that it's not Bonnie Brae. Highlands has a much more pedestrian history, even checkered as especially east of Federal it was home to Denver's original immigrant populations of Italian and Irish Catholic poor. But yes, areas can and do change and that can be both good and bad.

Denver Dweller · #**6543** Posted **Nov 25, 2015, 11:42 PM**

http://www.denverpost.com/dougco/ci_29161718/partners-primed-coming-lone-tree-light-rail-extension

rds70 · #**6544** Posted **Nov 26, 2015, 3:32 PM**

A couple of new building permit applications submitted to Denver this week:

2401 Blake - 8 story, 286 unit apartment building by Lennar Multifamily. (no rendering available, yet)

The Lydian (2560 welton St) - 8 story mixed-use building with retail, office and 130 apartments by Palisade Partners.

TakeFive · #**6545** Posted **Nov 27, 2015, 3:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds70

A couple of new building permit applications submitted to Denver this week:

2401 Blake - 8 story, 286 unit apartment building by Lennar Multifamily. (no rendering available, yet)

Lennar has been pursuing several projects in Phoenix for over a year it seems. I think they had funding issues and recall reading where they had a fresh round of capital raising. They've recently broken ground in Tempe and said their inhouse GC has received the notice to proceed in downtown Phoenix. Two other projects are still pending. I assume they have a central office for priority funding of new projects and hopefully Denver is in process.

LAM · #**6546** Posted **Nov 27, 2015, 4:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds70

A couple of new building permit applications submitted to Denver this week:

2401 Blake - 8 story, 286 unit apartment building by Lennar Multifamily. (no rendering available, yet)

The Lydian (2560 welton St) - 8 story mixed-use building with retail, office and 130 apartments by Palisade Partners.

Just out of curiosity, where do you find new building permit status in Denver. Is this via the web, or do you have some other source? I was looking to see what was being planned for a site in the Tech Center, but just came up empty. I know where to search if I have permit number, but not by address.

comoneymaker · #**6547** Posted **Nov 27, 2015, 8:27 AM**

Construction site at Cook and Ellsworth

CU Hospital demolition.

Denver Dweller · #**6548** Posted **Nov 27, 2015, 7:36 PM**

http://www.denverpost.com/denver/ci_2916...ks-historic-district-denver-neighborhood

BG918 · #**6549** Posted **Nov 29, 2015, 6:15 PM**

Block 162 renderings

www.block162.com
Sorry if this has already been posted.

comoneymaker · #**6550** Posted **Nov 29, 2015, 7:52 PM**

block 162 sucks

CastleScott · #**6551** Posted **Nov 29, 2015, 9:55 PM**

^ Agreed more non-interesting designs-just more boxy stuff that looks like it came out of 1985 (I was a student at Metro State in 1985 studying community planning/urban studies and business management)..Although maybe there will be some blue or green glass. Its too bad that Denver's new tallest isn't being built on that site.

CastleScott · #**6552** Posted **Nov 29, 2015, 10:03 PM**

Oh btw I counted 33 floors on the office portion-maybe a mechanical penthouse, also looks like the hotel portion could be the Hilton-which we haven't had a large Hilton since the 80's when it was in the old Adams Mark tower (looks like the hotel or residential part is 33 floors as well depending on the actual height of the podium)..

Why not put a pointy top on the office tower???

Scott

LAM · #**6553** Posted **Nov 29, 2015, 11:14 PM**

The base of the office tower in the first photo looks like a bunker at street level.

pablosan · #**6554** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 1:02 AM**

If Block 162 is developed, as advertised, then it will be a huge missed opportunity. This block is in the heart of downtown. For all the accolades that Denver receives, for all the development that is occurring, nobody has the moxy, or financial backing to develop a truly iconic tower. 1144 Fifteenth is the closet we get.

bunt_q · #**6555** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 2:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

Sucks to lose another alley...

Was waiting for this! We're all so predictable.

Scottk · #**6556** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 6:12 AM**

I for one think it looks great. The white / grey glass will be nice.

Yes, the building is boxy, but I kinda like the brutalist approach. Actually reminds me a bit of the original World Trade Center. And it looks like there *might* be some sort of feature on top of the residential building? The rendering makes it hard to tell.

If executed properly I think the glass (curtain?) walls will look very nice.

lumos · #**6557** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottk

I for one think it looks great. The white / grey glass will be nice.

Yes, the building is boxy, but I kinda like the brutalist approach. Actually reminds me a bit of the original World Trade Center. And it looks like there *might* be some sort of feature on top of the residential building? The rendering makes it hard to tell.

If executed properly I think the glass (curtain?) walls will look very nice.

I really like the design, it has good height, interesting array of different design elements but common motifs hanging them into a coherent whole. I am not sure that I like the rendering style that shows the building splaying towards the top (unless it does and that would be super cool). The continuation of the curtain walls above the roof level gives a sense of weightlessness as the sides soar to the heavens. I think it shows confidence and I was delighted to see the carpark ripped up after years of waiting to see this block used.

Scottk, I am pretty sure that all glass walls are curtain walls, I certainly cannot think of any glass walls that bear any of the building load (other than itself). I do not even think that glass block walls can be load bearing. Of course now that I have written that someone will come forward with exceptions so I will brace myself and wait to be educated.

denconyny · #**6558** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pablosan

If Block 162 is developed, as advertised, then it will be a huge missed opportunity. This block is in the heart of downtown. For all the accolades that Denver receives, for all the development that is occurring, nobody has the moxy, or financial backing to develop a truly iconic tower. 1144 Fifteenth is the closet we get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CastleScott

Oh btw I counted 33 floors on the office portion-maybe a mechanical penthouse, also looks like the hotel portion could be the Hilton-which we haven't had a large Hilton since the 80's when it was in the old Adams Mark tower (looks like the hotel or residential part is 33 floors as well depending on the actual height of the podium)..

Why not put a pointy top on the office tower???

Scott

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

Looks great - love the grey hues to the glass and the wrap around the mall buildings. Interesting mix of brutalist done well, vertical fins, and breaking up the massing. Sucks to lose another alley...

Don't hold your breath for a new tallest on Denver...commercial rents aren't commanding enough, too much land, and apartments are going to start to slow. Condos won't do it because only super luxury approaches 1000 feet and it's a constricted market...4 Seasons was probably the chance.

Hope this one gets built...2/3 of a parking block gone.

Too bad they could just put the residential towers atop the office towers and get one tower some 65+ stories, eh.... and save an alley at the same time?

PLANSIT · #**6559** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 6:29 PM**

Look what showed up today:

Quote:

Site Address and Description

1521 Welton St - 2015PM0000671 - Block 162

wong21fr · #**6560** Posted **Nov 30, 2015, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CastleScott

^ Agreed more non-interesting designs-just more boxy stuff that looks like it came out of 1985 (I was a student at Metro State in 1985 studying community planning/urban studies and business management)..Although maybe there will be some blue or green glass. Its too bad that Denver's new tallest isn't being built on that site.

It's 2015 and the glass box is back in- not that it ever really went away. The way the curtain wall on the office tower portion climbs above the roof-line is pretty standard these days with the all-glass towers being built around the globe.

Asides from a pencil-esque observation tower, could a new tallest have even been built at Block 162? Since it's part of the Sunlight Preservation Area there are restrictions on what could get built there and the only comparable proposal was the 'ol Trango Tower that never even had a whiff of design review to see if it would pass muster.