DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[RyanD]

I could be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but I think Bunt is referring to a little bit outside of Downtown; to surrounding areas such as Cherry Creek, Leetsdale / Colorado corridor, etc. AKA the transit dead zone where you're stuck in traffic no matter what, bus or car, because there are no dedicated transitways. Sure, Downtown / Central Denver is getting away with bike / ped because of the close proximity to everything. That's fine(ish) and dandy(ish).

That being said, the fact it takes me 40+ minutes via car, no matter the route or 1 hr+ via bus to get downtown (a distance of less than 6 miles), is absolutely ridiculous.

Here... I made this. It's an absolutely horrible map / design but it gives you an idea of how I see the transit here in Denver.. The red zone stops because I don't care about Aurora today.

Green - Your cozy bike / ped semi acceptable alternatives to get around Central Denver / Downtown. Still would like to see some solid transit.

Yellow - People with rail access, bet your ass 80%+ are driving to the stations and taking the train down.

Red - The transit dead zone I'm talking about. Either you're stuck on the bus in traffic, or stuck in traffic in the car. These areas suck. Horribly. That's not a little chunk of land. It's a very large part east Denver that's incredibly car dependent.

[bunt_q]

It's also the other half of the city west of I-25, and everything south and east off your map. Basically, everything outside of rich-white-ville, which also happens to be the area the DDP cares about.

But sure, let's blame 1.90 spaces per unit (http://denverinfill.com/blog/2015/12/new-union-station-project-ascent-union-station.html), and 2.857 spaces within a block of Union Station, on underwriters. Developers aren't providing parking because people want it, or because their tenants own cars. It's just because their banks make them. Or because they're stupid. I am sure those massively oversized parking garages are just sitting empty, because the bean counters got it wrong. I am sure all of those folks up in RiNo, where we're building thousands upon thousands of apartments, are hiking their way down Brighton Blvd in the morning. Pedestrian and bike traffic jams - that's how we roll in Denver. New apartment building across from City Park - nah, don't need parking. Cars are so 20th century. And the Cherry Creek Mall - might as well take down those garages and expand, nobody needs them. Let's pedestrianize 1st Avenue, too. I've never seen any cars using it, seems like wasted space to me.

Yes, that's all sarcasm. It's the only way I know how to respond to willful Trump-level ignorance.

[RyanD]

I found this on the Denver subreddit today:

Think traffic is bad around the Denver area? Just wait a decade or two.

It's interesting to see what a more general populous says about our current transit situation.

[Stonemans_rowJ]

Originally Posted by bunt_q

It's also the other half of the city west of I-25, and everything south and east off your map. Basically, everything outside of rich-white-ville, which also happens to be the area the DDP cares about.

But sure, let's blame 1.90 spaces per unit (http://denverinfill.com/blog/2015/12/new-union-station-project-ascent-union-station.html), and 2.857 spaces within a block of Union Station, on underwriters. Developers aren't providing parking because people want it, or because their tenants own cars. It's just because their banks make them. Or because they're stupid. I am sure those massively oversized parking garages are just sitting empty, because the bean counters got it wrong. I am sure all of those folks up in RiNo, where we're building thousands upon thousands of apartments, are hiking their way down Brighton Blvd in the morning. Pedestrian and bike traffic jams - that's how we roll in Denver. New apartment building across from City Park - nah, don't need parking. Cars are so 20th century. And the Cherry Creek Mall - might as well take down those garages and expand, nobody needs them. Let's pedestrianize 1st Avenue, too. I've never seen any cars using it, seems like wasted space to me.

Yes, that's all sarcasm. It's the only way I know how to respond to willful Trump-level ignorance.

It's called the Downtown Denver Partnership, not the Englewood Partnership.

The rest of your post I didn't bother to read.

[wong21fr]

Today's white privilege is the assumption that taking out auto lanes and adding bike lanes increases mobility for all. The residents of Montbello are overjoyed to know that the Arapahoe St bike lane is for their benefit.

#blacklivesmatter

(in the spirit of the inane comments thus far on this topic)

[Stonemans_rowJ]

Originally Posted by RyanD

I found this on the Denver subreddit today:

Think traffic is bad around the Denver area? Just wait a decade or two.

It's interesting to see what a more general populous says about our current transit situation.

I read that article and it is interesting. Let's say you live in the core and work in the core, well, you probably aren't complaining for this article because that traffic doesn't effect your life the way it does for someone who say, lives in Thornton and commutes to the DTC, or lives in Englewood, and goes downtown. These are all choices that we make. Cheaper, more space=more time in the car. Location-based affordability is a real thing.

Traffic and congestion are not always a bad thing. There's the monetary cost of wasted productivity, but it also encourages people not to drive as much, plus building more roads is a ponzi scheme. Here's another good read:

http://www.denverrealestatewatch.com/2015/09/01/outside-of-rush-hour-how-bad-is-traffic/

Chris from E/W even has a cameo in there.

Regarding your map. Very cool. I would include Congress Park and Cherry Creek North in the area of bike/ped accessible.

[transistor]

Originally Posted by RyanD

Best part of this map is that comrade brewing is inexplicably shown. That place is great.

[Sam Hill]

<stops using the word "synergy">

[comoneymaker]

1873 S Bellaire St (The Northwestern Mutal building) is to get a major face lift. I saw some crappy renderings in the lobby on some flag like banners. Looks like a lot of glass work.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by comoneymaker

1873 S Bellaire St (The Northwestern Mutal building) is to get a major face lift. I saw some crappy renderings in the lobby on some flag like banners. Looks like a lot of glass work.

? Maybe?


http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19153918/1873-S-Bellaire-St-Denver-CO/

[comoneymaker]

That looks like it. I just remember there not being any full building shots to actually really tell what it will look like if much different at all.

[rds70]

Initial site work at the 1709 Chestnut project:

[seventwenty]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

It's called the Downtown Denver Partnership, not the Englewood Partnership.

The rest of your post I didn't bother to read.

loooool of course you'd say that. #elitesonly.

[rds70]

A new project to discuss:

1200 N Grant St - 2015PM0000703 - Modera Capitol Hill

The site is zoned C-MX-8 and currently owned by the Colorado Association of School Boards.

[DenvertoLA]

What percentage of total residents in downtown Denver do you guys think will be in Union Station once all is built out?

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

Your first post said "non-auto" and now you say "intra-city transit." Sloppy.

Secondly, intra-city transit can be by foot or bike, which density enables, due to distances being decreased and having things like grocery stores nearby.

Some developers are in fact decreasing parking http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26614927/new-denver-apartment-projects-come-much-less-parking

You don't go from 0-60, or build Rome in a day. It happens organically.

However, talk about reactionary, they (developers) moreso than the city go off of antiquated parking models, no doubt dictated by the pencil pushers, bean counters in underwriting.

The Denver Partnership survey confirms increases in non-auto transport.

We haven't started building "Rome" yet? Dude, get your head out of the sand.

It is true that you don't build Rome in a day, but 0-60 ummmmmmmmm nope. Much less than a day on that one. just sayin

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by DenvertoLA

What percentage of total residents in downtown Denver do you guys think will be in Union Station once all is built out?

Tiny tiny amount.. are we at 1,000 even with the stuff under construction?

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by rds70

A new project to discuss:

1200 N Grant St - 2015PM0000703 - Modera Capitol Hill

The site is zoned C-MX-8 and currently owned by the Colorado Association of School Boards.

Hmmm... not a parking lot. Kind of a terrible building but..hmmmm.

Isn't there a Modera under construction in River North? Those guys are the types to get things done, so I'm guessing this will happen.

[PLANSIT]

Originally Posted by enjo13

Tiny tiny amount.. are we at 1,000 even with the stuff under construction?

~1,800 UC/Complete

~1,000 in Planning

[DenvertoLA]

Those are the units, I'm talking people. Maybe it's different in LA but it's not uncommon for people to share a 1 bedroom and split the rent.