DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by jhwk

The building in the back has different floor heights than the "castle" part in the front which is actually fairly small. There are some odd, large concrete (?) ramps between the floors. There is also currently some retail space in the parking garage building next door, also with different floor heights if I remember correctly. I don't think it would be as big of a problem if the parking garage and the attached building in the back are torn down.

It was designed as an indoor car dealership so you can drive cars from the first floor to the top floor. Those ramps are still there.

Great for car dealerships, weird for more most other uses. As i mentioned, could be funky for for Food Hall, brew pub etc., but it's a valuable location so I'm sure Gart will figure out how to best leverage it.

[CherryCreek]

It occurred to me that "perfect" re-purposing of the Sportscastle space would be as a high traffic, low cost health club (24 Hour Fitness) etc. There is nothing like that on Capitol Hill or downtown and given the density of both residents and workers, I would think that's a no brainer.

Redevelopment costs would be really low for that use.

[DenverPoke]

RDS posted a rendering of the apartment proposed at Bannock and Speer over at Denver-Cityscape.

[CastleScott]

^ Nice rendering and its funny to see a wilderness on the westside of Cherry Creek, guess they smoke a lil herb down in Houston were the builder is based.

[COtoOC]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

It occurred to me that "perfect" re-purposing of the Sportscastle space would be as a high traffic, low cost health club (24 Hour Fitness) etc. There is nothing like that on Capitol Hill or downtown and given the density of both residents and workers, I would think that's a no brainer.

Redevelopment costs would be really low for that use.

Yeah, I'm surprised 24 Hr. hasn't opened an "urban" location in Denver. When I work in downtown San Francisco, I can walk to 3 different 24 Hr. locations within 15 min. of my hotel. Downtown Denver is really lacking in the gym category... and we're supposed to be one of the healthiest/outdoorsiest cities in the country?

[mojiferous]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

Yeah, I'm surprised 24 Hr. hasn't opened an "urban" location in Denver. When I work in downtown San Francisco, I can walk to 3 different 24 Hr. locations within 15 min. of my hotel. Downtown Denver is really lacking in the gym category... and we're supposed to be one of the healthiest/outdoorsiest cities in the country?

There are actually a ton of gyms downtown, just no 24 Hr. locations. I can see two from my office and can name another 4 off the top of my head within a 10 minute walk... I would bet they haven't opened one because the rent cost vs. amount the competition would mean really thin margins.

[Mulligan]

Originally Posted by CastleScott

^ Nice rendering and its funny to see a wilderness on the westside of Cherry Creek, guess they smoke a lil herb down in Houston were the builder is based.

And those snow capped majestic mountains so close to town...

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by mojiferous

There are actually a ton of gyms downtown, just no 24 Hr. locations. I can see two from my office and can name another 4 off the top of my head within a 10 minute walk... I would bet they haven't opened one because the rent cost vs. amount the competition would mean really thin margins.

I was about to post exactly this. There are so many freaking gyms in this city. There is a 24 hour fitness in the West Highlands which does really well.

[PLANSIT]

Originally Posted by corey

Is there any recent news about the relocation of the Greyhound station? If it's no longer downtown then it would almost have to be located near a train stop. I think near 6th Ave and I-25 makes the most sense now. It's pretty obvious it won't be near the 38th and Blake station, which I remember was being looked at. Greyhound could sell their downtown block and pretty much pay for the entire new bus station. They sure are being slow about it if they're going to move.

CDOT - Denver Area Regional Bus Facility Study (PDF)

[TheNightfly]

Originally Posted by COtoOC

Yeah, I'm surprised 24 Hr. hasn't opened an "urban" location in Denver. When I work in downtown San Francisco, I can walk to 3 different 24 Hr. locations within 15 min. of my hotel. Downtown Denver is really lacking in the gym category... and we're supposed to be one of the healthiest/outdoorsiest cities in the country?

Well if you're outdoorsy, then you might be spending your time outdoors rather than in a gym. I think lack of chain gyms is because folks here get into the core power yoga, crossfit, and orange theory fitness type gyms. That stuff is taking a toll on 24 hour gyms.

Anybody seen the video on 1144's website? Pretty exciting!

Also, brookfield deleted their resource for block 173. I wonder what's going to happen to that block. Anybody have an idea?

[PLANSIT]

Originally Posted by TheNightfly

Also, brookfield deleted their resource for block 173. I wonder what's going to happen to that block. Anybody have an idea?

See:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=7328563&postcount=7300

So, it's moving forward with development of some type.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by TheNightfly

Well if you're outdoorsy, then you might be spending your time outdoors rather than in a gym. I think lack of chain gyms is because folks here get into the core power yoga, crossfit, and orange theory fitness type gyms. That stuff is taking a toll on 24 hour gyms.

F**kin' crossfit.

Funny how the $100-200/mo options are taking a toll on the $25-50/option. Might also be indicative that Denver is becoming increasingly wealthy the new retail options are helping in ensuring the masses stay out.

[TheNightfly]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

F**kin' crossfit.

Funny how the $100-200/mo options are taking a toll on the $25-50/option. Might also be indicative that Denver is becoming increasingly wealthy the new retail options are helping in ensuring the masses stay out.

Could be. It's amazing what people will pay to get peer motivation. I have an Anytime fitness and One Boulder Fitness membership that cost me less than $90 a month. They both have a ton of free classes that do the job.

I don't understand why people buy into it but I wish I were an investor.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

F**kin' crossfit.

Funny how the $100-200/mo options are taking a toll on the $25-50/option. Might also be indicative that Denver is becoming increasingly wealthy the new retail options are helping in ensuring the masses stay out.

What amazes me even more is that these people are paying $3/sf in rents at properties that have pretty kickass fitness centers. I guess I'm not made of enough of that monies these people have. Hell, I live in a 1960's complex with an OK fitness center and killed my 24 hr membership.

[corey]

I was looking at the building and didn't even notice that Rocky Mountain NP abuts directly to Speer Blvd. Hilarious! I wonder if for Houston projects they have swamps with Spanish moss draped bald cypress trees and egrets, herons, and alligators all over right next to their building. Sadly, it would be more realistic to put into the rendering some homeless peoples' shopping carts under some of the trees along the creek.

[corey]

this design is an improvement over the earlier ones, though. the rounded corner with more glass looks sharp!

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

CDOT - Denver Area Regional Bus Facility Study (PDF)

So Greyhound is again looking at potentially consolidating services at DUS since there is enough capacity to handle it.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by enjo13

I was about to post exactly this. There are so many freaking gyms in this city. There is a 24 hour fitness in the West Highlands which does really well.

There are a lot of gyms in the City, but hardly anything "major" on Capitol Hill, the most densely populated urban area in the City.

There's high end options (Matrix at 9th and Lincoln), but I think the closest "budget" option are the two 24 hour fitness gyms on Colorado BLVD. And those two gyms there are as crowded as any in the City.

Anyways, I do like the quirky property, hopefully can find a way to at least preserve the facade.

[corey]

Plansit thanks for the bus terminal study! Very informative. I think if Greyhound doesn't eventually move to DUS, which would be the most convenient for their riders, they should move the station and maintenance facility to near 6th Ave and I-25. the land in RiNo with the maintenance facility is now worth a lot of money as well. Actually, offers for their RiNo properties might be the thing that convinces them to move everything. they should buy the Robinson Dairy site. It is large enough for all of their needs and convenient to the interstates. It would also be a short cab ride to light rail. Since it is not a residential neighborhood they shouldn't run into trouble with Nimbys. I'm sure Ritz-Carlton can't wait to see the bus station gone. I read the bus station block was worth $30 million in 2014, probably even more now.

[DenverPoke]

Originally Posted by TheNightfly

Anybody seen the video on 1144's website? Pretty exciting!

That is pretty sweet, great looking building.