Sunday, December 03, 2006
New Downtown Denver Embassy Suites Tower Moving Forward
Great news regarding the proposed Embassy Suites/Homewood Suites project at 14th and Stout across from the Colorado Convention Center! The 250-room, 27-story Embassy Suites Hotel and 125-room, 20-story Homewood Suites Hotel project on Block 138 has recently been submitted to the Denver city planning office for development review. There hasn't been much news on this project since it was announced in the Rocky Mountain News way back on April 1, 2005 (here's the article in case you missed it: High-Rises Planned for 14th Street Parking Lots), so having the project now officially on the books with the city is a very positive sign. More evidence the project is moving forward is that it looks like the old Motor Hotel Garage currently on the site will be facing the wrecking ball very soon. The garage closed down last spring, but only now does actual demolition appear imminent, as an "Alpine Demolition" banner has recently been hung across the front of the building.
To date, I have not seen an official rendering of the Embassy/Homewood project. When the project was announced in April 2005, a "massing model" rendering appeared along with the Rocky article, but that was when the developer, White Lodging Services, was planning on keeping the Motor Hotel Garage and incorporating it into the project. That was eventually deemed unfeasible, so the garage will go, and in its place will be the Homewood Suites tower.
So, before it's gone forever, here's a few final photos of the Motor Hotel Garage, one of Downtown Denver's first structured parking garages, built in 1930. The building has been abused and neglected over the years, but its front facade still reflects some of its original art deco charm.
To date, I have not seen an official rendering of the Embassy/Homewood project. When the project was announced in April 2005, a "massing model" rendering appeared along with the Rocky article, but that was when the developer, White Lodging Services, was planning on keeping the Motor Hotel Garage and incorporating it into the project. That was eventually deemed unfeasible, so the garage will go, and in its place will be the Homewood Suites tower.
So, before it's gone forever, here's a few final photos of the Motor Hotel Garage, one of Downtown Denver's first structured parking garages, built in 1930. The building has been abused and neglected over the years, but its front facade still reflects some of its original art deco charm.
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I kind of like the building and wish they could have renovated instead, then they could have designed hotel with a similar art deco theme. I'm guessing there were structural issues since the original plans included a renovation?
I don't know how architecturally significant this building is but I've got to think that we're losing something valuable. Non-LODO Denver continues to purge all remnants to the past.
New Rule: Nothing gets torn down until all the surface lots are developed!
New Rule: Nothing gets torn down until all the surface lots are developed!
Permalink Posted by 
: 12/04/2006 11:37:00 PM
: 12/04/2006 11:37:00 PM
Its a shame that the hotel couldnt have been built on top of the garage thereby saving a decently historic structure. Yet, I know the costs involved would have been tremendous. It's a shame to see another art deco wonder torn down. Let's just hope something gets built. I'm still waiting around for the Spire. They tore down the Davis and Shaw building and paved it over with more parking. Now, who knows when that building will break ground!
I was told that there was no fire system in the garage, and that is why it is being torn down.
Permalink Posted by : 12/05/2006 07:47:00 PM
: 12/05/2006 07:47:00 PM
It's too bad the building could not be restored. Given the recent trend of rather ordinary designs planned for downtown, I'm skeptical that the garage is going to be replaced with a structure with equivilent or superior design elements. Further, I'm going to miss the cool "nafarious" mural on the wall facing the convention center.
Knock it down already, its just another old run down eye sore!
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Permalink Posted by : 3/08/2007 09:58:00 AM
: 3/08/2007 09:58:00 AM Links to this post:
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