Friday, May 25, 2007
Possible Deals Pending for Fontius, Office Depot Sites?
In the new edition of the Denver Business Journal released today, Paula Moore reports that change may be coming to Block 162 in Downtown Denver, the block where the dilapidated Fontius Building is located.
A deed recently filed with the city indicates that ownership of the Fontius property has shifted within the Cook family and is now consolidated under Gary Cook’s control. Paula notes that this could potentially be a sign that Gary Cook is preparing to sell the property to another party, such as developer Evan Makovsky, who has gone on record as being interested in doing a project on Block 162 in the future.
The Revitalizing the Core task force, the City, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and others, including DenverInfill.com and many of you who read this blog regularly, have been pushing for improvements in the core area of Downtown, with the Fontius and Block 162 at or near the top of the list. Perhaps this news is an indication that all our efforts may be finally paying off.
But that’s not all! The Denver Business Journal article also reports that the Office Depot building at 16th and Market (which is owned by a different branch of the Cook family than Gary Cook’s), may be in the process of being sold and could potentially be redeveloped as a hotel. I love having an Office Depot in the heart of Downtown. If you work or live Downtown like me, you know it’s very convenient for quickly picking up an office gadget or two. But the Office Depot building represents such a significant underutilization of a highly visible corner on the Mall, it’s not even funny. Plus, the building’s brown, windowless, concrete wall that stretches almost to 15th Street is one of the worst pedestrian dead zones in Downtown. A redevelopment of that site would be a tremendous boost to Downtown’s overall vitality. Maybe Office Depot could find a new home on the ground floor of some future Downtown office or condo tower.
Hopefully, there will be official confirmation of either or both of these developments in the near future. I'll certainly let you know if or when there is.
A deed recently filed with the city indicates that ownership of the Fontius property has shifted within the Cook family and is now consolidated under Gary Cook’s control. Paula notes that this could potentially be a sign that Gary Cook is preparing to sell the property to another party, such as developer Evan Makovsky, who has gone on record as being interested in doing a project on Block 162 in the future.
The Revitalizing the Core task force, the City, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and others, including DenverInfill.com and many of you who read this blog regularly, have been pushing for improvements in the core area of Downtown, with the Fontius and Block 162 at or near the top of the list. Perhaps this news is an indication that all our efforts may be finally paying off.
But that’s not all! The Denver Business Journal article also reports that the Office Depot building at 16th and Market (which is owned by a different branch of the Cook family than Gary Cook’s), may be in the process of being sold and could potentially be redeveloped as a hotel. I love having an Office Depot in the heart of Downtown. If you work or live Downtown like me, you know it’s very convenient for quickly picking up an office gadget or two. But the Office Depot building represents such a significant underutilization of a highly visible corner on the Mall, it’s not even funny. Plus, the building’s brown, windowless, concrete wall that stretches almost to 15th Street is one of the worst pedestrian dead zones in Downtown. A redevelopment of that site would be a tremendous boost to Downtown’s overall vitality. Maybe Office Depot could find a new home on the ground floor of some future Downtown office or condo tower.
Hopefully, there will be official confirmation of either or both of these developments in the near future. I'll certainly let you know if or when there is.
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Any news on what is going on at the old Mountain Bell building at 17th and Arapahoe...they have more or less destroyed the lower part of the building.
Permalink Posted by 
: 5/25/2007 12:42:00 PM
: 5/25/2007 12:42:00 PM
Sort of. I've been in contact with the owner/developer and hopefully I'll be able to post a blog on that soon.
OD could move to the basement area of that building on 16th and Curtis (either Curtis or Champa) which is completely gutted and not used. It used to have a food court and now nothing. Or are there actual plans for that space?
Permalink Posted by : 5/25/2007 02:06:00 PM
: 5/25/2007 02:06:00 PM
This is incredible news on both fronts! If this could lead to a a redevelopment of both blocks, that would be great news!
As for Office Depot, that's not a worry, I think. They know very well how lucrative their downtown store is, and they'll move it. If not them, one of their competitors certainly will.
As for Office Depot, that's not a worry, I think. They know very well how lucrative their downtown store is, and they'll move it. If not them, one of their competitors certainly will.
Permalink Posted by : 5/25/2007 08:15:00 PM
: 5/25/2007 08:15:00 PM
nothing is coming of that space, just rhederic to keep us off of his _ss! its a thorn in the side off the city i will believe it when i see it! remember all 20+ years of abandonment, please!
Permalink Posted by : 5/26/2007 10:55:00 AM
: 5/26/2007 10:55:00 AM
Anon 10:55, such bitterness. 20 past years of abandonment does not make 20 more years of the same. The Mayor and the city have about had it with the Cook family and they will do anything possible to entice sales of their property.
Permalink Posted by : 5/27/2007 09:31:00 AM
: 5/27/2007 09:31:00 AM
Ken,
More news on this front as there is demolition planned latter in June of the Republic Hotel and Bank of Denver building. The nice lady at the liquor store informed me of this as she will be displaced from work at the end of the month. Not sure of impact to the Fontius Building or the Taco Bell location.
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More news on this front as there is demolition planned latter in June of the Republic Hotel and Bank of Denver building. The nice lady at the liquor store informed me of this as she will be displaced from work at the end of the month. Not sure of impact to the Fontius Building or the Taco Bell location.
Permalink Posted by : 6/07/2007 03:45:00 PM
: 6/07/2007 03:45:00 PM Links to this post:
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