Thursday, July 26, 2007
DenverInfill Update: Uptown/City Park West Construction Photos
Let's next check out some of the urban infill construction activity taking place in Downtown Denver's Uptown and City Park West neighborhoods.
Emerson Uptown Lofts at E. 17th Avenue and Emerson Street (3 stories, residential):
St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Office Building at E. 18th Avenue and Gilpin Street (5 stories, office and parking garage):
1740 Franklin near E. 17th Avenue and Franklin Street (5 stories, residential):
The Gathering Place near E. Colfax Avenue and High Street (3 stories, residential):
Many thanks to Vicki for all four of the photos in this post!
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Office Building at E. 18th Avenue and Gilpin Street (5 stories, office and parking garage):
1740 Franklin near E. 17th Avenue and Franklin Street (5 stories, residential):
The Gathering Place near E. Colfax Avenue and High Street (3 stories, residential):
Many thanks to Vicki for all four of the photos in this post!
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
1400 Wewatta Final Design Renderings
Thank you to the good folks at Opus Northwest, I'm happy to briefly interrupt our Summer 2007 Downtown Denver Construction Photo update to bring you the latest, and final, design renderings for the 1400 Wewatta project on Block 012 in Lower Downtown.
The design hasn't changed much since the last set of rendering, but instead of a water color sketch, these are sharp, high-resolution images with lots of surrounding context. Click and zoom to view at full size.
The view from Speer Boulevard looking down Wewatta Street:
The view looking down Wynkoop Street:
Awesome! What a difference this project will make in helping tie LoDo, the Central Platte Valley, and the Speer corridor together and in creating a strong urban edge along the banks of Cherry Creek.
The design hasn't changed much since the last set of rendering, but instead of a water color sketch, these are sharp, high-resolution images with lots of surrounding context. Click and zoom to view at full size.
The view from Speer Boulevard looking down Wewatta Street:
The view looking down Wynkoop Street:
Awesome! What a difference this project will make in helping tie LoDo, the Central Platte Valley, and the Speer corridor together and in creating a strong urban edge along the banks of Cherry Creek.
DenverInfill Update: Central Platte Valley/Prospect Construction Photos
Next up are three projects located in the Central Platte Valley and Prospect districts:
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver at 15th and Delgany (3 stories):
Park One Riverfront at Little Raven and 17th Street (3 stories, residential):
Inca 29 at West 29th Avenue and Inca Street in Prospect (3 stories, residential townhomes):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver at 15th and Delgany (3 stories):
Park One Riverfront at Little Raven and 17th Street (3 stories, residential):
Inca 29 at West 29th Avenue and Inca Street in Prospect (3 stories, residential townhomes):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Jefferson Park Construction Photos
Moving on to the Jefferson Park neighborhood, there are two projects currently under construction:
RiverClay, River Court and Clay Street (6 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Clay Street Residences, W. 28th Avenue and Clay Street (4 stories, residential):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
RiverClay, River Court and Clay Street (6 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Clay Street Residences, W. 28th Avenue and Clay Street (4 stories, residential):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Highland Construction Photos
The next Downtown neighborhood for our Summer 2007 infill construction photo update is the historic Highland district:
Ayr on 29th, near Firth Court and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential):
Cental Court, near 17th and Boulder Streets (4 story residential townhomes):
Confluence Heights, Vallejo Street and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Highland Bridge Lofts, 16th and Central Streets (3 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Wyandot Overlook, Wyandot Street and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential). Construction just completed:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Ayr on 29th, near Firth Court and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential):
Cental Court, near 17th and Boulder Streets (4 story residential townhomes):
Confluence Heights, Vallejo Street and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Highland Bridge Lofts, 16th and Central Streets (3 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Wyandot Overlook, Wyandot Street and W. 29th Avenue (4 stories, residential). Construction just completed:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Sunday, July 22, 2007
DenverInfill Update: Upper Downtown Construction Photos
Next up in our Summer 2007 Downtown Denver construction photo update is the Upper Downtown district:
Hilton Garden Inn on Block 172 (12 stories, hotel with ground-floor retail). This project should be opening for business very soon:
Grant Park on Block 033-B (8 stories, residential with ground-floor retail). This project is now completed:
Coming up over the next few days... the rest of the Center City districts.
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Hilton Garden Inn on Block 172 (12 stories, hotel with ground-floor retail). This project should be opening for business very soon:
Grant Park on Block 033-B (8 stories, residential with ground-floor retail). This project is now completed:
Coming up over the next few days... the rest of the Center City districts.
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Civic Center/Golden Triangle Construction Photos
Continuing on with our Summer 2007 Downtown Denver infill update... here are the Civic Center and Golden Triangle districts:
Denver Justice Center on Blocks 011-W, 012-W and 020-W. The parking garage on 020-W is nearly complete (left) and should open soon. Once open, the existing post office, which is the only building remaining on either 011-W or 012-W, will be demolished. The remains of the Rocky Mountain News building on 011-W (right):
1200 Delaware on Block 046-E (3 story townhomes):
Piranesi (5 story, residential) at 11th and Delaware:
1200 Elati (10 story, residential with ground-floor retail) at 12th and Elati:
816 Acoma (16-story, residential) at 8th and Acoma:
Denver Justice Center on Blocks 011-W, 012-W and 020-W. The parking garage on 020-W is nearly complete (left) and should open soon. Once open, the existing post office, which is the only building remaining on either 011-W or 012-W, will be demolished. The remains of the Rocky Mountain News building on 011-W (right):
1200 Delaware on Block 046-E (3 story townhomes):
Piranesi (5 story, residential) at 11th and Delaware:
1200 Elati (10 story, residential with ground-floor retail) at 12th and Elati:
816 Acoma (16-story, residential) at 8th and Acoma:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Northeast Downtown Construction Photos
Next in our Summer 2007 Downtown Denver infill construction photo update is Northeast Downtown, also known as Arapahoe Square:
One Lincoln Park on Block 177 (32 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Diamond Lofts on Block 035 (5 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
2101 Market on Block 036 (8 stories, residential with ground-floor retail and renovation/conversion of historic Piggly Wiggly building):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
One Lincoln Park on Block 177 (32 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
Diamond Lofts on Block 035 (5 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
2101 Market on Block 036 (8 stories, residential with ground-floor retail and renovation/conversion of historic Piggly Wiggly building):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Central Downtown Construction Photos
Continuing our Summer 2007 Downtown Denver infill update... next up is Central Downtown, which includes both construction and demolition:
Spire on Block 131 (41 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
1800 Larimer on Block 066 (22 stories, office with ground-floor retail). Demolition of existing structure pending:
Embassy Suites Hotel on Block 138 (20 stories hotel with ground-floor retail). Demolition of existing old parking garage at site in progress:
Evan Makovsky project on Block 162 (development program not yet determined). Demolition of former Bank of Denver/Standish Hotel building at site in progress:
1401 Lawrence on Block 070 (51 stories residential). Construction of sales office on site underway (thank you, Tracy, for the photo!):
1001 17th Street on Block 096 (replacement of existing lobby/elevated plaza with new lobby/ground-floor retail). Demolition almost complete:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Spire on Block 131 (41 stories, residential with ground-floor retail):
1800 Larimer on Block 066 (22 stories, office with ground-floor retail). Demolition of existing structure pending:
Embassy Suites Hotel on Block 138 (20 stories hotel with ground-floor retail). Demolition of existing old parking garage at site in progress:
Evan Makovsky project on Block 162 (development program not yet determined). Demolition of former Bank of Denver/Standish Hotel building at site in progress:
1401 Lawrence on Block 070 (51 stories residential). Construction of sales office on site underway (thank you, Tracy, for the photo!):
1001 17th Street on Block 096 (replacement of existing lobby/elevated plaza with new lobby/ground-floor retail). Demolition almost complete:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
DenverInfill Update: Lower Downtown Construction Photos
This post is the first of a district-by-district Summer 2007 construction photo update for many of the new urban infill projects being built in the greater Downtown Denver area.
Let's kick things off with Lower Downtown:
1400 Wewatta on Block 012 (9 and 10 stories, mixed-use office/residential with ground-floor retail):
1515 Wynkoop on Block 013 (8 stories, office with ground-floor retail):
Sugar3 on Block 019 (10 stories, mixed-use office/residential with ground-floor retail):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Let's kick things off with Lower Downtown:
1400 Wewatta on Block 012 (9 and 10 stories, mixed-use office/residential with ground-floor retail):
1515 Wynkoop on Block 013 (8 stories, office with ground-floor retail):
Sugar3 on Block 019 (10 stories, mixed-use office/residential with ground-floor retail):
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Friday, July 20, 2007
W Hotel Coming to LoDo!
Big news, Downtown Denver fans--a W Hotel is coming to LoDo!
You may remember that a W Hotel was planned (although never officially announced) for a site behind Union Station. That deal fell through in 2006, but Starwood Hotels, parent company of the urban-hip W Hotel brand, kept Downtown Denver at the top of its expansion city list. Today, Sage Hospitality announced its plans to build a W Hotel and Residences at the underutilized Office Depot site at 16th and Market. Here's the official press release from Sage and the story, W Stamps Brand Downtown, from John Rebchook at the Rocky Mountain News.
Sage Hospitality, the Denver-based hotel developer led by CEO Walter Isenberg that recently developed the Residence Inn project at 18th and Curtis, just completed the acquisition of the Office Depot property from the Cook family. The acquisition included not only the Office Depot building on Block 046, which sits on a 31,250 SF lot, but also the surface parking lot across the 16th Street Mall next to Sonada's on Block 047, a 15,655 SF site.
The W Hotel and Residences project will be located on the site of the existing Office Depot building. Construction is planned to begin Fall 2008 and to be completed approximately two years later in 2010. The parking lot parcel will be used for construction staging for the W project and then, after the W's completion, provide Sage with yet another exceptional development site--although specific plans for that parcel have not been announced. Renderings of the proposed W are not yet available.
The project is envisioned as a 12-story building, containing 180 hotel rooms and 56 residential units. The project site is located just inside the B-7 LoDo zoning (the alley between the Office Depot and the Larmier Place condo tower is the dividing line between the LoDo B-7 zone and the Central Business District B-5 zone). The site is also covered by a LoDo Special Review District, which allows for an increased building height to 130 feet. Consequently, the building will most likely take a form somewhat similar to the 16 Market Square and Sugar-3 projects nearby; I'm guessing a seven-story base, built to the property line, containing ground-floor retail/restaurant/lobby uses and the hotel rooms, and a stepped-back residential portion of an additional five stories on top.
I was very excited when the W was rumored to come to the Central Platte Valley, but this proposal is even better in many ways. The CPV already has tremendous momentum, given the success of the Riverfront Park project and the whole Union Station redevelopment due to come online in the next four years. While the W would have been great at that location, the 16th Street Mall needs all the help it can get and would receive much more of a boost from the presence of a W than the CPV would. The five-block line-up of the W Hotel, 16 Market Square, the Sugar buildings, Mercantile Square, and EPA HQ will make the west side of the LoDo stretch of the 16th Street Mall a remarkably dynamic and architecturally worthy urban place and one of the best parts of Downtown Denver. I'm also pleased to know that Sage will be helping Office Depot find a suitable place to relocate to somewhere in the core Downtown area. We need to keep Office Depot in a location where it's accessible by walking/mall shuttle to the Downtown residential and workforce populations.
The future for Downtown Denver just keeps getting brighter and brighter!
You may remember that a W Hotel was planned (although never officially announced) for a site behind Union Station. That deal fell through in 2006, but Starwood Hotels, parent company of the urban-hip W Hotel brand, kept Downtown Denver at the top of its expansion city list. Today, Sage Hospitality announced its plans to build a W Hotel and Residences at the underutilized Office Depot site at 16th and Market. Here's the official press release from Sage and the story, W Stamps Brand Downtown, from John Rebchook at the Rocky Mountain News.
Sage Hospitality, the Denver-based hotel developer led by CEO Walter Isenberg that recently developed the Residence Inn project at 18th and Curtis, just completed the acquisition of the Office Depot property from the Cook family. The acquisition included not only the Office Depot building on Block 046, which sits on a 31,250 SF lot, but also the surface parking lot across the 16th Street Mall next to Sonada's on Block 047, a 15,655 SF site.
The W Hotel and Residences project will be located on the site of the existing Office Depot building. Construction is planned to begin Fall 2008 and to be completed approximately two years later in 2010. The parking lot parcel will be used for construction staging for the W project and then, after the W's completion, provide Sage with yet another exceptional development site--although specific plans for that parcel have not been announced. Renderings of the proposed W are not yet available.
The project is envisioned as a 12-story building, containing 180 hotel rooms and 56 residential units. The project site is located just inside the B-7 LoDo zoning (the alley between the Office Depot and the Larmier Place condo tower is the dividing line between the LoDo B-7 zone and the Central Business District B-5 zone). The site is also covered by a LoDo Special Review District, which allows for an increased building height to 130 feet. Consequently, the building will most likely take a form somewhat similar to the 16 Market Square and Sugar-3 projects nearby; I'm guessing a seven-story base, built to the property line, containing ground-floor retail/restaurant/lobby uses and the hotel rooms, and a stepped-back residential portion of an additional five stories on top.
I was very excited when the W was rumored to come to the Central Platte Valley, but this proposal is even better in many ways. The CPV already has tremendous momentum, given the success of the Riverfront Park project and the whole Union Station redevelopment due to come online in the next four years. While the W would have been great at that location, the 16th Street Mall needs all the help it can get and would receive much more of a boost from the presence of a W than the CPV would. The five-block line-up of the W Hotel, 16 Market Square, the Sugar buildings, Mercantile Square, and EPA HQ will make the west side of the LoDo stretch of the 16th Street Mall a remarkably dynamic and architecturally worthy urban place and one of the best parts of Downtown Denver. I'm also pleased to know that Sage will be helping Office Depot find a suitable place to relocate to somewhere in the core Downtown area. We need to keep Office Depot in a location where it's accessible by walking/mall shuttle to the Downtown residential and workforce populations.
The future for Downtown Denver just keeps getting brighter and brighter!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Jefferson Park Update: Metroview Townhomes
You know I've discussed on several occasions in the past the great skyline views from Downtown Denver's Jefferson Park neighborhood, and all the cool urban infill projects happening there. Well, one of those projects, the Metroview townhomes, is now complete. And in case you're in doubt about those views, here's a recent photo from the Metroview:
No, that's not an image taken from a Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce brochure, but from the rooftop deck of a Metroview townhome in Jefferson Park. Pretty sweet, verdad?
Here's a photo of the completed project from the street. Metroview is located and 24th and Bryant.
More construction update photos from Jefferson Park and other Downtown Denver districts are coming soon.
No, that's not an image taken from a Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce brochure, but from the rooftop deck of a Metroview townhome in Jefferson Park. Pretty sweet, verdad?
Here's a photo of the completed project from the street. Metroview is located and 24th and Bryant.
More construction update photos from Jefferson Park and other Downtown Denver districts are coming soon.
17th & Arapahoe Demolition Almost Complete
The demolition of the low-rise portion of the former Qwest office tower at 1001 17th Street between Arapahoe and Curtis is essentially complete. I blogged about this project back on June 4, 2007.
Here's a photo taken one week ago showing just a small section remaining of the 3-story structure that once covered one-half of Block 096:
It will be nice to see the new lobby/ground-floor retail project get under construction and how, once it's finished, it improves the pedestrian experience along 17th Street.
Here's a photo taken one week ago showing just a small section remaining of the 3-story structure that once covered one-half of Block 096:
It will be nice to see the new lobby/ground-floor retail project get under construction and how, once it's finished, it improves the pedestrian experience along 17th Street.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
New Uptown Project: 1915 Logan
There's a new infill project coming to Downtown Denver's Uptown district, replacing a nasty surface parking lot along the 1900 block of Logan Street.
The project, known as 1915 Logan, will consist of a 13-story condominium tower located at the corner of 20th Avenue and Logan, across the street from the Tower on the Park, with a shorter wing extending south toward 19th Avenue.
Here's a sketch of the proposed project, as it would be viewed from Benedict Fountain Park north of 20th Avenue. This image is from the website of Oz Architecture, the project architect:
The project description on the Oz website says 1915 Logan will have 195 units but, according to the development review case file at the Denver planning office, the project will have 172 units. Also included in the development is 10,000 SF of ground-floor retail and 350 parking spaces. The property owner is CV7 LLC, represented by The Wells Partnership.
With the Tower on the Park and Grant Park projects already in place, the addition of 1915 Logan will help complete a nice street wall along 20th Avenue overlooking the park, and continue the revitalization of that part of Downtown.
The project, known as 1915 Logan, will consist of a 13-story condominium tower located at the corner of 20th Avenue and Logan, across the street from the Tower on the Park, with a shorter wing extending south toward 19th Avenue.
Here's a sketch of the proposed project, as it would be viewed from Benedict Fountain Park north of 20th Avenue. This image is from the website of Oz Architecture, the project architect:
The project description on the Oz website says 1915 Logan will have 195 units but, according to the development review case file at the Denver planning office, the project will have 172 units. Also included in the development is 10,000 SF of ground-floor retail and 350 parking spaces. The property owner is CV7 LLC, represented by The Wells Partnership.
With the Tower on the Park and Grant Park projects already in place, the addition of 1915 Logan will help complete a nice street wall along 20th Avenue overlooking the park, and continue the revitalization of that part of Downtown.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Getting Ready for 1900 16th Street
Several people have asked me, "What's happening at the corner of 16th and Wewatta?" Well, I'll tell you: they're putting in a parking lot! But don't freak out, it's actually a good thing.
Here's where I'm talking about:
Here's where I'm talking about:
Currently, Gates Corp. HQ employees park in this surface lot across 16th Street:
But that is where Trammell Crow will begin construction this Fall on their 18-story 1900 16th Street office tower and 1200-space parking garage project. So, to clear the site for construction, a new temporary parking lot is being built across the street.
I'll have much more to say about the 1900 16th Street project soon, including an updated rendering! Stay tuned...
1800 Larimer Project Moving Forward
Westfield Development's 22-story 1800 Larimer office tower is moving toward construction, right on schedule. The tenants in the existing low-scale building along the Larimer side of Block 066 have moved out and there's now a chain link fence surrounding the site. Check it out:
Soon, demolition will take place, followed by the start of construction this Fall. Here's what's planned for the site:
Soon, demolition will take place, followed by the start of construction this Fall. Here's what's planned for the site:
For now, 1800 Larimer will be the third-tallest building under construction in Downtown Denver, and the fourth major project with an office component to get underway this year. Here at DenverInfill, we love urban infill proposals, but we love urban infill construction even more!
One Riverfront Park Looking Good
Now that construction has finished at East-West Partner's One Riverfront Park development in the Central Platte Valley, it's time for a photo update of the completed project--at least the townhome portion that runs along Little Raven. Here are a couple of photos:
Visible behind the townhomes in the photo on the left is the 7-story condominium component of the project. Still under construction is One Riverfront's Phase 2, The Park One Riverfront, where an additional 18 townhomes are going in next door.
In my opinion, this project has a great look to it, and it makes for a very enjoyable pedestrian experience along Little Raven. The design is both warm and approachable while still being sleek and modern. Nice job, EWP!
Visible behind the townhomes in the photo on the left is the 7-story condominium component of the project. Still under construction is One Riverfront's Phase 2, The Park One Riverfront, where an additional 18 townhomes are going in next door.
In my opinion, this project has a great look to it, and it makes for a very enjoyable pedestrian experience along Little Raven. The design is both warm and approachable while still being sleek and modern. Nice job, EWP!
Evan-mania!
Do you have your Evan button yet?
People in Downtown Denver are definitely geeked over the news that local developer Evan Makovsky was finally able to break the Cook family's decades-long stranglehold on the Fontius Building, Downtown's #1 eyesore. First reported at the always-interesting Westword blog, Makovsky's success in acquiring the building and his plans to give the Fontius a full-blown makeover have made him a very popular man in Downtown. So popular, in fact, that the folks at the Denver Pavilions have produced a souvenir button to celebrate the occasion and honor Mr. Makovsky:
People in Downtown Denver are definitely geeked over the news that local developer Evan Makovsky was finally able to break the Cook family's decades-long stranglehold on the Fontius Building, Downtown's #1 eyesore. First reported at the always-interesting Westword blog, Makovsky's success in acquiring the building and his plans to give the Fontius a full-blown makeover have made him a very popular man in Downtown. So popular, in fact, that the folks at the Denver Pavilions have produced a souvenir button to celebrate the occasion and honor Mr. Makovsky:
The buttons are free and are being distributed by the Downtown Denver Partnership. Stop in at the Partnership's office, 2nd floor of the Kittredge Building at 16th and Glenarm (main entrance is between the Paramount and Marlowe's) and get your Evan button while supplies last!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New Four Seasons Denver Rendering
Here's a new perspective--from near street level--of the 45-story Denver Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences tower planned for the corner of 14th and Arapahoe on Block 074. Click and expand to view at full size (image courtesy the developer):
That tower is going to look great against the blue Colorado sky! Things still appear to be on track for a late summer groundbreaking.
That tower is going to look great against the blue Colorado sky! Things still appear to be on track for a late summer groundbreaking.
Block 162 Demolition Update
Work continues on the demolition of the old Bank of Denver building on Block 162. Before it was the Bank of Denver, the early-1900s building was known as the Standish Hotel. The first part of the demolition includes peeling away the 1960s modernist façade that was placed on top of the building's original front.
Here's a recent photo of the start of the demolition work, with the new Hyatt rising in the background:
Also, for a quick look back at the Bank of Denver/Standish Hotel's history, here are two images. This first one was submitted by a DenverInfill reader (thanks, John!):
and this second one is from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. It was taken sometime around 1913:
Once this building has been razed, work will begin on the demolition of the old Republic Hotel (also known as Colonial Hotel) building at the corner of 15th and California.
One fear of mine that I know many of you share is when a building is demolished to make way for a new project, only to have the new building never materialize and we get stuck with a vacant lot for decades (see: 1980s). In the case of Block 162, I'm not worried. I'm very comforted knowing that in Evan Makovsky we've got a local developer with an outstanding reputation, significant resources, and the full support of just about everyone in the city. It is a shame when historic buildings like the Standish Hotel and the Republic Hotel are demolished, but with Block 162's troubled and neglected past and with its bright future under new owner Mr. Makovsky, I'm OK with the demolition. This is going to be a good deal for Downtown Denver.
Here's a recent photo of the start of the demolition work, with the new Hyatt rising in the background:
Also, for a quick look back at the Bank of Denver/Standish Hotel's history, here are two images. This first one was submitted by a DenverInfill reader (thanks, John!):
and this second one is from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection. It was taken sometime around 1913:
Once this building has been razed, work will begin on the demolition of the old Republic Hotel (also known as Colonial Hotel) building at the corner of 15th and California.
One fear of mine that I know many of you share is when a building is demolished to make way for a new project, only to have the new building never materialize and we get stuck with a vacant lot for decades (see: 1980s). In the case of Block 162, I'm not worried. I'm very comforted knowing that in Evan Makovsky we've got a local developer with an outstanding reputation, significant resources, and the full support of just about everyone in the city. It is a shame when historic buildings like the Standish Hotel and the Republic Hotel are demolished, but with Block 162's troubled and neglected past and with its bright future under new owner Mr. Makovsky, I'm OK with the demolition. This is going to be a good deal for Downtown Denver.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Makovsky Acquires Fontius Building!
Hey Downtown fans, this is the news we've been waiting for! Here's the official press release from the Downtown Denver Partnership, just minutes old:
This is a great victory for Downtown Denver! It was June 8, 2006 when I blogged about the sad state of the Fontius building and how angry I was about it, and here we are just a little more than a year later, and it has finally been acquired by someone willing to give the historic structure a long-overdue renovation and restoration. Thank you to the Revitalizing the Core task force, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the City, and others (such as yourself) who wrote letters in support of making this change in ownership happen.
Now the fun part... figuring out what we're going to put there!
Downtown Denver’s “Fontius Building” Acquired by Evan Makovsky
Less than one month after announcing the acquisition of the majority of Block 162, Evan Makovsky with Shames-Makovsky Realty Company has announced that the historic landmark Steel Building on the corner of 16th and Welton has also been acquired. Commonly known as the “Fontius Building” because of the vacant Fontius Shoe store located on the ground floor, this property has been almost completely vacant since 1988.
“The stars have aligned…again,” said Evan Makovsky. “We are in the early stages of identifying what companies will occupy the building, however, we will proceed with vigor to rehabilitate the exterior. We wish to thank Gary Cook for making this opportunity available to us.”
The building will be refurbished and now has the potential to contribute to a larger development plan currently being slated for Block 162, which was targeted for redevelopment including exterior building improvements and quality of ground level retail uses. Fragmented property ownership of Block 162 had intimidated developers for many years, resulting in a grossly under-utilized parcel of land in the core of Downtown Denver. The redevelopment of the Steel Building has long been the focus of local government, business and civic organizations. The architecture firm klipp will manage the redevelopment of the Steel Building, and an Urban Land Institute (ULI) panel will travel to Denver to study the site and make recommendations on best uses.
“We are please to have consummated a transaction with Evan Makovsky and wish him success in the redevelopment of the property,” said the Gary Cook Family, previous owners of the Steel Building.
On June 19, 2007 Makovsky announced is acquisition of approximately 75,000 contiguous square feet on Block 162, which serves as a gateway between the Colorado Convention Center and the core of Downtown Denver. The Steel Building was not included in the announcement, as conversations with Gary Cook were still underway.
“To say we are ‘thrilled’ is an understatement,” said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “We are so fortunate to have leaders in our community that see the bigger picture, and how a single building can have a ripple effect in an urban area.”
This is a great victory for Downtown Denver! It was June 8, 2006 when I blogged about the sad state of the Fontius building and how angry I was about it, and here we are just a little more than a year later, and it has finally been acquired by someone willing to give the historic structure a long-overdue renovation and restoration. Thank you to the Revitalizing the Core task force, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the City, and others (such as yourself) who wrote letters in support of making this change in ownership happen.
Now the fun part... figuring out what we're going to put there!
Motor Hotel Garage Demolition Update
Finally, after what seemed like several weeks of nibbling at the edges, real demolition--the kind with a wrecking ball--is taking place at the old Motor Hotel Garage at 14th and Stout on Block 138. The garage is coming down to make way for a new Embassy Suites hotel.
Thanks to a couple of buddies who work nearby, here are some demolition action photos. This view is of the alley side of the garage with the Colorado Convention Center in the background:
Here's a great shot of the 14th Street side getting taken down. I never did like that mural!
Speaking of the 14th Street side, ever wonder what was next to the Motor Hotel Garage right at the corner of 14th and Stout? It was called the Auditorium Hotel (named for, of course, the historic Denver Auditorium located across the street). Here's a photo from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection showing the hotel, with the parking garage to the left:
More demolition photos coming soon!
Thanks to a couple of buddies who work nearby, here are some demolition action photos. This view is of the alley side of the garage with the Colorado Convention Center in the background:
Here's a great shot of the 14th Street side getting taken down. I never did like that mural!
Speaking of the 14th Street side, ever wonder what was next to the Motor Hotel Garage right at the corner of 14th and Stout? It was called the Auditorium Hotel (named for, of course, the historic Denver Auditorium located across the street). Here's a photo from the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection showing the hotel, with the parking garage to the left:
More demolition photos coming soon!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Worst Parking Lot in Downtown Denver: Block 039!
The vote is in! Thank you to all of you who participated. It was a close battle with Block 001-B, but Block 039, that embarrassing half block of wasteland in the heart of Lower Downtown, has been voted Downtown Denver's Worst Parking Lot by DenverInfill readers, and a well-deserved title it is. The parking lot on Block 039 is a disgrace. Not only is the lot itself, owned by Blecker LLC and managed by Central Parking Systems, in appalling condition...
but the public right-of-way along Market Street doesn't even have curb and gutter or a sidewalk:
I'm not sure if that's ultimately the fault of the city or the property owner (according to city maps, the property line runs right along where the yellow poles are), but the fact that appropriate urban infrastructure, along a key block in the center of our most popular Downtown district, has been conspicuously missing for decades is unacceptable. There is some kind of temporary curb that was installed on top of the asphalt edge a few years ago, but that is now breaking up into big chunks of loose concrete--a pleasant pedestrian enhancement, no?
There are two fundamental, mutually-exclusive problems with parking lots in Downtown Denver: their existence, and their condition. We're making good progress in removing them from existence through all the urban infill projects that this website purposefully identifies and promotes. But the reality is that even under the most optimistic real estate market scenarios, it will be at least another decade or two before all surface parking lots have been eradicated from the Downtown core. I can live with that as long as we're making steady progress in getting rid of them. But the woeful condition of the overwhelming majority of these Downtown lots is something we can rectify today, not decades from now. We don't have to tolerate the deplorable physical state of these parking lots if we don't want to. As a community, we can--and we must--institute reasonable standards for the phyical and aesthetic quality of existing surface parking lots in Downtown. We already require new parking lots to meet various design requirements, so why not the existing ones too?
We have invested billions of public and private dollars into making Downtown Denver a vibrant and attractive place, yet we allow our existing surface parking lots--which, unfortunately, still permeate all sectors of Downtown--to be maintained in the most egregious of conditions. It doesn't make any sense. My mission via DenverInfill is to not only celebrate the positive enhancements in Downtown Denver, of which there are many, but also to shine a public light on those areas where we must do better, and to promote effective change. If you feel likewise, please let your voice be heard.
We may be stuck with parking lots for a while longer, but there's no reason why they can't be good parking lots--at least in Downtown, where, of all places in our city, we should strive to present our best face to the world.
but the public right-of-way along Market Street doesn't even have curb and gutter or a sidewalk:
I'm not sure if that's ultimately the fault of the city or the property owner (according to city maps, the property line runs right along where the yellow poles are), but the fact that appropriate urban infrastructure, along a key block in the center of our most popular Downtown district, has been conspicuously missing for decades is unacceptable. There is some kind of temporary curb that was installed on top of the asphalt edge a few years ago, but that is now breaking up into big chunks of loose concrete--a pleasant pedestrian enhancement, no?
There are two fundamental, mutually-exclusive problems with parking lots in Downtown Denver: their existence, and their condition. We're making good progress in removing them from existence through all the urban infill projects that this website purposefully identifies and promotes. But the reality is that even under the most optimistic real estate market scenarios, it will be at least another decade or two before all surface parking lots have been eradicated from the Downtown core. I can live with that as long as we're making steady progress in getting rid of them. But the woeful condition of the overwhelming majority of these Downtown lots is something we can rectify today, not decades from now. We don't have to tolerate the deplorable physical state of these parking lots if we don't want to. As a community, we can--and we must--institute reasonable standards for the phyical and aesthetic quality of existing surface parking lots in Downtown. We already require new parking lots to meet various design requirements, so why not the existing ones too?
We have invested billions of public and private dollars into making Downtown Denver a vibrant and attractive place, yet we allow our existing surface parking lots--which, unfortunately, still permeate all sectors of Downtown--to be maintained in the most egregious of conditions. It doesn't make any sense. My mission via DenverInfill is to not only celebrate the positive enhancements in Downtown Denver, of which there are many, but also to shine a public light on those areas where we must do better, and to promote effective change. If you feel likewise, please let your voice be heard.
We may be stuck with parking lots for a while longer, but there's no reason why they can't be good parking lots--at least in Downtown, where, of all places in our city, we should strive to present our best face to the world.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Before They Were Parking Lots... Block 029-B
The last parking lot of our five "worst parking lot" candidates to be reviewed from an historical perspective is Candidate #5: Block 029-B. This is the parking lot where the foundations of several buildings are still visible, despite the decades passed since the buildings' demolitions. Let's take a look at what those building were.
First, at the corner of 16th and Lincoln was the Central Christian Church. The church building was built in 1901 and featured a dome and other neo-classical elements. It was flanked to the north and, across the alley, to the east by single-family Victorian-era homes (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
One of those homes, the one visible in the image above behind the church at the corner of 16th and Sherman was the home of Charles S. Thomas, who served as Colorado Governor from 1899-1901. Here's a photo of that home from the late 1950s. A small section of the cobblestone retaining wall along the E. 16th Avenue sidewalk is still visible today (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
Here's a photo (used with permission from the private collection of Robert Winzurk) of the Lincoln side of the block in 1961. Visible is the Central Christian Church building which had undergone a substantial 1940s remodel in which the dome was removed, a traditional steeple was added at the corner, and the front façade was modified. The single-family home to the north (left) of the church had also been replaced with a commercial structure of some type; this being the only known photograph of the front of that building. Also visible behind that building is brick structure across the alley on the Sherman side of the block:
By 1963, the brick building on Sherman had been demolished, but the remodeled church and adjacent commercial building were still intact. The Charles Thomas home is also gone (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
At some point after 1963, the church and adjoining commercial building were razed and their foundations left for 21st Century parking lot patrons to contemplate. I doubt one penny's-worth of improvements have been made to this half of Block 029-B since then.
Today's the last day to vote, so if you haven't already... do so now!
First, at the corner of 16th and Lincoln was the Central Christian Church. The church building was built in 1901 and featured a dome and other neo-classical elements. It was flanked to the north and, across the alley, to the east by single-family Victorian-era homes (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
One of those homes, the one visible in the image above behind the church at the corner of 16th and Sherman was the home of Charles S. Thomas, who served as Colorado Governor from 1899-1901. Here's a photo of that home from the late 1950s. A small section of the cobblestone retaining wall along the E. 16th Avenue sidewalk is still visible today (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
Here's a photo (used with permission from the private collection of Robert Winzurk) of the Lincoln side of the block in 1961. Visible is the Central Christian Church building which had undergone a substantial 1940s remodel in which the dome was removed, a traditional steeple was added at the corner, and the front façade was modified. The single-family home to the north (left) of the church had also been replaced with a commercial structure of some type; this being the only known photograph of the front of that building. Also visible behind that building is brick structure across the alley on the Sherman side of the block:
By 1963, the brick building on Sherman had been demolished, but the remodeled church and adjacent commercial building were still intact. The Charles Thomas home is also gone (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection):
At some point after 1963, the church and adjoining commercial building were razed and their foundations left for 21st Century parking lot patrons to contemplate. I doubt one penny's-worth of improvements have been made to this half of Block 029-B since then.
Today's the last day to vote, so if you haven't already... do so now!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Tabor II Design Revealed?
Callahan Capital Partners, the Chicago-based real estate equity firm that recently purchased five Downtown Denver office buildings, including the Tabor Center, announced at the time of the purchase their intention to build the long-planned Tabor II office tower, and to get the project underway yet this year.
It appears Callahan is making good progress toward their goal, as they are now showing a Tabor II rendering on their corporate website! Again, my thanks to Len for making the discovery. Here's what Tabor II may look like:
Their website doesn't include any details or text yet about Tabor II but, based on this rendering, it looks to be about 30 stories, putting it then somewhere around 570,000 SF. This could be a preliminary design that is subject to change, but at least it gives us a good indication that their plans are moving forward.
Hopefully I'll be able to get more details and additional renderings on Tabor II to share with you soon. Could the rise of Tabor II finally happen, after the foundation was laid 22 years ago? It's starting to look that way!
It appears Callahan is making good progress toward their goal, as they are now showing a Tabor II rendering on their corporate website! Again, my thanks to Len for making the discovery. Here's what Tabor II may look like:
Their website doesn't include any details or text yet about Tabor II but, based on this rendering, it looks to be about 30 stories, putting it then somewhere around 570,000 SF. This could be a preliminary design that is subject to change, but at least it gives us a good indication that their plans are moving forward.
Hopefully I'll be able to get more details and additional renderings on Tabor II to share with you soon. Could the rise of Tabor II finally happen, after the foundation was laid 22 years ago? It's starting to look that way!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Before They Were Parking Lots... Block 003-B
The next Worst Parking Lot block to be reviewed from an historical perspective is Candidate #4: Block 003-B. This parking lot covers less than half of the block, with one of Downtown Denver's first modernist towers, the I.M. Pei-designed Mile High Center (now Wells Fargo Center) occupying most of the southern half.
What occupied this site before it was a parking lot? The Hotel Metropole, followed by the Cosmopolitan Hotel, which incorporated the Hotel Metropole into a single operation.
The Hotel Metropole opened in 1891, the year this photo was taken. It was located at the southern end of what is now the parking lot portion of Block 003-B:
The Cosmopolitan Hotel was built next door in 1926 (same year as this photo), right at the corner of E. 18th Avenue and Broadway:
Here's an image of both hotels along with the Brown Palace and the Trinity Methodist Church. This photo is from the 1920s:
On the other side of the Metropole was a Sears & Roebuck store. Here's a photo that dates from around 1953 or 1954 since the Mile High Center, visible on the right, is still under construction. The Sears store was built in 1918:
Here's an image from 1957. The Sears had become the "United States National Bank" and the full lineup of Mile High Center, Hotels Metropole/Cosmopolitan and Trinity Methodist Church is visible, with the Brown Palace on the left:
Finally, the Cosmopolitan/Metropole Hotel buildings were imploded in May, 1984. Unlike the other images, which are all from the Denver Public Library, this photo is a scanned image from my copy of the book, Denver: A Pictoral History by William C. Jones and Kenton Forrest:
The old Sears & Roebuck building is still there--part of the Wells Fargo complex--with its long blank wall facing the parking lot. And 23 years after the implosion, we're still waiting for something to be built on Block 003-B.
What occupied this site before it was a parking lot? The Hotel Metropole, followed by the Cosmopolitan Hotel, which incorporated the Hotel Metropole into a single operation.
The Hotel Metropole opened in 1891, the year this photo was taken. It was located at the southern end of what is now the parking lot portion of Block 003-B:
The Cosmopolitan Hotel was built next door in 1926 (same year as this photo), right at the corner of E. 18th Avenue and Broadway:
Here's an image of both hotels along with the Brown Palace and the Trinity Methodist Church. This photo is from the 1920s:
On the other side of the Metropole was a Sears & Roebuck store. Here's a photo that dates from around 1953 or 1954 since the Mile High Center, visible on the right, is still under construction. The Sears store was built in 1918:
Here's an image from 1957. The Sears had become the "United States National Bank" and the full lineup of Mile High Center, Hotels Metropole/Cosmopolitan and Trinity Methodist Church is visible, with the Brown Palace on the left:
Finally, the Cosmopolitan/Metropole Hotel buildings were imploded in May, 1984. Unlike the other images, which are all from the Denver Public Library, this photo is a scanned image from my copy of the book, Denver: A Pictoral History by William C. Jones and Kenton Forrest:
The old Sears & Roebuck building is still there--part of the Wells Fargo complex--with its long blank wall facing the parking lot. And 23 years after the implosion, we're still waiting for something to be built on Block 003-B.
DenverInfill Blog Two Years Old!
We interrupt our "Before They Were Parking Lots" feature presentation for a special announcement: Today marks the two year anniversary of the DenverInfill Blog! As the final element of DenverInfill to be completed, my first blog was on July 5, 2005 when I announced that a 30-story tower to be called One Lincoln Park was to be built. Think about all that's happened Downtown since then!
To celebrate, and to remind us of our mission to eradicate surface parking lots from Downtown Denver, here's a companion photo to the one I posted a few days ago of the Bank One tower under construction in 1979. That other one showed the block we were reviewing better, but this one really reveals the scale and impact of that little demolition effort called the Skyline Urban Renewal Project.
Just imagine the other 20 or so Skyline blocks that you can't see in this image!
Thank you to all of you who regularly read DenverInfill and who share my passion for Downtown Denver and making it the best damn urban center we can. We're getting there!
Just imagine the other 20 or so Skyline blocks that you can't see in this image!
Thank you to all of you who regularly read DenverInfill and who share my passion for Downtown Denver and making it the best damn urban center we can. We're getting there!
Before They Were Parking Lots... Block 176
Today our historical review of the five "worst parking lots" in Downtown Denver focuses on Candidate #3: Block 176. This block is directly across Broadway from yesterday's block, Block 001-B.
The largest building on Block 176 was the Adams Hotel. The Adams was a handsome four-story structure with a cupola, located at the corner of 18th and Welton where the vacant bank drive-thru structure is today. The small three-story structure next to the Adams on the Welton side was the McCallister Building. Here's an image of the Adams Hotel taken between 1902 and 1910 (as before, all images are from the Denver Public Library's Western History and Genealogy website):
Here's a photo (taken sometime between 1900 and 1915) that is very similar to one that I posted yesterday, looking southwest down Welton. The building on the left edge is the Astor Hotel on Block 001-B. The buildings on the right edge are on Block 158 and, beyond that, Block 159 (which, by the way, is currently all parking lot along Welton). The buildings in the center of the image are of Block 176. Two more hotels, the Trinity and the Congress (along with most likely another dozen or so other businesses) occupied the Broadway, 19th Street, and the rest of the Welton side of Block 176. Clearly visible is the Adams Hotel's cupola in the background:
On the opposite side of the block, at 18th and Glenarm across the alley from the Adams, was the Empire Hotel. Here's a photo from the 1920s of the Empire along with a view of the little one-story building that is now the home of Shelby's Bar and Grill:
The largest building on Block 176 was the Adams Hotel. The Adams was a handsome four-story structure with a cupola, located at the corner of 18th and Welton where the vacant bank drive-thru structure is today. The small three-story structure next to the Adams on the Welton side was the McCallister Building. Here's an image of the Adams Hotel taken between 1902 and 1910 (as before, all images are from the Denver Public Library's Western History and Genealogy website):
Here's a photo (taken sometime between 1900 and 1915) that is very similar to one that I posted yesterday, looking southwest down Welton. The building on the left edge is the Astor Hotel on Block 001-B. The buildings on the right edge are on Block 158 and, beyond that, Block 159 (which, by the way, is currently all parking lot along Welton). The buildings in the center of the image are of Block 176. Two more hotels, the Trinity and the Congress (along with most likely another dozen or so other businesses) occupied the Broadway, 19th Street, and the rest of the Welton side of Block 176. Clearly visible is the Adams Hotel's cupola in the background:
On the opposite side of the block, at 18th and Glenarm across the alley from the Adams, was the Empire Hotel. Here's a photo from the 1920s of the Empire along with a view of the little one-story building that is now the home of Shelby's Bar and Grill:
Finally, we'll conclude with two aerial photos from the late 1950s where we can see the beginning of the "parkinglotification" of Downtown Denver. This image, from 1957, shows the Glenarm and Broadway sides of Block 176. The Adams is still visible in the background as well. Of note, however, is Block 001-B in the foreground, where the southern half of the block has become a parking lot:
From a few years later, here's another aerial showing Block 176 at the bottom with a big chunck of the block along Welton demolished in favor of the automobile. Also note that the church at the corner of E. 19th Avenue and Broadway (Block 002-B), visible in the photo above, has been demolished by the time this photo was taken:
The image above also gives us a preview of our next historical look back, Block 003-B. And, if you haven't already, please vote for Downtown Denver's Worst Parking Lot!
From a few years later, here's another aerial showing Block 176 at the bottom with a big chunck of the block along Welton demolished in favor of the automobile. Also note that the church at the corner of E. 19th Avenue and Broadway (Block 002-B), visible in the photo above, has been demolished by the time this photo was taken:
The image above also gives us a preview of our next historical look back, Block 003-B. And, if you haven't already, please vote for Downtown Denver's Worst Parking Lot!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Before They Were Parking Lots... Block 001-B
Next up in our look back at our five "worst parking lot" sites before they were parking lots is Candidate #2: Block 001-B.
Again, all of these photos were obtained from the Denver Public Library's online Western History and Genealogy Digital Image Collection. These are low-resolution versions that were taken from their website. But, if you go to the collection's home on the fifth floor of the Central Library downtown, you can view these images on the library's computers at their full resolution which, in many cases, is exceptionally high.
So, what was originally on Block 001-B? The block held a number of small hotels and other businesses in three- and four-story buildings. Here's a photo from around 1910 showing the intersection of Broadway, Welton, 19th and E. 20th Avenue. The buildings on the right are on the northwest corner of Block 001-B. The building in the center, the Crest Hotel, is where the 32-story One Lincoln Park project is currently under construction on Block 177. The building on the left was the Hamilton-Campbell Grocers and is now home to the 43-story 1999 Broadway tower on Block 158:
Here's another photo from the same era looking southwest down Welton toward the same intersection:
This photo of the same intersection was taken in 1921 and is looking straight north up Broadway. Block 001-B is on the right. Shown here is the beginning of the "Broadway Extension" street project. Prior to this time, Broadway came to an end at Welton Street. In this photo, the buildings along the Welton side of Block 158 are being demolished so that Broadway can be extended north across the diagonal Downtown grid that stretches toward the Curtis Park neighborhood:
Next up is Block 176... and don't forget to vote!
Again, all of these photos were obtained from the Denver Public Library's online Western History and Genealogy Digital Image Collection. These are low-resolution versions that were taken from their website. But, if you go to the collection's home on the fifth floor of the Central Library downtown, you can view these images on the library's computers at their full resolution which, in many cases, is exceptionally high.
So, what was originally on Block 001-B? The block held a number of small hotels and other businesses in three- and four-story buildings. Here's a photo from around 1910 showing the intersection of Broadway, Welton, 19th and E. 20th Avenue. The buildings on the right are on the northwest corner of Block 001-B. The building in the center, the Crest Hotel, is where the 32-story One Lincoln Park project is currently under construction on Block 177. The building on the left was the Hamilton-Campbell Grocers and is now home to the 43-story 1999 Broadway tower on Block 158:
Here's another photo from the same era looking southwest down Welton toward the same intersection:
This photo of the same intersection was taken in 1921 and is looking straight north up Broadway. Block 001-B is on the right. Shown here is the beginning of the "Broadway Extension" street project. Prior to this time, Broadway came to an end at Welton Street. In this photo, the buildings along the Welton side of Block 158 are being demolished so that Broadway can be extended north across the diagonal Downtown grid that stretches toward the Curtis Park neighborhood:
Next up is Block 176... and don't forget to vote!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Before They Were Parking Lots... Block 039
Since so many of you (including me) are interested in the history of our five candidate blocks for "Downtown Denver's Worst Parking Lot," I'm going to do a brief photo retrospective on each between now and Sunday when the voting closes. (If you haven't voted yet, go here!)
All of these historical photos are courtesy of the Denver Public Library's extensive online Western History and Genealogy Digital Image Collection.
Today we'll start with Candidate #1, Block 039. It was tough finding any images from the Market side of this block where the existing surface parking lot is. This is all I could find:
From sometime between 1890 - 1910, here's the Windsor Hotel at 18th and Larimer (Larimer is on the right, 18th is on the left) with the building at the corner of 18th and Market visible in the background. The Windsor Hotel was razed in 1959 and was replaced with the VOA's Sunset Park residential project (Block 049) in the 1970s:
All of these historical photos are courtesy of the Denver Public Library's extensive online Western History and Genealogy Digital Image Collection.
Today we'll start with Candidate #1, Block 039. It was tough finding any images from the Market side of this block where the existing surface parking lot is. This is all I could find:
From sometime between 1890 - 1910, here's the Windsor Hotel at 18th and Larimer (Larimer is on the right, 18th is on the left) with the building at the corner of 18th and Market visible in the background. The Windsor Hotel was razed in 1959 and was replaced with the VOA's Sunset Park residential project (Block 049) in the 1970s:
