Sunday, September 30, 2007
Block 162: Now Down to Two
Downtown Denver's Block 162 is now down to just two buildings: the historic Fontius and McClintock buildings. This weekend, the last remnants of the old Republic Hotel building at the corner of 15th and California were being scooped up and hauled away. Now, three-quarters of the block is clear for the future mixed-use high-rise project planned by Denver developer Evan Makovsky. This November, an Urban Land Institute panel will come to Denver at the request of Mr. Makovsky to analyze the site, the Downtown market, etc., and make recommendations regarding the scale, orientation, and mix of uses for the site. Once Makovsky's plans have been finalized, by late 2008 or early 2009, construction could begin.
Meanwhile, renovation work on the Fontius will proceed over the course of the next year, with the goal being to have the exterior of the Fontius restored to its former glory by the start of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Meanwhile, renovation work on the Fontius will proceed over the course of the next year, with the goal being to have the exterior of the Fontius restored to its former glory by the start of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Denver Justice Center Construction Progress
Since the demolition of the Post Office building at 14th & Elati a few weeks ago, the last building to be removed on the two-block site of the new Denver Justice Center, good progress has been made on construction of the new facility. Here's a photo from this weekend showing that foundation work is well underway for the detention facility side of the complex:
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Denver's Four Seasons Construction Underway!
In case you didn't hear the news, Denver's 45-story Four Seasons Hotel & Residences project on Block 074 officially broke ground Monday afternoon. What a relief it is to have that long-planned project finally underway! It will have a big impact on the Denver skyline.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the groundbreaking, but here's an article about the event from the Rocky's John Rebchook: Four Seasons Construction Begins
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the groundbreaking, but here's an article about the event from the Rocky's John Rebchook: Four Seasons Construction Begins
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Downtown Denver Demolition Weekend
There was a lot of demolition going on this weekend in Downtown Denver in anticipation of several new urban infill projects poised to start construction. Let's take a look:
Denver Four Seasons Hotel & Residences (Block 074): As reported a few days ago, the official groundbreaking ceremony will happen Monday, September 24. This weekend, the parking lot was being dismantled:
1755 Blake (Block 021): The small two-story building sitting near the corner of 18th and Blake--the one ultimately ruled not-historic-enough by the Lower Downtown Design Review Board--is now history. It, along with the surrounding parking lot, was demolished this weekend:
1800 Larimer (Block 066): The demolition of the low-scale medical office complex and Japanese restaurant that occupied the site continued this weekend. All that is left is the rubble:
Makovsky Project (Block 162): It didn't take long after the old Bank of Denver building was demolished before the old Republic Hotel building next door at 15th and California started coming down. By Sunday afternoon, it was already half gone:
Fontius Building (Block 162): No, the Fontius isn't being demolished. The 1923 structure at 16th and Welton is part of the Downtown Denver Historic District and certainly worthy of preservation, no matter how dilapidated the interior. But, that didn't stop an errant driver from crashing into the Welton side of the building this weekend! As if Evan Makovsky didn't already have enough things to do at the Fontius, now he has this to fix too:
Coincidently, I have a photo of the inside of the building right where the car crashed. It was one of the photos I didn't bother to post as part of my Inside the Fontius special feature, but I might as well post it now:
1755 Blake (Block 021): The small two-story building sitting near the corner of 18th and Blake--the one ultimately ruled not-historic-enough by the Lower Downtown Design Review Board--is now history. It, along with the surrounding parking lot, was demolished this weekend:
1800 Larimer (Block 066): The demolition of the low-scale medical office complex and Japanese restaurant that occupied the site continued this weekend. All that is left is the rubble:
Makovsky Project (Block 162): It didn't take long after the old Bank of Denver building was demolished before the old Republic Hotel building next door at 15th and California started coming down. By Sunday afternoon, it was already half gone:
Fontius Building (Block 162): No, the Fontius isn't being demolished. The 1923 structure at 16th and Welton is part of the Downtown Denver Historic District and certainly worthy of preservation, no matter how dilapidated the interior. But, that didn't stop an errant driver from crashing into the Welton side of the building this weekend! As if Evan Makovsky didn't already have enough things to do at the Fontius, now he has this to fix too:
Coincidently, I have a photo of the inside of the building right where the car crashed. It was one of the photos I didn't bother to post as part of my Inside the Fontius special feature, but I might as well post it now:
Friday, September 21, 2007
Inside the Fontius
Have you ever wondered what it's like inside the Fontius Building, the deteriorating historic structure at 16th and Welton in Downtown Denver that's sat mostly vacant for the last twenty years? Me too.
Evan Makovsky just recently took possession of the building from the Cook family and, thanks to Mr. Makovsky, Ben Kuruvila, and the rest of the good folks at Shames-Makovsky Realty, I was given the opportunity to photograph the interior of the Fontius before any remodeling gets underway. I'm happy to share a selection of those photos with you at my newest DenverInfill special feature: Inside the Fontius.
You're going to be amazed at what you see. Here's a sample:
Fortunately, it won't look like this for much longer.
Evan Makovsky just recently took possession of the building from the Cook family and, thanks to Mr. Makovsky, Ben Kuruvila, and the rest of the good folks at Shames-Makovsky Realty, I was given the opportunity to photograph the interior of the Fontius before any remodeling gets underway. I'm happy to share a selection of those photos with you at my newest DenverInfill special feature: Inside the Fontius.
You're going to be amazed at what you see. Here's a sample:
Fortunately, it won't look like this for much longer.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
September 24 Groundbreaking Set for Denver Four Seasons
The title of this post says it all... Downtown Denver's 45-story Four Seasons project is planning a September 24 groundbreaking, according to the Denver Business Journal.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Downtown Denver 1755 Blake Site Closed for Construction
Yes, this post's title looks a lot like the previous post's title. On basically the same day, two major Downtown Denver urban infill projects started closing down and barricading off their sites. First, it was the Four Seasons tower. Now we have the 1755 Blake project site that is also getting ready for construction.
1755 Blake is a 5-story, 125,000 SF office building planned for the corner of 18th and Blake on Block 021 in Lower Downtown. The existing ugly surface parking lot is now closed and covered pedestrian walkways and traffic barricades are starting to be installed along the streets and sidewalks. A small building on the site will also have to be demolished before site excavation can begin.
Between the Four Seasons and 1755 Blake projects, about a full city block of surface parking lots has just met its fate today in Downtown Denver!
1755 Blake is a 5-story, 125,000 SF office building planned for the corner of 18th and Blake on Block 021 in Lower Downtown. The existing ugly surface parking lot is now closed and covered pedestrian walkways and traffic barricades are starting to be installed along the streets and sidewalks. A small building on the site will also have to be demolished before site excavation can begin.
Between the Four Seasons and 1755 Blake projects, about a full city block of surface parking lots has just met its fate today in Downtown Denver!
Downtown Denver Four Seasons Site Closed for Construction
The surface parking lot on 14th Street between Lawrence and Arapahoe that covers about two-thirds of Block 074--the site of Downtown Denver's proposed Four Seasons Hotel & Residences tower--has been closed.
The parking lot is empty of cars and concrete barricades are now in place closing off one lane around the perimeter of the site. Take a look (many thanks to Bob H. for the photo!):
I'd say this is a very good sign construction on the long-planned 45-story tower is about to begin!
The parking lot is empty of cars and concrete barricades are now in place closing off one lane around the perimeter of the site. Take a look (many thanks to Bob H. for the photo!):
I'd say this is a very good sign construction on the long-planned 45-story tower is about to begin!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Denver Justice Center Final Design: The Courthouse
Earlier this month, I posted some high-resolution images of the Detention Center component of the new Denver Justice Center, now under construction on Blocks 011-W and 012-W in Downtown Denver's Civic Center district. Today I'm happy to post a whole slew of additional images--this time of the Courthouse building and the overall site plan for the complex. These images are courtesy of klipp (thanks, Angela!). The design team for the Courthouse is klipp, RicciGreene Associates, and Harold Massop Associates Architects. The design team for the site plan consists of those same firms plus studioINSITE. Make sure you click and expand/zoom on these images to view them that at their maximum size. Here we go:
First, the overall site plan. To get you oriented, West is "up" with Colfax Avenue on the right, Delaware Street at the bottom, 14th Avenue on the left, Fox Street at the top, and Elati Street in the center. The Courthouse is at the top, the Detention Center at the bottom, and the Parking Garage/Post Office at the bottom-left. The Hardscape Plan is the image on the left and on the right is the Landscape Plan.
Here are a few additional site plans showing the proposed Lighting (left) and Furnishings (right):
Finally, here are some different perspectives of the model of the Courthouse. This is the view from the north side of Colfax looking southwest. Of note is one new element the architects recently added: the vertical slit in the façade section above the main entrance that is angled in line with the Downtown grid. This illuminated design element will serve as a visual anchor and terminus to the view looking down Tremont from Upper Downtown.
Here's the perspective looking northwest from 14th and Elati:
The perspective looking northeast from 14th and Fox:
Finally, here are straight-on views of the Elati (top) and Fox (bottom) street elevations:
The Parking Garage/Post Office component is already complete. Construction on the rest of the complex should be finished by late 2009/early 2010.
First, the overall site plan. To get you oriented, West is "up" with Colfax Avenue on the right, Delaware Street at the bottom, 14th Avenue on the left, Fox Street at the top, and Elati Street in the center. The Courthouse is at the top, the Detention Center at the bottom, and the Parking Garage/Post Office at the bottom-left. The Hardscape Plan is the image on the left and on the right is the Landscape Plan.
Here are a few additional site plans showing the proposed Lighting (left) and Furnishings (right):
Finally, here are some different perspectives of the model of the Courthouse. This is the view from the north side of Colfax looking southwest. Of note is one new element the architects recently added: the vertical slit in the façade section above the main entrance that is angled in line with the Downtown grid. This illuminated design element will serve as a visual anchor and terminus to the view looking down Tremont from Upper Downtown.
Here's the perspective looking northwest from 14th and Elati:
The perspective looking northeast from 14th and Fox:
Finally, here are straight-on views of the Elati (top) and Fox (bottom) street elevations:
The Parking Garage/Post Office component is already complete. Construction on the rest of the complex should be finished by late 2009/early 2010.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Demolition Underway at 1800 Larimer
The old medical offices and other low-scale buildings that have occupied the Larimer side of Block 066 are just about history. Demolition at the site began a few days ago to make way for Westfield Development's proposed 1800 Larimer project, a 22-story, 500,000 SF office building.
Here are two photos from yesterday:
This is a great sign the 1800 Larimer project is moving forward as planned. Hopefully, site excavation and construction will begin soon after demolition is complete.
Also of note is that fact that, as part of this demolition, Downtown will lose another of its 1970s-era skybridges that connects this block with Block 065 next door, home of Sakura Square. There aren't too many of the old skybridges left, thankfully. Skybridges may work in places like Minneapolis where the winter weather doesn't make walking around outside too much fun. But it was a bad idea for Denver, with our generally sunny, dry, and mild winter weather. All that the skybridges did--regardless of season--was to abandon the streets of Downtown to the automobile. Now, almost forty years later, the core principle of our new Downtown Area Plan is to reclaim Downtown's streets for the pedestrian. Once again, here we are in the 21st Century trying to restore our Downtown back into what it was a century ago. Who needs infill when your Downtown looks like this?
Not a parking lot in sight!
photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History Collection
Here are two photos from yesterday:
This is a great sign the 1800 Larimer project is moving forward as planned. Hopefully, site excavation and construction will begin soon after demolition is complete.
Also of note is that fact that, as part of this demolition, Downtown will lose another of its 1970s-era skybridges that connects this block with Block 065 next door, home of Sakura Square. There aren't too many of the old skybridges left, thankfully. Skybridges may work in places like Minneapolis where the winter weather doesn't make walking around outside too much fun. But it was a bad idea for Denver, with our generally sunny, dry, and mild winter weather. All that the skybridges did--regardless of season--was to abandon the streets of Downtown to the automobile. Now, almost forty years later, the core principle of our new Downtown Area Plan is to reclaim Downtown's streets for the pedestrian. Once again, here we are in the 21st Century trying to restore our Downtown back into what it was a century ago. Who needs infill when your Downtown looks like this?
Not a parking lot in sight!
photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History Collection
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Downtown Portland Perspectives, Part 2
Trees. They are such a critical element in a downtown streetscape, given all the concrete, asphalt, brick, and other hard and heat-radiating surfaces found in urban centers. In Denver, our Downtown treescape is in poor shape. The trees along 16th Street are generally in good condition and have grown over the past 25 years to create a relatively nice canopy along the Mall. But venture down just about any other Downtown Denver street, and you'll find plenty of frail specimens looking all battered and abused, jagged stumps poking up from the sidewalk like broken-off toothpicks, and empty tree grates harboring weeds. Given the ubiquitous sunshine in Denver and our increasingly scorching summers, we need all the Downtown trees we can get.
In Portland, Oregon, most streets in the Downtown area are lined with a generous dose of leafy cover. It made a huge difference in enjoying the two days--hot and sunny days--I recently spent wandering around their Downtown. Take a look:
Granted, Portland's climate is much more conducive to growing trees than is Denver's, but that just means we have to try a little harder. The few mature trees scattered here and there around Downtown Denver demonstrate that we can grow healthy trees in Downtown, we just have to give them some extra TLC. Mayor Hickenlooper wants to plant one million trees in metro Denver over the next decade or so. Several thousand of those should end up in Downtown. But planting new trees isn't the problem--it's maintaining the trees after they're planted. As part of the implementation of the new Downtown Area Plan and its call for green and pedestrian-friendly streets, we need to develop a long-term strategy for planting and taking care of our Downtown trees. The current system of requiring property owners to care for the trees adjacent to their property isn't working--at least not in the Downtown area. With the way that most of the surface parking lot owners maintain their property, is it any surprise so many of our Downtown trees are poorly maintained too?
Downtown Denver has a lot going for it, but the quality and quantity of our Downtown treescape is lacking. We can do better. I hope we will follow Portland's example and, despite our hot and dry climate, line our Downtown streets with lush greenery. If you agree, I hope you'll take the time to let our public officials know that we need a comprehensive Downtown tree and streetscape maintenance program.
In Portland, Oregon, most streets in the Downtown area are lined with a generous dose of leafy cover. It made a huge difference in enjoying the two days--hot and sunny days--I recently spent wandering around their Downtown. Take a look:
Granted, Portland's climate is much more conducive to growing trees than is Denver's, but that just means we have to try a little harder. The few mature trees scattered here and there around Downtown Denver demonstrate that we can grow healthy trees in Downtown, we just have to give them some extra TLC. Mayor Hickenlooper wants to plant one million trees in metro Denver over the next decade or so. Several thousand of those should end up in Downtown. But planting new trees isn't the problem--it's maintaining the trees after they're planted. As part of the implementation of the new Downtown Area Plan and its call for green and pedestrian-friendly streets, we need to develop a long-term strategy for planting and taking care of our Downtown trees. The current system of requiring property owners to care for the trees adjacent to their property isn't working--at least not in the Downtown area. With the way that most of the surface parking lot owners maintain their property, is it any surprise so many of our Downtown trees are poorly maintained too?
Downtown Denver has a lot going for it, but the quality and quantity of our Downtown treescape is lacking. We can do better. I hope we will follow Portland's example and, despite our hot and dry climate, line our Downtown streets with lush greenery. If you agree, I hope you'll take the time to let our public officials know that we need a comprehensive Downtown tree and streetscape maintenance program.
Streetcar Workshop Coming to Denver
If you're a believer in streetcars like me and support the return of the streetcar to central Denver, then you should plan on attending the Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century workshop coming to Denver later this month.
The program will be held on September 27 and is being presented by the Seaside Institute and Reconnecting America. Here's a link to where you can register online and get all the details.
You should also check out the Denver Streetcars website at http://www.denverstreetcars.net/index.htm. Produced by students at the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado, the website provides a brief history of Denver's once-extensive streetcar system, an overview of new streetcar proposals, and lots of other good information.
After FasTracks is complete, RTD's entire light rail and commuter rail system will extend about 150 miles--about half the length of the streetcar network Denver once had.
The program will be held on September 27 and is being presented by the Seaside Institute and Reconnecting America. Here's a link to where you can register online and get all the details.
You should also check out the Denver Streetcars website at http://www.denverstreetcars.net/index.htm. Produced by students at the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado, the website provides a brief history of Denver's once-extensive streetcar system, an overview of new streetcar proposals, and lots of other good information.
After FasTracks is complete, RTD's entire light rail and commuter rail system will extend about 150 miles--about half the length of the streetcar network Denver once had.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
What To Do With Block 162?
As you Downtown Denver fans know, developer Evan Makovsky recently acquired the majority of Block 162 with plans to renovate the historic Steel's (Fontius) building, as well as construct a major mixed-use development on most of the rest of the block. It will take a year or two to fully study and develop the best uses and design for that new mixed-use project. In the interim, Mr. Makovsky and the Downtown Denver Partnership would like to make good use of the parcels along 15th and California where the old Bank of Denver and Republic Hotel buildings are under demolition.
Got any good ideas? Here's your chance to help out. Please read the following press release from the Partnership:
Downtown Denver Partnership Launches The Ultimate Urban Space Initiative for Makovsky’s Block 162
The Downtown Denver Partnership is appealing to the community for creative ideas on interim uses a significant portion of Block 162, the Downtown block between Welton Street, California Street, 15th Street and the 16th Street Mall. This call for ideas is in response to the request of Evan Makovsky of Shames Makovsky Realty Co. Makovsky acquired the majority of Block 162, including the Steel’s Building (otherwise known as the “Fontius Building”), in summer 2007.
Until Makovsky assembled this property, the fragmented property ownership of Block 162 had discouraged development efforts for many years, resulting in a severely under-utilized parcel of land in the core of Downtown Denver, just one block away from the Colorado Convention Center.
“Block 162 could be greatly enhanced during the period of time in which redevelopment options are being studied, and we are thankful to Evan for giving the Partnership this opportunity to lead the process,” said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “In the end, whatever use is designated must be temporary, while creating an exciting use of the space. This will not only provide a much needed upgrade to the appearance of this block, but could also encourage the redevelopment of adjacent properties.”
The location for this temporary project is the current site of the Republic Hotel and the Bank of Denver buildings, both undergoing demolition. It has an area of 31,250 square feet, with 125 feet of frontage on 15th Street and a 250 foot frontage on California Street. The goal is to have this project completed for the Democratic National Convention in August of 2008.
Submission Process for The Ultimate Urban Space: All ideas should be submitted to info@downtowndenver.com for evaluation, and should contain the following information:
1. Name and contact information for person submitting idea
2. General concept (200 word maximum)
3. Possible sources of funding and/or sponsorships
The deadline for submissions is October 5, 2007.
Got any good ideas? Here's your chance to help out. Please read the following press release from the Partnership:
Downtown Denver Partnership Launches The Ultimate Urban Space Initiative for Makovsky’s Block 162
The Downtown Denver Partnership is appealing to the community for creative ideas on interim uses a significant portion of Block 162, the Downtown block between Welton Street, California Street, 15th Street and the 16th Street Mall. This call for ideas is in response to the request of Evan Makovsky of Shames Makovsky Realty Co. Makovsky acquired the majority of Block 162, including the Steel’s Building (otherwise known as the “Fontius Building”), in summer 2007.
Until Makovsky assembled this property, the fragmented property ownership of Block 162 had discouraged development efforts for many years, resulting in a severely under-utilized parcel of land in the core of Downtown Denver, just one block away from the Colorado Convention Center.
“Block 162 could be greatly enhanced during the period of time in which redevelopment options are being studied, and we are thankful to Evan for giving the Partnership this opportunity to lead the process,” said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “In the end, whatever use is designated must be temporary, while creating an exciting use of the space. This will not only provide a much needed upgrade to the appearance of this block, but could also encourage the redevelopment of adjacent properties.”
The location for this temporary project is the current site of the Republic Hotel and the Bank of Denver buildings, both undergoing demolition. It has an area of 31,250 square feet, with 125 feet of frontage on 15th Street and a 250 foot frontage on California Street. The goal is to have this project completed for the Democratic National Convention in August of 2008.
Submission Process for The Ultimate Urban Space: All ideas should be submitted to info@downtowndenver.com for evaluation, and should contain the following information:
1. Name and contact information for person submitting idea
2. General concept (200 word maximum)
3. Possible sources of funding and/or sponsorships
The deadline for submissions is October 5, 2007.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Summer 2007 Downtown Denver Crane Census
In honor of this 2007 Labor Day holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to document the workhorse of the infill construction site: the tower crane. Currently, there are 10 tower cranes in the Downtown Denver area.
This is the most number of cranes in Downtown Denver since the mid-1980s. By the start of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008, we'll have probably lost a few that are currently in place, but we'll have certainly gained many others by then, including 1515 Wynkoop, Denver Justice Center, 1900 16th Street, 1800 Larimer, Two Tabor Center, Embassy Suites, CityHouse, Four Seasons, and probably several more. In all, I predict about 18-20 cranes looming above Downtown Denver when the Dems are here next Fall.
Without further ado, here's a photo census of the tower cranes in Downtown Denver, Labor Day 2007:
Spire:
Sugar3:
RiverClay:
Zi Lofts:
1400 Wewatta:
One Lincoln Park:
1200 Elati:
2120 Market:
816 Acoma:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
This is the most number of cranes in Downtown Denver since the mid-1980s. By the start of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008, we'll have probably lost a few that are currently in place, but we'll have certainly gained many others by then, including 1515 Wynkoop, Denver Justice Center, 1900 16th Street, 1800 Larimer, Two Tabor Center, Embassy Suites, CityHouse, Four Seasons, and probably several more. In all, I predict about 18-20 cranes looming above Downtown Denver when the Dems are here next Fall.
Without further ado, here's a photo census of the tower cranes in Downtown Denver, Labor Day 2007:
Spire:
Sugar3:
RiverClay:
Zi Lofts:
1400 Wewatta:
One Lincoln Park:
1200 Elati:
2120 Market:
816 Acoma:
Downtown Denver: Rebuilding the Core
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Denver Justice Center Final Design
Mary Voelz Chandler at the Rocky Mountain News reported Thursday on the new Denver Justice Center that is currently under construction in the Civic Center district in Downtown Denver. Here's her article, which offers a good description of the final design for the complex: Final Design of Justice Center Revealed
Two images accompanied the article: a photograph of a model of the Courthouse building being designed by klipp, and an artist's rendering of the Detention Facility, which is being designed by Hartman-Cox Architects and OZ Architecture. Here's a high-resolution image of the Detention Facility, which includes in the central plaza a $1.2 million public art piece being crafted by New York artist Dennis Oppenheim. This image is courtesy of OZ Architecture (thanks, Maria!):
Since I'm still trying to obtain a high-resolution version of the final Courthouse design, here's a rendering of the Courthouse taken from the klipp website. Note: this is not the final design--but it's close enough for you to get the general idea:
When I get something official on the Courthouse final design, you know I'll post it here at DenverInfill.
Meanwhile, the new Parking Garage/Post Office component of the justice center complex is finished, and the old post office building--the only building that was remaining on Blocks 011-W and 012-W--has just been razed. So, it's full-speed ahead for the main Courthouse and Detention Facility structures, with the whole complex scheduled to be complete by Spring 2010.
Since I'm still trying to obtain a high-resolution version of the final Courthouse design, here's a rendering of the Courthouse taken from the klipp website. Note: this is not the final design--but it's close enough for you to get the general idea:
When I get something official on the Courthouse final design, you know I'll post it here at DenverInfill.
Meanwhile, the new Parking Garage/Post Office component of the justice center complex is finished, and the old post office building--the only building that was remaining on Blocks 011-W and 012-W--has just been razed. So, it's full-speed ahead for the main Courthouse and Detention Facility structures, with the whole complex scheduled to be complete by Spring 2010.
