Tuesday, February 26, 2008
New Hotel Proposed for Block 131
A new 29-story hotel has been proposed for the corner of 14th and Stout on Downtown Denver's Block 131. The vacant site, currently a surface parking lot, is located across the street from the Colorado Convention Center and would share the block with the Nichols Partnership's 41-story Spire project currently under construction. The site is also where St. Charles Town Company once planned a 30-story age-restricted condominium tower before selling the site to Focus Property Group, a co-developer of the proposed new hotel.
The hotel project was first reported last Friday in the Denver Business Journal. Here's the article by the Journal's Noelle Leavitt: Developers respond to idea for downtown Denver hotel
If this project becomes a reality, it will join about a half dozen other projects along 14th Street that total about $1 billion in private-sector investment. Add in the nearly $1 billion in public-sector investments made along 14th in the form of the Colorado Convention Center, the Hyatt Hotel, and the Performing Arts Complex, and it's no wonder that 14th Street is becoming one of Downtown Denver's hottest streets.
But what really amazes me is this: if the only thing that was currently happening in Downtown Denver was just a couple billion dollars-worth of investment along 14th Street, that would be reason enough to celebrate and to declare this a solid mini-boom. But, also add in all the development occurring in that corner of Downtown called the Central Platte Valley; the half-billion dollar Union Station transit development; the ubiquitous LoDo office/mixed-use projects; the new buildings planned for the Auraria Campus; the one-two-three combination of the Denver Justice Center, Colorado History Museum, and Colorado Justice Center projects in Civic Center; and a few "miscellaneous" projects like Block 162, Two Tabor Center, and One Lincoln Park... and I'd say we're experiencing a boom in Downtown unlike anything we have seen in generations.
Granted, the late 1970s/early 1980s boom added dozens of towering skyscrapers to our skyline, but that boom was almost entirely focused on office construction and, when it was done, left Downtown Denver just as quiet and empty in the evenings and on the weekends as before. This time, it's different. This time, the boom is occurring all throughout Downtown in every district, in every direction. This time, the boom is being fueled by both the private sector and the public sector. This time, the boom includes projects of virtually every kind--hotels, condos, apartments, offices, retail, cultural, educational, governmental, and public works projects too. This time, the boom is not merely a collection of concurrent construction projects, but an across-the-board intensification of things that will make Downtown more interesting, vibrant, walkable, engaging--you know, urban.
For every boom there is a bust, and we seem to know that all too well here in Denver, Colorado. But for right now, take a good look at what is happening Downtown and enjoy it.
The hotel project was first reported last Friday in the Denver Business Journal. Here's the article by the Journal's Noelle Leavitt: Developers respond to idea for downtown Denver hotel
If this project becomes a reality, it will join about a half dozen other projects along 14th Street that total about $1 billion in private-sector investment. Add in the nearly $1 billion in public-sector investments made along 14th in the form of the Colorado Convention Center, the Hyatt Hotel, and the Performing Arts Complex, and it's no wonder that 14th Street is becoming one of Downtown Denver's hottest streets.
But what really amazes me is this: if the only thing that was currently happening in Downtown Denver was just a couple billion dollars-worth of investment along 14th Street, that would be reason enough to celebrate and to declare this a solid mini-boom. But, also add in all the development occurring in that corner of Downtown called the Central Platte Valley; the half-billion dollar Union Station transit development; the ubiquitous LoDo office/mixed-use projects; the new buildings planned for the Auraria Campus; the one-two-three combination of the Denver Justice Center, Colorado History Museum, and Colorado Justice Center projects in Civic Center; and a few "miscellaneous" projects like Block 162, Two Tabor Center, and One Lincoln Park... and I'd say we're experiencing a boom in Downtown unlike anything we have seen in generations.
Granted, the late 1970s/early 1980s boom added dozens of towering skyscrapers to our skyline, but that boom was almost entirely focused on office construction and, when it was done, left Downtown Denver just as quiet and empty in the evenings and on the weekends as before. This time, it's different. This time, the boom is occurring all throughout Downtown in every district, in every direction. This time, the boom is being fueled by both the private sector and the public sector. This time, the boom includes projects of virtually every kind--hotels, condos, apartments, offices, retail, cultural, educational, governmental, and public works projects too. This time, the boom is not merely a collection of concurrent construction projects, but an across-the-board intensification of things that will make Downtown more interesting, vibrant, walkable, engaging--you know, urban.
For every boom there is a bust, and we seem to know that all too well here in Denver, Colorado. But for right now, take a good look at what is happening Downtown and enjoy it.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Alexan Park Avenue Planned for Uptown District
A new project is coming to Downtown Denver's Uptown district. Cherokee Denver and Trammell Crow Residential are moving forward with "Alexan Park Avenue," the first phase of the redevelopment of the Children's Hospital former site.
The project will consist of 325 rental apartments, structured parking, and 10,000 SF of ground-floor retail on the two blocks on both sides of E. 19th Avenue between Ogden and Emerson. The 3.64-acre site was zoned "H-2" (hospital) until this past week's City Council meeting, at which Council approved a rezoning of the site to "R-4X."
Here's an aerial photo showing the project's location on the two blocks:
All of the structures inside the site boundary will be razed. In fact, demolition is already underway on some of the structures on the northern block. Demolition of the small building on the southern block is planned for March. The two small triangles on the southern block excluded from the development are owned by the City and County of Denver and are designated as Park Avenue green space. As part of the development agreement, the developer will install an underground irrigation system on the two triangular plots, landscape them, and maintain them on behalf of the city.
The development program for the site includes several buildings ranging from 3 to 5 stories in height. The proposed architectural design of the project will complement the historic buildings of the adjacent San Rafael Historic District. The project's retail component will face E. 19th Avenue to extend the existing neighborhood-scale retail found along E. 19th Avenue to the west in the Uptown Square project.
Construction should get underway later in 2008.
The project will consist of 325 rental apartments, structured parking, and 10,000 SF of ground-floor retail on the two blocks on both sides of E. 19th Avenue between Ogden and Emerson. The 3.64-acre site was zoned "H-2" (hospital) until this past week's City Council meeting, at which Council approved a rezoning of the site to "R-4X."
Here's an aerial photo showing the project's location on the two blocks:
All of the structures inside the site boundary will be razed. In fact, demolition is already underway on some of the structures on the northern block. Demolition of the small building on the southern block is planned for March. The two small triangles on the southern block excluded from the development are owned by the City and County of Denver and are designated as Park Avenue green space. As part of the development agreement, the developer will install an underground irrigation system on the two triangular plots, landscape them, and maintain them on behalf of the city.
The development program for the site includes several buildings ranging from 3 to 5 stories in height. The proposed architectural design of the project will complement the historic buildings of the adjacent San Rafael Historic District. The project's retail component will face E. 19th Avenue to extend the existing neighborhood-scale retail found along E. 19th Avenue to the west in the Uptown Square project.
Construction should get underway later in 2008.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Embassy Suites Files for Building Permit
The proposed Embassy Suites hotel project on Block 138 in Downtown Denver filed its building permit application with the city on February 14. Sign-offs on the various permit categories like mechanical, electrical, structural, etc. all still have to occur, which usually takes several months, but it is good to finally see this project moving forward.
I recently complained about this slow-moving project and the lack of information about it provided to the public. We still don't know much about the project, but at least it appears to be making progress. The last information I heard was that it was still planned at 250 rooms in a 20-story building, but who knows if that is still accurate? Either way, it will be nice to see the Alpine Demolition equipment and rubble removed and a real construction site take its place.
I recently complained about this slow-moving project and the lack of information about it provided to the public. We still don't know much about the project, but at least it appears to be making progress. The last information I heard was that it was still planned at 250 rooms in a 20-story building, but who knows if that is still accurate? Either way, it will be nice to see the Alpine Demolition equipment and rubble removed and a real construction site take its place.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Curtis Park - Five Points District Page Upgrade
Just a quick post to let you know I've finally finished the upgrade of the Curtis Park-Five Points district page. In addition to the new look, I've updated all of the project descriptions and added many new project construction photos--several of which are courtesy of Vicki H. and Nathan R. Just a couple more districts to go, then it's on to downtown proper...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Prospect District Infill Update: Alexan Prospect
The Alexan Prospect residential project planned by Trammell Crow Residential is currently in development review with the city planning office. The project is slated for the area surrounding the Ajax Lofts, where the other six buildings of the Prospect Place project were once proposed. Here's a rendering giving us an idea of what the project will look like:
Alexan Prospect will include 400 rental units with structured parking. I'm not sure if the project is to include any retail space or not. In my opinion, it should have some small retail focus, like a coffee shop or a neighborhood restaurant or something as a community gathering place.
Alexan Prospect will include 400 rental units with structured parking. I'm not sure if the project is to include any retail space or not. In my opinion, it should have some small retail focus, like a coffee shop or a neighborhood restaurant or something as a community gathering place.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Downtown Denver "W Hotel" Project Update
The W Hotel & Residences project slated for the Office Depot location at the corner of 16th and Market on Downtown Denver's Block 046 is working its way throught the design review process with the Lower Downtown Design Review Board.
Back in November 2007, the project received approval from the LDDRB for building mass, form, and height. At that time, the developer, Sage Hospitality, also announced that they had reduced the number of residential condominiums from approximately 60 to 14 and increased the number of hotel rooms from 180 to approximately 235. The number of underground parking levels was also reduced from three to one.
As currently approved, the building will be 12-stories (130 feet) in height along the 16th Street Mall, from the alley to the corner, and for approximately half the distance along the Market Street side, where the building will then step down to 5 stories (55 feet) in height the rest of the way along Market until it meets the side of the historic Rocky Mountain Seeds building. The entire 5-story section, as well the first 8 stories (85 feet) of the 12-story section, will feature a mostly masonry façade. Above 85 feet, the remaining four floors will be set back 15 feet and will feature a glass façade. A signature design element of the project will be a 4-story "glass box" with randomly tilted vertical metal bars (subtly suggesting a bunch of "W"s) that will be located right at the 16th and Market corner above the ground floor. A similar (but smaller) design element will be featured farther down on the Market Street side.
The ground floor and 2nd floor will contain the lobby, meeting rooms, and other hotel amenities and functions, with hotel rooms located on floors 3 through 5. The 6th floor will hold a spa and restaurant and, on the rooftop of the 5-story section, a pool and pavilion. More hotel rooms will be located on floors 7 and 8, with the condos occupying floors 9 through 12. The building will also feature a green roof.
At the February 7, 2008 LDDRB meeting, the project was approved for fenestration (design and arrangement of windows and doors), but a request by the developer for a minor change in the already-approved building mass and form was denied. The project will likely return to the LDDRB in March or April for approval of exterior materials and façade detailing, as well as perhaps another attempt at the minor change in the building's mass and form. Hopefully, by late spring, the W Hotel project will have all of its approvals from the LDDRB, and later this summer, the Office Depot relocated to a new downtown location. Ideally, that would be followed by building demolition in the fall and perhaps the start of construction by the end of the year.
Back in November 2007, the project received approval from the LDDRB for building mass, form, and height. At that time, the developer, Sage Hospitality, also announced that they had reduced the number of residential condominiums from approximately 60 to 14 and increased the number of hotel rooms from 180 to approximately 235. The number of underground parking levels was also reduced from three to one.
As currently approved, the building will be 12-stories (130 feet) in height along the 16th Street Mall, from the alley to the corner, and for approximately half the distance along the Market Street side, where the building will then step down to 5 stories (55 feet) in height the rest of the way along Market until it meets the side of the historic Rocky Mountain Seeds building. The entire 5-story section, as well the first 8 stories (85 feet) of the 12-story section, will feature a mostly masonry façade. Above 85 feet, the remaining four floors will be set back 15 feet and will feature a glass façade. A signature design element of the project will be a 4-story "glass box" with randomly tilted vertical metal bars (subtly suggesting a bunch of "W"s) that will be located right at the 16th and Market corner above the ground floor. A similar (but smaller) design element will be featured farther down on the Market Street side.
The ground floor and 2nd floor will contain the lobby, meeting rooms, and other hotel amenities and functions, with hotel rooms located on floors 3 through 5. The 6th floor will hold a spa and restaurant and, on the rooftop of the 5-story section, a pool and pavilion. More hotel rooms will be located on floors 7 and 8, with the condos occupying floors 9 through 12. The building will also feature a green roof.
At the February 7, 2008 LDDRB meeting, the project was approved for fenestration (design and arrangement of windows and doors), but a request by the developer for a minor change in the already-approved building mass and form was denied. The project will likely return to the LDDRB in March or April for approval of exterior materials and façade detailing, as well as perhaps another attempt at the minor change in the building's mass and form. Hopefully, by late spring, the W Hotel project will have all of its approvals from the LDDRB, and later this summer, the Office Depot relocated to a new downtown location. Ideally, that would be followed by building demolition in the fall and perhaps the start of construction by the end of the year.
Downtown Denver Crane Panorama
Rick from the Glass House was kind enough to provide this photo of a portion of the Denver skyline with eight tower cranes visible. Thanks, Rick!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
More Info on Colorado History Museum Project
As a follow up to my blog on Monday, here's an article from the Rocky's Mary Voelz Chandler with additional information about the proposed Colorado History Museum and Colorado Justice Center projects. If everything goes well, the new museum could be under construction by 2009 and the new justice center, which would occupy the entire block currently shared by the courts and the museum, would begin construction in 2012. That seems a long way off, but at least it should give the State plenty of time to come up with an excellent justice center design--they owe it to us after building a lame parking garage on a prominent corner right next to the State Capitol!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Colorado History Museum Selects New Site
The ongoing debate over a new location for the Colorado History Museum appears to be over. The Denver Post is reporting that the museum has signed an agreement to build its new facility one block south of the museum's current location at 13th and Broadway. The new location is on Block 042-B, home to the ING Building and a bunch of surface parking lots.
The new 4-story Colorado History Museum will cover about two-thirds of the vacant portion of the block, with the rest occupied by a 5-story parking garage and a 12-story, 200,000 SF for-lease office building, which will share the parking garage with the museum. Here's a rendering from the Post article--original credit to Tryba Architects:
While I thought my idea of putting the new museum on state-owned land at Speer and Larimer on the Auraria campus was a good one, this proposed site isn't too bad. It does keep the museum in the Civic Center area and it will certainly densify a block sorely in need of urban development. The site's proximity to the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library will also further reinforce the Civic Center as the epicenter of Downtown Denver's arts and culture scene. On the downside, this location is unlikely to directly help the revitalization and activation of Civic Center Park itself. I am glad, however, that the issue appears to have been finally resolved, and now the state legislature can move forward with approving the funding for the museum and the other important projects linked to finding a new home for the musuem--the new Colorado Justice Center and the new State Office Building--both proposed to border Civic Center Park.
What's also interesting and definitely welcome news is the proposed office building/parking garage co-development that will eliminate all surface parking and nicely densify the block. You may recall that back on October 1, 2007, I blogged about a possible new office building project at this location after an old auto repair shop on the site was demolished and a sign promoting a "New 170,000 SF Office for Lease" was erected at the corner of 12th and Lincoln. It looks like the two projects have come together in a mutually beneficial way.
Overall, I'm happy a site finally has been selected and we can get on with building the museum and the other State projects. Let's hope this new mixed-use development will spur additional infill projects along Broadway and Lincoln and into the heart of the Golden Triangle. Meanwhile, the struggle to find a solution to revitalizing Civic Center Park continues.
The new 4-story Colorado History Museum will cover about two-thirds of the vacant portion of the block, with the rest occupied by a 5-story parking garage and a 12-story, 200,000 SF for-lease office building, which will share the parking garage with the museum. Here's a rendering from the Post article--original credit to Tryba Architects:
While I thought my idea of putting the new museum on state-owned land at Speer and Larimer on the Auraria campus was a good one, this proposed site isn't too bad. It does keep the museum in the Civic Center area and it will certainly densify a block sorely in need of urban development. The site's proximity to the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library will also further reinforce the Civic Center as the epicenter of Downtown Denver's arts and culture scene. On the downside, this location is unlikely to directly help the revitalization and activation of Civic Center Park itself. I am glad, however, that the issue appears to have been finally resolved, and now the state legislature can move forward with approving the funding for the museum and the other important projects linked to finding a new home for the musuem--the new Colorado Justice Center and the new State Office Building--both proposed to border Civic Center Park.
What's also interesting and definitely welcome news is the proposed office building/parking garage co-development that will eliminate all surface parking and nicely densify the block. You may recall that back on October 1, 2007, I blogged about a possible new office building project at this location after an old auto repair shop on the site was demolished and a sign promoting a "New 170,000 SF Office for Lease" was erected at the corner of 12th and Lincoln. It looks like the two projects have come together in a mutually beneficial way.
Overall, I'm happy a site finally has been selected and we can get on with building the museum and the other State projects. Let's hope this new mixed-use development will spur additional infill projects along Broadway and Lincoln and into the heart of the Golden Triangle. Meanwhile, the struggle to find a solution to revitalizing Civic Center Park continues.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Winter 2007-2008 Downtown Denver Crane Census
Our last Downtown Denver Crane Census was on Labor Day 2007, about five months ago. At that time, we had 10 tower cranes in Downtown at 9 different project sites. Projects that dropped from our list since the last census are 816 Acoma (which had 2 cranes) and RiverClay.
Since then we've gained 7 new cranes at 5 new project sites, giving us a total of 14 tower cranes at 12 different sites in Downtown Denver. Here they are in no particular order:
1900 16th Street:
1515 Wynkoop:
Four Seasons:
1200 Elati:
One Lincoln Park:
Spire:
1755 Blake:
Zi Lofts:
Denver Justice Center:
1400 Wewatta:
SugarCube:
2101 Market:
Here are a couple of bonus photos. View down Blake Street with, from front to back, SugarCube, 1755 Blake, and Zi Lofts:
View of the LoDo/CPV with, from left to right, 1400 Wewatta, 1900 Sixteenth, and 1515 Wynkoop:
I'll do the next Downtown Denver Crane Census in another five months--July--just before the Democratic National Convention. Have we peaked or can we do even better in July?
Since then we've gained 7 new cranes at 5 new project sites, giving us a total of 14 tower cranes at 12 different sites in Downtown Denver. Here they are in no particular order:
1900 16th Street:
1515 Wynkoop:
Four Seasons:
1200 Elati:
One Lincoln Park:
Spire:
1755 Blake:
Zi Lofts:
Denver Justice Center:
1400 Wewatta:
SugarCube:
2101 Market:
Here are a couple of bonus photos. View down Blake Street with, from front to back, SugarCube, 1755 Blake, and Zi Lofts:
View of the LoDo/CPV with, from left to right, 1400 Wewatta, 1900 Sixteenth, and 1515 Wynkoop:
I'll do the next Downtown Denver Crane Census in another five months--July--just before the Democratic National Convention. Have we peaked or can we do even better in July?
City Park West Infill Update
Continuing on with our updates of infill projects in Downtown Denver's city center districts, today we've got City Park West. Here are some new photos (all photos courtesy of Vicki H. except for the FirstBank picture, which is courtesy of Nathan R.):
1740 Franklin:
St. Joseph's Office Building & Parking Garage:
Gilpin Grove:
Franklin Square:
The Edge at City Park:
FirstBank at Colfax & Franklin:
All of these new images have been added to the City Park West district page which, by the way, I've also upgraded with the new color aerial photo.
1740 Franklin:
St. Joseph's Office Building & Parking Garage:
Gilpin Grove:
Franklin Square:
The Edge at City Park:
FirstBank at Colfax & Franklin:
All of these new images have been added to the City Park West district page which, by the way, I've also upgraded with the new color aerial photo.
Friday, February 08, 2008
New Uptown Project: Fluent Lofts
A new infill project is proposed for the Uptown district: Fluent Lofts. The development will occur on the east side of Clarkson just south of E. 18th Avenue. At this point in time, I don't know the number of units, but from the rendering below, the structure looks to be four floors on top of a partial subgrade parking deck. The project is being developed by Residential Niche. Here's a rendering of Fluent Lofts from their website:
Thanks to Dan W., here are a couple of site photos:
Residential Niche is also doing a couple of renovation/conversion projects, including the conversion of an office building at 770 Grant into the Sleek Lofts and converting an old industrial property at 34th and Brighton Boulevard into the Iron Lofts.
Fluent Lofts has already been added to the Uptown district page.
Thanks to Dan W., here are a couple of site photos:
Residential Niche is also doing a couple of renovation/conversion projects, including the conversion of an office building at 770 Grant into the Sleek Lofts and converting an old industrial property at 34th and Brighton Boulevard into the Iron Lofts.
Fluent Lofts has already been added to the Uptown district page.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Makovsky Acquires McClintock Building on Block 162
This past Friday, February 1, veteran developer Evan Makovsky closed on the purchase of the historic McClintock Building on Downtown Denver's Block 162.
Makovsky achieved "urban hero" status last summer with his successful acquisition of the Steel's Building, home of the long-vacant Fontius shoe store, as well as several other parcels on the block including the old Bank of Denver and Republic Hotel buildings and a couple of surface parking lots. The only property Makovsky did not acquire on Block 162 in 2007 was the historic McClintock building at the corner of 16th and California. With Friday's closing, Makovsky now owns all of Block 162.
The McClintock Building is a member of the Downtown Denver Historic District. Here are a few photos:
Unlike the long-blighted Steel's Building, which is also a member of the Downtown Denver Historic District and currently undergoing a complete restoration, the McClintock is in relatively good shape. Consequently, don't expect to see any immediate changes to the McClintock. Makovsky's acquisition of the McClintock was a strategic move. It not only allows him to protect his investment in the rest of Block 162, but it also allows him to plan the block's future in a comprehensive manner and potentially incorporate (physically and/or programmatically) the McClintock Building in with the new mixed-use project Makovsky is planning to construct on the now-vacant portions of the block.
For the first time in... well, probably ever, Block 162 is under the control of a single entity. That is good news for Downtown Denver and its ongoing revitalization.
Unlike the long-blighted Steel's Building, which is also a member of the Downtown Denver Historic District and currently undergoing a complete restoration, the McClintock is in relatively good shape. Consequently, don't expect to see any immediate changes to the McClintock. Makovsky's acquisition of the McClintock was a strategic move. It not only allows him to protect his investment in the rest of Block 162, but it also allows him to plan the block's future in a comprehensive manner and potentially incorporate (physically and/or programmatically) the McClintock Building in with the new mixed-use project Makovsky is planning to construct on the now-vacant portions of the block.
For the first time in... well, probably ever, Block 162 is under the control of a single entity. That is good news for Downtown Denver and its ongoing revitalization.
Denver Bond Issue Brings Infill Project
Last November, Denver voters passed Bond Issues "A" through "I" which will raise over $500 million for dozens of civic projects ranging from new libraries to repaved streets to park irrigation system upgrades to a new symphony hall. One of the bond projects is a new $39 million Crime Lab for the Denver Police Department. Our current DPD forensic crime and DNA lab is outdated, overcrowded, and must be replaced to maintain its accreditation.
Did you know that the new DPD Crime Lab is a new DenverInfill project too? From the city's website, here's the project description (emphasis added): "Replace the existing Crime Lab with a new facility. The new lab will be constructed on the existing surface parking lot adjacent to the Pre-Arraignment Detention Facility (PADF) and the Police Administration Building." That's right, the new Crime Lab facility will be constructed on the surface parking lot facing W. 14th Avenue on Block 021-E.
That stretch of 14th Avenue is becoming greatly improved. The new Denver Justice Center parking garage, already complete, was built on a former surface parking lot. Across 14th from the garage, the Courthouse and the Detention Facility components of the justice center, currently under construction, also replaced surface lots that faced 14th Avenue. With the new Crime Lab, yet another surface parking lot along 14th will be removed and the street wall reinforced.
It gets better: one of the bond improvements under the Transportation category is the installation of pedestrian improvements along W. Colfax Avenue and W. 14th Avenue between Speer and Bannock to provide a green link between Civic Center and Speer. Nice.
Did you know that the new DPD Crime Lab is a new DenverInfill project too? From the city's website, here's the project description (emphasis added): "Replace the existing Crime Lab with a new facility. The new lab will be constructed on the existing surface parking lot adjacent to the Pre-Arraignment Detention Facility (PADF) and the Police Administration Building." That's right, the new Crime Lab facility will be constructed on the surface parking lot facing W. 14th Avenue on Block 021-E.
That stretch of 14th Avenue is becoming greatly improved. The new Denver Justice Center parking garage, already complete, was built on a former surface parking lot. Across 14th from the garage, the Courthouse and the Detention Facility components of the justice center, currently under construction, also replaced surface lots that faced 14th Avenue. With the new Crime Lab, yet another surface parking lot along 14th will be removed and the street wall reinforced.
It gets better: one of the bond improvements under the Transportation category is the installation of pedestrian improvements along W. Colfax Avenue and W. 14th Avenue between Speer and Bannock to provide a green link between Civic Center and Speer. Nice.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Colorado History Museum... What About Auraria?
A few days ago we learned that the Colorado Historical Society board voted against locating the new Colorado History Museum inside Denver's Civic Center Park. In case you missed the announcement, here's an article by the Rocky's Mary Voelz Chandler about the issue: No Museum for Civic Center.
The idea to relocate the museum inside the park had been floating around since last spring, and debate on the issue appeared to crescendo around the holidays. For as many people excited by the idea of locating the museum inside the park itself, there seemed to be just as many people opposed to the idea for a variety of reasons. Personally, I had mixed feelings about the proposal. Initially, I preferred the Permit Center site at the southwest corner of Bannock and 14th, but over time I gradually warmed to the idea of placing it inside the park itself, and said so in November. Now that the Civic Center Park idea is dead, the question remains: where should the museum relocate to?
One thing about this issue that I do not have mixed feelings about: the Colorado History Museum must stay in Downtown Denver. I'm troubled by what I read near the end of the article: "After the vote, board member Frank Kugeler suggested that the committee studying sites for the historical society 'expand the area of investigation' to include locations such as Union Station, the Gates redevelopment and Stapleton." Bad idea, Frank.
Downtown Denver is where the Colorado History Museum belongs. A Downtown Denver setting exposes the museum to the greatest concentration of people found anywhere in the state on any given day. It provides the museum a setting among the greatest concentration of historic buildings and resources found anywhere in the state. It allows patrons to access the museum via the widest-ranging transportation options available anywhere in the state. A Downtown location puts the museum within proximity of the greatest concentration of synergetic governmental, educational, cultural, and entertainment facilities found anywhere in the state. It's a no-brainer: the Colorado History Museum should stay in Downtown Denver.
But where in Downtown is another matter. A location in the Civic Center area is the most obvious, and all of the sites originally considered were located in the Civic Center/Golden Triangle area. Click here to download (750 kb) a PDF containing selected pages from a larger document the CHM once had on their website about their site selection and evaluation process. Some of those Civic Center/Golden Triangle sites should probably be reconsidered; and, given the ubiquity of surface parking lots in that part of Downtown, I'm sure we could come up with a few more. But perhaps we should consider other locations in Downtown where the CHM could go.
One of the locations suggested by Mr. Kugeler was near Union Station. Anywhere around Union Station in Lower Downtown or the Central Platte Valley would be an attractive option for the museum from a number of perspectives. But given the amount of land the museum needs, I suspect they couldn't afford it. Land around Union Station is arguably some of the most expensive in the entire city. For a project that needs to maximize its budget, a less costly Downtown site would be advisable.
So, here's my suggestion: How about on the Auraria campus? More specifically, on the Auraria campus at the corner of Speer and Larimer? As many of you probably know, the State recently completed a major update to the Auraria Campus master plan, and one of the plan's key features is adding public/private mixed-use urban development in the northwest corner of the campus, between the historic Tivoli and Speer Boulevard and between Auraria Parkway and Larimer Street, as shown in red in this future-buildout illustration from the plan:
There are two main reasons for putting higher density urban development at that corner of the campus. One is to strengthen Auraria's relationship with the central business district and integrate the campus in with the rest of Downtown. The other is to improve the pedestrian connection between Auraria and Downtown and psychologically shorten the crossing of Speer by placing new buildings on campus right up to the street, reconfiguring and narrowing Speer to create additional development parcels along its edge, and creating visual interest, activity, and destinations along the way. The new Downtown Area Plan also makes these same recommendations. A new Colorado History Museum at Speer and Larimer would advance both plans' goals as well as the museum's. Here's another future-buildout illustration from the new campus master plan that I took the liberty of annotating:
Let's take a look at some of the advantages of this location:
- The site is highly visible and offers great pedestrian and vehicular access.
During the debate over the various Civic Center sites, it was noted that land acquisition costs could be as high as $10 - $15 million, which made the site inside Civic Center Park so attractive. With the State not having to pay a dime for the Auraria site, the money saved can be put into making the new museum bigger and better.
The only downside to the Auraria site is that it is not adjacent to the Capitol and the other State government and cultural resources in the Civic Center area. But since the Colorado Historical Society board is already considering looking beyond Civic Center anyway, then moving the museum down Speer Boulevard a few blocks shouldn't be a big deal. Auraria is still a lot closer to Civic Center than Stapleton!
Rather than relying on the Colorado History Museum to help activate and revitalize Civic Center Park, instead, let's use the museum to help solve the Auraria / Downtown connection problem, while still providing the museum a fantastic location in the middle of everything--with no land acquisition costs!
What do you think?
The idea to relocate the museum inside the park had been floating around since last spring, and debate on the issue appeared to crescendo around the holidays. For as many people excited by the idea of locating the museum inside the park itself, there seemed to be just as many people opposed to the idea for a variety of reasons. Personally, I had mixed feelings about the proposal. Initially, I preferred the Permit Center site at the southwest corner of Bannock and 14th, but over time I gradually warmed to the idea of placing it inside the park itself, and said so in November. Now that the Civic Center Park idea is dead, the question remains: where should the museum relocate to?
One thing about this issue that I do not have mixed feelings about: the Colorado History Museum must stay in Downtown Denver. I'm troubled by what I read near the end of the article: "After the vote, board member Frank Kugeler suggested that the committee studying sites for the historical society 'expand the area of investigation' to include locations such as Union Station, the Gates redevelopment and Stapleton." Bad idea, Frank.
Downtown Denver is where the Colorado History Museum belongs. A Downtown Denver setting exposes the museum to the greatest concentration of people found anywhere in the state on any given day. It provides the museum a setting among the greatest concentration of historic buildings and resources found anywhere in the state. It allows patrons to access the museum via the widest-ranging transportation options available anywhere in the state. A Downtown location puts the museum within proximity of the greatest concentration of synergetic governmental, educational, cultural, and entertainment facilities found anywhere in the state. It's a no-brainer: the Colorado History Museum should stay in Downtown Denver.
But where in Downtown is another matter. A location in the Civic Center area is the most obvious, and all of the sites originally considered were located in the Civic Center/Golden Triangle area. Click here to download (750 kb) a PDF containing selected pages from a larger document the CHM once had on their website about their site selection and evaluation process. Some of those Civic Center/Golden Triangle sites should probably be reconsidered; and, given the ubiquity of surface parking lots in that part of Downtown, I'm sure we could come up with a few more. But perhaps we should consider other locations in Downtown where the CHM could go.
One of the locations suggested by Mr. Kugeler was near Union Station. Anywhere around Union Station in Lower Downtown or the Central Platte Valley would be an attractive option for the museum from a number of perspectives. But given the amount of land the museum needs, I suspect they couldn't afford it. Land around Union Station is arguably some of the most expensive in the entire city. For a project that needs to maximize its budget, a less costly Downtown site would be advisable.
So, here's my suggestion: How about on the Auraria campus? More specifically, on the Auraria campus at the corner of Speer and Larimer? As many of you probably know, the State recently completed a major update to the Auraria Campus master plan, and one of the plan's key features is adding public/private mixed-use urban development in the northwest corner of the campus, between the historic Tivoli and Speer Boulevard and between Auraria Parkway and Larimer Street, as shown in red in this future-buildout illustration from the plan:
There are two main reasons for putting higher density urban development at that corner of the campus. One is to strengthen Auraria's relationship with the central business district and integrate the campus in with the rest of Downtown. The other is to improve the pedestrian connection between Auraria and Downtown and psychologically shorten the crossing of Speer by placing new buildings on campus right up to the street, reconfiguring and narrowing Speer to create additional development parcels along its edge, and creating visual interest, activity, and destinations along the way. The new Downtown Area Plan also makes these same recommendations. A new Colorado History Museum at Speer and Larimer would advance both plans' goals as well as the museum's. Here's another future-buildout illustration from the new campus master plan that I took the liberty of annotating:
Let's take a look at some of the advantages of this location:
- The site is highly visible and offers great pedestrian and vehicular access.
- Parking could be accommodated underground or as part of a shared parking facility with adjacent private development. Several campus parking garages and the underutilized Pepsi Center parking lots are close by.
- The Downtown Area Plan calls for a streetcar line along Larimer, so the site has the potential to be right at a future transit stop.
- The educational uses on campus and the cultural/entertainment uses in LoDo and the Central Platte Valley are natural complements to a museum.
- The site is only a block away from a historic landmark (the Tivoli) and a block away from Larimer Square, one of the most historically significant places in Denver and the state.
- The museum would be a visual attractor and destination that stimulates pedestrian activity and interest and becomes the psychological "bridge" for crossing Speer.
- The museum would create tremendous added value to the private mixed-use development planned for the land around it, and vice versa.
All of those are positive advantages for locating the CHM at Speer and Larimer on the Auraria campus. But one of the biggest advantages is... the State already owns the land! And it's not just the State that owns the land, but specifically the Colorado Department of Higher Education, which oversees the Colorado Historical Society and the Colorado History Museum!During the debate over the various Civic Center sites, it was noted that land acquisition costs could be as high as $10 - $15 million, which made the site inside Civic Center Park so attractive. With the State not having to pay a dime for the Auraria site, the money saved can be put into making the new museum bigger and better.
The only downside to the Auraria site is that it is not adjacent to the Capitol and the other State government and cultural resources in the Civic Center area. But since the Colorado Historical Society board is already considering looking beyond Civic Center anyway, then moving the museum down Speer Boulevard a few blocks shouldn't be a big deal. Auraria is still a lot closer to Civic Center than Stapleton!
Rather than relying on the Colorado History Museum to help activate and revitalize Civic Center Park, instead, let's use the museum to help solve the Auraria / Downtown connection problem, while still providing the museum a fantastic location in the middle of everything--with no land acquisition costs!
What do you think?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Uptown District Infill Update
Continuing on with infill construction updates in the Downtown Denver area, today we've got the Uptown district. There's only one active project in Uptown currently, the Uptown Apartments at 20th and Park Avenue West. I posted a photo of the site back on January 23, but here are two more photos:
Also, the Emerson Uptown Lofts project at 17th and Emerson is now finished. Here's a final picture of the project:
Thank you to Vicki and Nathan for the above photos.
Finally, I've just uploaded the new Uptown page too.
Also, the Emerson Uptown Lofts project at 17th and Emerson is now finished. Here's a final picture of the project:
Thank you to Vicki and Nathan for the above photos.
Finally, I've just uploaded the new Uptown page too.
Friday, February 01, 2008
State Office Building Rendering
Back last fall I obtained this rendering of the proposed new State of Colorado Office Building planned for the corner of Colfax and Lincoln, but I was told at the time that the project was on hold until the State figured out where to build the new Colorado History Museum, so I held off on posting it. The project is one component of the State's plans to reshuffle office space around the Capitol Complex, including the construction of its new Colorado Judicial Center at 14th and Broadway/Lincoln. Hopefully, funding for all of these projects will be finalized during this year's General Assembly which just got underway. Anyway, here's the rendering, even though there's still the possibility that a.) the project won't happen or, b.) the design may change. Either way, this rendering, courtesy of David Tryba Architects, shows a pretty sharp-looking building where there's currently a parking lot. I like how the new building connects to the existing state office building at Colfax and Sherman through a common atrium. I'd love to see this one get built.
