Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Jon Talton on Denver
One of my favorite urban commentators is Jon Talton, formerly with the Arizona Republic newspaper, who now lives in Seattle. While at the Republic, Jon frequently wrote about the urban condition in Phoenix and that city's uphill struggle to overcome a half-century of widespread sprawl and an anti-urban political mindset. Jon also lived for a time in Denver and wrote for the Rocky Mountain News. He now has a blog that features both political commentary as well as observations about urban development in Seattle, Phoenix, and elsewhere. Recently, Jon wrote about Denver and its success in maintaining and improving its urban core. It's a good read and it affirms that we're on the right track in Denver.
Democratic National Convention - Denver 2008: Tuesday August 26
The party in Downtown Denver continues...
Sustainable Living Roadshow
Have you been to the Sustainable Living Roadshow yet? It's an eco-fair of sorts that includes dozens of display booths, food vendors, a farmer's market, and a couple of stages with music and bands. It's all taking place on 16th Street from the Highland Bridge/Central Street up to Boulder Street and Hirshorn Park in Lower Highland. The Roadshow runs through tonight. Check it out!
Steel's Department Store Grand Opening
The December 16, 1922 issue of the "Steel Sparks" newsletter describes the scene on December 9, 1922 in Downtown Denver as over 120,000 people jammed the new Steel's Department Store at 16th and Welton, now the renovated Sage Building.
To read the full account of the Denver store opening, which included in the basement a 500-seat Cafeteria complete with a 10,000-dish-per-hour dishwashing machine, click here to download it in PDF (2.9 mb).
Here's a photo from the newsletter of the Steel's Department Store the afternoon before the grand opening:
Throughout these many newsletters, President L. R. Steel has always been referred to in glowing terms and hailed as the glorious leader and beloved founder of the Steel's department store chain. Interestingly, according to researcher Dave Dyer, Mr. Steel was deposed as the head of the company just two weeks after the Denver store opened. Perhaps he personally wrote the newsletter. In March, 1923, Mr. Steel died of a stroke and the company went out of business just a few months later.
Here's a photo from the newsletter of the Steel's Department Store the afternoon before the grand opening:
Throughout these many newsletters, President L. R. Steel has always been referred to in glowing terms and hailed as the glorious leader and beloved founder of the Steel's department store chain. Interestingly, according to researcher Dave Dyer, Mr. Steel was deposed as the head of the company just two weeks after the Denver store opened. Perhaps he personally wrote the newsletter. In March, 1923, Mr. Steel died of a stroke and the company went out of business just a few months later.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Democratic National Convention - Denver 2008: Monday August 25
A few scenes of the Mile High City from the first day of the convention:
Being Downtown with this many people wandering about gives us a glimpse of our future, when the sidewalks of Downtown are like this every day. To get there, we just need to add a few ten thousand more Downtown residents, add a few ten thousand more Downtown workers, complete FasTracks, and be diligent about fully implementing the Downtown Area Plan. That sounds like a tall order, but it's actually quite achievable.
Being Downtown with this many people wandering about gives us a glimpse of our future, when the sidewalks of Downtown are like this every day. To get there, we just need to add a few ten thousand more Downtown residents, add a few ten thousand more Downtown workers, complete FasTracks, and be diligent about fully implementing the Downtown Area Plan. That sounds like a tall order, but it's actually quite achievable.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Democratic National Convention - Denver 2008: Sunday August 24
Today is DNC Eve. Many of the 50,000-plus visitors to Denver were arriving today and exploring Downtown Denver. Here's a snapshot:
There are so many things going on in Downtown Denver it's hard to know where to begin. To all the DNC delegates, VIPs, protestors, media reps, and visitors in general... "Welcome to Denver!"
There are so many things going on in Downtown Denver it's hard to know where to begin. To all the DNC delegates, VIPs, protestors, media reps, and visitors in general... "Welcome to Denver!"
1601 Wewatta: First Glimpse
Perfectly timed for DNC exposure, Sunshine Development has posted a sign announcing their planned 1601 Wewatta project. The project, located on the block bounded by 16th, 17th, Wewatta, and Chestnut in the Union Station district, consists of a mix of hotel, office, and retail space. The rendering on the sign is a preliminary concept design by Shears Adkins architects and their partner, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca; further design refinements and more renderings will be forthcoming.
All I can say at this point is: I like it!
UPDATE: Thanks to the folks at Shears Adkins, here's a high-res version of the rendering on the sign. Expand/zoom to view at full size:
All I can say at this point is: I like it!
UPDATE: Thanks to the folks at Shears Adkins, here's a high-res version of the rendering on the sign. Expand/zoom to view at full size:
Friday, August 22, 2008
Inside the Pepsi Center
I had a chance to join several thousand of my fellow Denverites today at a peek inside the Pepsi Center before the DNC begins next week. Looks pretty cool:
More Steel's Department Store Photos
If you've been following this blog over the past couple of months, you know that Dave Dyer in Texas is researching the history of Steel's Department Store, the long-defunct company that built in 1922 what is now the Sage Building on Block 162. Dave's been kind enough to send me scanned images and articles from the Steel Company's newsletters when they relate to the Denver store. For previous blogs on this topic, go here, here and here.
Dave is nearing the end of his stack of Steel newsletters, so this may be it. Here's a page from the December 9, 1922 issue with a photo of the completed building (with fake clouds added, no less):
One other interesting photo from the same newsletter is of the Steel's Denver warehouse:
No where in the newsletter does it say what street it's on, but it's clear from the photo that the street address for the warehouse is 2133 - 2139, and the taller building next door has an address of 2145. Anyone out there think they know what street the warehouse was on?
UPDATE: Thanks to Scott (see Comments) for figuring it out: 2145 is the historic building with the brewpub attached to Coors Field. The Steel's warehouse building is no longer there... demolished to make way for the stadium or perhaps razed even before then. It was still standing at least in 1979 when the photo posted at the Denver History Tours blog was taken.
Dave is nearing the end of his stack of Steel newsletters, so this may be it. Here's a page from the December 9, 1922 issue with a photo of the completed building (with fake clouds added, no less):
One other interesting photo from the same newsletter is of the Steel's Denver warehouse:
No where in the newsletter does it say what street it's on, but it's clear from the photo that the street address for the warehouse is 2133 - 2139, and the taller building next door has an address of 2145. Anyone out there think they know what street the warehouse was on?
UPDATE: Thanks to Scott (see Comments) for figuring it out: 2145 is the historic building with the brewpub attached to Coors Field. The Steel's warehouse building is no longer there... demolished to make way for the stadium or perhaps razed even before then. It was still standing at least in 1979 when the photo posted at the Denver History Tours blog was taken.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Red White & Blue for the Sage Building
With exterior renovations complete, the Sage Building at 16th & Welton is recreating the look from its 1923 grand opening as Steel's Department Store by decorating the building with bunting and US flags... nicely appropriate to celebrate next week's Democratic National Convention. Here's a shot from a few hours ago when just the first few flags had been installed:
When complete, it should look something like this:
Thank you, Evan Makovsky, for bringing this building back to life in so many ways!
When complete, it should look something like this:
Thank you, Evan Makovsky, for bringing this building back to life in so many ways!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
New Highland Project: Skyline Apartments
A new Highland project was recently submitted to the Denver planning office for development review: Skyline Apartments. The project will include 88 units in a 4-story building located on the east side of Zuni between W. 28th and 29th Avenues, just north of the new Hampton Inn Highland. There was a proposal for a townhome project at this same site a few years ago, but it never got going and I never added it to the Highland page. I'm still looking for a rendering of this project.
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Denver Union Station Story
The rebirth of Denver Union Station has been marked by hundreds of steps in a long march over the course of the past decade. The complexity, the sheer magnitude of the project can be difficult to appreciate. So with any big undertaking like Union Station, it is important to periodically look back and take account of the progress made to date. We've been in need of that retrospective on this project.
Thanks to Westword's Joel Warner, we have been given not only an outstanding description of the journey so far, but also a comprehensive breakdown of the myriad issues confronting the project and a glimpse of the profound impact the completed Union Station will have on Denver's future.
I've been following the Union Station project since the beginning and can say that Joel's account is remarkable: he gets all the complicated facts and figures straight, he touches on the big and small hurdles the project has encountered along the way, he gains insight from all the key players, he presents a balanced perspective to all the various controversies, and he frames the project within a sweep of time that spans most of the city's existence. It's an exceptional effort, and a must-read for anyone who cares about our historic train station and its role in the ongoing renaissance of Downtown Denver.
Joel's story, "Union Station may become Denver's gateway again -- if it stays on track" is in this week's issue of Westword.
Thanks to Westword's Joel Warner, we have been given not only an outstanding description of the journey so far, but also a comprehensive breakdown of the myriad issues confronting the project and a glimpse of the profound impact the completed Union Station will have on Denver's future.
I've been following the Union Station project since the beginning and can say that Joel's account is remarkable: he gets all the complicated facts and figures straight, he touches on the big and small hurdles the project has encountered along the way, he gains insight from all the key players, he presents a balanced perspective to all the various controversies, and he frames the project within a sweep of time that spans most of the city's existence. It's an exceptional effort, and a must-read for anyone who cares about our historic train station and its role in the ongoing renaissance of Downtown Denver.
Joel's story, "Union Station may become Denver's gateway again -- if it stays on track" is in this week's issue of Westword.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
1800 Larimer Update
Did you notice there's a new tower crane in Downtown? A few have come down recently (Zi Lofts, Sugar Cube, 1400 Wewatta) but the new one is for 1800 Larimer, Westfield Development's 22-story office tower and future home for Xcel Energy.
Here are a couple of photos, courtesy of Rick A.:
Also, you can keep up with construction at 1800 Larimer with their webcam. Go here: http://www.1800larimer.com/webcam.htm
Here are a couple of photos, courtesy of Rick A.:
Also, you can keep up with construction at 1800 Larimer with their webcam. Go here: http://www.1800larimer.com/webcam.htm
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
New Embassy Suites Rendering
It's hard to say if the big hole in the ground at 14th and Stout is still the demolition of the old Motor Hotel Garage foundation, or if excavation for the foundation of the new 17-story, 403-room Embassy Suites hotel has begun. Let's hope for the latter. But, as we wait for some kind of official announcement that construction has indeed begun (emails I've sent to the developer have never been acknowledged), I thought I'd post a rendering of the base of the building. This comes from Denver Cityscape:
Boy, that'll be a tight corner there for pedestrians and light rail. Fortunately, RTD rarely, if ever, has used the short segment of emergency track that would allow a southbound train on Stout to loop back onto 14th Street to become a northbound train again. Pedestrians at that corner should still easily see a train approaching them from the Convention Center station.
Despite concern for vehicle/ped/train conflicts, this area is slowly starting to evolve from a parking lot wasteland into an intensive urban setting appropriate for a downtown. The Spire and the Embassy are the first wave. Hopefully, the two remaining empty lots facing the convention center at Stout and California will be developed in a second wave once the current economic turmoil settles down.
Boy, that'll be a tight corner there for pedestrians and light rail. Fortunately, RTD rarely, if ever, has used the short segment of emergency track that would allow a southbound train on Stout to loop back onto 14th Street to become a northbound train again. Pedestrians at that corner should still easily see a train approaching them from the Convention Center station.
Despite concern for vehicle/ped/train conflicts, this area is slowly starting to evolve from a parking lot wasteland into an intensive urban setting appropriate for a downtown. The Spire and the Embassy are the first wave. Hopefully, the two remaining empty lots facing the convention center at Stout and California will be developed in a second wave once the current economic turmoil settles down.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Denver Union Station Update
Hargreaves Associates, the firm hired to design the public spaces at Union Station, presented last week their proposed public space design "framework" for Denver Union Station--i.e. not the design itself, but the organizing features and themes on which the design will be based. I was very impressed with their concepts and I think we're off to a good start. In a few days I hope to be able to post their presentation here at DenverInfill as well as on the Union Station Advocates (USA) website, which I manage as part of my duties as a member of the USA board.
Over the next few months, the design of the public spaces at Union Station will be determined. This moment has been years in the making, but I'm glad it's finally arrived. The public realm at Union Station has the opportunity to give Denver an extremely special public place that could become the heart of Downtown and the region, and a must-see place for visitors. As part of the design process, the Union Station project team will hold several general public meetings in addition to their Land Use/Urban Design "break out group" meetings which are also open to the public.
As a complement to those efforts, Union Station Advocates is planning on hosting several of our own meetings to further engage our membership in the public space design process. For example, starting next Monday, August 18, we will kick off our first Union Station Roundtable, a meeting just for USA members at which we will discuss as a group a particular topic related to the design of the public spaces and formulate specific ideas and recommendations that will be conveyed to the Union Station project team. We plan on having these Roundtable meetings every two weeks throughout this critical design phase.
Not a member of Union Station Advocates? This week we've got a good deal going on. On Thursday, we're holding our first Union Station Advocates picnic! Members can join their fellow Union Station enthusiasts for Brothers BBQ, wine, beer, and music. Cost of the picnic is just $10 for members... and for non-members, if you join this week, you'll get free admission to the picnic with your new membership! Check the Events page on the USA website for the picnic details. You can join up on the Membership page.
Over the next six months, a lot of important decisions are going to be made relating to the Union Station project. Now is the time to get engaged.
Over the next few months, the design of the public spaces at Union Station will be determined. This moment has been years in the making, but I'm glad it's finally arrived. The public realm at Union Station has the opportunity to give Denver an extremely special public place that could become the heart of Downtown and the region, and a must-see place for visitors. As part of the design process, the Union Station project team will hold several general public meetings in addition to their Land Use/Urban Design "break out group" meetings which are also open to the public.
As a complement to those efforts, Union Station Advocates is planning on hosting several of our own meetings to further engage our membership in the public space design process. For example, starting next Monday, August 18, we will kick off our first Union Station Roundtable, a meeting just for USA members at which we will discuss as a group a particular topic related to the design of the public spaces and formulate specific ideas and recommendations that will be conveyed to the Union Station project team. We plan on having these Roundtable meetings every two weeks throughout this critical design phase.
Not a member of Union Station Advocates? This week we've got a good deal going on. On Thursday, we're holding our first Union Station Advocates picnic! Members can join their fellow Union Station enthusiasts for Brothers BBQ, wine, beer, and music. Cost of the picnic is just $10 for members... and for non-members, if you join this week, you'll get free admission to the picnic with your new membership! Check the Events page on the USA website for the picnic details. You can join up on the Membership page.
Over the next six months, a lot of important decisions are going to be made relating to the Union Station project. Now is the time to get engaged.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Sage Building Exterior Renovation Complete
With yesterday's removal of all the fencing and scaffolding and sidewalk barriers, the exterior restoration of the building formerly known as Fontius (now the Sage Building) has been fully revealed and declared complete! Developer Evan Makovsky promised that the exterior rehab of the long-blighted building at 16th and Welton would be finished in time for the DNC. Thank you Shames-Makovsky, klipp architects, and Milender White Construction, for a job well done. Here are a couple of photos of the completed exterior, courtesy of Renee at Shames-Makovsky:
Here's a nice surprise: Have you noticed the new stairway leading from the Welton sidewalk down into the basement? Makovsky has the underground space planned for a trendy bar--glass steps even:
Finally, the building has been nicely outfitted with exterior lighting. I can't wait to see the Sage shine at night:
What a great day for Downtown Denver! Scratch Fontius from the list...
Here's a nice surprise: Have you noticed the new stairway leading from the Welton sidewalk down into the basement? Makovsky has the underground space planned for a trendy bar--glass steps even:
Finally, the building has been nicely outfitted with exterior lighting. I can't wait to see the Sage shine at night:
What a great day for Downtown Denver! Scratch Fontius from the list...
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Spire Half Way Up
Have you seen the Spire project lately? It's now up to about the 20th floor, putting it half way towards its 41-story total. At this pace, it should top out sometime around Christmas.
Also, the Spire is getting glass! Check it out:
Also, the Spire is getting glass! Check it out:
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Rain!
Gotta love it.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Denver Cable Railway Hotel Project Update
Back in March 2007, I broke the news about a new hotel project proposed for Block 066, the site of the historic Cable Railway Building (currently the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant) at 18th and Lawrence. The project, envisioned by Central Development LLC, would preserve the historic Cable Railway building, built in 1889 to house the power plant and maintenance facilities for Denver's cable railway system, while redeveloping part of the site with a new 18-story hotel.
The initial concept for the tower looked like this:
After many months of review and negotiation between the developer and the city's Landmark Preservation Commission, a new design has evolved. One of the important issues with the LPC was the preservation and visibility of the historic brick smokestack. The current location of the smokestack makes the layout of the tower difficult. So, a new design approved by the LPC looks like this (image courtesy of Ivins Design Group and Central Development):
Under the new plan, the project design incorporates a more pronounced mix of brick and modern elements, as well as approves the relocation of the historic smokestack closer to Lawrence Street, which increases the smokestack's visibility and improves the layout for the new tower. Who knew you could just up and move an old brick smokestack like that!? Apparently, firms like International Chimney are up to the task.
The project's approved building program incorporates 164,000 SF in the new tower and 55,000 SF in the historic structure for a total full-service hotel space of 219,000 SF and approximately 229 rooms, with flexbile space on the ground floor for retail or hotel meeting space.
Central Development is currently marketing the project either for sale or for a development partner. Given the project's zoning and LPC approvals, moving this project forward is mostly a matter of market timing and waiting for the national credit/lending crisis to settle down so that a financing deal can be arranged. With 1800 Larimer under construction next door and Two Tabor planned for a block away, a hotel at this site seems to me to be a solid long-term proposal.
The initial concept for the tower looked like this:
After many months of review and negotiation between the developer and the city's Landmark Preservation Commission, a new design has evolved. One of the important issues with the LPC was the preservation and visibility of the historic brick smokestack. The current location of the smokestack makes the layout of the tower difficult. So, a new design approved by the LPC looks like this (image courtesy of Ivins Design Group and Central Development):
Under the new plan, the project design incorporates a more pronounced mix of brick and modern elements, as well as approves the relocation of the historic smokestack closer to Lawrence Street, which increases the smokestack's visibility and improves the layout for the new tower. Who knew you could just up and move an old brick smokestack like that!? Apparently, firms like International Chimney are up to the task.
The project's approved building program incorporates 164,000 SF in the new tower and 55,000 SF in the historic structure for a total full-service hotel space of 219,000 SF and approximately 229 rooms, with flexbile space on the ground floor for retail or hotel meeting space.
Central Development is currently marketing the project either for sale or for a development partner. Given the project's zoning and LPC approvals, moving this project forward is mostly a matter of market timing and waiting for the national credit/lending crisis to settle down so that a financing deal can be arranged. With 1800 Larimer under construction next door and Two Tabor planned for a block away, a hotel at this site seems to me to be a solid long-term proposal.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Block 162 Update
Have you seen Block 162's Steel/Fontius/Sage building lately? It's looking great. The building facade on the upper floors has been cleaned, repaired, and restored, and the leaky old windows replaced. Now, work is progressing on the ground floor, where decades ago the original exterior had been removed and replaced with "modern" storefronts.
Developer Evan Makovsky and the architects at klipp researched old drawings and photos of the Steel Building to learn what the original storefronts looked like, and the new ground-floor exterior is being built to match the original as best as possible. Here's a look at the new storefronts going in (photo courtesy of Brice):
There's a new (and wider) sidewalk along the Welton side of the building too.
Speaking of new sidewalks, the Urban Enthusiast over at the LiveDowntownDenver Blog did a post recently about the completed streetscape project along California Street in front of the Denver Dry building. I checked it out myself the other day and it looks very nice. With this streetscape project and the additional planters recently installed by the Downtown Denver Parntership, the walk between the Convention Center and the 16th Street Mall is about as spruced up as it can get, considering the several undeveloped lots still along the way.
Developer Evan Makovsky and the architects at klipp researched old drawings and photos of the Steel Building to learn what the original storefronts looked like, and the new ground-floor exterior is being built to match the original as best as possible. Here's a look at the new storefronts going in (photo courtesy of Brice):
There's a new (and wider) sidewalk along the Welton side of the building too.
Speaking of new sidewalks, the Urban Enthusiast over at the LiveDowntownDenver Blog did a post recently about the completed streetscape project along California Street in front of the Denver Dry building. I checked it out myself the other day and it looks very nice. With this streetscape project and the additional planters recently installed by the Downtown Denver Parntership, the walk between the Convention Center and the 16th Street Mall is about as spruced up as it can get, considering the several undeveloped lots still along the way.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Osage Courts Project Update
The La Alma/Lincoln Park infill project at 13th and Osage named Osage Courts is getting closer to construction and the design of the project is also now available. Here are some images obtained from the architect Van Meter Williams Pollack website:
The project consists of 185 market-rate rental units wrapped around/above a parking structure. The project is also aiming for LEED Silver certification, and it's within walking distance of both the 10th and Osage and Auraria at Colfax light rail stations.
Construction is planned to be complete about a year from now.
The project consists of 185 market-rate rental units wrapped around/above a parking structure. The project is also aiming for LEED Silver certification, and it's within walking distance of both the 10th and Osage and Auraria at Colfax light rail stations.
Construction is planned to be complete about a year from now.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Comments Now Require Registration
In light of the increased comment activity on this blog (which I think is awesome), it's become a challenge keeping track of who's who when so many people are named "anonymous." So, comments now require registration. You can post if you have a Google or Blogger account, or if you have an account with any of the services provided through Open ID.
Remember, keep it civil and no personal attacks.
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm for Downtown Denver!
Remember, keep it civil and no personal attacks.
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm for Downtown Denver!
Friday, August 01, 2008
New Four Seasons Denver Perspective
Here's a new street-level perspective of the 45-story Four Seasons Denver tower under construction on Block 074.
This image was taken from the project's website.
This image was taken from the project's website.
