Demolition of the dilapidated Republic Hotel and Bank of Denver buildings on Downtown Denver’s Block 162 is complete and the site has been all cleaned up in preparation for its interim and permanent future uses:

You may recall that back in September, the Downtown Denver Partnership was asking people to submit creative ideas for interim uses for the vacant lots where the two buildings used to be. Hopefully, we’ll hear something about that in the near future. I did notice that two original storefront columns from the former Republic Hotel building were conspicuously left standing along the California Street sidewalk. I wonder what that could be all about?

Regarding the future permanent use of the rest of Block 162, last week the Urban Land Institute expert panel hired by owner/developer Evan Makovsky was in town to check out the site and gather information. Mr. Makovsky will use the ULI panel’s recommendations in the shaping of the ultimate redevelopment plan for the site.

Meanwhile, renovation work on the historic Fontius building at 16th and Welton has begun! The most noticeable changes so far have been the removal of the distinctive blue Fontius signs from the building’s Welton and 16th Street façades, and the removal of the nasty awning that used to overhang the sidewalk at the corner:

So what will happen to the old Fontius signs? For now, they will be sent to a sign company for a complete restoration. Then, after that… Evan’s not saying! I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I spotted the signs laying inside one of the empty storefronts, awaiting their trip to the restoration shop, so I took this shot through the window:

Speaking of signs, with the “Denver Wigs” sign now also gone, it is easy to see the ghost of the old Dave Cook’s sign that occupied the spot before. In my Inside the Fontius special feature, I’ve got a couple of photos of the old Dave Cook’s Sporting Goods space in the basement of the building.

Finally, work on the building isn’t limited to the exterior. Workers are busy on the interior too, clearing out junk that’s been sitting around for decades and starting some interior demolition as well. Here’s one of the former Fontius Shoes front retail area:

It will be fascinating to watch this building be transformed–finally!–into a beautiful, active member of the Downtown streetscape.