Comments on: 1401 Lawrence Project Cancelled http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html News and information about urban infill development in the Mile High City Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:06:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1805 Anonymous Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:40:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1805 At first I was VERY sad to see this not be a go... then as this past week has rolled on I try and think about what it would look like with the 4s and 1401 side by side. I feel that it would have looked silly for this city right now, and maybe this is a good thing as far as the view/skyline thing gos At first I was VERY sad to see this not be a go… then as this past week has rolled on I try and think about what it would look like with the 4s and 1401 side by side. I feel that it would have looked silly for this city right now, and maybe this is a good thing as far as the view/skyline thing gos

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1785 Anonymous Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:11:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1785 People keep bringing up Chicago as a model for Denver to follow. Downtown Chicago is thriving, although large areas of the city continue to decline into some of the worst urban blight in the country. However, the excitement of downtown and the lake front are the only attractions that Chicago has because Illinois is the least remarkable state in the country for scenery and attractions. Downtown Denver has to compete for our beautiful outdoors, Cherry Creek, etc. I think downtown Denver will only continue to become nicer and a more desirable place to shop, live, and work. Anyway, I am so glad that Denver doesn't have any where near as bad crime and blighted neighborhoods as Chicago. People keep bringing up Chicago as a model for Denver to follow. Downtown Chicago is thriving, although large areas of the city continue to decline into some of the worst urban blight in the country. However, the excitement of downtown and the lake front are the only attractions that Chicago has because Illinois is the least remarkable state in the country for scenery and attractions. Downtown Denver has to compete for our beautiful outdoors, Cherry Creek, etc. I think downtown Denver will only continue to become nicer and a more desirable place to shop, live, and work. Anyway, I am so glad that Denver doesn't have any where near as bad crime and blighted neighborhoods as Chicago.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1784 Anonymous Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1784 I do agree that a mixed use complex at the site of the Federal Reserve Bank is exactly what downtown needs to truly thrive. The existing retail along 16th Street needs improving and an upscale retail, hotel, condominium and office complex at this site would be a tremendous center of activity. This is the best site downtown because it is in the center in between the DCPA,Four Seasons, Larimer Square, LoDo, The Ritz-Carlton, Denver Pavilions, and the Convention Center. The economy may not be currently perfect to start such a project, but I think the planning and construction should start soon so that it will be completed just when it would be able to take off. I think 1401 lawrence failed at this time is largely because it was not a hotel/condominium project. It seems the rich people who are buying such expensive condominiums really want the amenities an upscale hotel offers. Also, I think these condos therefore may have higher resale value and be better investments. Trump could be the redeveloper of the FRB site. I do agree that a mixed use complex at the site of the Federal Reserve Bank is exactly what downtown needs to truly thrive. The existing retail along 16th Street needs improving and an upscale retail, hotel, condominium and office complex at this site would be a tremendous center of activity. This is the best site downtown because it is in the center in between the DCPA,Four Seasons, Larimer Square, LoDo, The Ritz-Carlton, Denver Pavilions, and the Convention Center. The economy may not be currently perfect to start such a project, but I think the planning and construction should start soon so that it will be completed just when it would be able to take off. I think 1401 lawrence failed at this time is largely because it was not a hotel/condominium project. It seems the rich people who are buying such expensive condominiums really want the amenities an upscale hotel offers. Also, I think these condos therefore may have higher resale value and be better investments. Trump could be the redeveloper of the FRB site.

]]> By: Saint http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1780 Saint Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:36:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1780 Anon 10:37, the Magnificent Mile appeared as a shopping destination before the Hancock Tower was built, and is the reason for the Hancock's placement, not the other way around. Did the Hancock contribute to it's continued growth and success? Yes. But it wasn't the primum movens. Anon 10:37, the Magnificent Mile appeared as a shopping destination before the Hancock Tower was built, and is the reason for the Hancock's placement, not the other way around. Did the Hancock contribute to it's continued growth and success? Yes. But it wasn't the primum movens.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1774 Anonymous Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:48:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1774 Easy sir there is no need to be so aggressive. Im sure you are well versed in the ways of urban development and such but here is a quick news flash. This is NOT freaking chicago either now or what it was like 40-50 years ago. We have a fraction of the population and DENSITY. This is Denver where retail moved out of downtown with the completion of Cherry creek mall a short drive down speer. Don't get me wrong, street level retail is the way to go and mixed use is our future. What I will say is that A. You said a 6 story mall mixed into an office tower is what we need. Got a news flash. TABOR CENTER. Its technically a mall and a dead one to. a mall is a pedestrian urban landscape killer. It pulls people off the street and into a gigantic building. Look at Salt lake city's two downtown malls. they killed the street scene there. And even big retail in big cities close shop around 9 or 10 its up to the companies not the city when to close up. Anyways sorry to offend Easy sir there is no need to be so aggressive. Im sure you are well versed in the ways of urban development and such but here is a quick news flash. This is NOT freaking chicago either now or what it was like 40-50 years ago. We have a fraction of the population and DENSITY. This is Denver where retail moved out of downtown with the completion of Cherry creek mall a short drive down speer. Don't get me wrong, street level retail is the way to go and mixed use is our future. What I will say is that A. You said a 6 story mall mixed into an office tower is what we need. Got a news flash. TABOR CENTER. Its technically a mall and a dead one to. a mall is a pedestrian urban landscape killer. It pulls people off the street and into a gigantic building. Look at Salt lake city's two downtown malls. they killed the street scene there. And even big retail in big cities close shop around 9 or 10 its up to the companies not the city when to close up. Anyways sorry to offend

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1769 Anonymous Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:37:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1769 Retail is in the toilet? Anon 8:03 where do you get that idea? They keep opening big box centers in the burbs all over the place. The more stuff there is to do downtown, the better. I'm so sick and tired of people in here being know-it-alls without knowing anything. Historically, Denver is in the precise position as was Chicago in the 1960s when people began to realize they missed the boat in migrating to the burbs to get away from the city and then spending 2 hours a day in the car or on public transportation. So, guess what? Yeah, they started moving back down town and the catalytic building that made it start to happen was the John Hancock Tower (presently the tallest mixed use building in the world with... hmm ... parking ... shopping ... offices ... and residential condos. A building like this would do fantastic in Denver in much the same way as it did in Chicago, but it would require a few mindset changes (most of the people that post their creepy insults would have to check their egos at the door). First, we would have to embrace a nice, tall building and not be worried about view obstructions and shadows. Second, we'd have to understand that there are huge economic benefits to mixed use buildings that we are not seeing now. Because we don't have any tall mixed use buildings really to speak of, we don't understand how they work or benefit an area (but we would the moment it was completed or we could if we'd take a simple trip to Chicago and see how many of these have worked and worked well to the point of turning down town Chicago into one of the nation's most liveable big cities). Next up, we'd have to support the building inasmuch as we'd promise to wait and see and not be critical until it was online and ready. "The last thing downtown could support is a mega mall tied into a tower." Really? Really? Are you so sure? And how exactly do you know this? Have you spent the last 25 years studying urban development, the Denver economy, the national economy, the economy of cities, etc.? Well, I have. And I assure you that not only could downtown support this, we need it and need it badly. We also need to understand the shift from a city that shuts down at 10 pm to one that thrives day and night. Mixed use buildings encourage this mentality. There are tons of people who already have it, but no place to go. Hang around the Denver Pavilions on a week night when a big convention is in town and see how many people are milling about wondering why everything closes at 8 or 9 or 10 o'clock? <br /><br />Anyway, Sir Anon 8:03, got news for you, but if our city is to thrive both economically and otherwise, we need big urban projects that coalesce services into taller towers that survive precisely because they are mini self-contained cities with built in populations to use the services within, but which also draw in tourists, conventioneers, hotel guests, and so on. Retail is in the toilet? Anon 8:03 where do you get that idea? They keep opening big box centers in the burbs all over the place. The more stuff there is to do downtown, the better. I'm so sick and tired of people in here being know-it-alls without knowing anything. Historically, Denver is in the precise position as was Chicago in the 1960s when people began to realize they missed the boat in migrating to the burbs to get away from the city and then spending 2 hours a day in the car or on public transportation. So, guess what? Yeah, they started moving back down town and the catalytic building that made it start to happen was the John Hancock Tower (presently the tallest mixed use building in the world with… hmm … parking … shopping … offices … and residential condos. A building like this would do fantastic in Denver in much the same way as it did in Chicago, but it would require a few mindset changes (most of the people that post their creepy insults would have to check their egos at the door). First, we would have to embrace a nice, tall building and not be worried about view obstructions and shadows. Second, we'd have to understand that there are huge economic benefits to mixed use buildings that we are not seeing now. Because we don't have any tall mixed use buildings really to speak of, we don't understand how they work or benefit an area (but we would the moment it was completed or we could if we'd take a simple trip to Chicago and see how many of these have worked and worked well to the point of turning down town Chicago into one of the nation's most liveable big cities). Next up, we'd have to support the building inasmuch as we'd promise to wait and see and not be critical until it was online and ready. "The last thing downtown could support is a mega mall tied into a tower." Really? Really? Are you so sure? And how exactly do you know this? Have you spent the last 25 years studying urban development, the Denver economy, the national economy, the economy of cities, etc.? Well, I have. And I assure you that not only could downtown support this, we need it and need it badly. We also need to understand the shift from a city that shuts down at 10 pm to one that thrives day and night. Mixed use buildings encourage this mentality. There are tons of people who already have it, but no place to go. Hang around the Denver Pavilions on a week night when a big convention is in town and see how many people are milling about wondering why everything closes at 8 or 9 or 10 o'clock?

Anyway, Sir Anon 8:03, got news for you, but if our city is to thrive both economically and otherwise, we need big urban projects that coalesce services into taller towers that survive precisely because they are mini self-contained cities with built in populations to use the services within, but which also draw in tourists, conventioneers, hotel guests, and so on.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1762 Anonymous Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:32:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1762 The price was too high, I can't imagine that the people who can afford the condos would fill it up. We just had Glass House and almost every other condo DT goes for over 300 - except Brooks where a young person like me can get deals but it's still out of reach with the HOA. <br />It would be nice to see a developer try to mix these luxurious condos with more affordable options for those of us who would love to live downtown but can't afford the price tag. My only options are in Cap. Hill or down Leetsdale! The IHO program is great...if your income is under 80% AMI. If you're at 95%, forget it. The price was too high, I can't imagine that the people who can afford the condos would fill it up. We just had Glass House and almost every other condo DT goes for over 300 – except Brooks where a young person like me can get deals but it's still out of reach with the HOA.
It would be nice to see a developer try to mix these luxurious condos with more affordable options for those of us who would love to live downtown but can't afford the price tag. My only options are in Cap. Hill or down Leetsdale! The IHO program is great…if your income is under 80% AMI. If you're at 95%, forget it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1761 Anonymous Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1761 Maybe you forget that retail is in the toilet right now. The last thing downtown could support is a mega mall tied into a tower Maybe you forget that retail is in the toilet right now. The last thing downtown could support is a mega mall tied into a tower

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1759 Anonymous Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:24:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1759 This is a terrible shame. I've said it time and again here, though many of my comments don't get posted by th editor, the key to success in these times and pretty much any time is multi-purpose, taller buildings. Infrastructure and land costs are the highest but decrease when spread over more floors of the same taller building. Had Great Gulf and The Spire gotten together for a 75-story building, with a 6-story shopping mall (ala Water Tower Place in Chicago), a 10 story hotel, and a wider range of prices for units upward, they might have had a workable project. But, people here don't get this concept which works exceptionally well in building all over the world and allows for more financing and revenue streams to coalesce therefore getting these projects built even in economically rocky times. This is a terrible shame. I've said it time and again here, though many of my comments don't get posted by th editor, the key to success in these times and pretty much any time is multi-purpose, taller buildings. Infrastructure and land costs are the highest but decrease when spread over more floors of the same taller building. Had Great Gulf and The Spire gotten together for a 75-story building, with a 6-story shopping mall (ala Water Tower Place in Chicago), a 10 story hotel, and a wider range of prices for units upward, they might have had a workable project. But, people here don't get this concept which works exceptionally well in building all over the world and allows for more financing and revenue streams to coalesce therefore getting these projects built even in economically rocky times.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html/comment-page-1#comment-1755 Anonymous Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:48:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2008/05/1401-lawrence-project-cancelled.html#comment-1755 There was an article in the paper today about it. They said that there were no plans to sell the site. They might just sit and wait and see how the economy turns out before either selling it off or creating a new use for the land. Or they might just sell it and the sales office will become some over-priced sushi joint. There was an article in the paper today about it. They said that there were no plans to sell the site. They might just sit and wait and see how the economy turns out before either selling it off or creating a new use for the land. Or they might just sell it and the sales office will become some over-priced sushi joint.

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