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 newer design seems to diminish the prominence of the smokestack. I liked the first design, and I'm neutral on its update to the new one – while it doesn't look as good in the rendering, it may look better in the real world, as most structures do. But I'd like to see more windows on the brick face of the high-rise, or have the brick portion pull away from the chimney a bit.
I agree with pizzuti! The first was very cool in my opinion, but the second lacks something. It does work better with the older aspect of the building, but I am failing to see how the smokestack is more prominent. As a whole, it looks less progressive (which is probably the goal with the historic building). I just hope this happens!
I thought this thing was dead months ago.
Doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose of preservation if you're just going to move the smoke stack?
How uninspired. This new building is quite ugly, and I agree with the above comments that it fails to make the smokestack more prominent. They could have dealt with this site and the restraints in an imaginative way, but instead they chose to do a typical shoebox building with some "modern" decorative elements to spruce it up. I also greatly dislike how close it is to 1800 Larimer. Are there windows on that side? Being in a hotel and having a window through which office workers can look from 6 feet away isn't a very nice experience.
I'm with Jane. And what about trying to market 1800 Larimer when a portion of the building will be only feet away from what I would imagine would either be a blank wall or some type of reflective windows? That can't be good for either developer.
Off the subject, but any update on the W Hotel?
The striking contrast approach shown in the original proposal is way more interesting than the blended approach shown in the new proposal! I would consider this as a setback ! but anyway, hope it gets built. General development enviroment is getting harder given the credit situation, confidence in real estate, and construction costs!! I know of a few projects in the central platte valley that failed to launch just because proformas didn't add up. !! it's becoming very challenging to put up a building
I wish they could try to match the brickwork on the new towers to the original building. It looks kinda out of place.
I'm more a fan of the old, grand style than the new, "thrown together" look. When I enter a building I like to think, "wow, someone took time, care and pleasure to create this". It seems to me that everything built in Denver in the last 5 years is going to look "00's" very soon.
I can't say I like either design. The first one is boring and the second is too conventional. I think they should leave the building alone if they can't come up with something great.
I agree toast. Stylish fads are stylish fads, regardless if they are from the '60s or '00s. There is a modern building on 17th and Wazee, directly south of Jax, that has a modern appearance but utilizes detailed brickwork. Market square alludes to the same feeling. Both those buildings add value to the city. I find it a shame when developers use modernism to take the cheap path. A couple decades down the road those decisions will be sorely regretted.
glad to see that this is moving along… even if it doesnt get started until after the economy improves…
I agree with everyone that doesn't like any of the designs.. Ha! Seriously though, preservation? All they are doing is plopping a giant turd on top of a potentially important piece of historic Denver architecture. If they really want to make it work.. they'd build it all in the same architectural style / influence.. using modern materials. I would also say that the fact that it only uses a small percentage of the roof area is a waste and ugly! Make it a green roof at least!