Goodbye, Rocky Mountain News.
Archive of entries posted on February 2009
Bell Tower Update: Return of the NIMBYs
Buzz Geller’s proposed 34-story Bell Tower received its preliminary approval from the Lower Downtown Design Review Board back on February 5. Now, a retired attorney who lives in the Larimer Place tower on Block 046 two blocks away from Geller’s site, has asked the Landmark Preservation Commission to overturn the LDDRB’s approval.
For the details, please check out John Rebchook’s article in today’s Rocky and Joel Warner’s blog at Westword.
Personally, despite what Mr. Pearson says, I think this is a classic case of NIMBYism at its worst: people who live in a tower complaining about another tower. The Larimer Place folks have done this before to Geller, and I saw them myself show up en mass when the W Hotel & Residences project was before the LDDRB.
Since I know many of you support Mr. Geller’s efforts to build the Bell Tower, rather than complain about the situation here on this blog, I suggest you send a note of support to the Landmark Preservation Commission to their general email address: Landmark@denvergov.org or you may submit your comments via the Commission’s online form here:
http://www.denvergov.org/Historic_Preservation/HomePage/ContactUs/tabid/387989/Default.aspx
New Downtown Project at 20th and Lawrence
Today I have a brief update of what’s going on at 20th and Lawrence in Downtown Denver.
Zocolo Community Development, which brought the successful Zocolo and RiverClay condominium projects to the Jefferson Park district, has begun site excavation at the corner of 20th and Lawrence on Block 079 for a new multi-family rental project. Details on the project, such as its name, height, design, and number of units, will be announced in the near future here at DenverInfill.
Reflecting Zocolo’s commitment to sustainability, this new project will earn LEED certification, joining the developer’s RiverClay project as among the earliest multi-family projects to achieve LEED status in the country.
Construction staging for the project will occur nearby on Block 080 at Zocolo’s “2020 Lawrence” site, while that project undergoes a redesign.
Even in this tough economy, it’s great to see yet another new project get underway in Downtown Denver! More on this project soon.
