The Speer and Washington Apartments started out as a very unknown project back in May 2013. We had very limited details about it and a couple of line drawings hinting at what this building was going to look like. However, this project came with a couple of great yet unexpected elements. As construction was in full swing and the structure started to rise, we expected to see wood framing, like any other five to six-story apartment project. Instead, to our surprise, steel framing was going up! Before we take a look at the completed project, feel free to visit our previous coverage on it:
New Speer Neighborhood Project: Speer & Washington Apartments
Speer: Speer & Washington Apartments Update #1
Another unexpected element of this project is the facade. From copper paneling to large bricks and setbacks, this building is very unique and adds a great amount of character to Speer Boulevard and Washington Street.
The majority of the parking is underground, which is accessible on Washington Street. Along the alley, there are also a few parking spots for residents and guests.
Also along Washington Street, you will find all new landscaping and stoops for private entrances to the units.
The main pedestrian level entrance to the building is along Speer Boulevard, which has also been landscaped with wild grasses, and new trees.
The Speer and Washington Apartments add 107-units to the neighborhood which translates to another 150 or so more people moving to Denver. This project exceeded my level of expectation and overall is a great contribution to the Speer neighborhood!
This building looks incredible in person (and in Ryan’s photos, of course). If we could get 40 more of these buildings scattered around the city, we would be much better off at a city.
Love the rooftop deck, with the potted trees! After a lot of so-so new apartment houses, this is a unique, classy building, on a prominent corner along Speer’s media district.
The name. What about the name? What’s in a name?
“My Block” … Priceless!
My Block Wash Park nontheless. They could have just as easily named it My Block Chessman Park, since both parks are approximately 13 blocks away. Priceless indeed. Sweet looking building though.
I agree with Ryan. We need to have this level of detail incorporated into much of the new apartment building that is rising in the area. The architect/builder/neighbors should be very proud of the final product.
I definitely see this going condo some day!
And I, for one, could see the fitness center fronting Speer going retail someday. In fact it looks like it was built with this possibility in mind. The zoning on the lot right now is G-MU-5, which prohibits retail. However both of the neighboring properties along Speer are C-MX-5, and Speer is clearly a major boulevard, so it seems like it would be a fairly straight forward re-zoning request under Denver’s new system. Smart move by the developer!
Yes, very cool building. Now anybody know what’s going in the nearby hole at 8th And Sherman?
Currently the permit filed with the city says 5-story mixed use. We’ll do some more digging and hopefully have a post on it soon.
I was just wondering if anyone knows of another construction webcam that might replace the Denver Union Station webcam that was apparently taken down by the construction firm when the project was completed. It was fun to check the progress of all the different projects going on down there. Anyone know of anything?
There are two webcams that I know of:
1601 Wewatta: http://oxblue.com/open/1601Wewatta
Triangle Building: http://oxblue.com/open/triangle
Beautiful project, like others said Denver could use many more of these and a lot less of the 5-story stick monsters like Denargo Market. I imagine this one will be converting to condos at some point in the future.
This is one of the best looking new buildings I’ve seen in a long time.
I know this isn’t a large project, but it gets the “Project of the Year” award from me. Great design, great materials and imaginative landscaping. It’s not rocket science! Way to go guys!
Significant streets and key locations in the city deserve strong buildings. I’m thrilled as a neighbor to have this level of quality in my “West Wash Park” neighborhood (per the realtors and the neighborhood association boundary) or “Speer” (a city designation?). I explain it as “near the Channel 9 building,” or “West Country Club” when being ironic. The site previously has a 4 foot attached sidewalk on Speer. Now you can walk a dog or push a stroller on it. Thanks! Aslo, Waffle Brothers is going in at First and Washington…mmm, waffles.