Denver-based developer Central Development LLC, led by principal Jeremy Records, is planning to construct a 17-story hotel at 18th and Lawrence on Block 066 in Central Downtown.
The project is unique in that it incorporates the historic Denver City Cable Railway Company building as part of the development. The historic Cable Railway building was built in 1889 to house the power plant and maintenance facilities for Denver’s cable railway system. The building is both a Denver Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and currently is home to the Spaghetti Factory restaurant. Here are photos of the historic building’s 18th Street (left) and Lawrence Street (right) sides:
The proposed new tower will rise from the back corner of the historic building, along the alley which parallels Lawrence, and set back from 18th Street. None of the historic building’s 18th or Lawrence Street facades will be modified; in fact, the new tower will not have direct frontage along either street. While final interior space planning has not been finalized, the main entrance to the hotel will most likely be the dramatic 2-story arched entryway on 18th, with the rest of the ground floor consisting of retail and restaurant uses. The hotel lobby and some guest service functions will be located on the entire second floor of the historic building, with guest rooms located in the new tower which will rise 15 floors above the two-story historic base for a total of 17 floors. One level of underground parking will be constructed beneath the new tower. The exact number of hotel rooms has not yet been determined, but is planned at around 200. A hotel operator has not yet been chosen.
Architecturally, the new tower will be very different from its historic base, as required by the Denver Landmark Commission’s design guidelines, which stipulate that any addition to an historic structure must incorporate materials and other design elements that are clearly contemporary in nature and distinguishable from the historic structure. The new tower will feature a modern glass facade and will include a unique configuration to wrap behind the historic Cable Railway building’s soaring brick smokestack. The developers have designed the new tower to defer architecturally as much as possible to the historic building, which is intended to remain as the centerpiece to the development. In fact, Central Development LLC chose this site specifically because of the historic and architectural significance and integrity of the Cable Railway building. By adding the hotel use to the site and converting the historic structure to serve as the street-level face to the entire project, the long-term well being of this important property is ensured for many decades.
The project’s design is being refined and the latest rendering will be available in a week or so, and you can bet that you will see it here first at DenverInfill.com!
This new hotel project is located on the same block as Westfield Development’s proposed 22-story 1800 Larimer project, which breaks ground this summer. This is clearly a win-win situation for both developments, as 1800 Larimer will benefit from having a hotel and additional retail options right next door, and the hotel and its retail partners will have about a thousand potential customers across the alley. Also on the block is the 17-story red-colored AT&T Building. In just a few months’ time, this block has gone from a relatively quiet block on the border between the CBD and LoDo, to a block with two major new proposed developments that will significantly energize this part of Downtown. Add the new Ritz Carlton that is under construction just two blocks to the southeast, Corum Real Estate’s 300-unit 1800 Market project just a block to the northwest, and David Zucker’s 8-story, 69-unit 2020 Lawrence project two blocks to the northeast, and suddenly you’ve got yourself a new hot part of Downtown!
The new Cable Railway hotel project is planned to break ground in Spring 2008 with completion set for Fall 2009. The project is already in preliminary review with the city planning office, and the Landmark Preservation Commission has already given its approval to the project concept, and is working with the developer on tweaking the design details to reach final approval.
