The world’s slowest demolition project appears to have finally reached an end. Yes, I’m talking about the Embassy Suites project on Block 138. It was in November 2006 when the “Alpine Demolition” banner was first hung across the face of the old Motor Hotel Garage building at 14th and Stout. In an October 2008 blog, I said that the project appeared to have reached the construction phase, as shoring walls were starting to be installed, but at that time there were elements of the old parking garage foundation that were still being removed. Now it appears all remnants of the garage are gone and the project is “under construction” for real, as concrete is being poured for the tower’s foundation. Here are a couple of photos taken today by my friend Grant, of work at the site:
Regular readers of DenverInfill know that I like to rag on this project, not for the glacial pace at which it has progressed, but for the complete lack of information about the project provided by the developer, White Lodging Services and/or their affiliated construction firm, WPM Construction, both out of Merrillville, IN. As an infill project, I generally think it’s great. It replaces a surface parking lot (yay!) in our core Downtown. But what I don’t understand is the refusal to communicate anything about the project. I’m pretty good about tracking down news items about Downtown projects, but there haven’t been any about this project since, like, 2005. Even their corporate websites have nothing on this project. All renderings of the tower have been “bootleg” copies that I or others have managed to obtain, and repeated phone calls and emails to the developer have gone unanswered.
This lack of communication in not unprecedented. One one hand, developers of condominiums or spec office buildings are usually eager to tell you all about their projects because they have space to sell or lease that requires substantial marketing lead time. Consequently, with those projects, there are official groundbreakings with gold-colored shovels and mayoral appearances, extensive construction websites, regular press releases, and the like. But on the other hand, for other projects like certain hotel or rental apartment developments, the corporate interests behind the projects apparently don’t give a damn about informing you, the public, about their projects until they near completion, when they want your money (see: 816 Acoma). Granted, in the end, everyone wants your money one way or another, but at least developers should be willing to toss the public a bone or two while their projects are in the planning and development phase to pique your interest and to be good corporate citizens. Really, how much does a press release cost?
Anyway, to end this post on a positive note, here’s a final image from Grant of the concrete pump at the Embassy Suites site with the awesome Spire project in the background. With any luck, the Embassy project will be complete in 2019.
