Downtown Denver’s Block 162 is now down to just two buildings: the historic Fontius and McClintock buildings. This weekend, the last remnants of the old Republic Hotel building at the corner of 15th and California were being scooped up and hauled away. Now, three-quarters of the block is clear for the future mixed-use high-rise project planned by Denver developer Evan Makovsky. This November, an Urban Land Institutepanel will come to Denver at the request of Mr. Makovsky to analyze the site, the Downtown market, etc., and make recommendations regarding the scale, orientation, and mix of uses for the site. Once Makovsky’s plans have been finalized, by late 2008 or early 2009, construction could begin.Meanwhile, renovation work on the Fontius will proceed over the course of the next year, with the goal being to have the exterior of the Fontius restored to its former glory by the start of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.