The Confluence at Cherry Creek, a project slated for the corner of 15th and Little Raven where an old boarded-up building currently sits—one of the last remaining in Downtown Denver’s Central Platte Valley district—may be finally moving forward. The project was proposed several years ago by Ray Suppa, developer of the Palace Lofts at 15th and Blake, but nothing much has happened with it since then.
The original plan called for a 9-story condo building stepping down to about 6 stories along 15th. Recently, the developers submitted a rezoning request to the city to allow them to go up to 140 feet in height (about 13 to 14 stories). It’s still early in the rezoning process and it will be several months before the rezoning request works its way through the Blueprint Denver committee and on to the full City Council for approval.
Personally, I am in favor of the rezoning. Thirteen stories is consistent with other developments nearby–namely Riverfront Tower at 13 stories, Waterside Lofts at 13 stories, Gates HQ at 10 stories, etc. A slightly taller project at that location will anchor the 15th and Little Raven intersection and, more importantly, provide added density to the Riverfront Park area. More residents in the area will help the existing and future businesses—like the proposed King Soopers at 20th and Wewatta and the nearby Vitamin Cottage—to thrive. The project site also overlooks the very cool Confluence Plaza, the new public space where the old Xcel Energy substation used to be, and higher density there will certainly spur additional activity at the plaza and make it a safer, friendlier place.
I’m tired of going past that boarded up building at 15th and Little Raven every day on my way into work. If adding a few more floors will get the project off the ground, I say let’s do it. Along with the Cosmopolitan Club project diagonally across the corner, the Confluence at Cherry Creek project will complete the redevelopment of one of the Central Platte Valley’s best intersections.
In August I spent a long moment standing on the other side of the creek, staring at this plot and wishing it had a cafe with outdoor seating facing Confluence Plaza. If this gets built it will really be a nice finishing touch for the whole area.
Vitamin Cottage… I thought it folded.
I live right across the street from that horrible building. I cannot wait for something new to be built. Hopefully this process goes as quickly as possible.
Don't you think we are moving towards making Cherry Creek an afterthought by putting such tall buildings right next to it.
Pretty soon, the only people with a view of it or access to it will be the building owners.
A view to Cherry Creek? The thing's a ditch, the only people with a view of it are right next to it or in it. I for one love jogging down the trail and looking up to see a line of buildings.
While the downtown Vitamin Cottage has yet to become as busy as their more established locations, to say "I thought it folded" is a bit rude. Vitamin Cottage is the only locally-owned grocery chain in Colorado, and that is reason enough to patronize it–the money stays here. Yes, their name is weird–a heritage of their days (in the 1950s-1960s) as a pill shop–but their prices beat everyone's in the natural/organic space. They get about 80% of my grocery business. The only problem with their 15th & Platte location is that it's smaller than their other stores, and they don't stock everything the Leetsdale store stocks.
Not sure if the comment about Vitamin C was sincere or not but its alive and hopefully well. I actually like to ride my bike 6-7 miles each way to frequent this store in part to support downtown grocery stores, but also since I like VC, riding my bike, and downtown in general.
One thing I don't like about this VC is that they have covered the windows facing 15th. This practice really disconnects the building from the street and vice versa. This seems to be a trend (e.g. shops at Colfax and Krameria another example)… are they adding windows due to building codes but allowed to cover them due to a loophole? Anyone have any insights?