A new infill project is coming to Blake Street: LIFT Rowhomes. LIFT is located on the south corner of 32nd and Blake in the popular Ballpark district, where a great mix of industrial-conversion lofts and new-construction flats and rowhomes are transforming the area into one of Downtown’s best urban districts.
The project will feature 14 live/work units priced from $390k to $650k. Units range from 1,200 to 2,000 SF and will feature first-floor offices, private garages, rooftop decks and even private dumbwaiters. Here are a couple of renderings (sharp design!):
LIFT is being developed by Village Flats, in close partnership with DSB+ Architecture, Apex Structural, and R & R Engineers Surveyors. LIFT is launching VIP pre-sales (sign up at www.liftrowhomes.com) with early buyers enabling the project to break ground this summer and reaching completion Summer 2009.
Just curious, how are they financing the project? Doesn't seem like the sort of market to be building yet more homes that maybe 20% of potential buyers can afford.
This project will be very successful mainly due to the design and location. The Architectural firm putting this together with Village Flats is a very progressive group of individuals who understand efficient spacial design coupled with what an owner needs.
I think its because that 20% of potential buyers is making up %80 of the buyers right now. Maybe not that much, but higher end has done relatively well. It is a sub market full of people who are still able to obtain financing.
My 'rents will be empty nesters in a year and are looking to downsize into a downtown condo/townhome. I think many boomers will continue to do the same.
By talking with my parents and other boomers, I don't think they are going to want to retire in the same suburban neighborhoods they raised their families. The exurban resorts/rural and the urban/inner neighborhood areas seem to be most attractive. Right now, both markets are undeserved.
Blake Street is going to soon transform into a "Lofty" destination, but for the neighborhood to really take shape – I would hope that Walnut and Larimer will see equal investment soon. Also, since I live in this neighborhood, it's also nice to see the properties just west of the tracks, in River North, being torn down to make way for the Brighton Flats – or is it Denargo Market? Quite a few buildings are being demolished so hopefully I'll see some updates soon. Either way, it'll be better than seeing dilapitated warehouses whenever I look toward the mountains.
Yeah, I suppose it is a sharp design. At the same time however, I'm already getting sick of the 'cubed wood and concrete look' so prevelant lately. I wonder if every building designer feels it necessary to put some sort of wooden parapet on the corners and roofs of their buildings…
Just a message to all you readers who care about affordable housing and workforce housing in this city: This is a nice looking project, great to have the investment continue in Ballpark, but this is yet another example of a real estate project that, just because it is fewer than 30 units, is not obligated to contribute anything whatsoever to the "community housing problem" that Denver's policies are supposed to deal with. Zip, zilch, nada. Excluding smaller projects is how the policies were designed to work, but that is not the same thing as saying it is a "working" or "functional" policy.
How astonishing how quick we people forget that this is a global market. Trust me, just ask your co-workers where they are from. People always ask how are these projects are going to get paid for or who can afford these homes?
Well in any economy you will have rich or poor. Guess who's building these projects. And who is buying them?
denver's affordability mandate – although well intentioned – misses on many fronts. keep in mind, that ANY new project also creates jobs for the low and middle classes…and when higher income folks move into the city they also SPEND in the city.
dig the design…dumbwaiters? very cool…let's hope they sell so they can get built
Urban planners, Architects & Engineers would love nothing more than to provide for affordable housing and help solve the problems of the community, but considering that putting any project together is full of requirements and risks for developers, it is simply not possible to demand affordable housing from the private sector. instead of criticizing projects which help occupy marginal sites, perhaps there should be a political movement to request our city and state government to provide affordable housing or encourage such projects with incentives. I have a feeling some people just don't understand how the process works and complain to those who are just trying to bring life to areas "in between" instead of clearing land and adding to the sprawl.
Wow what another great project from Village Flats!! This looks awesome!
I like seeing all the upscale, urban development going on downtown. It makes Denver feel like an actual grown-up city. With one exception… where is one supposed to buy bread, cheese and toilet paper in these neighborhoods?
I can buy a trendy loft in Ballpark or CPV and walk downtown for work, play or dining but I still have to own a car to buy groceries. I know they're planning a King Soopers to be built over there somewhere in 2047ish but besides that…
I am sorry to say but I think that is very ugly, remnicent of the 80's and not at all attractive.
Oh Anon 9:24, you're probably the same person who hates One Lincoln Park too.
First off, let me say that as a 34 y.o. denver native, I'M PSYCHED about downtown and the areas surrounding downtown. Seeing this growth is 10x better than the LoDo buildup 15-20 years ago as it's more expansive and more encompassing as residential and commerical structures seem to be rising on a nearly equal basis.
However, I agree with anon 9:24. I'm not psyched about this design or many of the townhome designs that are going up. I think they will be dated in 10 years.
Although I'm not an architect (nor can I likely spell architect), I think a simple use of brick would overcome this dated-ness that's likely to occur. If you look at many older cities that have established townhome/rowhome neighborhoods, it's the brick facade homes that retain their value and their charm. Other designs, it seems, lose their "trendy" appeal and oftentimes become either rundown rentals, simply undesireable, or both. Not saying that's bound to happen here, but popping up 5,000 of these units in an area that previously had 0 likely has potentially negative unforseen consequences which may not manifest themselves for years to come. I hope the downtown agency that approves these structures has done their homework and studied the long-term effect of this type of growth in other cities.
And who knows, maybe I'm just being overly cautious.
while I am a huge fan of urban infill, this design is just not a "winning" design, yet. It has the potential though… !!. The front elevation feels a little uneasy to me, things are juxtaposed together as if this was the 1st draft. it lacks a guiding concept or statement that brings the whole thing together. I feel it needs another round of refinement to bring these elements together in a successful way. As for the side elevation, I'd throw that thing away and rethink my design !! I really want to see this development happen but it needs some work !
Nice use of 2x4s as a dominant material. Perhaps the use of vinyl siding would nicely compliment the proposed architecture?
This project went through 'design review committee' with the city…and yes, some changes are coming – additional masonry, additional windows on 32nd Street side and other refinements. Not to mention street trees, sidewalks and curb and gutter on a formerly unimproved piece of land.
I have seen the floorplans as well and these have some very unique features / options unavailable in other properties.
Rumors are flying around that there is a phase 2 and phase 3 – which would include and a medium-sized market on Blake Street.
Vinyl siding!? I hope thats a sarcastic remark. Jesus.. Denver is doomed.
^ that's cedar planks…
On of the things that bothers me about some of these townhomes, this one included, is how the side street appearance gets neglected (in emphasis to comment by anon 12:55). Really, a good piece of architecture should look good from all angles, and some of the townhomes really fail in this respect. Often times the side street face is boring or ugly even.
The phone booth in the depicted cartoon is kind of quaint, don't you think? Really now, a phone booth?
Phase 2 and 3 eh? Would love to see Village Flats pull this off. I hope that this project fares better than the Blake 27 project which got to phase 1 and 2, but no phase 3. 🙁
10 bucks says that there will be neither a USPS mail box nor a pay phone…
The problem with a lot of these new projects is the architecture is just plain too aggressive. If I'm buying real estate, I want something that won't look stupid in ten (five?) years. No gentle curves, no arching masonry — just abrasive edges and questionable colors.
fyi… just to avoid confusion, the Ken above isn't me, DenverInfill Ken. 🙂
And why not have more second floor windows? Right now they just have square port wholes. Really, the second floor of these units would be kind of claustraphobic … let me out!
Lucky for Ken #1, we live in a free market country and if there aren't 14 people who like the design and location enough to buy a unit, the developers will lose a ton of money.
I personally wouldn't want a house that had gentle curves or arching masonry because I don't like those things. To each his own, right?
I agree with the points made about affordable housing requirements. Unfortunately, the prevailing conservative theories that inform most of our city, state, and national governments' actions–the idea that government should incentive-ize private industry to do things that government supposedly couldn't do as well or better or more cost-effectively, and that the poor must find ways to fend for themselves no matter what–are in place for the foreseeable future, no matter who is in the White House, no matter who's in charge at the state Capitol or C&C Building. This is a country that is more conservative than it knows.
I also agree with those who say that brick facades tend to age better over time than these trendy cubes made of less substantial materials (but I have to disagree with the poster who said these look like the 1980s–if that were the case, the architects would have made everything mauve, added cartoonish PoMo detailing, and outlined the buildings with teal-colored neon!)(that's supposed to be a joke).
But what's with the Volkswagen Beetle? So 1999. As a regretful owner of one ($$$$ to the repair shop), I can say that if they really want a rendering to look like it's 2008 in Denver, a Subaru (any model), a Mini, or a Prius would be a better choice.
I do believe it's a great sign that the announcement of a new rowhome development can inspire such vast and varied comments as we are seeing here…there is always critique and always room for improvement – let's see if the designer / developers are listening.
Design is always a work-in-progress – even through construction…this will be a great addition to Blake Street!
Question: What's a 'dumbwaiter'?
I believe that these types of facades can 'age' well (age in terms of retaining a general sense of an attractive building), if the construction materials are not 'cheap' looking and if the details are rich. If designers/builders are successful in those regards, I think this will be a great looking block in 5, 10 & 30 years from when (if?) they're built. just my $.02.
For examples of a "dumbwaiter," visit Forest Room 5, home of the worst service of any restaurant in the City.
^^ it's a mini, private, cargo elevator built into each home..from garage to the rooftop deck.
no more carrying groceries, etc. up the stairs…ship your margarita tray right up the deck as well.
Question: What's a 'dumbwaiter'?
Anyone taking your order at Wazee Supper Club.
Ugh, more "cereal box" townhomes. There sure are a lot of these starting to glut the inventory of unsold new construction in the Curtis Park/5 Points area. They're typically built crappy and it appears there is a shrinking pool of buyers willing to plunk down $500 grand to run stairs up and down 4-stories of narrow, flimsy construction.
For examples of a "dumbwaiter," visit the Corner Office. I complained online, they gave me a gift certificate. I've been back a few times (on their dime and mine), and I've finally gone back to Charlie Brown's where the burgers are always hot and the help is much more helpful (thus, more endearing, cuter to look at, impressively smarter).
Very interesting article, thanks