Yesterday at the Downtown Denver Partnership’s annual Development Forum, it was made public that Shea Properties has plans for a major infill project on the entire undeveloped half of Downtown’s Block 109. The project, known as 999 17th Street, would include a 350,000 SF office tower at the corner of 17th and Curtis and a tower of similar size at 18th and Curtis with possibly hotel and residential uses.
I’ve known about this project for many months but, since confidentiality was requested, I haven’t blogged about it—which was tough to do since it’s such an exciting development! I haven’t yet obtained permission to post the project renderings.
An entire half block of surface parking in the core Downtown along 17th Street—our “Wall Street of the Rockies”—could go away and be replaced with a vibrant mixed-use high-rise complex. Sweet!
BLOG UPDATE!!
I was waiting to get permission to post the renderings, but I’ve just now gotten the go-ahead, so here they are:
View of 17th & Curtis:
View of 18th & Curtis:
Images are courtesy of Shea Properties. I have a lot more information to share about this project that I’ll post later today. But for now, enjoy the renderings!
Sweet!
It's baffling to me that big projects like this are still going forward as the economy tanks, credit becomes scarce, etc. Who would finance a project like this in this climate? Is there really a big demand for new office space? Or condos, of all things? Anyway, hope it actually happens. The renderings look fairly interesting too.
Dear second anonymous poster, Let's all stick our head's in the sand and not move forward until the "experts" tell us its okay to do so.
Sincerely,
Anonymous III (3)
People that take these risks are the people that can afford to chance a major development on a now "cheap" chunk of land. The economy only directly effects the middle income class. In most cases, the rich will always be wealthy and the broke will always struggle.
Id like to see the renderings. Anyone have a link?
Pardon my confusion…where might I find the referenced renderings?
Per Ken's blog: "I haven't yet obtained permission to post the project renderings."
As for financing a project in this economic climate – commercial projects run on a different cycle than consumer activities. In fact – the country is currently in a building boom for offices, hotels, etc..
In case nobody is paying attention, while the country lost 40,000 jobs last year, Colorado gained 40,000 jobs – one of the resasons why despite high foreclosures, Forbes magazine has ranked Denver the 7th best city in America for the housing market. Easy credit isn't the most important factor in a new building, demand is. 40,000 jobs sounds like pretty good demand to me.
Like the looks of this. But any info on when construction might begin?
Holy… crap….
This is going to be awesome if it gets built!
This is great news for downtown! And I love that the buildings look like they'll be somewhat original (for Denver) which, judging from a lot of buildings going up now, I wasn't sure was actually allowed.
That is a really, really good-looking design. It's extremely contemporary without seeming to be something that would go out of style in 10 years for being too edgy.
I imagine most buildings would look like that 20 years from now.
So what's the timeframe on this thing?
Nice look to it. Who is the architect of record for these designs?
Yahoo! Just did the Moondance down the hallway.
These buildings, Two Tabor, 1800 Larimer, Sugar Cubed, etc. are all exiting designs that are really updating the building stock downtown, which was really tired looking until recently.
I find it funny how people had more to say about a footpath running through a grass feild than about an announcement of a proposal for two great buildings.
Personally I love these buildings, their lines, the color of their exteriors, and the angled glass look amazing! I hope the get built quickly!
"I find it funny how people had more to say about a footpath running through a grass feild than about an announcement of a proposal for two great buildings."
I find it funny for someone to give two s**ts about what people choose to discuss.
(I know, I know..someone will find it funny that I chose to comment on some guy who was gave two s**ts about what people chose to comment son and so on and so on)
(PS…nice freaking prospective building here!)
KCollins:
A lot of us here walk.. slightly fewer of us develop skyscrapers.
"A lot of us here walk.. slightly fewer of us develop skyscrapers."
Hillarious! 😀
I do whish I could develop skyscrapers though….
Goodness this site has gotten very touchy lately, I don't think I'm going to post on here anymore.
I'm sorry that denverinfill is becoming like this.
"Goodness this site has gotten very touchy lately, I don't think I'm going to post on here anymore. "
It's the primary elections. Everybody's freaking out! Wait till we get closer to the convention and that defensiveness will return to excitement.
I turn this corner every day on my way to work. I'm thrilled to see something being done. Although downtown is quickly being priced out of my range, it's better than the 80s when tumbleweeds would literally blow down the streets after 6pm, and downtown became a skatepark on the weekends.
I wish people would spend more time commenting on the project than commenting on comments.