Last December, we reported on RedPeak Property’s exciting development in Denver’s Uptown district at 19th and Logan. Today I’m happy to give you an update on the project, along with some new renderings.
First, the project has a new name: One City Block—kind of appropriate since the project will cover one full city block. Currently, that one city block is covered by one ugly sea of asphalt. Here’s a GoogleEarth aerial where I’ve outlined this project’s location (click to embiggen, of course):
As you can see, this part of Uptown needs a parkinglotectomy, so One City Block is just what the doctor ordered.
The project consists of four buildings named after some of Denver’s urban parks: The Benedict, the Congress, the Washington, and the Commons. Here are some updated renderings (thanks to Davis Partnership Architects) of this 300-unit residential development that’s aiming for LEED-Silver certification.
This first image shows the block’s north side along E. 19th Avenue, with The Congress on the left and The Benedict on the right. It’s along this side of the project where the approximately 9,000 square feet of retail will be located.
Moving around the block in a clockwise direction, here’s the northeast corner, E. 19th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, looking southwest at The Congress:
This is a view looking northwest at The Washington, located on the block’s southeast corner of E. 18th Avenue and Pennsylvania:
Next, this is the block’s southwest corner, with E. 18th Avenue in the foreground and Logan Street off to the left. The building on the right is The Washington, and on the left, The Commons:
Finally, here’s a rendering showing the pool in the center courtyard, looking southwest. On the left is the western end of The Washington, followed by The Commons in the corner and then on the right, The Benedict, which wraps all the way around the block’s northwest corner to bring us back to where we started in the first image:
Parking is no longer being permitted on the site. Later this month, site prep work and utility relocations should begin as the first steps in the project’s construction. The entire project should be completed by late 2013.
That really is a fantastic project that should make a huge difference for that part of town. There are still far to many surface lots in that area but they’re disappearing slooowly but surely !
I’ll save you all some time:
— Ugly! Central courtyards are the worst!
–Finally, some interesting architecture! I love central courtyards!
–Why can’t they do something like this downtown!?!
–Ugh, more cookie-cutter design in Uptown!
–Why isn’t this at least 37 stories tall???
–But wait, 5 stories works here!
So true! 🙂
You nailed it Keith ! Now you’ll shame people from praising or damning it.
I think pitched rooves on apartment buildings are a bit corny and Vail-esque, but what the hell, build build build!
One minor pitched roof on the entire project of non-pitched roofs seems pretty minor. At least this pitched roof has depth and doesn’t stop at the 6″ depth of the wall as is typical in a lot of the apartments built in this area.
I really like this project as well, especially because of the architecture. It’s not that I dislike what appears to be the currently favored architecture, but we do have a lot of it happening. This architecture at One City Block is warm and inviting, whereas I think the current architecture elsewhere is hard, edgy, cold, and industrial. Some of it will have lasting appeal, but much of it will look like the barren and stark look from the 60’s and 70’s which now turns off so many of us.
Red Peak is planning a project near Highlands Square in West Highlands which I fully support. They have responded to neighborhood input regarding building envelope. I am trying to encourage them to adopt at least some architecture similar to One City Block – it fits better in the neighborhood.
I’m also very impressed with Red Peak because they are a Denver-based developer. I think their work in Denver so far is superb. Keep it up.
Agreed on all points. Although the latest renderings for the West Highlands developments look to be the same modern-type stuff found extensively around Denver (esp. LoHi), unfortunately.
A modern day Poets Row. The fact they are including retail space is wonderful for the area and residents. The architecture and materials they are using, feel high end and deserving of that location. Thank you for the update
Well, I for one like it just fine. Okay, I don’t really care for multicolor brick on one building. But, brick is brick which is better than stucco or suburban siding and I’ll take it happily. Also, I really can’t say more strongly that I really like the fact that the parking for this at the last go round was to be underground where all parking in this area should be. Kudos to Davis and RedPeak for having the foresight.
This is great news. Presumably, it costs a lot of money to have architectural diversity within one project. Diversity probably has an impact on the economic viability of the project, it also makes a big difference to the city’s inhabitants.
Good for these developers for building something with a little bit of retail, some density, and some architectural character — especially at street level, where it matters most.
Why can’t we get this type of quality development/architecture in lower downtown? I mean, this is the look of buildings we want in LODO and not some of the modernist crap that has been built or is being proposed. Case in point, the new propsal for the building at 15th and Market is way too modern for a historic district. Same for the mess that was built at 16th and Blake a few years ago. Yes, quality development is what is needed!
I absolutely love that corner view of The Congress. It looks like Ebbets Field.
I really like the architecture..I love how each building looks a bit different yet they all relate to each other stylistically. I am kind of curious about what you mean by “Parking is no longer being permitted on the site.” Are they really going to build 300 apartment units and not provide any parking for them? That seems a bit strange to me since I am sure that a significant portion of those residents will want a dedicated parking space since that area has fairly awful street parking, though it is true that there are a few parking garages and lots in the area that they can rent from.
Just curious if there really is no parking of any kind in this development.
I’m fairly certain that Ken meant the site, which is currently a parking lot, isn’t allowing anyone to park there on account of the impending construction.
But I’ve been wrong before.
I am pretty sure Ken meant that parking is no longer permitted on the surface lot as the development is getting ready to break ground. I am pretty sure they will have parking for the apartments residents, either underground or in a structured parking garage.
Yes, that’s what I was saying.
This is probably one of, if not my favorite development in the city… It looks like the designers picked up a lot of little bits of aesthetic from surrounding structures and implemented them here in there, which kind of tie that whole area together well. All of that brick is going to look awesome… kind of reminds me of a converted industrial block.
Yay!
I’m concerned about where I’m gonna park when I go to Las Delicias.
Yeah it’ll tough to park with only about 200,000 parking spots within a block. Good luck finding one.