More infill development is planned for the rapidly transforming Ballpark district northeast of Lower Downtown Denver. This is an area that has suffered over the decades from severe case of parkinglotitis, but now the tide is turning: new buildings and their occupants are rehumanizing, reclaiming, redensifying, and revitalizing this cool part of our city center.
Legacy 22nd is a 6-story, 212-unit apartment project being developed by Legacy Partners along the half block of Lawrence between 21st and 22nd Streets. Here’s a GoogleEarth image with the site outlined in yellow:
Here are some renderings from KTGY, the project architect:
 
 
The project is in the process of completing the approval process with the city and should break ground late 2012 or early 2013.
My one biggest complaint about projects like this one and the Walnut Flats project, is that I wish they would take greater consideration of the residents on the first floor. Those floors are not elevated and so anyone walking on the street has a clear view into their home. The developers of 2120 Blake Street seem to have been aware of that potential problem and made adjustments to their design.
Maybe the ground floor will be taken up by the current business in that location, Quixote’s bar/concert hall, ha ha. Something tells me the units directly above it wouldn’t sell that quickly though.
But seriously, instead of wiping out existing successful businesses in the area, why couldn’t this project limit itself to the current surface-level parking lots? It seems the trend in this area is to take up the entire block, which unfortunately leads to bland conformity at the street level.
I don’t see any ground floor units. I agree though ground floor units in this location does not seem to be at all appealing.
Why is this not a mixed use project? This area needs more mixed use.. not more ground floor apartments. In order to enliven the streets, you must give people a reason to spend time on the streets; e.g. restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, delis, markets…
Also… the renderings make it look like all they want is college students and pool parties.
Thanks for the comment Rob. I suspect the lack of retail is due to the fact that the stretch of Larimer between 20th & 23rd, just the other side of the block, is an awesome retail (or at least restaurant) street.
This is great! And only a block from Triangle Park too – I’m impressed that the private sector is investing in this type of development in that location. With all the new residents now likely to move into the area in the next four or five years (b/w 2020 Larwrence, the developments at Walnut and Park, 22nd and Blake, and now this), maybe the City will finally be a bit more proactive in cleaning up the area. Also nice that the black hole between roughly 24th and 20th (“Arapahoe Square” I believe…) is starting to infill in earnest.
Rendering 3 reminds me of exurban shopping meccas. Or hotel rooms. Ken, if we are going to have a vibrant core city at ground level, there does need to be some thought to a mix of residential vs. retail planning. I would like to know how city planners envision the mix in this area (I drive or bike through it almost daily). In some cities, street-level residences work but as presented in the views above, the architects suggest residents would open their lives to passersby. Not credible. Take a look at KTGY’s Aster Town Center at Stapleton. It works, I think, in Stapleton. Not downtown. Also, do people really design their living spaces as suggested by the architect’s renderings?
A) Hopefully the city planners are doing the only thing that they should be doing, which is namely making sure the timing on the stoplights down Broadway is on. Since they can barely do that task, I don’t trust them to do anything regarding infill projects.
B) This project looks like a perfect place for the Miami Dolphins to stay in when the play at Mile High. What is up with the colors on the balcony.
I see rendering 3 as the alley side so secure windows and secure garage doors are appropriate.
Small, convenience shopping at retail is great though I also hope to see offices built for small professional services companies.
I think retail will come, but more of these types of developments needs to come first. If we get 5 – 10 more of these in this area I guarantee offices and retail will follow. Its just not dense, or nice enough for retail to feel confident. Additionally its not approachable yet for outsiders. There is nothing about this are yet (aside from larimer & Greate Divide) that would coax me to going there for fun. 😉
Its all about the critical mass. We will look back one day in 10 years and be like damn… that was quick. Another great development! Keep em coming!
Improvement of note, though not technically infill, the temporary parking lot at 2222 Larimer Street has been converted to full-time parking with paving, landscaping, and perimeter fencing. Hopefully this is a step forward, if nothing else it should reduce dust and other bad elements blowing through the ballpark neighborhood.