Continuing on in the Jefferson Park neighborhood, there is quite a bit of infill near the park itself. A couple of blocks away from the park, Element 47 is starting to shape up and is nearing completion.
Here is the first building that was completed in Element 47 on the intersection of West 23rd Avenue and River Drive. The facade of each building is composed of paneling and stone; which isn’t used much in the new projects going up.
Element 47 is in a slightly unusual location, with a large portion of the project facing Interstate 25. We typically do not like surface parking incorporated in any infill development however, these lots face the highway and are tucked away.
There are parts of Element 47 that feel like a true urban project, the buildings that face West 23rd Ave, Bryant, and Frontview Crescent Drive however, in the middle of the project, I couldn’t help feeling like I was in a suburban apartment complex. When Bryant Street turns into Frontview Crescent Drive, there is an option to go straight into Element 47 where you are greeted with surface parking and a turn around loop in front of the leasing office. This part of the project had much more potential to still feel like a true urban part of the neighborhood.
Buildings four and five are still under construction but should be completed in the coming months. Building five, facing Frontview Crescent Drive, also appears to have townhome units in the front. This block already has townhome units along the entire south side, so this should fit in nicely.
Element 47 is providing the Jefferson Park neighborhood with 265 apartment units and 4,000 square feet of retail. We should see full completion around late summer.
There was a lot of pressure from the neighborhood that forced the developer to select a new architect and make some small changes to make the project feel a little more urban. It’s amazing how, when it is finally getting built, some small design changes and the choice of materials helps to emphasize it’s suburban qualities. Oh, well. More residents is always good. Hopefully this developer is not planning on any more projects.
Looks like cheap ingredients and not attractive results. 🙁
I guess hiring a new Architect didnt help much. I drive by this monstrosity
everyday and personally I find it tasteless and cheap, biggest eyesore along I-25, very sad 🙁
Terrible project!
Where’s the retail going to be? And any idea what’s going in?
More cardboard apartments!
Awful project!
yea, this is a fail in every regard for such a prominent site.
Why is so much of this millenial architecture so … ugly?! Downtown Denver is practically blighted with this crap that looks like it was built as cheaply as possible. Much of it reminds me of Soviet-era developments. These are future ghettos that no one will want to live in 50 years from now. What a waste.
Agree with the exception of 50 years. I feel that it will be much sooner. Infill but at what cost?
Beautiful Baby Doe’s Restaurant had to die for this!?!!!
I agree this project is so disappointing 🙁
I read a lot of negative comments but I don’t see any proposed solutions or new ideas. Personally, I think it’s a lot better than the dilapidated homes that once stood on the hill. I believe the increased density will ultimately help continue the rejuvenation of the Jefferson Park neighborhood by providing more residents to utilize current retail and encourage new retail,commercial, & residential spaces. Eventually, this contributes to a positive, safe, & lively environment for the entire community at large. One needs to think long term and watch how things get integrated into the neighborhood over time.
Thinking long term would be building a better-looking, better constructed, more dense, and more mixed use product.