Seattle-based Unico Properties continues to expand its presence in Denver’s urban core with a proposed mixed-use project, 14 Wynkoop, located along Cherry Creek between Wazee and Wynkoop streets.
The 14 Wynkoop development site is outlined in yellow on the image below and consists of two parcels. The parking lot along the Wazee Street side measures 12,500 square feet and was bought by Unico in February 2016. The surface parking lot on the Wynkoop side measures approximately 10,000 square feet and is part of the parcel that includes the adjacent building at 1430 Wynkoop that Unico acquired in October 2015. Unico has also requested an alley vacation which adds about another 1,500 square feet, putting the total project footprint at approximately 24,000 square feet.
According to documents submitted to the Lower Downtown Design Review Board (LDDRB), the proposed development will include 73,000 square feet of office space on floors 2 through 4, 40 residential units on floors 5 through 8, 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and three levels of underground parking containing 142 storage spaces for automobiles. The 8th floor is a residential penthouse level that is quite a bit smaller than the other floors in square footage, as it is stepped back significantly on all four sides. The image below shows 14 Wynkoop’s three building elevations. All of the following graphics are from the project’s August 4 submittal documents and are courtesy of OZ Architecture, the project architect.
14 Wynkoop was informally discussed at the November 5, 2015 LDDRB meeting, but the Board will take up the project formally for the first time at their August 4 meeting. The first step in the LDDRB process is reviewing the project’s proposed mass and scale. City staff have put forward a “denial” recommendation for this first review, which is not unusual. It’s fairly common for a project to require multiple rounds of review with the LDDRB before receiving approval.
Here are several conceptual renderings for the proposed development. Keep in mind that these designs are preliminary and only address mass and scale, not necessarily materials or other design details. The design will definitely be refined in the coming months as part of the historic district design review process.
View from near the Downtown Children’s Playground across Cherry Creek:
Wazee Street view:
View from across the other side of the Wazee bridge over Cherry Creek:
Wynkoop Street view with 1430 Wynkoop on the left:
This is good news for Downtown Denver! Another big surface parking lot will be eradicated and replaced with an urban fabric-healing building that brings people and economic vitality to the edge of Cherry Creek.
A very attractive project! Mixed use!
Do you know if the residential is going to be condos?
A reasonably handsome building, but no way it gets through LDDRB in this form. They’re too afraid of setting precedent – which is understandable given some recent ‘copycat’ projects.
Anyone else see the opportunity to make that dead-end block of Wynkoop pedestrian only? Is it a viable option?
Probably not. 1401 Wynkoop uses it to access their parking garage, and it looks like the building across the street has some kind of a curb cut as well. Given the limited retail along the street and the small amount of daily auto trips, I don’t know if it would be worth it.
Check out the “Wynkoop Street and 21st Street Design Plan”. Despite what I think is one glaring mistake (making the 21st Park Blocks centered at Lawrence when they would be better centered at Arapahoe), the plan shows some fantastic improvements to both streets including closing off half of Wynkoop to cars between 15th and Cherry Creek.
https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/community-planning-and-development/planning-and-design/plans-in-progress/21st-wynkoop.html
Very interesting. Removable bollards after the point where the cars turn to access 1401 Wynkoop and the building across the street. And it looks like the proposed access for 14 Wynkoop is off Wazee, so this plan could work nicely. I stand half corrected 🙂
The architecture is safe, but clean and handsome. Really all was can ask for in Denver.
I love that these two parking lots are going away and a mixed-use building will be occupying such a prominent site along the creek. Bravo.
I thought this was just massing and these renderings aren’t representative of the final project?
You must not live near the proposed building. What is wrong with the city that the area was not developed as a food/bar area along the creek. We hardly need another high rise blocking the views and roads/lack of dog parks can not support more residences/offices
It’s a shame everyone who owns in West End Lofts will loose their view and it will effect their value. Any idea on the time line of this?
If everyone could keep their views, the city would be a few towers surrounded by parking lots. Change and growth is necessary and the sacrifice of a few views is a reasonable one. Especially for the loss of a surface parking lot.
With all due respect, I am quite surprised how anyone who lives in LoDo next to a parking lot would think that the parking lot would remain there forever. Great salesmanship, most likely.
It’s too bad for them but should not be unexpected at all. Don’t count on a view to remain for ever in a central downtown neighborhood next to a parking lot. Especially in a location like this in LoDo next to the river. This is an appropriate project in the appropriate setting.
It’s not a shame that two parking lots are being developed in such a prominent location. No city unit with a view is immune from possible (future) view obstruction, and buyers should always take that into account and also keep tabs on future development.
Given the layout of west end and the placement and orientation of balconies, values here will definitely be effected as you note.
I agree this kind of change should be expected, and it was but it could be designed in harmony to it’s surrounding neighbor buildings. After further thought it will not be a whole lot different then condos that face Wazee or units in the LoDo aread that sit across from other units. There are plenty of condos in downtown that don’t have great views but hold plenty of value. Ice house is a good example, there are units there that face another building and still hold great value, the overall location maybe a little bit more desirable but West End is a great location too. It’d be nice if they could leave the alley way open somehow.
Love the website but I gotta say I think the renderings for 14 Wynkoop look gruesome…looks more like a 1980’s office building than an apartment building.
It looks like a cruise ship is parked as a bookend……
To take the alley as part of the project is upsetting. Three buildings use the alley for access to 15th street. It is the only way out and is a source of concern for residents in case of an emergency. Would like plan to include an exit for their neighbors whose garages face the alley
The only portion of the alley that would be vacated would be just the last segment that dead ends into Cherry Creek below the building footprint. The rest of the alley towards 15th would remain as currently used.
It is reasonable to expect that the location would be developed the disappointing fact is that the building is much taller than those around it and the creek corridor will one day be lined with 8 story buildings. i don’t believe that is a great use of a natural resource not very eye appealing from my standpoint…..
Just an opinion, but anyone who thinks a dead end alley doesn’t create a safety issue is either naive or a paid lobbyist for the developer…..
If the only exit out of the West End Lofts garage is down the alley to 15th street, that could definitely pose a problem. Many times, delivery trucks or garbage trucks are blocking the alley in that direction.
Any news on the project? The LDDRB website doesn’t have any info.