Denver-based Nichols Partnership is planning a 12-story residential building for the corner of 15th and Wewatta that will add 91 homes within a short one-block walk from the Denver Union Station transit hub.
The proposed development site is currently a surface parking lot, happily, an increasingly endangered species in Lower Downtown. Along 15th Street, the site is adjacent to the Nichols-owned Steelbridge Annex building—the majority of which is structured parking for the Steelbridge Lofts next door—and along Wewatta Street the project’s neighbor would be 1400 Wewatta, completed in 2008. Here’s a Google Street View image of the site, with 15th Street in the foreground and Wewatta Street on the right:
Currently referred to by its address of 1750 15th Street, the development is in the review process with the Lower Downtown Design Review Board (LDDRB). The board will consider the project at their September 1 meeting for approval of mass and scale. The city staff recommendation is for “denial” for various reasons, but this is pretty common for a project’s first submittal. As proposed, 1750 15th would rise 130 feet, the maximum allowed, which is the same height as 1400 Wewatta next door and 1515 Wynkoop across the street.
The following images are all taken from the project’s September 1 submittal to the LDDRB, and were prepared by Shears Adkins Rockmore Architects. Of course, these are conceptual renderings and subject to further modifications and refinement over the coming months. You’ll note that what makes this project particularly interesting and challenging is the narrow lot—only 49 feet of frontage facing 15th Street.
View from about where the Triangle Building is looking southwest down Wewatta. On the left is 1515 Wynkoop and on the right, 1400 Wewatta, with the proposed project in the center:
Opposite view from near Cherry Creek looking northeast along Wewatta Street:
Overhead view of the corner of 15th and Wewatta and the proposed development’s surrounding context:
Given the constrained parcel size and proximity to Union Station, no on-site automobile parking for residents is planned; however, the basement level will include significant room for bicycle parking. On the ground floor, a retail space would anchor the corner while the residential lobby would face Wewatta Street. The majority of the homes in the building would be micro-apartments in the 350 SF range, while the upper four floors would feature slightly larger units.
This is a really exciting project, as it will put even more homes within easy walking distance of transit and just about everything else anyone would need for car-free living. Plus, it removes a surface parking lot (yay!), completes the urban form of the entire block, and improves the pedestrian environment at a busy corner. We will gladly follow this project as it moves through the review and approval process.
I am certainly not opposed to the growth & expansion (up) in our city, nor am I opposed to re-purposing these ugly surface lots, but why do you also see it as a good thing? I am a downtown property owner, and all I want is increased equity.
All you want is equity? How about the day-to-day city experience?
For rent or sale?
It is great to start to see the smaller lots in LODO be developed. I hope the city lets this car free development go forward.
That little lot doesn’t really bother me too much and this big block kind of hems in that pretty green building next door.
Wow. Surprised to see anyone saying negative things about this. I think it’s wonderful for all the reasons mentioned (“it removes a surface parking lot (yay!), completes the urban form of the entire block, and improves the pedestrian environment at a busy corner”).
In addition to that, it shows how far Denver has come when it comes to infill. There are so few vacant lots left in LoDo that someone is actually building a 12 story building on a tiny lot with no parking. AND building up to maximum height because the demand is there. That’s amazing. And GOOD for Denver!
A very attractive project. I like thin building profiles.
BC’s concern is legitimate. The Interior Architects building is one of the most interesting in Denver. That said, if you build your office, condo or hotel next to a surface parking lot in Denver, you really ought to expect to see a 12 story building go up next-door sometime in the coming decade.
It will be interesting to see what they end up doing with such a confined space. Given the narrow foot print, I don’t see how they could do any kind of parking at all. Hopefully LDDRB takes that into consideration when reviewing the project. It should be noted too that just a block away you have the Pepsi Center and parking lots to the horizon.
Not to mention, from a very respected local developer who was a pioneer of micro apartments in our city.
This is a “game changer” project for Denver.
There are no parking requirements in Lodo.
In NYC, they are building a 1,400ft building on a smaller footprint. We just aren’t used to buildings in the heart of downtown that are A) tall B) don’t include car storage GASP!
This is great. Glad to see this move forward and hope they approve it to the max of 130 feet.
Hmm. The leap to cram as many boring structures as possible in the vicinity of Union Station is disappointing for those of us actually walking the streets; we gave up green and blue spaces for standard, boxy building designs when we could have pushed the modern architecture envelope for our city and citizens and created something truly modern. The idea that 350 sf as a standard for people to live in is a “good thing” is a sad commentary on modern life, just as it was a couple thousand years ago in the ancient Roman subura. What is really being said is it is an “affordable thing.” If a person claims 350 sf is a “good thing,” then go live in one for three or five years and see if you care to repeat that phrase.
Very unfortunate that this is another bland box and I also wish more of these new buildings pushed the architectural envelope, however, the fact that this is high density, on a small parcel, with no parking in Denver?! Huge win in my book.
Huge win for the developers who pull off the ugly stack, not for the poor souls who’ll end up renting the mouse holes for exorbitant prices. And big deal, no car parking — the city hasn’t been able to safely address increased bike and car and pedestrian traffic. Again, walk around LoDo for awhile – yikes! – and then come up with creative design plans instead of pushing mindless density as if it is the answer in and of itself. Where’s our creativity????
It’s a fantasy to think that most of the residents of this building will not have a car. Where will they park?
It would make a nice park. Listen, I know it’s not a simple matter. I’m concerned that the number of open spaces devoted to downtown green space is not being considered by Denver.
I cannot agree more that this would make a wonderful green space, although I doubt Denver would make that purchase. This is an awful project. The notion that they don’t need parking is absurd. It has not worked anywhere in Denver. Just look at the ridiculous parking situation in the residential areas behind Union Station or the ball park. All cars, no green space, no ways for non-residents to access businesses without hiring transportation. I hope this project gets massively revised and the city doesn’t just gift it to Nichols.
My concern is the creep of the building onto the sidewalk, diminishing half the width of the sidewalk. This is a major pedestrian artery from Union Station to the Pepsi Center. There are a number of events that require large, safe sidewalks for the crowds to go to and from. The sidewalk on this side of the street is necessary because the sidewalk on the other side is interrupted with large, utility boxes. Keeping that space open for better visibility to the Triangle Building and it’s plaza, all the way to Union Station creates a welcoming and open feeling for downtown. Reducing pedestrian walkways anywhere in a downtown should not be allowed, it sends a signal that walking and connectivity isn’t important.
Not to worry. The new building will only cover the current parking lot. The existing sidewalk will remain in its full width after construction.
What about the traffic? It’s already bad.
Trying to turn left from Wewatta onto Speer Blvd. has already become a growing nuisance in this area since Verve was built near Waterside Lofts. Adding this new building to the area will increase congestion causing local residents to have far longer commutes if they work outside of downtown. They should at the very least reduce the size of the project significantly as living here will suck for all parties trying to escape downtown in their cars to visit the rest of Colorado.
Someone better explain this one.
I think you misunderstand. This project has no parking. It is designed for people who don’t own cars. It’s one block from the region’s largest transit hub and it is well served by bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and ride-share is ubiquitous in the area. Why would this project make traffic worse?