Downtown Roundup AUG 2022

1900 Lawrence. Excavation is also complete for 1900 Lawrence, with the first structural components going in for the underground levels. As we saw in our Summer 2022 Tower Crane Census, a tower crane has been residing over the project site in recent months.

Populus. With excavation complete, the first columns are starting to go vertical at the basement level. Since there is no underground parking, Populus should break the ground level reasonably quickly. Since our last update, a tower crane has also been installed at the project site.

Colorado Convention Center Expansion. Exciting progress is being made over at the Colorado Convention Center. We are now able to see the vertical sections of the new ballroom and rooftop terrace. As you can see in the panorama below, the expansion takes up a fairly large portion of the roof.

Here are some additional photos of the expansion.

PROPOSED

17th and Champa. In June, we announced on Twitter that a new concept plan was filed for a 53-story tower at 17th and Champa Street. This project is quite complicated as it involves partial demolition of historic buildings and adding a structure on top. Here is the full text from the concept plan filed:

The existing Historic Boston and Kistler Lofts currently contain 158 apartment homes. A new 53-story, 451 unit (240,000 SF) multi-family residential building tower with approximately 18,000 SF of retail is proposed on the southwest corner of Champa Street and 17th Street, above the Kistler Building. As part of the redevelopment, 134 historic units will be maintained and renovated, resulting in 585 total dwelling units. The building will have three levels of below-grade parking garage with eight levels of above-grade parking garage totaling approximately 654 parking stalls. The ground floor level will have shell spaces for future retail and restaurant tenants. The ground floor will also include the residential lobby and support spaces for the residential building. The new tower will be a top two existing historic structures: Kistler Stationary Company Building and Boston Building, and is currently under the Landmark approval process, having obtained preliminary approval for Partial Demolition in September 2013.

Upon researching this project, we came across a concept rendering that Tryba Architects, the project architect, issued in their residential portfolio back in 2020. Here are a couple of those concept renderings. As with new concept plans, all of the above, including the renderings, are subject to change. A project as complex as this one is very likely to change as it moves through Landmark and the city’s planning process.

Bell Tower. After our rendering-filled post on Bell Tower back in June, there has not been another design review package submitted to the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission. If the developer continues to the next step, the design review process will focus on the finer details of the building. Below are a few rendering refreshers. These renderings are only for massing and do not include materials or facade elements.

Greyhound Redevelopment. With the Greyhound Station demolished, a dirt lot spanning a square city block stands vacant, waiting for redevelopment. The project is progressing with the city, with the latest document filed in July. Golub and Company, the project’s developer, released a rendering on their website showcasing a new office and residential tower. We also have it below for reference. In addition, the tables below show the two towers individually. The parking and retail totals are included in the first table, but are for the entire project.

650 17th Street. A transportation plan was filed in April for this new 47-story tower but has not moved since. According to a document filed with the transportation plan, the project developer requested a curb cut along 17th Street for vehicular traffic into the new building. DOTI denied the request, stating that all traffic needs to move through the alley. Currently, no additional documents or correspondence are available.

18th and Market. Across the street from The Fitzgerald, a concept plan has been filed for a new project that would supplant a block-long surface parking lot. The project would be mixed-use with both an office and residential component.

12th & Glenarm. A new 31-story tower has been proposed at the north corner of 12th and Glenarm. Currently, there are no details about the future of the existing buildings on this block. This part of Downtown Denver is still a bit of a “no-mans-land,” so a 31-story tower would make quite the impact.

1480 Wewatta. After our most recent update on 1480 Wewatta in late 2017, the project sat at a standstill with no activity. The project might be coming back, with a new concept plan filed for a slightly shorter eight-story building that would still supplant the surface parking lot at this corner.

1709 Blake. In early 2016, we announced a new hotel that would eradicate a surface parking lot at the north corner of 17th and Blake Street. Aside from the first round of design review, the original project never moved forward. Present-day, a new concept plan has been filed for the same parcel however, it will most likely need to go through design review again.

Fairfield Inn and TownPlace Suites. In 2019, we announced a new hotel that would replace a surface parking lot at 13th and Glenarm. Understandably the hotel did not get underway however, the project might see some new light. It has been making its way through the permitting process, with a construction permit pending to be issued.