While we haven’t used the “Block 176” moniker in quite some time due to the construction of the 18th and Glenarm Condos, there is more coming to this block. Before starting the update, let’s explore what Block 176 is. Bound by Broadway, Glenarm Place, 18th Street, and Welton Street, Block 176 has remained a parking lot with a few small structures. The 18th and Glenarm Condos are taking up half the block, supplanting a single-story structure that took up less than 20% of the total footprint of the towers. The other half of the block used to house a drive-thru bank, eventually replaced by a double-story 7-Eleven. To see what the block looked like in 2004/2005, head to the original DenverInfill site here.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s continue with the update. First, let’s start with the 18th and Glenarm Condos, a 38- and 32-story twin-tower condo project that will eventually add 461 condo homes to Downtown Denver. Work on the structure is progressing nicely, with the first levels now above street level. Here are a bunch of photos around the project showing the vertical progress of the towers.
I’m sure by now you have pieced together that there is more to this than just a construction update. The other half of the block, where the 7-Eleven is, has something in the works by the same developer as 18th and Glenarm, Amacon. First, according to the documents filed with the city, the 7-Eleven structure will be remodeled into a sales center for the 18th and Glenarm Condos. Second, Davis Partnership filed a concept plan for another two-tower project consisting of more condo homes, a hotel, and ground-floor retail. These new towers will exceed the floor count of 18th and Glenarm and rise 39 stories.
Below are photos of the site today, showing the existing structure and accompanying surface parking lot.
| Project Description | Developer | Architect | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 / 32 Stories | 461 condo homes | 530 (v) parking | Amacon | Davis Partnership | Amacon |
Next, some concept plan renderings show the massing of the new towers. All early renders are subject to change and do not reflect the final finishes or facade.
| Project Description | Developer | Architect | Most Recent Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 / 39 Stories | 611 condo homes | 96 hotel rooms | 731 (v) parking |
Amacon |
Davis Partnership | Concept Plan (2023-04-21) |
Due to the new sales center moving in, we can assume that these new towers will not start for some time, perhaps until the 18th and Glenarm Condos are near completion. Regardless, four towers on a single block are nothing short of remarkable, along with the addition of over 1,000 for-sale homes, which is desperately needed in Denver.
Does anyone know the price range of these condos? I hope they sell very well and many thousand more condos are built all over Denver.
Probably cheaper than a single-family house but not affordable.
Hi Ryan!
Thanks for a great post! I have a few questions about the permitting. I’m guessing that the other two proposed towers seem to look the same as the other two under construction, thus getting clearance from the design-review board. Also, I would think that the developers had a long-range master plan for this site to build 4 towers here and would perhaps build utility infrastructure to match a 4-tower configuration, to the best of their abilities thus making a 4-tower structure easier? I would like to think that Amacon could get the permitting for these two additional towers cleared by Denver quickly since the two new towers are the same as those under construction. But I’m wondering if the company has ownership of the land these two new towers would be built on…?
If Amacon chose to wait on the construction of the two other towers, how would a crane operate on the two new buildings? It seems to me that a crane, in such a tight space wouldn’t have a space to swing around with two other towers so close to the new construction buildings. Would it make better sense to plow through the permits for the two new towers while building the original towers and hope the one crane in place could feed all four towers as they get built?
I’m just amazed that four towers, in such a tight space could be built at all is incredible to me. Denver has yet to see anything of this caliber and now I find myself wanting of similar development in other tight parcels around the city!
One last question Ryan…
The initial plans call for a 96 key hotel in this new development. My question to you is this: How does a 96 key hotel make a difference in a city like Denver? It’s nothing really!
I can’t see a Hilton or Marriot taking it or a Hyatt flagged property doing such a small hotel given the number of employees needed to run it…
Unless, it’s a high-end hotel like Waldorf Astoria, Mandarin or St. Regis coming to town! What do you think?
Thanks as always for your posts!
I’m sorry, I lied Ryan, ONE last question…
I’ve heard from some that digging into the ground in Denver is very expensive due to bentonite clay, very hard rock and drainage issues. I’m not sure about all that since I’m not a geologist, but if it is, are we going to have to face a future of parking podiums due to a real financial cost when developers and banks looking to finance a building factor in underground parking?
Thanks again!
Hey Patrick,
Great questions! Here is some of my insight to both of your comments:
-I’m not sure if Amacon had in mind to build all four at the start. 18th and Glenarm took a long time to line up and get going, so I’m guessing they were intentionally kept separate.
-These towers do not have to go through design review since they are not in a district that requires it.
-From a permitting perspective, these are a brand new project, so I think it’ll be the same as everything else. There’s a chance they can go through the process quicker because of the other two, but I don’t think it’ll be accelerated much.
-The land ownership is still split up for the other two. Amacon owns the parcel the 7-Eleven, but they do not own the adjacent parking lot… yet.
-There would be a new tower crane for the other two towers and could be a luffing jib crane which are made to build in tight spaces. Crane clearance is not an issue for these as there is still a ton of space compared to towers getting built in NYC / Chicago. Due to the location of the current crane, it would not be feasible to have it used for the other two since it is in the middle of the active project site.
-My mantra with development is: anything is everything. Sure 96 is a drop in the bucket but 96 is still the opportunity for 100+ people to activate that area of Denver. The more diverse our density, the better street-level activation and pedestrian environment we get.
-Podium parking is cheaper than underground regardless of soil. Downtown Denver does have soft soil / clay so typically piers are drilled regardless of podium or underground parking. I’ll wager 95% of the decision is all cost related and maybe 5% engineering related.
Thanks for the reply, I appreciate your insight!
First off, I completely forgot about the luffing jib crane (Homer Simpson slaps forehead “DOH”) as you have written about it previously! I guess I’m so used to seeing the big cranes everywhere, I assumed they would be used on everything!
Looking at the renderings, it seems to me that the two new towers are built on the same type of podium that extends to both towers. I have to assume that Amacon has a deal pretty close to being closed on the parking lot to go forward with the concept plan. But, if not, is that plot of land with a 7-11 on it big enough for a 40-story tower?
It seems so small…
It would be nice to see the former bus station move forward with something soon.
Thanks again!
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for the post. I love seeing more downtown parking lots turned into high density development. I’m curious if you know the expected completion date for the individual and/or collective towers?
Thanks.
any idea what is being built at Yates & W 16th?