Let’s take a look at what’s going on in the Jefferson Park district. First, some photo updates:
RiverClay is mostly complete and people are starting to move in:
Jefferson Park Townhomes construction at 22nd and Decatur continues:
Work has recently started on the 2600 Frontview Crescent project:
A few days ago I blogged about the proposed PURE Townhome project. Here’s the site:
The Clay Street Residences are complete:
The Bryant Lofts project at 27th and Bryant is still under construction, but I missed taking a photo of it. Sorry.
More Jefferson Park infill news and rumors…
After about two years of controversy and debate over the A. G. Spanos Company’s proposed Pinnacle Station project, I’ve heard that the developer has cancelled the project and that the site is up for sale or has been recently sold. So let’s see: they come into an historic urban district with an out-of-scale suburbanesque apartment complex proposal, spend two years not cooperating with the neighborhood, get their rezoning approved anyway, tear down the Chili Pepper and Baby Does restaurant buildings, put a chain link fence around the site, let it sit unattended for months, then leave. Thanks, Spanos!
The proposed Flats on Upper 24th project appears dead. The sales trailer is gone, the project sign is gone, and all that remains is the empty lot and its chain link fence. Hopefully someone will plan something new for the site soon.
A new townhome project is supposedly coming to somewhere near 28th and Clay. Still researching that one…
The old office complex around Speer and Bryant reportedly has been sold and that plans are in the works for a large residential development with about 300 units and 10,000 SF of retail. Still researching that one too…
A group of dedicated Jefferson Park neighbors have assembled most of the properties around the corner of 25th and Eliot–a former stop for not one, but two intersecting streetcar lines–that features a couple of cool historic commercial buildings, some small homes, and some vacant lots. The corner has the potential to become the next “32nd & Zuni” with a nice mix of old, new, residential, and retail. The group has recently renovated one building, is working on another, and is looking for investors to help move their vision for the corner forward.
A possible Trolley Museum may be in the works for Jefferson Park…
The Safeway at 26th and Federal has recently been completely remodeled and has gone upscale. They did a nice job on it.
Did I miss a Jefferson Park infill project? Please let me know.
Thank you, Councilman Rick Garcia, for your tireless support of the Spanos company! You truly served your constituents well.
Well, on the plus side, maybe this gives us another chance at something appropriate on this important site. Something like, say for example, "…both condos and apartments in a wide variety of sizes and price ranges, in an architecturally-diverse collection of urban townhomes, low-rises and mid-rises, and integrated with a cool public plaza overlooking Downtown bordered by ground-floor shops and restaurants." (April 28, 2007) [emphasis mine]
I may just be hopelessly naive, but I think the views both into and out of the city center are a major component of a city's image and identity, and the "quality of life" for all of us. Which makes this whole bluff along the Western lip of the valley very important indeed.
To quote Ken again from the same blog: "the larger the project and the more prominent the location, the more important it is that the project be exceptional." I couldn't agree more.
Oh what digression! We're trying to build on surface parking lots not create opportunities for them! I hope this emptied their pockets significantly. I hope its starving their kids and that their debts be passed on to their childrens childrens children!
I'm embarrassed for you, anonymous 1:38. AG Spanos largely deserves the criticism it has received. Poor planning and execution…and now abandonment. Are you suggesting that we should feel sorry for poor Mr. Spanos? I think his children will be just fine. After all, he is a billionaire.
I'm actually happy the "Spazos" project didn't go through. The whole plan was out of place for the area of town (suburbia, anyone?), and this land plot has so much mroe potential. I do hope someone with some vision and density buys up the land there, and plans a great living neighborhood that has all mixed-use sectors. I am somewhat certain that someone will buy the lot fairly soon. The location is too good to pass up.
Gary your senses are dull if you think i was trying to sympathize with him. I'm embarrassed for your lack of discernment. I was just adding a drastic curse at the end for humor but next time I'll be careful for the sake of the unperceptive.
Ohhh happy day for Jefferson Park, I hope your prime location sits for another 10 years as an empty parking lot with a big chain link fence, towering weeds and garbage. Yay for the neighborhood battling the big bad corporation. Gee, I hope they build a big Toyota plant there…wouldn't that be so green and American!
Anon 7:35 = Spanos?
Look at it this way, at least Spanos paid to have the Baby Doe's/Chili Pepper building demolished. It was an eyesore and covered with grafiti. The neighborhood now has the opportunity to create a truly exceptional development. I am glad to see the little commercial strip at 25th and Elliot renovated. With the rest of the neighborhood improving, I am sure it will take off. One of my favorite things about Denver is the old commercial strips in most of the original neigborhoods (32nd and Tennyson, South Gaylord, South Pearl, 38th – 45th and Tennyson, etc.). I was unaware the renovated the Safeway, good for them.
The property on the south side of Speer between Zuni and Bryant Streets (excluding the gas station) was sold to Allied Realty Services in December 2007. Allied developed the Retreat at City Park South project in Denver. They plan a 311 unit apartment project to be called the Retreat at the Highlands on the property.
Ok…this is the second ronovation of the Safeway in 6 years and they still can't figure out how to put in one entrance in the center of the front elevation and get rid of the two existing. It's so stupid, the bulk of the parking is on the east half of the lot, due to the construction of the gas station, yet they opt to lock the doors closest to the bulk of the parking. The cart pick-up crew should uprise. This may be some sort of ADA violation of the entry proximity requirements. More than half of the required ADA spaces are near the east entrance. I digress.
Anyway, Ken, you have overlooked our infill project at the corner of 21st and Clay, for 24 years the lot sat vacant, and now sits a new single family home that doesn't max out the build able area or the bulk plane…and developers say it can't be done. Before I get flamed, it was not done for profit.
As for the new 300 unit development on Speer, it's no secret, the developer is Allied Real Estate, and the architect will be Meeks Partners, it will include 14,000 sf of retail and will transition to the neighborhood by maintaining and renting handful of existing restored duplexes at the corner of 27 and Bryant. To date there is only a site plan, that includes disconnecting Alcott from Speer and a vacation of the triangle of Parks dirt at Speer and Bryant.
Keep up the good work. My guess is the Spanos project will only be worse than anticipated, because Rick Garcia failed to support the neighborhoods request for a rigorous PUD that defined heights, view corridors and view planes, as well as minimal design criteria.
Then again, his constituents in San Diego and Stockton, CA have more cash than we do in Jefferson Park, and he must listen to those constituents too.
It's my understanding that this site doesn't track new single-family homes, infill or otherwise. I guess there's only so much time in the day…..even for Ken!
What would Denver be without peeps like Ken. This guy does this for the community. He's an informer, he informs the people. I don't think he has time to read our squabbles over a scrape home project though.
I haven't been to that Safeway, but the one at 44th & Lowell was also renovated recently, and they added a second entrance over on the left-hand side. The Sunflower at 38th & Wolff has three entrances. I say the more the better. Probably not so good for the store security staff, though.
In these photos, one project stands out: I love the way that RiverClay turns that sharp corner. This building will look good in future decades.
Sorry, FWIW I wasn't really squabbling, I've met Ken, and think he's a terrific asset and wouldn't want him wasting time on our place. I really don't expect him to give us coverage, just that the last line of the post read, "Did I miss a Jefferson Park infill project? Please let me know." Since our project WAS NOT a scrapoff, but a brownfield redevelopment on an infill lot, 2000sf or not, it fit the bill. Thanks, Ken is great, but sow are the many readers, contributors and commentors on this blog. Keep it up, and don't sweat the small stuff.