A major new mixed-use development has been proposed by the Colorado Rockies baseball club for the full-block surface parking lot adjacent to Coors Field at 19th and Wazee in Lower Downtown Denver. Here’s the location:
Owned by the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District, the 130,224-square foot parcel, known as the stadium’s “West Lot” parking area, was a key component of the new lease signed this past spring by the Colorado Rockies and the Stadium District that keeps the Rockies at Coors Field for the next 30 years. You can get all the details here as reported by 9News.
Today, the development plans for the block were announced publicly by the Denver office of Stantec (formerly RNL Design), the architecture firm hired by the Rockies to design the project.
The plans are still in the early stages, but the project could include hotel, office, residential, retail, and restaurant uses along with a significant public space activated through baseball-related entertainment and events, and a Colorado Rockies Hall of Fame. For more, check out these articles published online today by the Colorado Real Estate Journal and 303 Magazine. Preliminary renderings, courtesy of Stantec, show several 10-story connected buildings surrounding a grand public space. It appears all parking is underground.
Street-level view from 19th and Wynkoop looking towards 20th and Coors Field:
Bird’s-eye view of the development from above 19th and Wynkoop:
View of the public space in the interior of the project looking toward 19th and Wynkoop:
This project is significant for not only the Rockies and the Stadium District, but for LoDo and all of Downtown Denver. This block is the largest development site remaining in Lower Downtown and, for the 22 years since Coors Field opened in 1995, has been a major gap in the urban fabric separating the vitality of the historic district from the stadium. This project will close that gap and significantly energize the connection between Coors Field and Lower Downtown.
The project is still in the early stages, but if all goes as planned, the Rockies hope to break ground on the project in 2018.
O_O Yes, please.
Maybe we’ll get something like this near the football stadium too (wishful thinking).
Already being planned:
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/12/12/broncos-plan-350-million-entertainment-district.html
Wow…..duly noted. Lol thanks!
Wow. Just wow.
What an ambitious, visionary awesome development in an historical district that is both utlra modern and cutting edge while entirely complementary to the existing buildings and neighborhood. I love the decision to mirror the “stadium” design of Coors Field with the horseshoe building footprint and the open central plaza. The grassy “stadium seating” looking over apparent massive video boards will make this a great summer evening hangout.
This takes what has already been an amazing transformation of the Union Station area and extends it in the direction of Coors Field. Adds pizzaz to downtown as a top draw tourist destination in its own right. I can imagine some of the fun concerts/festivals that can be hosted in the plaza. Kudos to the Rockies and their team to have this type of ambition!
As long as this doesn’t devolve into the Power & Light district in Kansas City, I think this is an important and visionary project for the area. Having a hotel you can package with tickets will be a fun marketing opportunity for the team. Hometown fans groan at sports tourists infiltrating the stands, but it’s great for local tourism. It’s also a solid step in scale beyond the projects being erected near Wrigley Field in Chicago right now—and that’s an awfully strange thing to read myself type.
I think this project and design really “hit it out of the ballpark”!
BOOO!
And perhaps just as important from a city infrastructure perspective, did anyone else notice the causeway crossing 20th Ave? This will distribute foot traffic before and after games much more effectively, rather having 48,000 pedestrians trying to use the crosswalks at Blake.
There’s a pedestrian crossing there today.
Wow, this is incredible. This would be a huge win if it goes forward.
Very similar to what the Cubs just did outside of Wrigley Field. Hope this is approved and built just as the rendering portrays. Finally some distinctive and memorable architecture and not just another land barge.
Wow !!! The right concept for an important lot. I was just asking Ken this week, “what is going to happen with this parking lot?”. Build it and we will come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I the only one who thinks the exterior, street-facing sides are kind of oppressive looking? I think the exterior would benefit from a greater variety in form, and possibly height. Excited to have this block developed either way.
Find Dinger in the rendering.
Nice. But, it seems to block out Coors Field from a visibility perspective. It sure would make some sense to add a green roof / garden to take advantage of the stadium, mountain, and city views. Am I missing something?
If they don’t file their plans to build before December 31st they will be subject to add a green roof per the voter approved amendment on November 7th.
Architecturally, it reminds me of the Sony Center in Berlin, Germany – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Center – sans the spectacular roof of course…
Where’s the green roof?
The law only applies to projects that have a site development plan submitted on or after January 1st, 2018.
So, a mall with some condos on top? It’s undoubtedly a better use of the land, but not sure this is ideal.
Would you share some of your thoughts on what would be a better use of the lands?
Not because of the law, but because it’s good business. People want green roofs, which are both beautiful and relaxing as well as provide utility (via a roof top garden) to a space otherwise limited to infrastructure. Additionally, not only will it save money on energy costs in the long run, but, demand for the building will be increased due to its higher quality product. Combine those benefits with improvement of the Colorado and Rockies brands as it relates to nature and green energy, mitigating the urban heat island effect (Denver ranks 3rd worst in that regard, just take a look at the temp difference between DIA and downtown on any given day), and improvement to air quality, it would be a huge MISSED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY to not add a GREEN ROOF.
I’m curious about the parking. It will be replacing 100 service-level spots with many more underground, I presume. 400 or so?
That’s my guess. It’s a full city block and they could go down four levels, so there could be quite a few parking spaces underground if they want.
There is always parking @ the valet in front of the Denver Chophouse and Brewery.