The former Kmart building at Broadway Marketplace, a retail shopping center at Alameda Avenue and Broadway, was recently demolished to make way for 342 residential units. Broadway Marketplace is a retail center that was redeveloped back in the 1990’s, headed by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. However, over the past decade, the shopping center started to decline. Because of the deteriorating conditions of the shopping center, the city approved a General Development Plan in 2009 to allow for greater density within Broadway Marketplace which leads us to this project today.
Before we get into the details of the project, here is an aerial with the project site outlined. As you can see, Broadway Marketplace has seas of surface parking with single-story retail surrounding it.
Below are some current photos of the project site. Most of the old retail building has been leveled with cleanup operations still underway. You can still view the old building on Google Street View.
PDG Design District will feature 354 apartments contained in a seven-story building. The construction will consist of light-gauge steel over a podium; four floors of steel over one level of parking and five floors over two levels of parking. The site plans call for 463 parking spaces for a ratio of 1.3. There is currently no announcement of any retail being incorporated.
Here is a current rendering of the project courtesy of Price Development Group, the developer, with Kephart behind the design.
Below are four more views of the project courtesy of Kephart. These are a little less refined than the above rendering but they still give a good idea of the project scale and density.
With this project currently under-construction, we will be coming back to visit once it starts to go vertical.
This project backs to a rail station and is a block off Broadway. It has way too much parking.
The full color rendering look better than what could be determined from the sketch-stye renderings, but I think the aesthetics of the project well depend much on the choice of materials for the exterior. In somewhat interesting design, nevertheless. Also, according to Denver’s ‘Site Development Plans’ map, the project will not extend all the way to Dakota (southern border) but only take up about 2/3 of the Kmart building. It’s nice to see the TOD area start to redevelop.
The site will also include an open space (called Mercado) that will “inspire and support local retail activity adjacent to the light rail station and provide a setting for a farmer’s market, outdoor concert, or rotating outdoor even that will serve the community” as listed on Page 43 in the Denver Design Distric GDP – https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/other_regulations/Design-standards-guidelines/Denver_Design_District_Design_Guidelines.pdf
Also, Colorado Real Estate Journal has some more information about future projects.
https://crej.com/news/momentum-building-at-broadway-park-tod/
the developers told me early on that while the GDP calls for ground floor retail, it couldn’t be achieved in this building because it the retail equations had changed and this lot was “too far from Broadway”; they did offer that they were “activating the sidewalk” along Cherokee & Alameda and said that some of the ground floor area would be suitable for future conversion to retail; the GDP doesn’t specify that each building must have retail, but i think it will take diligence as parcels develop to make sure that a large proportion of buildings do include retail or other public functions
among the positive aspects of this project is the addition of a protected bikeway along the east side of Cherokee St.
They also previously mentioned that they were building the parking garage in a manner (tall enough ceilings) that it could be converted into a different use if cars go by the wayside in the next couple of decades.
Sweet! I always thought that a suburban style shopping center anchored by K-mart was a horrible use of land for this area. Nice to see density being added given the rail connections.
Nice to see the area returning to it’s former glory as it used to be where Merchants Park (Denver’s first baseball staduim) and the old Montgomery Wards building.
Nice to see more Transit Oriented Development type infill. Light rail stops could use some populating. It will be great to see the Broadway Mississippi stop built out as well.
The rendering looks a little bit Bauhaus. I kind of like it.
It’s too bad that they did not keep more Bauhaus influences evident in the earlier designs.
When will you start to track Meow Wolf? Its a really cool building!
I’m pretty ok with this addition not including retail for now. I think it’d be very difficult, even without the retail equations noted above, just for the fact that the Alameda side of the project is a frightening experience for pedestrians, and there’s still minimal foot traffic along Cherokee from folks in Baker walking to the train. I believe the condo portion will include retail and probably will do well to catch people walking along Dakota from the train station to the park-n-ride lot and greater Broadway. As someone who lives in and walks this area regularly – I really hope the next focus of the overall redevelopment is along both sides of Dakota between the station and Broadway to do a better job of connecting the surrounding neighborhoods and funneling activity into the area. It would probably also give the allusion of being a less parking lot dominant area until the other large retail buildings can be developed.
I’m frankly surprised more retail isn’t popping up at light rail stations in general. With as many people as there are hanging out at these stations during prime commuting hours, you’d think there’d at least be a 7-11 or two along the E/F line. Somebody with some real vision should propose something significant along the Broadway station. This parcel could easily facilitate Union-Station-like amenities in 5-10 years with all the housing going in.
Can anyone speak to how the “White Whale” coffee/drink spot is doing at Denzien apartments? It is literally 300 feet from the light rail stop.
I live right by the Alameda Station (not Denzien) and every time I pass there, it has pretty steady business. I’ve been in there a few times and it’s a really neat little spot. This is the kind of retail that I would hope for in all developments around the station.
thats funny, i used to live across the street from that kmart and albertsons and i’d think to myself, they have so much land here. great to see that big box development replaced with housing, also, as mentioned above, great access to light rail
in 2011 i lived across the street from that development and i used to think they have a lot of great land here. nice to see the kmart replaced with housing `