The two-tower project at 18th and Glenarm is making progress. With demolition on the horizon, Shelby’s closed its doors on June 23. According to BusinessDen, Amacon, the project’s developer, is anticipating breaking ground on the project by either the end of this year or the start of next.
Even though construction is still a few months out, here are some recent photos of the project site—currently seven percent building and ninety-three percent parking lot.
Let’s take one last look at Shelby’s before it is demolished. While some feel nostalgic about this building leaving the city for good, this new project will ultimately be better for further connecting neighborhoods, and activating the streets in this desolate area of Downtown Denver.
Lastly, here is a preliminary rendering of the project courtesy of BusinessDen. These renderings are still very conceptual and multiple elements of the project can still change. The architect on record is Davis Partnership.
These 38- and 32-story towers will have an incredibly positive impact on downtown. In addition, the towers will add 477 for-sale condo units to the Downtown Denver market which, as we all know, are desperately needed. Hopefully this project kicks off by the new year!
The BizDen article states that the south tower (38/39 stories) would be finished before work begins on the north tower (32 stories). In a project like this, is there typically scope to revisit the designs for the north tower and adjust its height as demand warrants, or do they get one shot at approval for the whole project before starting work on the south tower? What is the height limit for this block?
There is no height limit in the central business district. The only restriction is that buildings must be at least 2 stories.
There are no limits restricting height, per se, but there are floor-area ratio restrictions that effectively limit height. That’s why tall projects like 650 17th are generally skinny with a large podium. It does appear that this project would use most of its footprint for the entire building, except for the space between the towers.
Can you enumerate those restrictions? I know Denver has restrictions for commercial/residential relative proportion, but I didn’t realize there were restrictions on square foot area.
Why were those restrictions established?
I guess we can expect a flood of complaints from south tower residents when they lose their view of the CBD thanks to the sudden, unexpected rise of the north tower.
How would the rise of the north tower be unexpected? It’s right there in the rendering!
LOL!
cool building. the more slender, taller, multi towered buildings look great. one thing i would say, if i were a developer, is why not maintain the facade of the historic structures that are on site and then keep the business around
In general, I agree. I believe this is what they’re doing with Block 162. However, for this project…. well, take a look at google street view, and tell me that Shelby’s has any historical architectural character worth keeping?
Little of the old Denver will remain when redevelopment reaches it’s last stages, but it is a nice touch by developers to commit to preserving some vestige of the demolished businesses like Woodie Fisher’s at the Hose House Number 1 in the Union Station neighborhood, or Tavern Uptown at 17th and Pearl.It’s not possible to salvage the building in Shelby’s case, but preserving the name and the logo in a new bar and grill in the development provides a thread of continuity for the downtown. .
What about the 7-11?
The 7/11 is not on this parcel of land…block 176 extends from Glenarm to the alleyway just to the West of Shelby’s
Yikes. I mean, the rendering clearly isn’t doing the design any justice, but still—refinements please.
Also, we need to ax this garage podium thing asap.
Is there a need for so much parking in downtown that is planned to become more multimodal?
Oh no! They’re going to raze 1801 California!
To Rex with the phasing question – Many banks or investors don’t like seeing Phase 2 underway before Phase 1 is stabilized 95% occupied or close. However, developers (Amacon may be of this ilk) backed by equity rather than debt are more open-minded if demand is plenty and obvious.
I like it, I like the white outlining except for one thing…in this rendering is this going to be the actual colors of the buildings? I would insert that being that the buildings will be in the middle of downtown and not necessarily noticeable from affar because they will be surrounded by taller buildings and the fact that they are dark may push them more into the shadows of the rest of downtown. And of course…hoping to live to see a super tall in Denver one day.
How do none of these firms have anyone who is half decent at rendering?
Yes, the parking podium is horrible considering there is a light rail station 200m from the site (at most).