Denver Development News

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by Density4Denver

Here's a new rendering. The project was announced earlier this year, but just now we've got our first look at the building: a 12-story Best Western hotel Downtown at 15th & Stout. Not a huge project, but it replaces another surface parking lot!

How dull. I would deny that in a second

[Guido1984]

Is "The Donald" really going to build the tallest building in denver? any confirmation on that yet?

[Density4Denver]

^ Hard to say if it will be the tallest, but he did announce a few days ago that he intends to build a "five-star luxury hotel/condo tower in Downtown Denver." We have no word yet on location, number of units, height, design, etc. He did say that they are under contract on a site and hope to close on it soon. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Additionally, there was a 55-story condo tower recently announced for the corner of 14th & Lawrence, across the street from the 50-story Four Seasons project. Here's a rendering:



Assuming Trump's is over 50 stories, which his projects usually are, that would give Denver three 50+ projects in the works.

[612bv3]

That looks awesome! If this gets built, will this be the tallest in Denver.

[Density4Denver]

Originally Posted by 612bv3

That looks awesome! If this gets built, will this be the tallest in Denver.

Nope. We don't know what the building height will be yet, but going by Number of Floors, it would be the second tallest. Right now our top three existing are:

56 stories - Republic Plaza
54 stories - Qwest (1801 California)
52 stories - Well Fargo Building

And proposed:

55 stories - Great Gulf Group condos
50 stories - Four Seasons
?? stories - Trump Tower
41 stories - Spire

... and about a half-dozen in the 30s and 20s.

[bunt_q]

Trump update as of yesterday... 60 stories, yes it'll be Denver's tallest, and he has chosen to take over a previous proposal that had died away at 1770 Sherman in the Uptown area on the extreme eastern edge of downtown (2 blocks from the State Capitol).... the proposal includes renovation of the historic El Jebel Temple... a really neat (onion-domed!) building.

The building:



With downtown:

[jvillari]

thanks for the great pics!
got any more info on the projects in or nearby DU campus?

[Dancer]

Wow this thread isnt doing so hot. It looks like there is some good stuff going on down there though. Keep the info comming guys.

[samsonyuen]

From: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_3708519
_________________________

Article Launched: 04/14/2006 01:00:00 AM MDT
DIA elevation gain
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Denver Post Staff Writer

Denver International Airport was the nation's fourth-busiest airport in January, based on domestic traffic, up from No. 6 a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The airport also reported having its busiest February ever, hosting more than 3.3 million passengers. DIA has set traffic records for 10 months in a row.

Southwest Airlines' entry into Denver has boosted traffic, producing the so-called "Southwest effect." The airline's introductory fares also have pushed down competitors' fares, increasing the number of passengers


Travelers make their way through the security line at Denver International Airport last month. Southwest Airlines entry into Denver is credited with boosting DIA traffic. (Post file / RJ Sangosti)

in planes.

To reach its No. 4 national ranking, Denver beat out Los Angeles, which held fourth place a year ago, and Las Vegas. While Denver's passenger traffic grew more than 8 percent in January, Los Angeles' traffic declined.

The nation's busiest airport was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.

If DIA maintains a high ranking throughout 2006, its biggest benefit will be bragging rights.

"DIA is the fourth-busiest airport in the country? That's huge," said Denver-based Frontier Airlines spokesman Joe Hodas.

Airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said the airport doesn't track monthly national rankings, but added, "Anytime you're in the top 10, you're doing pretty well."

Also on Thursday, DIA reported a 10.5 percent increase in February's passenger traffic, a record for the month.

As traffic increased at the airport, its passenger mix also shifted. In February 2006, 33.2 percent of all DIA passengers were just passing through as they connected to other flights, down from 43.7 percent a year earlier. A growing number of passengers - 66.8 percent compared with 56.3 percent a year ago - are starting or ending their trips in Denver.
Cargo traffic at DIA fell 9.5 percent in February compared with a year earlier.

While it has a significantly smaller DIA presence than United or Frontier, Southwest has generated more demand for flying into and out of Denver.

Frontier had a 20.1 percent increase in passengers in February.

"There are many low fares available, and travelers obviously are taking advantage of the good buys," said DIA manager Turner West in a statement Thursday.

Increased traffic and the presence of Southwest have heightened




competition among airlines in Denver. United and Frontier have added flights. Southwest began flying in January from Denver to Phoenix, Chicago and Las Vegas.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Frontier traffic increased on all three routes from Denver in January compared with a year earlier. United had an increase in traffic on its Denver-to-Phoenix and Denver-to-Chicago routes.

Frontier carried the most passengers from Denver to Chicago Midway, while United carried the most passengers from Denver to Las Vegas and Denver to Phoenix.

[Milwaukee, WY]

Impressive.

[ComingtoHouston]

denver, already a great city has some exciting projects in the works. I hope to live there one day!

[samsonyuen]

From: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_3810796
____________

Article Launched: 05/11/2006 10:25:26 AM MDT
business
Denver gearing up to woo United
By The Denver Post

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said today that it is "awfully hard" to get a corporation to move its headquarters but that, "We're going to throw everything at it we can" in an effort to lure United Airlines' headquarters to Denver.

Hickenlooper said the city, the state and the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. could put together "a very powerful package" that could provide "more money per job" to United than has ever been offered to a company in this region to relocate or expand. Hickenlooper did not estimate the price of such a package.

Asked if he had recent discussions with United chief executive Glenn Tilton, Hickenlooper indicated he had not.
United is reportedly seeking to relocate its headquarters and 350 corporate employees from Elk Grove Village, Ill. Downtown Chicago, Denver and San Francisco - three of the five markets in which United has major airline hubs - are in the running.

[-Corey-]

Very nice!

[FITCH]

Any movement with where the old Standish hotel and neighboring decaying building housing a liqour store? I would hope considering this is the main artery from the 16th st mall to the new Convention Center. What is the deal down at Union Station? Been in Baltimore for the last year and a half. I miss and need an update on DENVER.

[Rocky Mountain]

All them new buildings look great, I can't wait to their all built

[haux]

I've got an update from Sept. 8's Denver Post. Denver's Union Station is under some redevelopment plans. These two teams have pretty different ideas of what that redevelopment should be.

Personally, I like moving everything underground and putting the two hotel towers there. It's really modern and looks sleek.

Dueling developers
Two teams unveil contrasting plans for Union Station redevelopment

By Margaret Jackson and Jeff Leib
Denver Post Staff Writers

Pick your vision.

Competing development teams detailed two very different concepts Thursday night for the redevelopment of Denver Union Station before a packed audience of nearly 1,000 people at the Paramount Theatre.

Highlights for Union Station Partners, led by Cherokee Investment and Phelps Development, include hotel and condominium towers - one would be 45 stories tall - to the west of Union Station, with light-rail trains coming into the station underground from the west.

The 45-story tower would be about double the original height limit. The team estimated the entire project will cost $1.5 billion.

The team led by Continuum Partners and East West Partners proposed a revival plan for Union Station that would not build as high. It also proposes keeping light rail at street level, two blocks west of the station. A light-rail platform would be where the tracks cross a new 17th Street pedestrian mall.

In both plans, heavier commuter rail trains serving Denver International Airport and Boulder/Longmont would arrive underground on the west side of Union Station, like current Amtrak and Ski Train service.

A separation of the light-rail platform from the underground commuter train at Union Station would mean light-rail patrons transferring to the DIA commuter train would have to walk up to two blocks to make the switch.

Both teams pledged to deliver Union Station transit improvements and much of the surrounding development within five years.

One big difference in the proposals is the price tags. Union Station Partners' transit plan is estimated to cost $513 million, far more than the $213 million allotted in FasTracks.

While Continuum-East West did not estimate total development costs, team members said the first phase would cost about $85 million more than what's available. Both teams said they have solutions for the financing gaps.

East West Partners already owns a substantial amount of real estate around Union Station, and Continuum has acquired additional pieces. The properties would become part of the development, expanding the site by an additional 13 acres to 32.5 acres.

Under current zoning, they could develop up to 4.9 million square feet of commercial, retail and residential space. However, the Continuum-East West team is proposing to develop only 2.5 million square feet to keep the flavor of the area. If selected, it plans to build 732,500 square feet of office space, 246,100 square feet of retail, 783,400 square feet of residential and parking for 1,980 cars.

Included in that team's plan is space for a grocery store to the west of the station and a large- format retailer to the north.

If the Continuum-East West team is selected, Kiewit Construction, the team's general-contractor partner, will guarantee a maximum price and delivery date for the transit work when the design is 30 percent complete and accepted by the Regional Transportation District.

In the Union Station Partners' plan, low-rise buildings would surround the 125-year-old Union Station building. Structures would gradually get taller farther from the historic building. The mix would include about 250,000 square feet of retail space, two hotels with a total of about 600 rooms, 1 million square feet of office space and 900 residential units.

An executive committee made up of transportation, planning, state and city officials will select a developer by the beginning of October.




Brad Buchanan goes over the details of Union Station Partners' redevelopment plan Thursday, while Ferd Belz of Cherokee Investments watches. (The Denver Post / Brian Brainerd)

[msz2]

Question form outside. Does Denver have undreground?

[bunt_q]

By underground, I assume you mean a subway or metro? No, our rail system is above ground (except for short stretches of tunnels under major roads, etc.)

[Ian604]

Very cool stuff three posts up.

[RC14]

It looks like there are alot of cool things happening in Denver. I have not been to Denver sence I was too young to remember. It sounds like a very interesting city.