Denver Development Thread (4)

[SnyderBock]

Qwest is looking for a new home too. What do you guys think Qwest will end up doing? It looks like they will need at least 800,000sq.ft. Are they thinking Two Tabor? Seems two Tabor and it's proposed ~850,000sq.ft. size would be a perfect fit.

[Paulopolis]

It's funny I just posted something above about getting more retail on Central St. in the Highlands and then I came across this. Denver is really coming alive again! It's fantastic to see all this new stuff being proposed.

Parker: Brewery to buy Amato's
By Penny Parker
Denver Post Columnist
Posted: 02/18/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Updated: 02/18/2010 02:12:55 AM MST

Carlo Amato Jr.'s grandfather Carlo Sr. started his family's business in 1922.

Amato's, the statuary and fine garden decor merchant that's been plying water fountains, Buddha statues and custom furniture since 1922, is close to closing on a sale to the Breckenridge Brewery.

The Denver institution that operates at 2501 16th St. on the Lower Highland side of the 16th Street pedestrian bridge will shut down, likely in the middle of the summer.

"We bought it because we think it's a spectacular piece of property with unparalleled views and great exposure and visibility," said Ed Cerkovnik, Breckenridge Brewery president. "It's a landmark."

Provided the sale closes March 15, plans will move forward to build an Ale House, a more upscale version of Breckenridge Brewery's sports-bar concept.

"It will feel a little less industrial than our breweries and brewpubs, with a more sophisticated look and feel," he said.

Cerkovnik says the company plans to pay homage to Amato's heritage by using fountains and statuary throughout the property, which will include a backyard beer garden and rooftop deck.

Amato's was started as a furniture- and cabinet-making business by grandfather Carlo Sr., a new immigrant from Italy. Statuary was added to the inventory in the 1940s. Carlo Sr.'s son, Frank, continued making custom furniture, and grandson Carlo Jr. took over the business in 1976.

Carlo Jr., a vocal member of Denver's Italian community, could not be reached for comment.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14422751

I wonder if they will actually tear down the building that's there and build a new one or remodel the existing building. The highlighted sentence above is a bit ambiguous.

[Pizzuti]

Originally Posted by SnyderBock

Qwest is looking for a new home too. What do you guys think Qwest will end up doing? It looks like they will need at least 800,000sq.ft. Are they thinking Two Tabor? Seems two Tabor and it's proposed ~850,000sq.ft. size would be a perfect fit.

Tabor II couldn't be comfortably built in time for Qwest's lease on 1801 California to expire in 2012. The building would not only have to be topped out but also move-in ready, which, if Four Seasons is any indication, can occur an entire year after topping out for a building of that scale. The risk of delays through trouble in financing in the early stages is even greater in today's economic climate. I'm not intentionally trying to be pessimistic or negative, but I'd pretty much just knock Tabor II off as a possibility for Qwest.

I think Qwest wants to stay in 1801 California but will not renew the current lease because it requires them to commit to the entire building; they'd rather have maybe 3/4 or 2/3 of the building.

Don't assume the company is being totally honest about its motives. They're floating rumors that they would consider moving to another building, but that might just be to make the owners of 1801 California more desperate and therefore more flexible. Think about how hard it would be for them to re-fill 1801 California in entirety right now. If Qwest wants to shrink its size in the building and get a good deal, they'll bluff.

Looking a little deeper, I think Qwest could be keeping itself flexible for mergers. It will be more attractive to other companies if it is not committed to a very substantial and expensive lease. Worst case scenario is that Qwest is looking to be bought out by another company such as Comcast, and Denver is in risk of losing the headquarters.

The MOST likely scenario, I think, is that Qwest just wants to lay a bunch of people off and rent 60% of 1801 California, and it will get its way and another company will move in to the remaining floors.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by Paulopolis

I wonder if they will actually tear down the building that's there and build a new one or remodel the existing building. The highlighted sentence above is a bit ambiguous.

Here's a little rumor from the Urban Brain in Denver Blog:

http://www.theurbanbrain.com/denver/...in-lohi-rumor/

The site which is currently the home to Amato of Denver sculptures and fountains is going to be the new location of a new expansive 3 story Breckenridge Brewery. We are talking a full scale brewery and restaurant with an adjoining house acting as an extension for private parties. The construction would be starting this August with the goal of an opening in Spring of 2011. ...

[Paulopolis]

^ Cool! Thanks.

[EngiNerd]

Sounds like a Phantom Canyon-ish type place...for anyone who has ever been there in the Springs before. Very cool.

[Giovoni]

Originally Posted by EngiNerd

Sounds like a Phantom Canyon-ish type place...for anyone who has ever been there in the Springs before. Very cool.

I am happy to hear Phantom Canyon is still in COS. That place is/was FUN... only rivaled in fun by actually driving through the actual Phantom Canyon.

[Top Of The Park]

Originally Posted by Giovoni

I am happy to hear Phantom Canyon is still in COS. That place is/was FUN... only rivaled in fun by actually driving through the actual Phantom Canyon.

Yep...and a fellow artist has a show going on their walls...good happening place ...yep! Her name is Carol (better leave off her last name till I talk to her)

[Top Of The Park]

Originally Posted by SnyderBock

Qwest is looking for a new home too. What do you guys think Qwest will end up doing? It looks like they will need at least 800,000sq.ft. Are they thinking Two Tabor? Seems two Tabor and it's proposed ~850,000sq.ft. size would be a perfect fit.

....was a no-go..

[Fidel Castrobot]

Thats Right across the street from me! hmmmmm.... I hope that with this and the Breck brewery buying that statue place at the end of my street they dont raise my rent!

Originally Posted by ramanboy33

From Denverinfill:

The Highland Crossing project consists of two buildings totaling 49 units at 17th Street and Boulder Street. Originally conceived as a 4-building project, the two smaller buildings were completed in the summer of 2002. The remaining two buildings, one 6-stories and the other 7-stories, would have been located toward Central Street in front of the two that were built.

http://denverinfill.com/neighborhood...highland_b.htm

[Crush_Buds]

Whats up with the Civic Center renovation? Anyone else notice it? Here is a webcam

And I'm happy to hear the new Breckenridge Brewery development is finally public. I've known about it for a while now but was under personal obligation not to say anything about it. I'll get some more details when I can.

[Strange Meat]

Originally Posted by Pizzuti

19th?! Dammit! Now it's a 4-block walk from the Boulder bus to the Mall Ride! Why couldn't they just move it to the LoDo side of Union Station?

are you morbidly obese or something?

[Strange Meat]

Originally Posted by Crush_Buds

Whats up with the Civic Center renovation? Anyone else notice it? Here is a webcam

And I'm happy to hear the Breckenridge Brewery news is finally Public. I've known about it for a while now but was under personal obligation not to say anything about it. I'll get some more details when I can.

Wait... so what's going on with Breck? And they're just remodeling it, I think. Bruce Q posted some info and pics a few pages back.

Was kinda bummed about the movie news; no movies there this summer.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by Strange Meat

Wait... so what's going on with Breck? And they're just remodeling it, I think. Bruce Q posted some info and pics a few pages back.

Was kinda bummed about the movie news; no movies there this summer.

They are building a new additional location, see the posts above.

[Pizzuti]

Originally Posted by Strange Meat

are you morbidly obese or something?

No, but my trip from Boulder is already an hour and 15 and already involves me walking about a half a mile within Boulder.

It's not a huge deal, I'm prone to go for long walks on my own on the weekends, but taking the exact same trip and the exact same route day after day after day is tedious and I'm usually anxious to get to work.

[Chucolo]

Noticed yesterday the earth movers at Union Station are in operation. They appear to be working on the part of the area where the underground bus tunnel will be. I thought, though, that construction was still weeks away. Perhaps this is some other development??

[enjo13]

There is already a Breckenridge Ale-house in Grand Junction. Seemed like a cool enough joint, although I'm not a huge Breckenridge fan.

The site work at union station appears to be just site-prep. They have a bunch of old concrete barriers and what-not to get rid of. It appeared that they are cutting out that temporary parking lot (at least part of it) that was being used while 1900 16th was built.

[Strange Meat]

Anyone know if spire has started move ins yet?

[DownhomeDenver]

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Here's a little rumor from the Urban Brain in Denver Blog:

http://www.theurbanbrain.com/denver/...in-lohi-rumor/

Hmmm so from the sounds of bubbling fountains to noisy boisterous diners at a brew pub. I wonder what the owners at the Highland Bridge lofts feel about this?

[bcp]

^ that's life in the city - noisy, dirty and tight parking.