One reader pointed out that my longer list of neighborhoods would be the statistical list of neighborhoods for Denver. Other readers had pointed out that the general list of Denver didn’t include enough of the specifics that are in the statistical list. I am open to ideas folks, the shorter list I use is the one I like so I am republishing the Overall Best Neighborhood in Denver poll using my General list (because it makes more sense to me).

For those of you who have ideas of what the list should be, and there are quite a few of you, please visit the forum and make your suggestions. Your opinions do matter. The way to be helpful is to share what you think the list SHOULD be, not what it shouldn’t be. Then folks can comment back and forth and maybe we will improve the list a bit. In the meantime, here is the poll revised. Happy voting!

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Wewatta project planned

A mixed-use development is set to be built just north of Union Station. The $175 million project will include a hotel and shops.

By Margaret Jackson
Denver Post Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 08/09/2007 11:36:15 PM MDT

A Colorado Springs developer is planning a $175 million project that will include offices, shops, restaurants and a boutique hotel in the Central Platte Valley.

Sunshine Development Co., headed by Jannie Richardson, paid Trillium Corp. $16 million for 1.83 acres at 1601 Wewatta St., just north of Union Station. Denver’s 125-year-old train depot is being redeveloped and will serve as a hub for transit connecting all parts of the metro region.

Sunshine’s plans include a 450,000-square-foot office building, up to 70,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and a 150-room boutique hotel. The project will be 14 stories.

“This is 100 percent location,” said Marilee Utter, president of Citiventure Inc., who is serving as an adviser on the project. “It’s a beautiful corner. It’s a gateway site, and it deserves top- drawer design.”

Richardson said she is working with a tenant that would occupy at least 400,000 square feet of the office space. She declined to name the firm.

She also said she has lined up two five-star restaurants that will take a total of 27,000 square feet of the retail space.

Construction should begin by the first quarter of 2009.

Tami Door, president and chief executive of Downtown Denver Partnership Inc., said she is excited about the prospect of more retail, in addition to the restaurants planned for the project.

“The more concentration of retail we have downtown the better,” she said.

But with Opus, Hines and Trammell Crow Co. each developing office buildings nearby, some question the need for more office space.

“There’s getting to be a lot of office space,” said Randy Nichols, president of the Nichols Partnership, which is developing a $130 million project that will be anchored by a 55,000-square-foot grocery store in the Central Platte Valley. “And retail is going to be a bit of a tough sell until the whole transportation center gets up and going.”

Sunshine is expected to form a joint venture with a national development firm on the complex, which will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold standards.

Sunshine has hired Portland, Ore.-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects to design the project in conjunction with the Denver firm Shear Adkins. The Portland firm designed the recently completed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency building in Lower Downtown.

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The Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District approved funding for the new pedestrian bridge across 18th street so it is only a matter of time before this becomes a reality. If you look at the beautiful pedestrian bridge that connects at 16th with the integration into the Promenade building it is only logical to assume that the upcoming groundbreaking of the City House building will kick off some sort of movement for this bridge to begin as well.

Residents of Glass House are going to really love this access point as it creates the newest access point for the city. I am looking forward to a short cut for a sunny afternoon Rockies game. But don’t get your hopes up yet, with the time it takes to complete and the infrastructure that still has to be added for the street scape in that area it will probably be some time before you can walk across. Perhaps if City House wraps up in 2009 then the bridge will be ready at the same time. One can only hope.

Either way this is one more pedestrian bridge addition that is make Denver even better. Maybe not as exciting as the Pedestrian bridge over I-25 connecting the Highlands and Riverfront, but still cool.

Anyone have any idea what it will look like?

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This was a fun Wall Street Journal article to read about the “young homesteaders” who are moving into fringe neighborhoods, making them their own, and turning them into some of the greatest spots of their city to live in.

While Denver is not the same as these other cities, and thankfully our crime is more manageable, the point of the article rings true. Riverfront Park and the Central Platte Valley were much different only a decade ago. Today they are one of the safest and most wonderful neighborhoods to live and spend time in.

Granted, the master HOA funding of off duty police officers paved the way for an almost immediate change to make the area one of the safest in Denver, but more importantly the influx of residents who made the area their home and put “eyes on the street” really have done the biggest change. And just imagine what will happen with the next 389 units in Glass House followed by all the other exciting developments.

[Read more →]

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Today’s topic is wine, wine, and more wine!

Urbanites are social. We throw our dinner parties, our martini balls, our football get togethers, and our impromptu late nights with friends. So what do we consider a bare essential…. our wine store and having a great selection available for us.

So join me in getting to know Little Raven Vineyards and Peter Klann, Proprietor.

Peter, can you tell me what first attracted you to wine, what you love about it and a little bit about your background?

Shortly after moving to Colorado in 1976 my wine adventure began in the cellar of a neighbor who had an extensive collection of French and German wine. I have traveled to several of the major wine regions in the world to further my education. My formal wine education includes advanced Sommelier and Advanced Wine and Food paring certificates from the IWG.

What was your inspiration for Little Raven Vineyards and the wines you select? [Read more →]

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Attending this weekend’s Bridge opening I got the opportunity to speak with one of the Projects Managers with the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation who was onsite to take advantage of the crowds. He and his team had set up two displays of some landscaping and green space improvements that are planned on the Northern side of the platte river (the opposite side from Commons Park). The goal is an expansion of the green space between 15th and 19th (If I remember correctly) with an expansion of the trail system for bikers, walkers, and our general enjoyment.

The purpose of the Park’s folks attending was to highlight the two different ideas, one being more structured and the other being more fun and free. I took a couple pictures of their plans, which won’t offer much insight, but at least might lay out the larger plan.

I am going to shoot an email to the Projects Manager and see if he won’t contribute to this blog entry and share some more details about the two different plans. The point is… this looks very cool. Expanding our green areas and giving our trails a face lift is wonderful, and with all the new residents that are moving into the CPV the usage of these trails will be going through the roof.

Yeah!

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Events, ribbon cutting, and more. I cruised by during the ribbon cutting ceremony and you could just feel the excitement in the air. Which is good because you really couldn’t hear the speakers at all. Someone was commenting about how years ago none of what surrounds us was there. That is certainly true, and if you think about how much the area will be growing and evolving with the Union Station expansion, the growh in the Highland area, and RTD… it won’t look anything like it does today very soon.

Denver is growing up, and the Central Platte Valley is growing along with it in terms of the elements I love (Architecture, new restaurants, new culture, and walkable infrastructure). Very cool.

So go check out the bridge and enjoy letting your feet carry you to your next cup of coffee, glass of wine, tasty appetizer, or just a casual stroll You will be among the company of the crowd of happy locals I saw there, just looking at another milestone in our urban growth.

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Its not just the new pedestrian bridge that opens on Saturday the 16th, but also a new restaurant called Vita. I would give you a review, but it’s not open yet. If you get a chance to visit make sure to come back here and comment. With all the great restauants in the Central Platte Valley and the Highlands, this one should hopefully follow suit and be a treat.

Check out more information here.

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Starting with an opening ceremony Saturday, December 16th the new Highland Bridge connecting the Central Platte Valley and the Lower Highlands will open across I-25. No more scary walks across the 15th street bridge, this opening ceremony will be FUN!!

Be There!

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Ribbon Cutting
12 PM - 9 PM Winter Stroll -Merchants offering refreshments
1 PM Groundbreaking of HIghland Bridge Lofts
3 PM - 7 PM Hodiays in the Highlands
4:30 PM Lighting of the way parade
5:30 PM Light up the bridge

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The University of Colorado’s Urban and Regional Planning students got a rare tour inside Glass House during. This photo was taken from the 23rd floor Penthouse looking west towards the mountain and out to the park.

Glass House has been moving along at a record pace and the new tenants will be starting to move in January 2007. The pool is filled with water, doors are locked as the general contractor releases them to the developer, and the certificate of occupancy is due in December.

As soon as we have the active energy of those new homeowners the Central Platte Valley will be going full force. If you think about it, this one building will almost double the density of this area. What great news for a more walkable community supporting more restaurants, shops and services. I can hardly wait, and once the building is glowing what a great night shot to post on this blog.

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