Several projects are planned and currently under construction in this part of Denver including the Source Hotel which is under construction at 3300 Brighton Boulevard.

Rendering of Modera River North courtesy ARA Newmark.

This yet to be named River North project is slated to break ground in September with a project completion expected in September 2017. The building will reach six floors in height. Denver-based The Mulhern Group designed this structure. 

ARA Newmark raised an unnamed amount of financing for this project and Denver-based Executive Managing Director Chris Cowan and Houston-based executive managing director Adam Allen led the way securing equity for this project.

“For an area that was considered the wrong side of the tracks no more than 18 months ago, there has been incredible institutional capital interest for this front door location,” stated Cowan. “RiNo hasn’t just made the map for Denver – it is the map. It is impossible to articulate all of the fluidity and activity happening there.”

Texas-based Mill Creek Residential is developing this project. Yesterday Denver Urban Review covered Mill Creek’s 275 unit Modera Observatory Park apartment project that will be constructed near the University of Denver.

Mill Creek Residential was represented by Cowan and Allen in the transaction of its RiNo project. Managing director of Brian Wynne of Mill Creek is leading this RiNo apartment community.

Wynne explains, “Mill Creek is excited to become part of the River North community and part of the Brighton corridor in particular. We are huge believers in the momentum of activity all around this site and we see the best of both worlds in this location – participating in the exciting energy of the area while being only a short walk to the heart of downtown Denver.”

Apartments will have stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and nine-foot ceilings. A pool and fitness center are also included in this community.

The post Mill Creek project coming to RiNo appeared first on Denver Urban Review.

The title of this structure is Gauge, and is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2016. Dynia Architects designed this project and founder Stephen Dynia explained why the name Gauge was selected.

“It has to do with the prominence of the rail lines. It is a very individual site. It is on the edge of freight lines and a new line also going to the airport and one of the bridges(pedestrian) is going to land at the door to the building. RiNo is unique in this area as the rail line is going to pour out here, and there will be a new kind of energy,” said Dynia.

Rendering of Gauge courtesy Dynia Architects.

Dynia Architects and Zeppelin development have collaborated on several other projects including the buildings at the TAXI campus, The Source marketplace and The Source Hotel.

“It is completely independent from our other projects. It is an entirely new idea. We have new ideas for every building and this building is about having a garden on the upper levels,” states Dynia. “We are not in a temperate place, but there are things that grow and stay green in the winter.”

Rendering of Gauge courtesy Dynia Architects.

Denver’s RiNo is an eclectic mix of old industrial buildings, unique retail, and several new developments are currently under construction in the neighborhood. Dynia expresses his take on RiNo.

“The great thing about RiNo is it has this mix of stuff that will probably stay there for quite a while– a combination that makes it interesting. It is not a homogenous fabric. There will be new things developed that will coexist with things that have been there for a long time.

Dynia founded his eponymous firm in 1993 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Before that, he began his career working for the well known architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill after receiving his architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design.

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Pictured above is the 2300 Welton project that just began construction. The development will include 223 residential units. This project was designed by Denver-based Humphries Poli Architects.

Also under construction in Denver’s Five Points is The Wheatley at 25th Street and Welton. This development will include 14 for-sale town homes, 82 apartments and space for ground floor retail. This site was the location of the Phillis Wheatley Young Woman’s Christian Association which operated from 1916-1964. Phillis Wheatley was the first published African-American woman and first published African-American poet.

Pictured above is the Larimer Row townhome project in Denver’s River North (RiNo) neighborhood. This project is taking shape 34th and Larimer. Once fully completed will include 28 townhomes.

Factory Flats broke ground this month and is a for-sale condo development. It will include space for ground floor retail. This project is located at 3198 Blake Street. Factory Flats is targeting LEED and ENERGY STAR certifications and each unit will be solar-powered.

Pictured above is the Backyard on Blake development. This project includes the adaptive reuse of an existing brick structure and new construction to create a development that will feature, office, retail and residential components.

Pictured above is the Hartley Flats project that is nearing completion at 27th and Walnut Street. This project will house one and two bedroom apartment units.

Above is the construction site of a mixed-use development on Brighton Boulevard that stretches between 31st Street and 35 Street. Featured in this development will be condominiums and retail space.

Below is the site of the new Great Divide Brewing Co brewery at 35th Street and Brighton Boulevard.

Above is The Crossing at Denargo Market apartments located at 2525 Wewatta Way currently under construction at the confluence of Denver’s Ballpark and RiNo neighborhoods. This development includes 321 apartment units in a 5 story building, wrapped around a 6 level parking structure.

Pictured above construction continues on the Freight Residences located at TAXI. Unlike most of Denver’s current apartment projects under construction, Freight Residences is designed to attract young families. The lobby of the building will serve as a children’s art area. Zeppelin Development is building this 48-unit project.

The post RiNo and Five Points construction update appeared first on Denver Urban Review.

Larimer Row rendering courtesy EVStudio.

Larimer Row Phase 1. Photo courtesy EVstudio.

The Larimer Row townhome project is taking shape in Denver’s River North neighborhood (RiNo). Once fully completed, 28 units will be delivered at the 3400 block of Larimer Street. Phase 1 of this development is now ready for residents with all other units being delivered by January 2016. This project was designed by EVstudio and is being built by BLVD builders—both of which are Denver based.

“BLVD chose to build in the River North Art District because of its creative energy and strong community that is not found in many other locations around Denver,” states BLVD Builders president of development Aaron Foy. “We anticipated built-in demand for reasonably priced townhomes from professionals working in the RiNo district’s large number of creative businesses. We have found that to be the case with several of our buyers attracted to Larimer Row because they will be able to walk to work.”

Larimer Row homes are available in two and three bedroom options with prices ranging from the high $300s to the high $400. The size of the units spans between 1,229 square feet and 1,673 square feet. Rooftop decks are featured in all homes along with hardwood floors and quartz countertops. 

Currently under construction four blocks from the site of the Larimer Row project is a RTD commuter rail station. Once completed in 2016 this station will serve RTD’s East Line that will deliver passengers to Denver International Airport.

“We designed the townhomes with Denver’s outdoor lifestyle in mind. Each unit has a rooftop deck that spans their entire roof with fantastic views of downtown and panoramic views of the mountains from Mount Evans to the Flatirons to Longs Peak,” said Foy. “For our 2 bedroom units, considered nearby transit and have an option where buyers can select an oversized 1-car garage, in lieu of a 2-car tandem garage, and get a den for additional living space.”

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Rendering of Factory Flats. Image courtesy Green Development.

“Denver is an exciting place to be right now,” noted Melissa Baldridge, Co-Owner and Co-Founder, Green-Building Solutions Provider, GreenSpot Real Estate. “However, one of the downsides of the housing boom is the rising cost of rent, which is pricing many young professionals out of the market. Since the end of 2010, rental prices in Denver have grown at nearly twice the pace of hourly wages, according to data from the real estate firm Zillow and the U.S Labor Department. Baldridge added, “At Factory Flats, interested buyers will pay less than they would pay in rent for a similar property in the neighborhood, and they will be investing in a home and building equity.”

Factory Flats will feature 24 flats ranging in size between 1,188 sq. ft. to 1,456 square feet. Ground floor space for retail or office use has been incorporated into this development. Factory Flats is targeting LEED and ENERGY STAR certifications and each unit will be solar-powered.

Once commuter rail service begins in 2016 on RTD’s East Line, residents will be within walking distance of a station at 38th Avenue and Blake Street. The East Line will provide rail access to Denver International Airport. Commuter rail trains will reach a top speed of 79 miles per hour and will run every 15 minutes during peak hours.

Residential units will feature hardwood floors, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Construction is expected to be completed in the middle of 2016. Pre-sale pricing for units ranges in the $400s. Units will be available in one and two bedroom options.

“Factory Flats is exactly the type of development that Denver needs right now,” said Tracye Herrington, Co-owner and founder, Employing Broker, GreenSpot Real Estate. “The city has very few new construction for-sale condo options, and as millennials and baby boomers continue to come in droves to Denver, they want to live in beautiful, green, community-focused places in vibrant, walkable neighborhoods like RiNo.”

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“Denver is a place of great opportunity. It is where the whole continent shifts from being flat to being vertical; those edges are beautiful things. Denver hugs this line, a transition of topography,” -Architect Stephen Dynia

It doesn’t take long to discern that architect Stephen Dynia, the man behind the design of TAXI and The Source, is a native of the northeast with his New York accent. However, he is as affable as he is outgoing, and he feels that Denver is a city of optimism. 

Dynia founded his eponymous firm in 1993 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Before that, he began his career working for the well known architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill after receiving his architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Drive 2 at TAXI designed by Dynia Architects.

“I worked for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in New York City out of college and even though it was in the 80’s it felt like the show Mad Men and we all knew where the keys to the partners’ liquor cabinet was. After 6 years it became no longer fun to be in a corporate setting,” explained Dynia.

After the New York City chapter came to an end Dynia was unsure of what his next move should be.

“After the corporate stuff I really did not know what to do next. I missed the craft of architecture and I visited a friend I knew in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and realized that no one was doing modern houses here. I then slowly built up a reputation of introducing glass and steel to a mountain environment,” stated Dynia.

Dynia  spent over a decade in Wyoming designing contemporary houses incorporating elements such as movable glass walls to open structures up to the environment, and even designed a 500-seat performing arts venue in Jackson Hole.

As time moved forward he began to take an interest in Denver. He viewed it as a hub for travel and then started to become engaged in what was taking place and purchased a place to crash in the Mile High City.

“Denver is a place of great opportunity. It is where the whole continent shifts from being flat to being vertical; those edges are beautiful things. Denver hugs this line, a transition of topography,” describes Dynia. “I think Denver in general is a very optimistic city. It has access to recreation and it is still urban enough and gritty enough to it to make it interesting. It has ethnic diversity and things like railroad tracks which are a fascination with an eternal movement that is like an ocean here.”

Architect Stephen Dynia

In Denver Dynia teamed up with Zeppelin Development and his first project in Denver was Freight, a 28,000 square foot building that was originally designed for shipping and storage. Dynia accepted the challenge of redesigning the building to an office space that features abundant community space for collaboration. This project is located in TAXI a campus of new and converted structures in Denver’s River North neighborhood (RiNo) near 31st and Brighton Boulevard.

“You are pretty free to do a lot of experimentation in RiNo and there is a gritty honesty to the whole environment that makes you not want to do BS and it mixes new with old,” opined Dynia. “We are free to design buildings that are reflective of their time and I hate the insincerity of trying to make something new look old and to me that is the worst insult to historicism.”

Rendering of Freight Residences. Image courtesy Zeppelin Development

Unlike most of Denver’s current apartment projects under construction, Freight Residences (rendering shown above) which is being built at the TAXI campus is designed to attract young families. The lobby of the building will serve as a children’s art area. Freight Residences will have a lawn adjacent to the building where children will be able to play within view of their parent’s residence. Native plants have been incorporated into the landscaping and will be irrigated with reclaimed storm water. Dynia’s firm has worked on every development in TAXI. Dynia mentioned that projects need to create space that can be used for educational and artistic purposes and not just for retail spaces.

“Apartments can be designed to accommodate all sorts of people- young couples, families and retirees. Right now there is this engine that is creating these cookie cutter projects because it is the safe thing to do. It really depresses me to see the stuff that is built here now in Denver. It is a lapse of creativity born out of an economic condition,” stated Dynia.

RiNo’s adaptive reuse project The Source, an 1880s brick foundry that was converted to a public market for artisan vendors. The Source is located in RiNo and was also designed by Dynia.

The Source. Photo Credit Tim Hursly.

A 10-story hotel is currently being designed by Dynia and is slated to be located adjacent to The Source. When asked if Denver Urban Review could take a look at the renderings of this hotel project, Dynia looked up and grinned and without having to say any words, I knew that was an indication that the renderings were not quite ready to be showcased.

For more information on Dynia Architects and to view their projects visit their website.

The post Meet Stephen Dynia, the architect behind TAXI and The Source appeared first on Denver Urban Review.

Drive 2 is part of a larger 20 acre development project known as TAXI. This mixed-use development is located in Denver’s River North neighborhood (RiNo) which is the largest designated arts district in Denver.

The TAXI development in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. Drive 2 is the building on the lefthand side of the photo and Drive 1 is on the righthand side. Image courtesy Dynia Architects

TAXI will be home to 800 employees and residents. Drive 2 was designed by Dynia Architects and represents one of seven buildings within TAXI. Dynia Architects also designed The Source, a market that features artisan food vendors which is also located in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. The Source is housed in a building that was constructed in the 1880s and was originally home to a foundry. The Source was developed by Zeppelin Development as well.

The features of the Drive 2 include:

• Glass garage doors and skylights that allow natural light to stream into the building
• Floor panels made of glass that allow light to penetrate the core of the building
• A 2,500 square foot rooftop conference center/idea space
• Easy access to TAXI’s other amenities including a community garden, Bike Share station, and the FUEL Cafe where the menu is revised monthly to reflect the changing seasons

Both Drive 1 and Drive 2 have achieved LEED status, a designation reserved for buildings that meet a set of standards based on their energy efficiency and impact on the environment. LEED is an acronym for: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.

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According to Merriam-Webster:

Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous

While on a recent urban hike this Sunday (3/15/2015) I was attempting to communicate the hodgepodge of elements that contribute to RiNo’s unique vibe. I struggled to find a theme that best expressed this vibe, but after strolling up and down Lawrence and Larimer streets, I realized it was the art displayed on the facades of the buildings that best represented the ambiance of RiNo.

RiNo is short for River North neighborhood and is bordered by I-70 to the North, I-25 to the West, Park Avenue West to the South, and Arapahoe Street to the East. Below are some examples of the artwork in the area.

Below are some photos of advertising in the area which hopefully will be saved as new developments take root in the neighborhood.

Technically the above picture is in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood located adjacent to RiNo. I can remember going to this building when it still was a paint store. I was about 5 years old at the time and my dad was remodeling an old victorian house on Raleigh Street and about 35th Avenue. That house was located just a few blocks from the original Elitch Gardens, and I can remember hearing people that were riding the roller coasters screaming.

Above is a photo of the Gold Star Sausage Co. building at 2800 Walnut Street that just sold for $3.2 million. For more information on this transaction take a look at this article .

The post The art of RiNo appeared first on Denver Urban Review.

The RiNo neighborhood of Denver is very active these days with several projects under construction and many more projects are planned that have yet to begin construction. RiNo is an eclectic neighborhood with a mix of original structures and new developments.

“We are keeping our headquarters in Denver,” explained Rick Rue, President, of Gold Star Sausage. “Our history is here and we love the Mile High City. However, we made the decision to relocate our food processing operation to Nebraska in order to expand and be closer to our suppliers.”

Family-owned Gold Star Sausage’s USDA certified food processing facility has been anchored in Denver’s revitalized RiNo Arts District since 1936. The largest private label producer of sausages and hot dogs of all varieties in the Rocky Mountain Region, Gold Star’s building at 2800 Walnut generated a large amount buyer interest.

Gold Star Sausage at 2800 Walnut Street. Image courtesy Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.

“Demand for the asset is extremely high,” added Russell Gruber. “At a sale price of $97.26 per square foot, 3200 Walnut Street achieved a price higher than the 2014 industrial average for both the Central submarket (at $62.88/SF) and the overall Denver metro market (at $63.77/SF).”

Built in 1952, 2800 Walnut Street received multiple offers from numerous  Denver market investors with desire to acquire property in the emerging RiNo neighborhood. According to NGKF Research, the Central submarket boasts one of the lowest industrial vacancy rates in the metro area, at just 2.7%. The purchaser, 1425 Market LLC, intends to repurpose the asset to take advantage of market conditions.

Gold Star Sausage has been based in Denver since 1936.

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321 apartment units in a 5 story building, wrapped around a 6 level parking structure will comprise the project.

“RiNo is a gritty, eclectic  part of town, packed full of great art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. We knew the location would attract renters that valued proximity to downtown, but also wanted to live in a more unique and eccentric part of town, ” said Chase Hill Development Manager for Argyle Residential. 

The project will include:

• Fully equipped theater room
• Resort style swimming pool
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Rooftop amenity deck with views of downtown Denver
• An in-house leasing center and resident lounge area

Rendering of the Crossing at Denargo Market. Image courtesy Argyle Residential

Unit finishes are anticipated to include simulated wood flooring, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. All entrances will be access controlled.

This is the second apartment project in the area by Argyle Residential. They also developed the Yards at Denargo Market apartment project at 2797 Wewatta Way.

These apartment homes are within a short walk of The Source, a market housed in a brick foundry that was constructed in the 1880’s. The Source features a collection of artisan food vendors and retailers.

“Denver is near the top of any list you look at for economic fundamentals, including job and population growth. People are moving to Denver as fast as they are to any other city in the nation on a per capita basis. And it makes sense. Denver has a more temperate climate than a lot of people realize, with 300+ days/year of sunshine. And the quality of life in Denver is exceptional, with close proximity to the mountains and all that they offer, an abundance of scenic and well maintained parks, a great airport, a relatively low cost of living, and a functional and efficient mass transit system,” said Hill.

The Crossing at Denargo Market under construction. Feb. 2015 Denver Urban Review

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