City Improvements Archives - Denver Urban Review

City Improvements, Project Announcements

RTD awards contract for Civic Center Station renovation

Justin March 31, 2016 at 1:31 pm 0

Rendering of renovations to Civic Center Station. Courtesy RTD.

The RTD Board of Directors last night approved a $26 million contract award to Mortensen Construction for the Civic Center Station Renovation project.

Civic Center Station currently serves 18 routes with an average of 15,000 passengers daily. The station also serves as the endpoint for the 16th Street FREE MallRide and the FREE MetroRide.

“Civic Center Station has been a vital transit element of downtown Denver for over 30 years and is in need of renovations,” said Tom Tobiassen, RTD Board Chair. “Once this project is complete, it will be a state-of-the-art transit hub to complement Union Station that will provide improved connections and convenience for our passengers.”

The building design includes:

Nine bus bays
Glass-enclosed terminal building
Bus concourse rebuild
Bus ramp extension connecting Broadway to Lincoln
Open view from 16th Street Mall to the State Capital
Building structure that is easier to maintain and repair long-term

Perkins Eastman is the Design Architect and SEH is the Architect of record for the project.

Plans for the Civic Center Station renovation began in 2011, with a report by Merrick & Company that surveyed the facility and made recommendations. During that process, it was determined that the cost for repairing and keeping the same design were comparable to redesigning and building a new facility.

The Request for Qualifications was solicited on Sept. 10, 2014. The second phase, which was the Request for Proposals, was issued on March 27, 2015. Proposals were due on Jan. 28, 2016.

A Notice to Proceed will be issued to Mortensen Construction in the upcoming weeks. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2016 and will take approximately 12 months to be completed.

Rendering of Civic Center Station Renovations. Courtesy RTD.

City Improvements

The vision for the Denver Performing Arts Complex

Justin March 24, 2016 at 12:09 am 2

Denver Performing Arts Complex rendering

Rendering courtesy H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

This month the City of Denver along with Denver Arts & Venues revealed a vision for the future of the Denver Performing Arts Complex located in downtown Denver. A new music hall, rehearsal and recording space, commercial development, expanded retail, high-rise residential development, and an arts high school campus are elements of the redevelopment vision. This makeover of the Denver Performing Arts Complex has been titled "The Next Stage" and this vision was delivered by the Executive Leadership Team, a working group appointed by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock that has studied options, needs and trends in arts over the past year. The group received input from more than 4,200 Denver residents, as well as arts patrons, performers and presenters.

Rendering courtesy H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

“The Next Stage vision provides a phenomenal opportunity to elevate our Arts Complex to become a vibrant, public regional center of cultural activity in the heart of downtown,” said Hancock. “With this vision, we will set out to realize the potential of the Arts Complex by better attracting diverse residents and tourists, integrating it into the neighborhood, and enhancing the Galleria and Sculpture Park. I am thankful for the ELT’s and community’s commitment to create this vision together.” Mayor Hancock announced a year-long funding and governance study to develop the next steps to build a plan to deliver on the vision. The funding and governance group will aim to provide its recommended plan by the end of 2016.

Rendering courtesy H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

The City of Denver commissioned H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture to create the renderings for this vision. The featured elements of The Next Stage are an open wedge design that offers more green space, an elevated Sculpture Park with parking beneath it, a new mid-size music hall for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and other presentations, and space for retail options. A memorandum of understanding has been established between Denver Arts & Venues and Denver Public Schools to study the feasibility of bringing a school of the arts to the Arts Complex. “The next generation of performers, artists and patrons is growing right before our eyes in our schools,” said Susana Cordova, acting superintendent of Denver Public Schools. “We are committed to studying how our school of the arts can fit in at the Arts Complex because of our commitment to diversity, creativity and imagination in education.”

Rendering courtesy H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

Firm details in regards to how this project will be financed, the cost, and project timeline were not presented. “All of us at Arts & Venues are eager to build on the vision of The Next Stage,” said Kent Rice, executive director of Denver Arts & Venues. “The exciting new programming we’re about to start will further brand this city and this neighborhood as the heart of Denver’s creative and cultural life.” Below is a current photo of the Denver Performing Arts Complex:

City Improvements

$121.5 million for National Western Center

Justin December 14, 2015 at 12:29 am 0

Rendering of proposed upgrades National Western Center courtesy A Smart Deal for Denver.

The State of Colorado’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) voted on December 10th to approve the National Western Center for $121.5 million in funding through the Regional Tourism Act (RTA). The funding will be allocated towards new facilities and upgrades of the National Western Center master plan adopted in March of 2015. “We are thankful to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for their careful consideration and excited to have the state as a partner of the National Western Center,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “This is a tremendous win for the Denver metro region and a proud milestone as we deliver this exciting new campus. We look forward to working together to create a unique tourist destination that will draw over one million new visitors each year. The state’s investment in the National Western Center will have significant economic returns for Colorado.” Funding will also be used to improve infrastructure in the surrounding community. The National Western Center has been home to the annual National Western Stock Show which was first held in 1906. The facility sits at the northeast end of Denver's eclectic RiNo neighborhood where several residential, retail, and office projects are under construction.

Rendering of National Western Center upgrades courtesy A Smart Deal for Denver

“The RTA funding allows us to take the next step toward implementing the bold vision we have created for the National Western Center with our key partners and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Executive Director of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative Kelly Leid. “As we build this project over the next decade, we are excited to continue engaging the community to create a one of kind campus that will be enjoyed by future generations.” The RTD commuter rail line that will provide service between Denver's Union Station and Denver International Airport will have a stop at 38th and Blake Street. This stop will be located approximately six blocks from the National Western Center. Trains will run every 15 minutes during peak hours. Trains are currently being tested on this line that will open in 2016. The RTA funding will account for 14% of the total finance plan for phases 1 and 2 of 8 totaling $856.4 million. The rest of the finance plan includes contributions from the Western Stock Show Association, Colorado State University and the City and County of Denver. Mayor Hancock has appointed the Denver Urban Renewal Authority as the financing entity that will handle the RTA funds for the project. All of the upgrades and new construction is expected to take 10 years.

City Improvements

1660 Lincoln exterior upgrade complete

Justin December 7, 2015 at 12:14 am 3

This fall work began on upgrades to 1660 Lincoln Street in downtown Denver. This 30-story office tower was built in 1972. The exterior of the building has been changed from a light brown to a gray color. This exterior upgrade is now complete.

Seattle-based Unico Properties bought 1660 Lincoln in 2013 for $38 million. The property houses 283,544 square-feet of leasable office space. Improvements are also being made to the building’s HVAC and mechanical systems.

1660 Lincoln is not the only office tower in downtown Denver to have been upgraded in recent years. In 2014 Brookfield Properties completed a $58 million renovation to its 54-story 1801 California office building. Brookfield Properties is also making upgrades to the concourse level at Republic Plaza, which is Denver’s tallest building. The concourse level at Republic Plaza has been home to a food court for the last 30 years, which has become outdated in recent years. The renovations will include a new conference center and a new fitness center. Also included will be a cafe and collaborative space. The Republic Plaza upgrades are slated to be completed in early 2016. Below is a photo of 1660 while the exterior upgrade work was taking place in October.

City Improvements

Hancock applauds construction defects vote

Justin November 30, 2015 at 12:49 am 2

Denver City and County Building

Last week the Denver City Council voted 12-1 to approve a new ordinance that is designed to encourage the construction of condominium units. Many members of the Denver community have felt the construction defects laws that were on the book created an environment that was onerous for builders and made it too easy for condo owners to sue condo builders. “I want to personally thank City Council for approving this local ordinance. This is a measured and balanced approach to addressing a shortage of condominiums, taking great care to spur the creation of more for-sale units while protecting homeowner rights in situations of defective construction," said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Only a handful of multi-unit residential projects are currently being built as for-sale condos. The vast majority of new units are rentals. The limited supply of for-sale condos has contributed to high real estate prices. There are so few condo projects currently under development that Cherry Creek North's 250 Columbine development is single handedly impacting the condo stats as its units have hit the real estate market this fall.

“A new luxury condo development, 250 Columbine in Cherry Creek North, made a big impact in October’s high-end condo stats,” said Jill Schafer, member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. “Compared to September, there was a 228 percent increase in the number of condos sold in October between the $750,000 to $999,999 price range. About one-third of those sales were from 250 Columbine, the new luxury condo development that broke ground two years ago.”

“With this step, Denver joins with many of our metro area neighbors in seeking to find solutions to a housing market that is lagging and leaving our residents with difficult choices. While our balanced approach will seek to alleviate such pressure here at home, it is still imperative for the state Legislature to act. Colorado is demanding action and leadership, and we need it now. Denver and cities across the metro area are stepping up, and it’s time for the Legislature to do the same," explained Denver Mayor Hancock.

The new ordinance requires that the majority of condo owners must vote in favor of legal action for a lawsuit against a builder to move forward in Denver.

Two large condo projects are expected to begin construction in 2016. NAVA Real Estate Development has plans to build a 12-story condo project at the former site of St. Anthony's hospital just south of Sloan's Lake This building will include 226 for-sale units.

The Coloradan, a 342-unit development is planned to take shape adjacent to the train platform at Denver's Union Station. This project is set to be developed by East West Partners.