We Sort of Disagree With The Denver Post

The Denver Post had a side story in its Saturday edition about Union Station.  It rightly pointed out that the federal governments loans to Union Station set the stage for private development.  But, it also had this to say:

But the loan, announced Friday, won’t set off a land rush in what remains a difficult market for commercial-real-estate projects.

Uhm.

We’re Number Two!

The love affair between the Central Platte Valley and Ken Schroeppel over at denverinfill.com goes on.  Our neighborhood already made one appearance on his countdown of the top ten urban achievements here in Denver in the past ten years.  Today, he named FasTracks and the redevelopment of Union Station his number two.

Ken had two pretty interesting things to say.  The first was about downtown Denver:

“If FasTracks alone wasn’t enough, we have the whole Union Station redevelopment to celebrate as well. Many cities destroyed their historic train stations or converted them beyond repair into shopping malls or festival marketplaces or whatnot. Fortunately in Denver, our Union Station remains intact and is now poised to once again serve as the rail hub for the city and region. Along with its associated private sector development, the Union Station project will complete the transformation of the Central Platte Valley as a dynamic transit-oriented extension of Downtown. Downtown Denver just keeps getting better and better…"

Those are high words of praise.  Click through for more.

[The photo source is odd, to say the least.]

Congrats to Tom and Frank

It was a big day yesterday: the federal government approved $300 million in loans to the Union Station redevelopment.  That’s about 60% of the funding for the project.  It’s our company’s job to develop real estate that, over time, will create tax revenues which in turn will pay back those loans.  Furthermore, the feds indicated their intention to provide $1 billion (with a b) to fund the FasTracks program.  Like I said, incredible.

At the press conference, the politicians, rightfully, spent a lot . . . of . . . time . . . thanking . . . the . . . various . . . elected . . . officials, . . . agencies . . . and. . . organizations . . . that . . . have done so much to make the project a reality.

We wanted to thank the two guys who have led us the whole way: Tom Gougeon and Frank Cannon.  There are no two guys who know more about the project, have pushed more, pulled more, waited more, planned more, or had more of an effect on the project than these two.  Thanks so much to both of them.

We’re Not Saying, But Someone Will Be Soon

Looks like there’s a pretty big announcement going down this afternoon behind Union Station at 1:30.  All kinds of current politicos and politicos wanting to be politicos and so forth will be there.  If you’re wanting to hear what it is, well, you’ll just have to go.  I’m not saying I know, but, I doubt they’d have a press conference if they didn’t have something to say.

Congratulations are probably in order, but we’ll wait until the end of the day, just in case.

That Was Fun

So, the Riverfront Park Social Club got together last night at the soon-to-be venerable Rack & Rye.  The reason?  Well, there were three, really:

1.  We all really like the idea of going to Rack & Rye, and, quite awesomely, they were giving away whiskey, really good whiskey.

2.  Seeing your neighbors is always fun.

3.  The whole thing was for a good cause.  Arlen Preblud and his wife, Leigh, started an awesome new organization called We Don’t Waste.  It’s a neat idea.  Basically, the site is a clearing house for food that’s about to be thrown away but is still good.  Food kitchens and other similar organizations can go online and find sources of free food from wholesalers, grocery stores and restaurants.  Check it out here.

And, if you want to see a few more pictures of the neighbors and the event, click that little comment button right below this sentence.

Don’t Forget - Rack & Rye Tonight

That’s all I’m saying.  Just don’t forget.  Oh, and go.

Quick Link to a Neat Story

Our friend Bill Mosher got some good press this weekend in the Denver Post.  Bill is the project manager for the public side of our public-private partnership at Union Station.  He’s doing a spectacular job.

Announcing the First Project at the New Union Station

[Note:  I’m new to this whole blogging thing and can’t get these photos formatted so that you can actually see what you are looking at.  Denver Infill posted a picture on their site, and it’s a lot easier to see.  Click this sentence to see it.]

So, cool.  This weekend, we announced the first project that will be built at the redeveloped Union Station, the IMA Financial Building.  Located alongside the historic station, the project will be five stories tall, with about 100,000 square feet of rentable space.  The owner and primary tenant will be our good friends at IMA Financial, one of the city’s premier risk management companies.

The building is pretty, for which we’re glad to thank the hard working team at Anderson Mason Dale and Semple Brown Design.  The team has done a spectacular job of integrating the building into the existing street wall along Wynkoop and looking forward to the more modern design aesthetic that will define the whole neighborhood.

Of course, no one deserves more credit than the folks at IMA.  Their willingness to make such a large investment speaks volumes about the Union Station redevelopment as a whole, but even more about their civic commitment.  I’ll let Rob Cohen, the company’s founder, speak on their behalf:

“This is a unique opportunity to do something really special.  Union Station has always been this magical place of what could be when it happens.” Click right here for a little bit more.

Creekside Tranquility

Creekside #407 is a stunning corner home and is the best of Creekside.  The top floor residence boasts 14 foot ceilings, expansive windows and a wrap around deck.  An open living area has a beautiful hardwood floors, a large island and gas fireplace.  The master suite has a large walk-in closet and private bath.  With incredible views of the mountains and Cherry Creek this home truly special.  Priced at $495,000 this residence will not last long.  We’re having an open house this Sunday 1/31 from 1-3.  Please come to our sale office to start your tour.

Ken Likes Us, He Really Likes Us

Ken Schroeppel has carved out an incredible niche for himself as the go-to urbanist here in Denver.  We love him for it, and every once in a while he shares that love.

For the past few days, he’s been counting down the top ten “urbanist” moments in Denver in the past ten years.  We’re glad he’s named us number five. 

But, I’ve got to be honest, that just makes no sense to me.  Clearly, we’re number one.  I mean come on, we’ve built a whole new neighborhood here.  Heck, I think we even coined the term “true urbanism.” I can’t even begin to guess what could have been better.

Oh, okay, I’m sure something was a bigger deal.  Or maybe something else.  Also, my bet is the other folks in front of us are kindof a big deal, too.  So, five’s actually pretty awesome.

Click the add comment button (I don’t know why) to see a cool animated gif that Ken created.  But, even better go see the post itself.

Photo credit.

Sometimes It’s Hard to Get Your Hands Around an Idea

So, oddly, Denver’s having an apres-ski party all week.  I think the Downtown Denver Partnership is putting it on, but I’m just not sure.  (Go to the website and see if you can figure it out for yourself.) I’ve been thinking about this ever since banners started appearing all over town pimping the event.  How are they going to apres-ski?  They can’t take the ski train to Winter Park this season Everyone knows better than to drive down from the mountains right after the day ends.  (Actually, the real problem is that not enough people know that.) There hasn’t been enough snow in Commons Park lately to so much as slide straight on a sled.  So what is the event, really?

Well, I figured it out.  It’s apres-work.  And that’s as good of an excuse as one might need to go to any one of the THIRTY-PLUS venues doing something this week.  Pretty awesome idea, really.  And, if you don’t overthink it, it makes sense immediately.

(You can click through, but unless you’re dying to see to that photo just a bit bigger or you really have something important to say, there’s no reason to do so.)

Delve Into The Body

On Friday, January 29th, enjoy the newest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art | Denver called Looking for The Face I Had Before The World Was Made.

Don’t let the long title discourage you.  This exhibition focuses on the metaphysics of the human figure.

As always MCA | Denver has come up with a clever entry fee.  Students, artists, physicians, meta-physicians pay 5 cents and all other people pay 10 cents. 

Enjoy!

151 Days of Tequila

Celebrate the art of tequila with those who know best, Zolo Southwestern Grill.

From November 2009 to March 2010, Zolo in Boulder, CO is hosting 151 Days of Tequila.  Learn about blue agave and the skill of distilling tequila, learn how to pair tequila with certain dishes, or just come out for Tequila Fest on Thursday, January 21st to throw sensibility to the wind. 

Tickets to Tequila Fest are $45 each.

Photo credit.

Biennial Residency

PlatteForum and Lighthouse Writers Workshop, in partnership with the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and the 2010 Biennial of the Americas, are please to announce a unique opportunity for regional artists in July 2010.

Known as the Biennial Residency at PlatteForum, four artists – two literary artists and two visual artists – will have the opportunity at a month long residency to create works of art inspired by the Biennial theme Economy. 

To apply, visit the PlatteForum website or call 303.893.0791.

Photo credit.

A Growing Downtown

Larimer Square is gearing up for growth. 

In the next year or so, a host of new shops and restaurants will move into Larimer Square.  Here are some of the projected changes.

1. Ocean Prime, an Ohio-based seafood-and-steak house, will move into the space where Z Gallerie used to occupy.

2. Posh, a gift and home accessory shop, will move into the space where Violet is now.

3. A “chef-drive restaurant” will move into Martini Ranch’s old space.

4. A San Francisco-based hat company called Goorin Bros. will move into 1410 Larimer Street.

These restaurants and shops are just the beginning of the revamping of downtown Denver and Larimer Square.

Photo credit.