• City & County Building Holiday Lights (11/28 – 1/30)
• Downtown Denver’s Grand Illumination 11/28/2015
• Holiday Festivities at Denver Pavilions – December
• Olde Golden Christmas on Parade – December 6,13, & 20th
• Southwest Rink at Skyline Park 11/25/14 – 2/16/2015
• Visits with Santa on Larimer Square
• 9 News Parade of Lights (12/5 and 12/6)
• 54th Annual Georgetown Christmas Market (December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th)

And of course, as Downtown Denver residents there are tons of fun and entertaining sights to see simply walking through our downtown streets.  Lights along the 16th Street Mall, Union Station, and Larimer Street are always a wonderful treat.  This years the new Union Station Terminal may be offering some wonderful tree and decoration viewing indoors as well. Stop in to the Terminal Bar and enjoy a merry beverage with friends.

The post Great December Activities appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Whole Foods opening flagship store next to Denver Union Station

Wahoo!!! Woo Woo Woo! Amazing!

This was one possibility we were happy to be right about and we told you so in this blog post on April 5th.

According to the Denver Business Journal Whole Foods has pulled the trigger to open a new flagship location at 17th and Wewatta near the new Union Station.  The rumor mill has been going bonkers for years talking in rumors and gossip about the new Whole Foods.  And now it is happening.

Whole Foods Union Station Location

This is the talk of Denver.

The opening is not until (scheduled) December 2017.  So there is some time to wait.

This is great news for Riverfront Park, LoDo, LoHi, and of course the new Union Station.

Here are some highlights from the Denver Businss Journal Article

The new 56,000-square-foot store will be called Whole Foods Market Union Station.

“Our goal is to create a state-of-the-art store that truly represents the history, spirit and vibrancy of downtown Denver and to give residents and visitors an unparalleled experience of food, quality and customer service only Whole Foods Market can provide”

 

Elevated Living in Downtown Denver

Can you feel the change in Denver?  Not only is Whole Foods Opening a store, they are opening a state of the art flagship store.  They are not messing around and we will be celebrating their arrival.

The downtown already offers an expanding network of restaurants, and shops, and more.  This makes the Denver Urban lifestyle just about perfect.

Dinner out at great restaurants – CHECK

Dinner in with great fresh meats, vegetables, and ingredients – CHECK

Cheers Whole Foods!

The post WHOLE FOODS COMING TO UNION STATION DEC 2017 appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

The Glass House Purchase

One of our clients was happy to share the details behind their recent investment purchase in the Glass House and we thought it might be a fun case study for the site.

The target acquisition was the Glass House in Riverfront Park.  This particular client was very focused on this specific building.  Factors included the great amenities, swimming pool, fitness center, views, but ultimately it was all about location.  The new Union Station Neighborhood project and all the benefits of being adjacent to the hub of our Denver transportation network was one location benefit.  The location became exponentially more valuable when front door access to three public parks (Commons Park, Cuernavaca Park, and Confluence Park), the Downtown (both LoDo and Union Station Neighborhood) restaurants, shops and amenities, the cool hip dining and fun spots of LoHi, and walking distance to all of Denver’s sporting arenas.

The location scored for this buyer on all these marks, and they like to look to the future for investments.  It didn’t hurt that so many available parcels in Union Station and Riverfront Park have, over the past 3 years, gone the way of apartment development leaving fewer condos for ownership in this awesome location.

The target was a one bedroom which which they were able to close on for approximately $330,000.

Now let’s look at the Rental Market side.

Renting Market at Glass House

The rental market at Glass House is strong.  It is a desirable location (for all the reasons above) and for many the idea of living in a condo building is much more appealing than living in an apartment.  The property was put under lease for $1,850, but it did take a couple months to go under contract.  There are a LOT of options for rentals in this area.  The new Union Station, Riverfront Park, and LoHi are rolling out brand new apartment buildings fast and furious.  So far this has not affected rental prices, in fact over the past few years they seem to still be rising.

These new buildings have great amenities too so we will see how the market bears the weight of all these new available properties on rental rates.  The magic word in rental buildings seems to be amenities.  If you have a pool, a fitness center you are in a pretty good spot to attract tenants.

After property management fees and some water/sewer and the HOA fees (which are higher in buildings such as the Glass House with all those amenities) it looks like the net income per month is about $1,100.

So a $330,000 investment is going to start off generating about $13,200 or about 4% per year.  This particular owner is super happy with that.

The consider this a great start when looking at a long term investment horizon.  This 4% is only the cash flow from the investment property itself, this does not factor in any appreciation toward the future sale.

The investor’s objective is to have and hold this property with a goal of seeing that monthly amount increase over the years (decades) as our Denver market continues to evolve.

It’s simply a matter of personal choice.  Some are more comfortable weathering the stock market (rough time last week though) and others prefer real estate.  For this particular buyer the target location made this their ideal long term choice.

If you could invest in any property, in any neighborhood, of any type (condo, home, land) what would you choose?

Contact anyone on the Denver Urban Team to talk about your Real Estate Goals today.

Valuable Links

• Neighborhood PSF Report
• Glass House
• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods
• Top Trending Buildings

Contact Denver Urban

The post A Glass House Investment Case Study appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Here’s today’s photo tour of activity and status inside and out (and through a few windows).

Valuable Links

• Neighborhood PSF Report
• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods

The post Union Station Week 1 Photo Tour appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Don’t forget the Transit

Sure, we keep talking about all the great restaurants opening up in the New Denver Union Station terminal.  But the real heart of Union Station is the transit.

Denver Union Station is the hub for the entire Light Rail System. From this central location at the Newly renovated Terminal and the awesome Union Station Neighborhood being developed Denver residents can travel throughout our city.  One of the most exciting elements of our rail system is the new East Corridor access line underway that will carry travelers to and from Denver International Airport.

The DIA line is the one I am most excited about.  Once that is open the days of guessing how much time it will take to get to the airport, dealing with traffic (which gets worse every year), parking, parking fees, and all those annoying commuting elements will be replaced by a train timetable and the ability to sit and relax on the train.

The benefits of our new transit hub at Denver Union Station don’t stop with the light rail.  Denver Union Station is also the hub of national rail lines and local shuttle and bus transportation options.  This morning when taking some photos inside the new terminal I checked to see where today’s travelers might be going.

Two options were taking off today out of Union Station via the Amtrak schedule. The first was the California Zephyr that begins in Chicago before arriving in Denver and then continues on to Glenwood Springs and finishes in Emeryville (San Francisco).  Today’s train was Westbound.

The other scheduled trip was a bus departing for Vail.  That means there IS a way to get up to at least one of our amazing ski resorts without driving.  I’m hoping the list of options keeps growing.

Most of us are already familiar with the local 16th street shuttle and a new shuttle line along 18th is being added.

As more and more transit continues to grow, as the RTD lines are extended, and as national Rail continues to evolve the location at Union Station is bound to become an even more attractive amenity for downtown residents.

And as you can see from the images below, the new terminal is AMAZING and offers great restaurants for dining, bars for celebrating, and hotels for guest to stay and enjoy our downtown.

Who else is excited to consider the new Denver Union Station and the light rail to DIA as the the first stop on their vacation?

Valuable Links

• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods

The post All Aboard! A Sneak Peek inside the New Denver Union Station Terminal appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Union Station’ Home of Breakfast is Open

July is Union Station month and today we wanted to share a photo of the new Snooze Union Station with their fabulous outdoor patio as they serve up breakfast delights and treats.

The Official Union Station opening has been delayed by two weeks but that does NOT affect Snooze.  So get your early morning meal of delicious pancakes, gourmet Benedict, or any of the other items snooze is famous for at the new location effective immediately. This location is awesome and sure to be one of the busiest among all the locations. Let me tell you why…

First, this Snooze is located in the Union Station Terminal. The sheer volume of commuters going in and out of this station within the next few years is going to be staggering. Once the new DIA light rail line opens up it is going to be a river of people traveling back and forth.

Second, this location is in the heart of Downtown. Even if there weren’t the huge commuter traffic this location is surrounded by the awesome Riverfront Park, LoHi, LoDo, and Central Downtown neighborhoods of hungry residents and workers.

Third, Snooze is going to be doing room service within the new Crawford Hotel. I know that my personal preference if I was staying at a hotel would be to have Snooze to start my day instead of some boring hotel menu. I have a feeling that once the hotel is full to capacity Snooze will have a ton of traffic flowing up and down those elevators.

So get in there now before the rest of the world learns they are open.

If you haven’t been to Snooze yet make sure to check it out and here is their menu as a reason to do it today.

Great Local Neighborhoods to Live in

Downtown is booming and the New Union Station project is just one more amenity of the great Downtown Lifestyle.  Enjoy light rail to DIA (2016?) or throughout Denver.  Enjoy hundreds of great restaurants, bistos, bars, pubs, eateries, and more outside your front door.  Check out the following Neighborhood Links to find available properties.

• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods

The post SNOOZE Union Station is OPEN as of July 16th! appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Grand Opening Delayed Until July 26th

As you may remember from our previous posts the Denver Union Station Grand Opening was to have occurred yesterday.

Clearly that didn’t happen so  please don’t race over there to enjoy the New Union Station without checking to make sure your destination restaurant has opened.   The Union Station Alliance announced that there was still some time needed on construction so the Grand Opening would be delayed.  They didn’t mention which of the different eateries might be running behind in their finishing touches but it sounds like a wise choice to wait until everyone is ready.  After all, what sort of a GRAND opening would it be if there was still hammering and construction tarps littered around.

I think we can all patiently wait until July 26th to enjoy the amazing new Union Station Terminal in all it’s glory.

The Crawford Hotel Did Open

First let’s talk about what did not get delayed.  The New Crawford Hotel DID open and that means people are actually spending the night in the new Historic Union Station.  If you read our previous post about Stoic and Genuine from this past week you know that a few friendly diners at the table next to us were in a group along with Dana Crawford that were to be among the first to stay in this new hip urban Denver hotel.

Curious about what a night’s stay might cost at the new Crawford, and to confirm they were indeed open, we did  a little reservation hunting on the Crawford Hotel website.

Rooms definitely came up as being available AND they are encouraging folks to be the very first to stay with a “For a limited time, we are offering a “Be The First” 30% off offer”.

Here is what the booking calendar looked like when we pulled it up.

So that confirms the hotel is open.  With rates just over $200 for downtown I am guessing it will be booked out quickly.   If you are curious about Denver’s newest hotel in the Historic Union Station you can read the Trip advisor reviews that have begun to flow in.  It looks like the Bar / Restaurant within the Crawford Hotel is up and running as well.

That is still on our to do list.

Stoic and Genuine is Open

Read our great review of Stoic and Genuine to learn about this delicious new Oyster and Seafood Bar that opened this past week at the Historic Union Station.  The delay in the Grand Opening was not a delay for S & G.  They seem to have their top notch food and service in place.

Great Local Neighborhoods to Live in

Downtown is booming and the New Union Station project is just one more amenity of the great Downtown Lifestyle.  Enjoy light rail to DIA (2016?) or throughout Denver.  Enjoy hundreds of great restaurants, bistos, bars, pubs, eateries, and more outside your front door.  Check out the following Neighborhood Links to find available properties.

• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods

The post New Union Station Opening UPDATED to July 26th appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Denver Union Station’s Newest Restaurant

Yesterday was an exciting day.  Making last minute dinner plans in our active city often means playing detective in finding a seat (or two) at any of our awesome Downtown Denver restaurants.  While we aren’t yet like New York where reservations can be consumed weeks in advance, it certainly is busy enough that a last minute search on a Thursday night at prime time can be tough.

I was more than pleasantly surprised when a new name, one that I recognized from our previous posts, appeared in the available list.  That new name was Stoic and Genuine, the newest addition to the Denver Union Station and Crawford Hotel offering.

Score!

We grabbed ourselves a reservation and raced over early hoping for a nice spot at the bar to relax before dinner.  Unfortunately, while we were fortunate to snag a reservation by the time we arrived it appeared the rest of Denver had heard as well.  It was packed with the energy and excitement of Denver residents checking out the new hotspot in town.

One of the owners was there appeared and kindly introduced herself and we spent a few minutes waiting to spring on any vacating bar seats.  However, there was no signs that anyone would be giving up a spot at this hot spot anytime soon.  With 30 minutes we decided to adjourn to the nearby Cruise Room for a retro and cool pre dinner cocktail.

A Denver Urban Bump (a good thing) to the Cruise Room for staying classy.  We didn’t mind spending some time there waiting for our Stoic and Genuine reservation one bit.  For those of you who haven’t been the the CR for some time it still is a great gem of the city.

We wrapped up at the Cruise Room and returned for on time for our reservation to find they were ready for us.  I mention this because it was only their second day of being open to the public, they were packed, and still they were running right on schedule.  Opening week for all restaurants should go so well.

The place is amazing from a design and architecture standpoint.  There is a great mix of old and new with some custom iron and wood pieces adorning the walls, ceilings, lighting, and more being paired with the historic structural elements such as columns and small finishes.  There is a huge bar seating area with open glass to view the ocean delights on one side and a large social (filled with laughter and smiles) bar opposite serving up spirits and vino.  The ceiling are high, the energy is fun, and you can even watch the Union Station fountain light show outside via the windows.  This place is cool!

Now on to the food.  We saw oysters flying out of the seafood bar and to almost every table, clearly one of the most popular items on the menu along with a series of crudo dishes such as Big Eye Tune with jalapeño and friend avocado (yum on the avocado folks).  We tried some crudo and the soft shell crab which comes with a corn soup creation that was delicious.

Another popular items our server recommended, which we didn’t try, was the lobster roll.  I think 25% of the people eating last night had a lobster roll delivered to their table.  I would have tried it but you have a tough time getting me to eat anything cooked when I can have raw.  After all, we don’t have an ocean next door so when the opportunity is there I say go for the freshest item you can.

Which is why I ordered the Uni salad appetizer as well.  The Uni was fresh and tasty, and lately it has been impossible to find it at any of the area sushi restaurants (believe me I try weekly) but sadly there just wasn’t enough of it.  But keep in mind I’m a purist, and I am sure the salad with a little Uni combination is probably what the majority would prefer.  I would much rather have a pure bite with a touch of lemon, so I’ll just have to wait for the Uni return at my local Sushi spots.

Last, but not least would be the dessert menu which had a ton of favorites including the Whoopie Pie that our server recommended.  I did not try it but my friend has a pregnant wife waiting at home and was smart enough to order her one to go.  Whatever was in the desserts it certainly was a hit.  The table next to us had desserts all around at a table of 6 and they were consumed in a flash of forks and smiles.

Needless to say, I’ll be back.  The place is so warm and inviting that Stoic & Genuine is good for a full dinner or just a quick drink and oyster tray happy hour.  Wonderful.

Now I can’t wait to see the new Crawford hotel.  From the restaurant the second floor hallway and room doors is visible, which means those guests will have a tough time resisting the draw of the great ambiance and energy of S & G below.  If Stoic and Genuine is any indication of the overall Crawford Hotel experience I am guessing this will be the new hot spot destination for Denver.

Dana Crawford was even there with friends, enjoying the great food in a hotel named in her honor.  The gentleman at the table next to us shared that he and a group were enjoying a nights stay in the Crawford.  Color me jealous.

Alright Denver Urban fans, this is your Union Station Update.  Let me know if you go to check it out and any favorite items on the menu.

Congrats to the great team at Stoic and Genuine and the Crawford Hotel.  This might just change our best oysters in Denver poll so make sure to vote after you give Stoic & Genuine their turn shucking ocean treats for you too.

The post Stoic & Genuine Brings the Ocean to Denver Union Station appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

New Lighting for Commons Park

Clients and Denver Urban Fans have been buzzing for years about how great the Riverfront Park and LoHi lifestyle is.  We talk non stop about the great location, access to light rail, restaurants, shopping, events, green space, and access to trails and bridges.

We also talk about the safety factor.  Riverfront Park provides one of the greatest amenities for a downtown neighborhood via their master HOA.  This master HOA, which every resident of Riverfront Park contributes to, helps to support a team of folks who keep the area clean and also off duty police officers who work daily to keep the neighborhood safe.

That’s pretty cool.  Especially when you think about just how much traffic takes place connecting residents of Northwest Denver (LoHi, West Highlands, etc.) and Downtown Denver. Most if it via the Plaza at Riverfront Park and crossing the main lawn at Commons Park.  With the growth expected due to the new Union Station Neighborhood projects and light rail this area is sure to have more traffic.

So the city of Denver is dedicated to making that commute even safer. Starting today, and for the next 6-8 weeks, the Denver Parks and Recreation Department will be upgrading the lighting across the paths for the big circle area of Commons Park. The goal of the project is to help promote safety.

For those who don’t know, the Denver Parks are Recreation department has curfews on our public parks. Officially our city parks are closed from 11:00 PM until 5:00 AM, which you can read about in the “City and County of Denver Department of Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations“.

However, the wonderful design of our pedestrian bridges for the Downtown – Riverfront Park – LoHi connection make this central lawn area of Commons Park such a safe and convenient pedestrian and bike friendly path compared to walking along 15th or 20th street that the city seems committed to making sure the safest alternative exists.

From a Denver Urban point of view the new lighting project is great and a tip of our hat to Denver Parks and Rec for working to keep providing great pedestrian friendly, safe, and convenient uses of our public spaces.

The Downtown Denver lifestyle just keeps getting better and better every day. To learn more about Denver Urban living contact us today.

Here are some more valuable links

• LoHi
• Riverfront Park
• Union Station
• Light Rail Friendly

Contact Denver Urban

The post Denver Parks and Rec Improvements to Commons Park Start Today appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Snooze Union Station Arrives July 12th 2014

That’s right, in just a couple months one of Denver’s Favorite Breakfast Destinations will be part of history on Saturday July 12th, the official door opening of Denver Union Station.  The 12h is the opening of the Union Station building itself and will be the first time many will get to experience all the new restaurant and food concepts for our commuting and traveling downtown residents.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited.  There are so many great restaurants going into Union Station but this article is about how the day should start.  That means talking about Snooze!

Snooze opened it’s first location not too far from Union Station, at the existing Ballpark location, on April 2nd, 2006.  I wasn’t fortunate enough to eat there on the opening day, but I am pretty sure it was the opening month.   The biggest compliment is to say I’ve been going back ever since.  The food is amazing, with a mix of sweet and savory.  Word traveled quickly about their amazing pancakes and my friends and I often enjoyed a flight (of pancakes) as part of our group dining ritual.  I like to mix it up so sharing some of the Snooze cakes always comp;ements any of my favorites such as the Sandwich I Am egg deliciousness on an Udi’s soft pretzel roll or the Breakfast Pot Pie with Snooze’s homemade rosemary sausage gravy, a flaky puff pastry, and an egg on top.

Truth be told I probably have ordered, enjoyed, and raved about every item on the menu.  Some people love the variety of Benedict, some the spuds, and some the sweets… but let there be no doubt that everyone leaves happy.   The staff is amazing, friendly and helpful.  The decor is a cool and, in my opinion, the perfect tip of the hat to retro.  About the only thing one can complain about might be the wait.  But fear not, you have free coffee and can order a delicious bloody mary, mimosa, or special cocktail while you catch up with your friends and wait.   On  a Saturday or Sunday plan on more than one cocktail.  Food this good means a lot of people want to eat there too so you gotta (you just gotta) expect a line.

But who knows, maybe one more downtown location will spread the crowds.

Who am I kidding, this place is too good and Denver is growing too fast.  The lines will continue.

The New Snooze Union Station Details

Okay Snooze Fans, here’s the scoop on the new location shared with me by their very helpful and wonderful Rebecca Long.    As I mentioned Snooze Union Station will be opening on Saturday July 12th and it will be roughly 1700  square feet.  For those who want to try to picture how big this is you can plan on seating for about 70 inside and when the patio is open the total seating will be about 120.

That’s right, I did say Patio… and this one will be serving food.  Summer time weekends should most definitely include some Snooze outdoor patio bloodys and breakfast gatherings.   Snooze will be connected to the main terminal so all you commuters out there should plan to leave home a little early so you can enjoy some Snooze deliciousness to power up for you day.

Snooze Hiring New Snoozers for Union Station Location

There are going to be some management staff moving around so you might see a familiar face and they will be hiring new snoozers.  You heard that right, new snoozers apply now.  So if you want to work for a great company and team Rebecca shared with us the details about the Union Station hiring opportunities.  Here are those details:

Open Interview hiring for all positions:

Wednesday May 28th and Thursday May 29th from 10:0am-6:00pm
Friday May 30th and Saturday May 31st from 8:00am-3:00pm

Interviews Hosted at:
Snooze Grand Mothership
2262 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80205

Email with questions:
Snoozer@Snoozeatery.com

Snooze, Denver Born and Expanding Fast

Sure, the food is amazing, the people are nice, but that’s not the only reason Snooze has grown not only in Colorado but also in San Diego California and Phoenix Arizona.   That extra something is that they care.

They care about their employees, their customers and their community.  Their motto is “Snooze is passionate about our food. We serve tasty and responsible food with a fun twist.   We put a lot of thought into the food we source and are proud of what we serve our guests” and they deliver on it.

On the community involvement Rebecca shared…

We aim to become an integral part of the community and a great neighbor in any community that we join. We donate 1% of our total sales to our community partners as well as local schools and sustainability or education projects. We try to look a few miles from our front door and ask ourselves how can we make an impact? What can we do to make a positive difference using pancakes and breakfast as our vehicle! At the ballpark location we often volunteer at the Rescue Mission or donate food etc. We love working with Urban Peak and have conducted mock interviews for their kids who are about to look for jobs etc.

Kudos to Snooze and Congratulations on the new Union Station location.  I’ve been writing about Snooze since my first Pineapple Upside Down Pancake at theurbanbrain.com and it is a subject I can always rave about.

Of course, the other thing I love to rave about is sustainable living and since this magical date of July 12th also celebrates the launch of Union Station I’m doing a very happy dance.  Commuters riding light rail, car optional lifestyles, and Snooze pancakes.

It’s going to be a pretty good day!

Cheers Denver and Happy Breakfast to you!  Oh, and here’s a YouTube video from Denver Rail Fan showing the new station on the outside. You have to wait to see the inside.

Helpful Links

• Union Station Opening Day Event
• RTD Union Station Website
• Snooze Website
• Best Denver Breakfast Reader Poll
• The Urban Brain in Denver
• Want to enjoy Snooze Ballpark, here are condos for sale in the BallPark Neighborhood
• Want to enjoy Snooze Union Station, here are condos for sale in Riverfront Park and Union Station

The post Snooze Union Station Opening July 12th 2014 & Opportunities to Join Their Team appeared first on Denver Urban Living.