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.

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.

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.

Denver Urban residents got a nice email recently advertising the new Whole Foods Personal Shopping Program.   That’s right, Whole Foods will now handle the personal shopping and delivery of your groceries. Of course, the idea the Whole Foods would be moving in to the new Denver Union Station Neighborhood is even better news, but we are still waiting for a formal announcement that this rumor is true.

For residents within 5 miles of the Cherry Creek Whole Foods this is terrific news.   Those neighborhoods should include:

• Cherry Creek Neighborhood
• Krisana Park Neighborhood
• Congress Park Neighborhood
• Belcaro Neighborhood
• Denver Country Club Neighborhood

You can also check out our Denver Urban page to find homes where you can walk to the Cherry Creek Whole Foods.

Here are the FAQ details that were in the Whole Foods Welcome Packet:

 

FAQ:

What are your Personal Shopping Hours?

• Personal shopping is available Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm, times are subject to change.
• Our regular hours of business are 7:00am – 10:00pm 7 days a week.

How do I place an order?

• Email your list to rmcckconcierge@wholefoods.com

Is there an order form?

• We will provide you with a document to use as an order guide.
• We ask that you are as specific as possible when filling out your list (see example shopping list attached)
• We sometime are out of stock on an item you have requested.  If this is the case we will give you a call and email you to offer another option.  If we cannot reach you an hour before your pickup/delivery, your order will be processed without that item.

When is my order due by?

• All personal shopping orders must be received by 10:00am to receive same day shop and/or delivery (please specify your pickup/delivery time)
• Anything received after 10:00am will be shopped the following day (please specify your pickup/delivery time)

What is your delivery radius?

• 5 miles from our Cherry Creek location.
• Further delivery is available but will be subjected to a delivery fee based off mileage.  That information is available from our concierge team

When are your delivery hours?

• 8:00am-10:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm
• If you need a delivery outside that window please call our team to check on availability

Is there a minimum amount for shopping?

• All shops must be $50+

Is there a fee?

• Your first 3 months are free shopping and free delivery
• After 3 months there is a $20 shopping and delivery fee for a 5 mile radius and $30 for a 10 mile radius.  You still pay the flat $20 fee you do pickup vs. delivery.

Denver Union Station Whole Foods Poll

Request More Information about Denver Neighborhoods

The post Whole Foods Rolls Out Personal Shopping Delivery in Cherry Creek 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.

Riverfront Park’s History:  An Empty Rail Yard to a Master Planned Community

Many people don’t realize that Riverfront Park, which has consistently been number one in our most popular neighborhoods, has a great deal of design and vision based upon the fundamentals of a Colorado Ski Resort.

The Developer, East West Partners, who originally purchased the approximately 20 acres of land that would eventually become Riverfront Park began with roots and experience developing resort real estate communities such as Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, Vail, Park City, and Northstar at Tahoe.   If you have ever skied Beaver Creek you know just how special this ski village is.  The village offers great open spaces to enjoy (ice skating rink, fire pits, creekside paths) and the surrounding buildings are designed to make you feel like you have entered a European village.  Don’t forget about the fresh baked cookies that Vail Resorts friendly employees pass out to ski visitors.  It’s pretty amazing.  Two things are very evident when you are at Beaver Creek.  The village is beautiful, clean, and safe.

So how did a Resort Real Estate Developer become the visionary for Riverfront Park.  The vision started before any developers got involved.  If you look waaaaaaay back at the urban planning documents for the area you see they included a lot of the elements of a park, public space, and mixed use.  Under Denver’s mayor Webb a deal was created with then landholder Trillium to provide the area called “The Commons” and would eventually become Common’s Park” to the city in exchange for the city implementing needed infrastructure for development.  For those who remember this area at the time there was little except vacant rail lines and dirt.   Mayor Wellington Webb was quoted as saying “I wanted parks to be my legacy, and I saw parks as a value-driven investment—an investment that would enhance surrounding areas.”

It was an investment to be sure.  Decades of the land being used as a rail yard meant investing remediating the brownfield railroad land that had accumulated coal dust.  Looking at Riverfront Park now it is hard to imagine what this land once looked like.

In 1997, the city government and the County of Denver Planning and Development Office, and Trillium Corporation and Design Workshop, released a comprehensive urban design plan that included the various design elements of the neighborhood (architecture, signage, parking, pedestrian flow, set backs, lighting, etc.) and the major public amenities including the  set aside for the more than 20 acres for the centerpiece park and integration of the Cherry Creek Bike Path.  It was a brilliant plan and design for everything we see today.

And that may be why East West Partners leapt at the chance to buy the land with partner Crescent Real Estate for  a reported $25 per square foot. and develop here.   Which is exactly what happened next.

Building a Heart of Riverfront Park

The first area of development focus was the Plaza in Riverfront Park in what I like to think was a great example of building the heart of a community.   A beautiful Architectural design became a reality as the Millennium Bridge and open Plaza Public Space took shape.  Around this plaza, three initial buildings were built (2002) as Riverfront Park welcomed The Promenade Lofts, the Park Place Lofts, and Riverfront Tower.  These three buildings remain some of the most popular addresses to call home in Denver, and a balcony facing the plaza or Commons Park is a coveted amenity.

At roughly the same time these initial buildings were coming to market land was being sold to Apartment Developers to build what is currently the Station and the Manhattan and commercial tenants were sought to fill those first floor spaces in the Plaza.  When you visit a ski village it’s nice to have great places to eat, drink, and shop outside your front door.  This lesson was not lost on the Riverfront Park project as we slowly saw INK Coffee, Zengo Restaurant, McLoughlins Pub and other enjoyable tenants were recruited to continue making Riverfront Park an amazing place to live.

The Master HOA Provides Beauty and Security

One of the great amenities within Riverfront Park has nothing to do with architecture.  It is all about place making, perhaps taken from the principles of Beauty, Cleanliness, and Security that are fundamentals of a Ski Village.  Riverfront Park implemented a Master HOA, meaning that every resident of the entire neighborhood is a member.  This Master HOA is funded by payments from residents, meaning in addition to your building HOA fees you have a smaller fee that gets added on.

This fee does something pretty amazing.  It is used to employ a team that works throughout the neighborhood keeping everything beautiful.  They plant, maintain and seasonally change out the various landscaping features and planters in the neighborhood.  They put up holiday lights and other aesthetic elements.

And perhaps of the most value, these funds employ off duty police officers to provide security and assistance in the neighborhood.  When people talk about reasons they love living in Denver’s Riverfront Park the story almost always includes the peace of mind they have on their morning run, walking their dog in the park, venturing out with tickets for a Rockies, Broncos, Nuggets or Avalanche game (all walking distance) or returning from a night of dining in LoHi or LoDo.  It is pretty amazing.

Off duty police officers offer a very unique advantage.  They can enforce the laws.  If someone is misbehaving, or causing a disturbance, Denver’s finest can quickly resolve the situation and their presence in the neighborhood has a value unique anywhere in our city.

Let’s face it, you can’t get a whole bunch of buildings, let alone the residents within, to agree on the same thing very easily.  Duplicating this benefit anywhere other than in a master planned community such as Riverfront Park would be tough.

There are so many reasons why Riverfront Park is an amazing place to call home.  It has, without question, the benefit of one of the most amazing locations in Denver adjacent to the new Union Station with awesome transportation access.  Riverfront Park enjoys being our Central Park neighborhood with acres of green space and trails to enjoy.  And of course residents constantly share their love of the accessibility to great restaurants in LoHi, LoDo, West Highlands and more.

To learn more about living in this amazing neighborhood contact us today.

Helpful Links in your Search

• Riverfront Park Listings
• Union Station Listings
• Highland / LoHi Listings
• West Highland Listings
• Riverfront Park Buildings
  • Creekside Flats
  • Creekside Lofts
  • Creekside Townhomes
  • Glass House
  • Monarch Mills
  • ONE Riverfront
  • Park at ONE Rivefront
  • Park Place Lofts
  • Promenade Lofts
  • Riverfront Tower
  • The Art House
  • The Art House Townhomes
  • The Brownstones
  • The Delgany

Request Information about Riverfront Park

Denver’s BEST Neighborhoods Poll

The post How Riverfront Park’s Master Planned Approach Creates an Urban Advantage appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

UPDATED:  LOOKS LIKE THIS BILL WAS KILLED

May 6th, 2014:  DENVER POST “Procedural move kills last of three Colorado construction-defects bills”  

SB 220, which sought to push more condo construction defect cases into arbitration, was killed in a procedural move after the Senate Judiciary Committee didn’t convene Monday night.

Read more: Procedural move kills last of three Colorado construction-defects bills – The Denver Post https://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_25707252/procedural-move-kills-last-three-colorado-construction-defects#ixzz31iIPdtRv
Read The Denver Post’s Terms of Use of its content: https://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Follow us: @Denverpost on Twitter | Denverpost on Facebook

Where is the next Glass House or SPIRE?

It’s a pretty common question. With everyone talking about how Denver real estate is BOOMING and everyone throwing around terms like “low days on market”, “sellers market” and “home availability index”; and with buyers getting into bidding wars over the most coveted Denver Urban listings, everyone wonders why no one is building a new high rise. Don’t get me wrong, there is a LOT of great new development going on. LoHi, Jefferson Park, LoDo and all our great Denver Urban neighborhoods are seeing some great new modern projects getting designed, sold and built (usually in that order).

However all of these projects seem to be single family homes, duplex projects, triplex projects, row homes, or mid rise buildings of 4 floors or less. There have been no grand announcements about a new Denver high rise residential tower the likes of the amazingly popular Glass House, SPIRE or Riverfront Tower. These towers are so amazingly hot that resale listings are often snatched up the very day they come on the market. This is especially true of the Glass House which is the gem of Riverfront Park and sits between the hot LoHi neighborhood and the new transit center of Union Station. Side note, if you don’t know why this location is so amazing read the story “A long road led to Denver Union Station’s rebirth” including the quote…

“a transformation that started with the 2007 opening of the 23-story Glass House residential buildings in Riverfront Park, just west of downtown”

So if these buildings are so very very very popular why hasn’t anyone built a new one with all the buyer demand we keep talking about? One big reason may be how the laws are currently written. Apparently the reason real estate developers aren’t racing to build a new Glass House or Spire is because they have too much construction liability. That is a worry for many, including urban planners and fans of high density that want to see more vertical condominium projects for the Denver skyline to continue the growth and development of our city.

Last week Senator Ulibarri’s Homeownership Opportunity Act (SB 14-220) was introduced in an effort to find some common ground that protects condominium homeowners while also creating an environment that encourages large condominium project development. One of the big issues in the new bill covers the issue of arbitration or mediation. Most governing documents that developers write create a structure where the HOA or homeowners must settle their dispute via mediation or arbitration. However, in other states and even here in Colorado this has been challenged as homeowner associations attempt to go to litigation. Simply put, they want to be able to sue the Developer even if the governing documents call for mediation/arbitration to resolve conflicts.

However the developers want new homeowners to be held to the original governing documents they signed. This element could be a protection for the developer, but don’t worry… the new law has something in place to protect the HOA too. One of the biggest concerns that might discourage a developer is the possibility that just one or two homeowners might initiate a lawsuit even if the majority of residents feel everything about their purchase was great, or that the issue is being addressed. To manage this instance and attempt to create a compromise the law appears to allow for the HOA Board of Directors to still initiate a lawsuit BUT with a process that makes it an action by the entire building. That may allow for some measure of validating the concerns and issues.

Of course this brings in the whole aspect of WHO exactly is on this board of directors. Are they biased in some way, or are they in a position where they have a relationship with the developer that might create a situation where they aren’t acting in the best interest of the residents. This is a big issue folks, and it is probably great for future home buyers that it is being debated out in the open.

Cities need different types of development and many urban planners feel that high density buildings offer the best foundation for city growth. If you read the article we mentioned above you can see how valuable the entire Riverfront Park and Glass House development has been for the wonderful advancement and transit oriented development that is now taking place in the Union Station Neighborhood and Northwest Denver.

Read the Proposed SENATE BILL 14-220 Here or call us to learn more about buying and owning a high rise condominium in Denver.

In the meantime, unfortunately for buyers, is that many great parcels that could have been utilized for a new Glass House style building are being developed as apartments. Rents hare high and for many these apartment buildings offer the best use of the land. That means an even more competitive environment to find a great high rise condo home. This is why our team stays on top of new listing and market opportunities to help our clients get the best information to help them find their dream home.

Even if Senate Bill 14-220 passes and creates an environment for developers to enter back with a new high rise offering it could be YEARS before something of that scale is designed, approved, and built to be occupied. That is a lot of time to watch what the market can do with prices and continue to pay rent.

Hopefully, this new bill or one based on it can find a way to make everyone happy. The goals of the new Homeownership Opportunity Act Senate Bill 14-220 seem to be to working to:

• Create an environment where Real Estate Developers are encouraged to bring us great new high rise condominium residential towers.
• Allow for new homeowners to feel safe and confident that any issues, should they arise will be addressed
• Ensure that the HOA boards, Arbitrators, and Mediators are all unbiased and acting in the proper interest

What will the passing of this SENATE BILL 14-220 mean for Buyers?

It could mean a lot of things, but the goal would be more options.  What I mean by that is the possibility that all those Real Estate Developers who have been waiting to start a new high rise Denver residential condominium building will get off the bench and start throwing in their proposals to the city and breaking ground.  No, it doesn’t mean that we will have a brand new residential tower for homebuyers to move into tomorrow, but it could mean there might be one started that could be available in down the road.  In which case we return to the world or looking over floor plans, identifying which units are the best value, have the best view, and the best amenities.  It means reading condo documents very closely and understanding what future development will be happening wherever the new building is located.  What are the materials in construction, what are the HOA fees, and hundreds of other questions to ask.  Our team has worked on so many high rise buildings because we love them.  But buying off a drawing and a model means making sure you know and understand all the details being presented.

But this is all hypothetical, and as mentioned above it requires a LOT of time.  We can speculate forever on what the length of time will be for a final bill to get approved, but that is only the start.  Then if a Developer decides to come forward they need to go through all their steps to get the project approved and ultimately built.   Based upon past projects such as SPIRE and Glass House you might want to assume a couple years.  So… would that mean the next person to move into a new high rise might not happen until 2016? 2017?  2018?

If you are looking for a new Denver condominium or home your best bet might be today.  You can walk it, touch it, and move in.  That doesn’t mean you can’t get in on a future new condo opportunity down the road.  It all depends on what your own goals are for home ownership and your reasons for doing so.  For some, it is the peace of mind that you aren’t putting dollars into rent.  For others it is knowing they can have something to own in the neighborhood they love.  Contact us to discuss your goals, ideal time frame, and property criteria.  Keep in mind this is mostly affecting new high rise condominium towers, not smaller projects or mid rise buildings.

Homeownership Opportunity Act SB 14-220 seems to be more focused on Glass House or SPIRE style amenity rich building.  However, these are often the most desired buildings because their density helps to build a community that can support all those attractive lifestyle amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, media rooms and more.

What Property Type fits your Lifestyle?

Share your thoughts

I’m a writer on this team along with being a huge fan of Urban Planning, Architecture , Sustainable Living and transit oriented development.. but not a lawyer or real estate broker so any legal experts who want to weigh in are welcome to comment and share their thoughts.  What I’d love to do is hear a variety of thoughts, hopes, and pet peeves about this issue from condominium residents, prospective homebuyers, and industry experts. We will keep following this story so make sure to subscribe to our blog and follow us on Facebook and Google+.

Updates in the News

• May 14, 2014:  CBE CLE Legal Connections “SB 14-220: Requiring Mediation or Arbitration of Construction Defect Claims Where Required by Owners’ Association Governing Documents“
• May 6, 2014:  Westword  “Condo construction: One of three bills to boost affordable housing moves forward“

Request more information or to tour a Building

The post Real Estate Developers May Get Incentive to Build New GlassHouse, SPIRE Style Buildings with the Homeownership Opportunity Act SB 14-220 appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Get ready Denver, starting April 21st the 16th Street Millennium Bridge that connects Riverfront Park and the New Union Station Neighborhood is starting construction on a very cool face lift.

With all the planned foot traffic that the New Union Station light rail hub is expected to generate, including a new light rail line to DIA, it just makes sense to expand the East side foundation and pave the way for growth.  But this face lift isn’t just about traffic patterns, it’s about architectural design.

According to the Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District letter to neighborhood residents, part of this cool update will be a new set of LED lighting systems.  The Millennium is already an architectural icon, but this face lift will be implementing a lighting system similar to what dazzles us at Union Station and the Capitol during the holidays.  There will even be blue and orange lights to celebrate Denver Broncos games.   Does this mean Purple for Colorado Rockies games, Steel Blue and Burgundy for Colorado Avalanche Games, and Blue and Gold for Nuggets Games.

Actually the Rockies are technically Black, Silver, White and Purple… so I’m imagining the fun that could be had with a black light.

While the architects and designers focus on how to make the Riverfront Park and Union Station Millennium Bridge a beautiful icon of the city, we want to remind you to plan accordingly for your transit.  With construction moving in phases you can expect the stairs to be closed often and reliance on the elevators when available.  Cyclists might want to plan ahead and shoot down 20th or 15th and pedestrians remember we still have the Union Gateway Bridge at 18th.  However with all the new construction on the new Alta City House, the new King Sooper Grocery store at 20th and Chestnut, and all the other exciting buildings popping up your best bet might be to go AROUND this rapid development zone for a couple months while the bridge get’s wrapped up.

Now we have a fun question for you… what lighting suggestions can you think of for any day or event you can think of?  Who knows, maybe someone will see it and make it happen.

To learn more about real estate opportunities in these cool neighborhoods visit the links above or request more information:

Request Information

The post 16th Street Millennium Bridge Improvements Begin April 21st appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

New Development Driving Glass House

With all the new Development occurring int Downtown Denver one building seems to be the favorite.  Riverfront Park’s Glass House building has been seeing a record number of new listings going under contract in a day or less.  Let’s talk about just why this building is the destination everyone seems to be talking about.

• The New Union Station Neighborhood Project is moving fast right across the pedestrian bridge from Glass House.  This new area has already announced a new hotel, several new restaurants, bars, shops and more. New restaurants include Zoe Ma Ma and two national restaurants expanding into Denver, the PROTEIN BARR and The Thirsty Lion Pub. These two new restaurants plan to open April 29.
• The New Union Station Hotel Project developers have announced they will have several new eateries including Milkbox Ice Creamery brought to us by the folks at Little Man Ice Cream, Pigtrain Coffee brought to us by the folks at Novo Coffee, Eatmore Burgers and Brats, Fresh Exchange Restaurant, and two new bars called the Terminal Bar and the Cooper Lounge.  The Terminal Bar is expected to be a beer lover’s destination with more than 30 brews on tap.   With many, many more blocks and businesses available for growth just imagine what else will arrive.
• The new King Soopers Grocery Store is opening a new high end store offering at the 20th and Chestnut block.  This new location is rumored to be opening later this year.  How awesome will it be to have a great large scale grocery store within walking distance.
• There is talk of a new Whole Foods location coming to the Union Station Neighborhood.  This new grocery addition could complement the King Sooper amenity and make the neighborhood even more desirable for living and as an investment.  Read more about this here.
• The new Union Station Light Rail Hub provides access to not only all the light rail lines throughout Denver but also a direct line out to Denver International Airport.
• Imagine if you could go back in time and buy a condo or loft on New York’s Central Park.  That is the comparison investors and homeowners are sharing about their Glass House purchase.  Directly on the Park Glass House residents enjoy runs, walks, and the sheer pleasure of living on open space in our urban playground.  That is a very special thing.
• Union Station Neighborhood, LoHi, Jefferson Park, LoDo, and Ball Park wrap around Riverfront Park allowing Glass House residents easy access to all the great dining, shopping, events and more that these neighborhoods offer.
• Riverfront Park is a culinary center of the Denver landscape with Zengo, La Biblioteca, McLoughlins, Sushi Sasa, Colt and Grey, Denver Beer Company, Brother Bar, St. Ellie, and footsteps away.  Zengo even offers delivery to the Glass House, it’s next door neighbor.
• Riverfront Park offers the Glass House, and all of the buildings in the neighborhood a dedicated Master HOA with full security staffed by off duty police officers and a team to keep the neighborhood clean and filled with plants, flowers, even holiday decorations.  Most people don’t know that one of the founding principles for Riverfront Park was to establish a community where residents had cleanliness and safety as primary values.
• Developers are not building new high rise buildings.  With current laws governing developer required reserves for high rise buildings the pace of new residential towers has ground to a halt.  Get in while you can, because if the laws were changed (which is currently in discussion) it could take years just to get the first shovel to break ground, plus the time to complete the building.
• The Glass House has what most consider to be the BEST amenities of any building in Denver.  Glass House residents enjoy a large pool (which is rare), 8th floor club lounge, outdoor pool deck, fire pit, outdoor grills, media theater room, continental breakfast, 24 hour front desk, and two story modern fitness center with classes.  It is a WONDERFUL lifestyle for the urban resident.

With the wave of new development adding to the many reasons why this location is the heart of Denver it is now wonder that Glass House condos and residences are moving quickly.

Glass House Expertise

Our team of Denver Urban experts knows the Glass House building inside and out.   There are many things to consider in comparing the various residences.   Some units offer incredible views, either of the city or the mountains, or both.  Some floor plans take the best advantage of square footage.   For current Glass House owners we help them understand what their residence is worth on the current market.  For Glass House buyers our team help you get the first opportunity to make an offer and provide the knowledge to build the most appropriate offer.  There are so many factors to consider in Denver’s star building.  We keep all our Glass House clients updated on exactly what is happening today and what future plans are occurring in this area that they should factor in.
View Available Glass House Listings HERE

Contact Denver Urban for more Information

The post Union Station Driving Glass House to new Heights in Popularity appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Whole Foods Union Station Possibility

For nearly a decade the rumor mill around Riverfront Park and Union Station has been focused on a new grocery store.   A Whole foods for the Riverfront Park/Downtown Neighborhood has been the mythical unicorn, the quest to find Bigfoot, the sighting of a Yeti… Someone always says that it is real but no one ever has proof.  For YEARS there has been talk that it would be coming to a location in Riverfront Park, but that deal never came together.  Then the rumor of a new location continued through other Denver Neighborhoods.

There was talk of a new grocery store at 20th and Chestnut.  We quickly learned (and celebrated, don’t get me wrong) the announcement of a new King Soopers which is now on schedule to open later this year.

But lately a new story has been circulating around our Denver Urban sources.  When we heard it from the first source we thought… well wouldn’t that be nice.

Then we heard it from a second source.

And at yesterday’s Rockies Game we heard it from a third independent source, but again with no verification.  So all we can do is share with you what folks are talking about.

The rumor is that a New Downtown Whole Foods is on the table to come to Denver Union Station.   The location that seems to be the top possibility is shown above.  We have folks who tell us this is a sure thing, but we don’t believe anything is a sure thing until the doors open for business.

This story isn’t new, in fact it has been a part of ongoing mention in other articles such as “King Soopers to open grocery store in Denver’s Central Platte Valley” from the Denver Post who reported :

“Whole Foods reportedly is looking for a downtown Denver location. Target also is scouting downtown for a site in its new line of City Target stores designed for high-density urban areas.”

Here is why it makes sense that it could be happening now.

Why Union Station is the perfect location for Whole Foods

• The density of Downtown Denver is booming.  Just look at the area in and around the new Union Station site.  Cadence Union Station opened with 10 stories and some 284 units for rent.  Alta City House is almost done with framing on their new apartment project in Union Station.  The New King Soopers is also an apartment building with units being built above the store.  AMLI Riverfront added a brand new apartment project, as did the new phase of the Manhattan in Riverfront.  LoHi has been booming with new apartments and small development projects.  There are thousands of new apartments being built in the metro Denver area.
• Being the hub of the RTD light rail system means a flood of commuters going to and from Denver.  Every one of those transit residents is a possible customer for Whole Foods.  I think there is a great story to be told of potential customers who get their breakfast, lunch, and groceries for dinner on the way home if a Whole Foods sat right next to their light rail starting (or ending) point.  Don’t forget that in our previous post about Denver being awarded the Green Lane Project that by 2020 hopes are that 15% of all commuters use biking and walking.  Those numbers should include a big base of commuters who use light rail to get into Downtown and then travel by wheels or feet inside the metro area.
• King Soopers is coming in, so whatever numbers are necessary to make a grocery want to be there certainly appealed to someone.  It makes sense another grocery might want to come in and offer a little competition.
• The infrastructure for Union Station is being built NOW.  If there was ever a time for a large business to commit, grab their favorite parcel, and make sure that the below grade parking or other infrastructure is in place it could be a case that sooner is better.   There are only so many plots of land and once they are gone you have to play wait and see.
• We don’t know the exact science to analyzing a market to see if it fits with a Whole Foods.  What we can share is that our clients who live and work in Riverfront Park, LoHi, LoDo and all the surrounding Denver Urban neighborhoods pretty much do back flips every time this possibility is discussed.  Sure, it is awesome to be able to walk to all the hundreds of amazing restaurants downtown.  It is equally awesome to think of taking a short walk to get fresh meat, fish, veggies, bread to cook a great meal at home.  I know I would love to avoid driving and I definitely consider the parking lot at the Cherry Creek Whole Foods to be one of the scariest places I visit in Denver.  Some of those folks are just too darn aggressive in their pursuit of a space.  I’d rather walk a few blocks in the new beautiful Union Station.
• Denver’s population continues to grow.  According to Metro Denver “by 2020, Metro Denver’s population is anticipated to increase to more than 3.2 million.” (Source:  Metro Denver).

So that’s the scoop we have heard.  We are taking a conservative view on this until we hear the official word and are asking our audience to share anything they hear via the comments below.  Keep your fingers crossed Denver, the mythical Unicorn may be real.

Here are a few links about Real Estate Opportunities in and around Union Station.

• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park Neighborhood
• Central Platte Valley
• Lower Highlands (LoHi)
• Lower Downtown (LoDo)
• Ball Park
• Five Points
• Prospect Neighborhood
• Sunnyside
• Jefferson Park
• Denver Stadium District

Also check out our page with the currently trending most popular neighborhoods here and a comparison of the per square foot of these neighborhoods here.

Request More Information

The post Whole Foods Coming to Denver Union Station? appeared first on Denver Urban Living.