Unlike other neighborhoods in Denver, Capitol Hill isn't necessarily trying to attract a wave of new development to its community.
But that's not stopping developers from trying to find vacant lots or properties they can either replace or redevelop in the area between East Colfax and Seventh avenues. New restaurants and housing projects are trying to find room in what has been for decades one of Colorado's most desirable neighborhoods.
Cap Hill is desirable today because of its density, walkability and mix of housing, restaurants and other developments, said Brad Cameron, co-chair of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' Land Use, and Transportation Committee.
"We have always felt we always had amenities that are now being desired elsewhere in the city," Cameron said.
The area has less vacant properties or parking lots ripe for development than say Arapahoe Square and other neighborhoods.
"There's certainly some vacant lots closer to the Capitol, but for the most part we don’t have a lot of vacant parcels," Cameron said.
That lack of low-hanging potential is forcing developers to find properties that can either be reused or scraped altogether.
"I would say in general we have a few developments going on, but we haven’t seen the rapid development that other areas are experiencing."
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is keeping an eye on empty, historic properties like the Sports Castle building at 1000 Broadway. Below are a few of the projects in development or planned for the neighborhood.
900 Grant St.
VanWest Partners is redeveloping the ground floor of the former Denver Public Schools headquarters at 900 Grant St. The Denver-based developer hopes to bring a local brewery, winery or distillery tasting room, coffee shop or other retailers to fill the space, said Forrest Bassett, director of commercial brokerage.
The building will have roughly 800 storage units and 4,600 square feet of retail space, said Matthew Riggs, project manager.
"No tenants for the retail have been identified as of yet, but we expect local businesses to occupy the retail bays which will front both Grant Street and Ninth Avenue," Riggs said. "The storage component will be managed by Extra Space Storage, and we anticipate opening the facility in January 2018."
The Jux
Endurance Real Estate Partners is renovating 821 Corona St. for the three-story, 30-unit Jux luxury apartments. The Denver-based company dropped $2.2 million for the property in 2014.
To help The Jux fit into the existing neighborhood Endurance Partners kept the shell of the original building and redeveloped on top and behind it. Starting this summer, units are expected to go for about $1,300 for a 502-square-foot studio to $2,450 for a 980-square-foot two bedroom, according to the project's website.
Modera Cap Hill
Mill Creek is planning to build an eight-story, 197-unit apartment building at 1200 Grant St, according to city documents. The Dallas-based developer declined to talk about its project that was approved earlier this year, but demolition of an existing office building on the site appears to be taking place this month.
Ogden Flats
Generation Development is spearheading a reuse residential development at 1300 Ogden St. The Denver-based developer is putting five stories and 29 for-sale housing units in the former exterior of the Penn Garage, according to the company's website.
Satori Residences
Oyster International didn't get back to Denverite with its plans for 950-958 Lincoln St. A plan to build a five-story, 24-unit building on the site near Dazzle Jazz is being reviewed by the city. The project is expected to be completed during early 2018, according to the Denver-based developer's website.
Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square
The St. Francis Center broke ground in June on the five-story, 51-unit Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square at 1350 Washington St. Saint John's Cathedral donated the land for the nearly $9 million project that's expected to house formerly homeless people, according to the church's website.
Smiley's laundromat building
The art-deco building at 1080 E. Colfax is slated to be torn down to make way for 180 apartments with cowork space and a first-floor local open marketplace, Channel 7 reported in February.
Seventh and Sherman
Tacos Tequila Whiskey and two other yet-to-be-identified restaurants are expected to open in the building going up at 215. E. Seventh Avenue. Elevation Development Group is hoping to finish construction on the project in July so the restaurants could open in the following months, said Brent Farber, a principal at the Denver-based development group.
Nearby....
This article was updated from an earlier version to included plans for the Smiley's laundromat building.
Subscribe to Denverite’s newsletter here. Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.
