A parking lot on a busy intersection across Coors Field could be home to an eight-story building following a tentative rezoning approval.
You wouldn't be able to watch the Rockies hit dingers from its rooftop, but you'd probably still get a great view of the ballpark if developers build to the maximum height allowed under the new zoning proposed at 2000 Blake Street. The Denver City Council's land use committee on Tuesday voted to approve the rezoning. It's now headed for a final vote for the full city council next month.
The surface parking lot has two parcels that together makeup 12,569 square feet, or roughly 0.29 acres, according to the presentation from the city's planning department. It's a relatively small space. Mike Harrington, who represents Filmore Capital Partners, owns the lot and applied for the rezoning. He told city lawmakers the developer's plans call for a building with 70 to 72-housing units.
The new zoning would allow whatever's built there to have townhomes, storefronts and drive-thru services, including ones for restaurants.
The building would have a maximum height of 110 feet under the new zoning. But even if you're six feet tall and stand at the absolute top of the building's allowed height, you would still not see inside Coors Field. That's actually a rule in the neighborhood plan for this area. Senior City Planner Libby Kaiser said the Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan recommends building heights not exceeding Coors Field stands to prevent views into the ballpark.
The applicant's plan includes at least 12.5 percent income-restricted units for a single person making up to $55,950 a year or less. Councilmember Paul Kashmann asked why there wouldn't be more affordable units. Harrington said the percentage was due to the building's height limit and size, and increased costs associated with the construction of such a building.
"I just don't see those numbers protective of public health and safety with the housing crisis that we're in," Kashmann said about the proposed affordable housing.
A public hearing at Denver City Council on the proposed rezoning is scheduled for Jan. 17.
