The now-demolished "zero-star" Cameron Motel, at 4500 E. Evans Ave., in University Hills, is remembered as "nasty," "infested with bed bugs," and "sticky."
Travelers recall a pit bull lunging at them from behind the counter. They suffered from itchy feet and welts. Some tried to get their money back and spend the night in the car, but the Cameron Motel had a strict no-refunds policy.
"I wouldn't have my worst enemy sleep at this motel," wrote one reviewer on Trip Advisor.
The retro sign still stands on the 3.61 acre site at 2160 S. Clermont St., alongside Evans Avenue, where the ill-remembered motel once sat. But it may not be empty for long. A developer has submitted plans to the city to build a new seven-story, 208-unit apartment complex.
The new residences would be the second phase of the nearby luxury apartment complex simply called the Cameron.
A concept plan -- the first step in proposing a new development -- has been submitted to Denver Community Planning and Development for the 3.61 acre site at 2160 S. Clermont St., alongside Evans Avenue.
The plans were submitted by Kimley Horn for the real-estate investment firm Cypress Real Estate Advisors, who did not respond to requests for comment.
Cypress Real Estate Advisors is based in Austin, Texas and has properties in 17 cities across the country. The company has developed or owns more than 25,000 multi-family homes and master-planned lots for 16,000 single-family homes, according to its website. Other Denver sites include Denargo Market, in the River North Art District.
Cypress serves as developer and/or property manager for its buildings and was a force behind the original Cameron, which includes 30 studio, 239 one-bedroom and 92 two-bedroom apartments for rent.
If approved and built, the newly proposed building, called Cameron 2, would also include 215 parking spaces, bike storage, a coworking space, a gym, a clubhouse, a pocket park and a dog washing area.
The Cameron is hardly the first large-scale, multi-family development in the University Hills neighborhood. Deco and Denver Lofts and Condos and the Wellshire Apartments are nearby on S. Colorado Blvd., and a new development is in the works at the University Hills YMCA.
