IN PROGRESS: Spire

[The Voice of Reason 8]

http://www.spiredenver.com/

this site has a web cam

http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stori...21/daily33.html

Developer Randy Nichols finally has the new financing he has sought for several months to resume construction on his stalled 41-story, $175 million Spire condo project in downtown Denver.

Lender Hypo Real Estate Capital Corp. of New York backed out of the project's previous $160 million construction loan in August 2007, bringing the construction to a halt.

The project's general contractor, JE Dunn Rocky Mountain Inc., plans to resume construction on Thursday. Dunn expects to have the project ready for occupancy in December 2009, six months after the original date.

This project if completed (and it looks like it will be) should add a large number of residents to downtown. I love residential towers, but it seems the trend lately has been super luxury super elite and really, super wastefull. Adding over 500 upper middle class residents to downtown goes much further than adding 200 filthy rich residents. Besides those filthy rich ones are usually 2nd/3rd/4th homes. I also think this is a pretty good looking building. Its not a skyline stand out or anything, but it is the important kind of building that will add a great deal to the mass of the skyline during the day, but stand out at night with its lighting. Based on the renderings I am not completely pleased with how it interacts with the street, but it is hard to balance the needs of the tenants and the need for retailers. The rendering is a bit harsh and too modern for the street. I suppose part of the utilitarian look is due to the projects relatively low cost. 41 stories 503 units for 175M is seemingly on the cheap side these days.

[Front_Range_Guy 0]

I've never been a fan of the design, but you'll never hear me complain about a highrise being built.

[RestedTraveler 13]

I've got a couple of poorer quality photos of this one from the other day - it's going up quickly.

Anybody know what the deal is with the block across from the Spire where Bubba Gump seems to be the only remaining thing standing? Why not just raze the Bubba Gump place, too? :-)

[blindside 1]

Skyline pic from 12/6/08. Spire is the taller under construction building on the right.

[RestedTraveler 13]

They've come a long way since July. The photos I took were from the corner of Champa at the same angle as the rednering above, but it was only up 17 floors in July.

Here's a webcam of the site: http://www.myjobcam.com/viewer.swf?u=nichols&p=password

Choose "Spire Denver" from the drop-down menu and be patient while it loads.

The building under construction in the foreground in the of that photo above - is that the Four Seasons?

[blindside 1]

I keep thinking this building is almost done, but it continues to get higher. This will be a great addition to downtown because it not only looks fantastic, but there will be a large influx of new residents too.

The shorter under construction building on 14th is the Four Seasons.

[RestedTraveler 13]

They've come a long way since July. The photos I took were from the corner of Champa at the same angle as the rednering above, but it was only up 17 floors in July.

Here's a webcam of the site: http://www.myjobcam.com/viewer.swf?u=nichols&p=password

Choose "Spire Denver" from the drop-down menu and be patient while it loads.

The building under construction in the foreground in the of that photo above - is that the Four Seasons?

[blindside 1]

This building is pretty much complete and should have people moving in soon.