27-Story Metal & Glass Tower An Unlikely Baker Gateway
by Paul Kashmann

BROADWAY

For the past seven years, those keeping an eye on the redevelopment of the old Gates Rubber Company campus have waited patiently for shiny new homes, offices and entertainment venues to appear on 80 acres of land south of the Broadway/I-25 interchange, that for decades was home to hulking manufacturing buildings that sat increasingly vacant since Gates’ gradual exit from the area over the past 15 years.

Until the dawning of this most recent New Year, progress could be measured only in the numbers of hazardous materials cleanups and the sight of giant, seemingly prehistoric machines chewing up building after building, turning the once impenetrable concrete and steel into mountains of crushed stone and twisted metal.

Like winter relinquishing its climatological grip to springtime, the landscapes along Broadway and Santa Fe Dr. are finally showing glimpses of what is to be.

On the west side of Broadway, just south of Mississippi Ave. on a 5-acre slice of the 50+ acre parcel owned by Cherokee development, Trammell Crow Residential has begun construction on The Alexan Broadway Station, a 479-unit rental apartment complex, and The Reserve at Gates; both should be open for tenants sometime late next year.

The Alexan Broadway Station will consist of 419 market-rate rental units averaging 860 square feet – 261 one-bedroom layouts and 158 with two bedrooms – with amenities including a fitness center, swimming pool and spa, and a business center with cyber-cafe.

The Reserve at Gates will offer 60 affordable rental units serving families with incomes at 30-50 percent of the “Area Median Income,” as well as 12,000 square feet of neighborhood oriented retail on the ground floor.

For information, call 720-529-2999.

Meanwhile, to the west along Santa Fe Dr., south of I-25, Cherokee’s primary contractor, Kiewit Construction, has been supervising the demolition of the old “Furniture Row” buildings to make way for site improvements that will allow construction to begin in the coming months on a long-awaited Kentucky Ave. bridge, that will allow access to the Cherokee development from Santa Fe Dr. and the neighborhoods to the west.

When built out over the next decade or so, Cherokee’s portion of the Gates redevelopment will add over one million square feet of retail, 2,500 housing units, 500,000 square feet of office space and over 300 hotel rooms to the Broadway/Santa Fe corridor.

Across Broadway, north of Mississippi Ave., the Houston-based Lionstone Group is well into construction of a 700-space parking garage that will serve the historic brick office buildings Lionstone has revitalized at 900 and 990 S. Broadway. Spokesman Doug McKinnon told The Profile that 10,000 square feet of retail uses will occupy part of the ground floor of the structure.

While Lionstone eventually hopes to construct some 1,500 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail space and 500,000 square feet of office uses, progress to date has been limited to renovations on the 300,000-square-foot brick office buildings that formerly served as the headquarters for Gates.

Shopkeepers in the historic Antique Row shopping district have been awaiting the beginning of the South Broadway Reconstruction Project that will reconstruct the street and sidewalks on S. Broadway between Arizona Ave. and Iowa Ave. The four-block project is funded primarily by a federal grant augmented by contributions from the City of Denver and the S. Broadway property owners.

The plan includes not only structural improvements to the roadway and sidewalks, but beautification elements such as planters and decorative street lamps. Originally scheduled to begin in April, a delay in obtaining construction easements has pushed the start date for the $6.9 million effort off until late June.

To keep track of the project, visit www.denvergov.org/capital_projects_center.

While the roadway outside undergoes an unprecedented beautification process, Birdsall & Company, 1540 S. Broadway, continues its long-standing efforts at beautifying the homes and gardens of Denver, completing 20 years in business this month.

Owner John Ludwig offers a huge and unique variety of quality furniture, fountains, containers and pots, sculpture and garden art, tools, and miscellaneous garden accessories. Birdsall is the only Colorado distributor for Barlow Tyrie, the oldest teakwood furniture manufacturing company in the world. Don’t expect a cheap sofa, swing or chair, but do expect to pass this furniture down to your kids, as it might easily outlive you.

Birdsall’s fountain inventory offers a selection of bubblers that should fit the bill nicely whether you need something small for an indoor nook, or something a bit more dramatic for a soothing outdoor backdrop

It’s the season for outdoor living, so when you’re thinking of something for your yard or garden, think about Birdsall. Birdsall & Company is open Mon.-Sat., 10a.m.-5p.m. For information, visit www.birdsall.com or call 303-722-2535.

Continuing in the Broadway mode, the beautification mode, and the anniversary mode, Side Effects Unique Flowers & Gifts, 1934 S. Broadway, is celebrating six years in business this month. Owner Tracy Goodman offers a full range of floral services, which might be of interest to some of you, what with Mother’s Day just around the bend, and wedding season stretching out over the coming months.

Side Effects also has a very nice selection of gift items so the forgetful ones among you can end up looking like a hero even though you forgot a birthday or anniversary until the last minute. Plus, Goodman added an espresso bar last year, so you can get a little caffeine in your system to ensure you’re more ready to hang tough for the celebration.

Side Effects will celebrate their milestone with an Anniversary Sale, Thur.-Sun., May 15-18. Stop by and take advantage of some excellent pricing, and, if you remember to mention her ad located elsewhere in this paper, you can walk away with a half-price espresso drink and a 20 percent discount off the cost of your purchase.

Side Effects is open Tues.-Sat., 8a.m.-7p.m., and Sun., 10a.m.-5p.m. For information, call 303-722-1180.

WEST WASHINGTON PARK

There are some places it seems that are unaffected by the passage of time. These spots that “time forgot” are unfazed by development swirling about, and just continue on their merry way while the river parts around them.

For many years it seemed that the petite neighborhood shopping district at S. Pearl St. and E. Kentucky Ave. would never change. Kentucky Inn sat on one corner, with Vienna Cleaners to the north on Pearl St., and Title’s Garage next door on Kentucky Ave. Across the street, The Oil Journal and Jim Phillips’ Speaker Service took the opposite corner, with Chuck’s Donuts next door and a somewhat anonymous private club next to them.

In the past year or so, time has finally caught up, and changes have been coming hot and heavy. On the north side of Kentucky Ave., while all may look the same from the outside, new ownership has taken over at Kentucky Inn, following the unexpected passing of long- time proprietor Al Anderson. While the Title’s Reliable Garage logo still adorns the window of that space, Precision Automotive has taken over the premises with quality repair services still being the order of the day.

Across the street, the only thing that has stayed the same are the numbers on the doors. Todd Droy purchased the entire corner to the alley on Kentucky a couple of years ago. A commercial photographer, he maintains the corner location for his studio, and has put a clean contemporary look on the once shopworn corner.

Chuck’s Donuts will live on forever in the memories of locals who made regular visits to the tiny shop at 614 S. Pearl St. to pick up a sack of goodies for the office, or to sit at the crowded counter for some conversation, a decent cup o’ mud and a couple of artery-stoppers.

While Chuck’s has been gone for several years now, the memory is getting even more dim with the announcement that Lloyd and Maxwell – wine & spirits merchants, a boutique wine shop – hopes to move into the completely renovated space sometime later this spring or early summer.

The shop is the brainchild of Richard Ansah and Caroline Kortge. After years in the food and wine industry, they wanted to share their passion for good vino and felt the Kentucky Ave. and S. Pearl St location was the ideal place to do just that.

The pair expects to be open 11a.m.-9p.m., Mon.-Sat., offering a selection ranging from Grand Cru Burgundy and Bordeaux to great values from South Africa and Portugal. While space will limit the inventory on hand, Ansah and Kortge are ready, willing and able to hunt down that special bottle you just must have on your table or in your cellar.

To keep track of opening day, visit call 347-371-1667 or visit www.lloydandmaxwell.com.

Next door to the east, at 616 S. Pearl St., David McGrath Photography opened earlier this year, offering quality portrait services to those of you wanting a little help presenting your best face to the world.

McGrath tries to treat every portrait session as though the end result will hang in a gallery, because he knows your photos “are more important to you than the artwork in any museum.” And because he knows your pets are part of the family, there are sittings available for your four-legged relatives as well.

McGrath works comfortably in color or black and white, so consider David McGrath Photography when your image needs to be beyond reproach.

For information, call McGrath at 720-381-3247 or visit www.davidmcgrathphotography.com.

The renovation of the Kentucky Ave./S. Pearl St. intersection continues with an explosion of color at The Lime Room, a full service hair salon, another door east of McGrath, at 618 E. Kentucky Ave. Owners Mike and Lisa Hain are looking forward to putting a little more style in the already stylish West Wash Park neighborhood. The Hains will offer haircuts for men, women and children, special occasion and bridal styling, color, highlights and a variety of other services.

The salon’s name was inspired by the vibrant shades chosen in the renovation. The shop promises a kid-friendly atmosphere – not always the case in the sometimes pretentious environs of the haircare industry – as well as all-natural hair care products to keep your “do” looking good even after you take over the daily maintenance.

The Lime Room is open Mon.-Sat., 9a.m.-7p.m. For information, call 303-282-0856.

Finally, across the alley from the Lime Room, Eric Schleisman, owner of the Roast Coffee House at 712-1/2 S. Pearl St. plans to open a bakery sometime this year.

So pick a warm day sometime soon, and take a stroll to see what’s new in one of West Washington Park’s oldest shopping areas.

CHERRY CREEK

Developer Donald Sturm last month welcomed a high-profile anchor tenant to the newly renovated One Fillmore Place building, at Milwaukee St. and E. 1st Ave., the former longtime home of Tattered Cover Bookstore.

Pura Vida Fitness and Spa is a membership-based, exclusive adult-only health club facility, occupying about 30,000 square feet on four levels of the 50,000-square-foot building. The top-of-the-line workout haven includes the full roster of cardio and strength-training equipment, as well as yoga, Pilates and Kinesis – a new method of resistance training – classes. Members will find such other modern day essentials as iPod docking stations throughout, filtered water and Whole Foods catering to enrich the Pura Vida experience.

While the fitness center portion of Pura Vida is for members only, the fourth floor spa – Nectar – welcomes members and non-members alike. Nectar offers more than 20 different treatments, including massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, and facials – you name it.

A Single Membership to Pura Vida costs $150 per month, with a $700 initiation fee tacked on. Couples can take advantage of the Dual Membership for $225 per month and a $1,000 signup fee.

No formal announcements have been made regarding additional tenants, but rumors have long circulated around another bookstore taking part of the ultra-visible location.

For information about Pura Vida, visit www.puravidaclub.com or call 303-321-7872.

One of our favorite Cherry Creek boutiques, Ten Thousand Villages, 2626 E. 3rd Ave., has been promoting sustainable development and fair trade philosophies long before the word “green” stopped indicating a color and started becoming a “buzzword” and marketing philosophy.

Fair Trade policies work to promote sustainable development while protecting the environment. Ten Thousand Villages maintains long-term relationships with artisans from around the world, ensuring earnings from their products go to the artists themselves, and providing a vital source of security during difficult times ranging from natural disasters to civil unrest.

Ten Thousand Villages will celebrate World Fair Trade Day on Sat., May 10, 10a.m.-5p.m. Festivities will include an Indian-themed tea tasting, a Fair Trade quiz earning discounts for successful test-takers, and a special showing of the DVD, Ten Thousand Villages: Artisan Stories From Around The World.

For information, call 303-316-8773.

We agree with whomever it was that first said, “Our children are our future.” The Young Americans Center for Financial Education, 3550 E. 1st Ave., is trying to make sure that our financial future is secure, by encouraging budding entrepreneurs from their earliest beginnings.

Young Americans is hosting the 7th annual Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs, set for Thur., Sept. 18. Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs is a business competition open to all youth ages 6-21 who have their own business in Colorado. Young business owners submit an application describing their operation in detail, including marketing plans and materials, financial statements, future strategies and the like. One winner and two finalists will be chosen in four categories: ages 6-11; ages 12-14; ages 15-17; and ages 18-21. Each winner will receive a $1,000 award, and each finalist will receive $250. All award-winners will be honored at the Celebration banquet in September.

Applications must be submitted by June 20. For information and an application form, visit www.yacenter.org or call 303-321-2265.

SANTA FE ART DISTRICT

If the appearance and ambience of your homestead is important to your sense of well-being, it’s probable you have endured the torture of trying to pick out a new color scheme for the inside or outside of Casa You.

If you have an eye for color, selecting your personal palette may not cause trauma, but if not, you’re in danger of exhausting the family fortune on paint samples alone, and exhausting the family patience as you paint and then repaint, searching for the perfect shade. Whether or not you ever get there is anybody’s guess.

One way to avoid the brain damage and ensure a look you will love is to call James Martin and his colorful crew at The Color People, 920 Inca St., just a block east of historic Santa Fe Dr.

Martin has been in the business of devising stunning color schemes for residential properties and commercial developments for nearly three decades, and has that feel for color that you wish belonged to you. The Color People have worked in all 50 states and abroad, with local projects including the Washington Park Boat House, numerous notable Victorian residences, half of Larimer Square, the Magnolia Hotel, and – back in the day – the Ogden and Bluebird theaters.

As further evidence of his credentials to put a fresh face on your particular Ponderosa, Martin was recently elected president of the Color Marketing Group, an international organization specializing in color trends and forecasting.
If you’ve been thinking that spring is a great time to freshen the homestead, call The Color People, 303-308-0220, or visit www.colorpeople.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY

The father/son development team of Barry and Hayden Hirschfeld hosted a Grand Opening celebration last month officially announcing that the Asbury Court residential development at S. Downing St. and E. Asbury Ave., is under construction and open for business.

The Hirschfelds will build three single-family homes and 17 townhomes on the 3/4-acre, 1/2 block site north of Walgreen’s and Bank of the West, and south of Asbury Ave., between S. Downing St. and S. Marion St.

While the Hirschfelds are promising quality construction, don’t look for hulking McMansions at Asbury Court. The single family residences will be sized at 1,874-2,040 square feet, with townhomes slightly smaller at 1,579-1,815 square feet. Two of the single family homes offer
3-bedroom/3-bath layouts, while the balance of the floorplans are 2-bedroom/3 bath.

Hayden Hirschfeld described the style of construction as “contemporary modern living.” Prices range from “the $500s to the $800s.” All 20 Asbury Court homes will be tri-level above ground - no basements – with 400-square-foot garages and roof-top decks. Some of the townhomes feature drive-through garages with front and back doors.

Eight townhomes are for sale at present, all priced between $550,000 and $590,000. Site preparation should be complete in the next couple of months, with vertical construction commencing in early summer. Initial move-ins are slated for summer 2009.

For detailed information on Asbury Court, contact Porchlight Real Estate Group at 303-339-4070, or stop by the on-site office at 2000 S. Downing St.

Garden Patch, 2101 S. Washington St., is in full bloom this spring under the enthusiastic new ownership of Andrea Ayers, who purchased the greenhouse in June ‘07 from longtime owners Fred and Carole Vestal.

Following the Vestal tradition of Christmas tree and wreath sales last winter, the new owner then launched a substantial interior refurbishing which has left the old-fashioned neighborhood feel intact, while creatively sprucing up and opening up the sales and display areas.

Ayers, who worked for years at a local wholesale nursery, caught the gardening bug from her mom, and “started gardening here in rental houses,” she recalls fondly. Along with trusty associates Shay Horning (“I came with the place,” Horning laughs) and Jessie Larrington, Ayers is passionate about quality plants, knowledgeable about organic gardening, and hopes to add more perennials and small shrubs; a gift section is also progressing nicely.

Breaking with its many-decade calendar, Garden Patch will remain open mid-March through the holiday season; summer hours, 9a.m.-7p.m., Mon.-Sat.; Sun., 10a.m.-5p.m. Info: 303-282-3992.

PLATT PARK

One of Platt Park’s landmark health care providers is pulling up stakes and heading west – but not too far. Dr. Julie Seymour’s Wellness First is leaving the Washington Park Wellness Center at 1711 S. Pearl St., for new digs at 40 W. Louisiana Ave.

Seymour hopes her brave clientele will make the short trip across Broadway to access Wellness First’s impressive roster of chiropractic and other wellness services. The new setup is awfully close to Winchell’s Donuts for a health-related business, but perhaps it will bring new clientele.

By the way, in case you’re in a related business and can use a nice, bright 10-foot by 13-foot room with east and south facing windows, the new location has space available, so give Seymour a call.

For information, call 303-744-6657 or visit www.wellfirst.com.

With the pending entry of India’s Pearl taking over the former BB’s on Pearl digs at 1475 S. Pearl St., and the success of Sushi Den’s relative – Isakawa Den – Old South Pearl Street’s restaurant row continues to “think globally.”

The latest entry on the international offerings scene – Seven Cups, Fine Chinese Teas – is well on its way to a June opening at 1882 S. Pearl St., on the ever-evolving block adjacent to Reserve List wine shop and Danna Lebsack’s legendary Chocolate Berry.

Seven Cups proprietor Greg Fellman promises “a little bit of China on S. Pearl,” as the former Denver Folklore Center music studio is transformed into a high-end traditional Chinese teahouse, specializing in high-quality loose-leaf, primarily Chinese tea – green, oolong, black tea – “proper tea,” says Fellman.

After several years teaching English in China, he developed a deep appreciation for tea culture, and hopes to introduce the nuances to south Denver folks. Seven Cups will offer sit-down tea or tea-to-go, retail teaware and accessories, and tea tastings. Hours are slated for Tues.-Sat., 10a.m.
-8p.m.; Sun., 11a.m.-6p.m. Call 303-777-CUPS (2877) for details.

BONNIE BRAE

On our monthly run to restock newsracks throughout the area, we were surprised to find the CapuVino location at 728 S. University Blvd. not only closed, but barren of any sign that the place might once have been filled with happy locals enjoying a stout cup ‘o joe or a mellow glass of wine and a tasty snack.

A couple of days later we received an email from CapuVino’s owner, Kevin Swaney, stating simply, “Due to the current downturn in our economy and the continued increase in product costs, CapuVino has closed. I regret that I could not continue to serve our loyal customers, but hope you will understand. For those of you that frequented CapuVino, I want to sincerely thank you. I feel truly blessed to have gotten to know many of you, and wish you the best. I sincerely apologize for the short notice.”

No word yet about future tenants in the visible streetside space. Stay tuned.

AROUND THE TOWN

A most venerable Capitol Hill institution is spreading its wings and expanding its presence to the new frontier on Denver’s eastern border. Colorado Free University has moved its Computer Center and administrative offices to its Lowry Campus, in the renovated Air Force Fire Station facility at 7653 E. 1st Pl.

Helen Hand, sister of CFU’s late founder, John Hand, said the organization’s 21-year home at E. Colfax and York St. will continue to house classes, and will have some staff presence. The availability of adequate parking, and an on-site kitchen for classes and special events made the Lowry move an opportunity Hand could not refuse.

CFU offers about 400 courses on an incredibly wide variety of topics at any given time. Last year approximately 12,000 people took part in at least one class at the school.

For information, contact Helen Hand, 303-785-2333, or email helen@compuskills.com.

South Denver resident Dana Miller has taken the term “bag lady” to a whole new level – one much higher up on the food chain than is usually the case. Frustrated by the over-consumption of paper and plastic bags that continue to plague our landfills, lawns and gutters, Miller and co-partner Jan Ramos decided to take action. The pair now produces reusable bags out of recycled shirts, under the moniker BaggyShirts.

The fledgling company’s website explains, “We each had reached our personal tipping points by separately watching Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Laurie David, co-producer of the film, had recently visited Denver and was interviewed by Mayor Hickenlooper on the topic of global warming. She suggested that each of us pick one thing we could do to help reverse the effects of climate change. Due to the harmful use of paper and plastic bags, our “one thing” became BaggyShirts.”

Made from recycled men’s shirts, BaggyShirts come in an endless rainbow of colors and designs, and several sizes, at prices ranging from $10 for a wine/water bottle bag, to $68 for a reversible messenger bag made from two garments. All production takes place locally – no outsourcing here.

BaggyShirts was recently chosen as the official “goodie” bag of the Social Business and Microeconomic Opportunities for Youth Conference.

BaggyShirts are on sale at Tattered Cover Bookstores; Ahimsa Footwear, 1668 Marion St.; On A Lark, 849 E. Ohio Ave.; and Unity, 1455 S. Pearl St.

For more information, or to order online visit www.baggy-shirts.com or call 303-300-6682.