With St. Patrick’s day falling on a Wednesday this week, there will be multiple celebrations throughout Downtown all beginning this Saturday (March 13) with the 48th annual Denver St. Patrick’s day parade.  So for all our downtown friends and neighbors we wanted to remind you to wear your green. For those of you who don’t know the history of the parade, here is a little bit of trivia from the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Website...

Parade History
How it Began:
Three men sat at Sullivan’s Bar in downtown Denver. The year was 1961. They had been friends for a long time. After work and before they started their journey home, they would meet at Sullivan’s for a “wee” one and an hour or so of camaraderie.

After a few swallows, one of the men reached into his pocket and brought forth a small American flag which he proudly displayed for everyone to see. Like a signal, the three men rose from their stools and headed for the door. Crossing to the middle of the street, they formed a single line. The first man lined up on the right, the second on the left and the third man in the middle holding the small American flag in front of him. By this time all of the customers of Sullivan’s were standing in front of the bar watching the three men as they marched down the street. As they rounded the corner the crowd on the sidelines loudly cheered. The three men were Pocky Marranzino, columnist for the Rocky Mountain News, Red Fenwick, columnist for the Denver Post and holding the flag, Jim Eakins, Interstate Probation and Parole Supervisor.

This was our beginning.

We love hearing stories from the earlier days in Denver’s history.  Just as we love the idea of contributing something to the Denver Skyline and being a part of the great energy that is taking place with the 14th Street Initiative and the growth of our neighborhood Denver Theater District.  We love our city and the great lifestyle Denver allows.  So with thoughts of the past and the future, we invite you to come down this Saturday and enjoy the Saint Patrick’s Day parade as it makes its way through the streets of Downtown Denver, enjoy the food and drink celebration, and if you wish, stop by to visit us at our sales center and take a tour of the building.  We are USGBC registered and as a “Green” Building we fit in perfectly for the holiday.

For those of you coming to enjoy this weekend’s events the Parade starts at 10:00 AM and generally lasts until 1:30 or 2:00 PM.  There is a great collection of photos from previous parades here. and also some details from their website.

PARADE DATE: March 13, 2010
TIME: Steps off at 10 a.m., generally lasts until 1:30 or 2 p.m.

ROUTE: Starts at Coors Field parking lot, steps off at 27th and Blake, Blake west to 17th, 17th to Wynkoop, Wynkoop back to Coors Field.

VIEWING: Anywhere along the route is a good spot.

PARKING: Street parking is prohibited on the parade route, but plenty of parking lots are available on near-by streets.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Light rail and RTD busses run to the Union Station and parade route areas. Visit the RTD site for route information. Remember that the trains fill up on parade morning so allow yourself plenty of time. To visit RTD LINK click here

REMEMBER: Colorado weather is unpredictable so dress in layers. Remember to use sunscreen and drink plenty of water.

And let’s not forget the music.  Parade organizers have The Bridies as their 2010 Grand Marshals.

“They are an exciting female foursome of high-powered, high-caliber, highly talented musicians that produce a unique blend of Celtic music, rock n’ roll, dance and comedy. These lovely Irish lasses descend upon Denver every St. Patrick’s Day weekend to play at the popular “Green Tie Event” fundraiser sponsored by the Metro Community Providers Network. (MCPN).”

We hope you all have an enjoyable weekend.  One of many, many great things about living downtown is the great energy and outpouring of support from people on the streets during these great events.

www.spiredenver.com 

Sales Office Hours:  M-F 11:00 am-6:00 pm

                                      Sat/Sun 11:00 am-5:00pm

891 14th Street, Suite 140, Denver, CO 80202

Things certainly are happening fast.   Last week we announced the first two retail tenants in SPIRE and today we announce two more.  The first is someone we’ve already been talking about quite a bit.  Hertz will be operating their flagship “Connect By Hertz” location from the SPIRE building for the city of Denver.  Connect by Hertz is the environmentally-friendly car share system similar to what is already operating in many major cities.  When you need a car for a few hours or a few days, you simply walk downstairs and take one out.  SPIRE and downtown living is designed to be car optional and we have a number of residents who live and work downtown, embracing the pedestrian and public transportation friendly lifestyle.  Because there are times when a car can be very helpful — a big grocery run before throwing a dinner party or a weekend trip to the mountains– a short term car share option will be available.  Mini Coopers for quick trips and larger vehicles for those mountain ventures are part of the Hertz offering.  We’ve already gotten some great feedback on this amenity from a number of future SPIRE residents.  One such car share advocate is relocating from another major city where they already live car-optional.  With the Connect by Hertz service, they avoid the costs of a car, insurance, and parking.  Other residents might  like the convenience of letting their out-of-town guests staying in a SPIRE guest suite enjoy access to a car while they visit the Mile High City.  It’s a wonderful way to share the benefits of SPIRE with friends and family.  Just another “living green” benefit for our SPIRE residents and those in their life.

Now let’s talk about food.  There is a mainstay of downtown living from major city to major city.. .the toasted decadence of freshly made, packed with tasty ingredients sub or sandwich.  You may have read in the Westword about a sandwich shop that started in Boulder and is preparing to “take over the world”.  That sandwich shop is Snarf’s and we are proud to announce that the newest Snarf’s will be at SPIRE.   The menu at Snarf’s is amazing and we invite you to visit their website to see the many, many, many (and many) awards they have received for their incredible tasty sandwiches, sides, and salads.  Our goal is to make sure that in addition to all the wonderful restaurants, pubs, and entertainments spots within footsteps of the building, our homeowners have some of those conveniences right inside their own front door.   It’s just one of the many advantages of life at SPIRE.

More retail announcements will be on the way but in the meantime if you would like to learn more about the wonderful condos and residences at SPIRE, or schedule your own private tour, please contact our sales office at 720-457-7550.

Cheers!

We are excited to announce that SPIRE has moved ONSITE!

Now that SPIRE is nearing completion and we have a wonderful building to feature, we have relocated our Sales & Design Center onsite to:

SPIRE
891 14th Street, Suite 140
Denver, CO 80202

As of March 1, 2010 we will officially call SPIRE our home. Please stop by today and say “hello” as we showcase our newly designed Sales Center and spectacular models. Our new models are appointed with an inspired mix of contemporary furnishings, luxury textiles and unique home accessories to illustrate chic urban living. Share our excitement as we get one step closer to move-ins. SPIRE is no longer just a dream, it’s now a reality!

SPIRE features many green and sustainable attributes and is one of the largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) registered residential projects in the country.  SPIRE offers one-, two-, and three- bedroom homes with prices starting from the high $200,000s.  Homeowners enjoy numerous conveniences including dedicated residential concierge, 24 hour attended lobby, secured deeded parking, state-of-the-art fitness center, billiards room, multi media theatre area, exclusive club lounge on the 42nd floor and much more.  Visit today and discover why SPIRE is one of the fastest selling high-rise developments in the Mile-High City.

We are looking forward to sharing our beautiful new building with you!

The above was the email we just sent out announcing our brand new sales center office.  We are excited to be working inside the SPIRE building as of this week and welcoming our clients and visitors.  Come on down and see what all the excitement is about.

Are you on our list?  If you didn’t get this email,  you might be missing out on other exciting announcements about SPIRE. Just fill out the  request information page and we will make sure you get all the new exciting SPIRE updates and announcements.

Photos by Joseph Brodsky (founder of Ninety Plus Coffee) | Theme and Photo Optimization by Steven Holt (creative agent for Ninety Plus Coffee)

It’s almost time. If you missed the recent article in the Denver Post by Penny Parker, the topic was about SPIRE preparing for homeowners to move in. This has been ongoing news as all of us, and all of our homeowners, have been looking forward to picking up their keys and moving in. With that moment just around the corner and the timing of this article, we thought it was a nice time to discuss the foundation of the building with the SPIRE retail spaces.

Living downtown at SPIRE is a magical experience. Restaurants, shops and entertainment are only footsteps away. Pools, hot tubs, fitness center, sports room, and multiple lounge spaces are within the building. And at the base of SPIRE for residents to enjoy will be a number of excellent retail amenities. The Denver Post article let the cat out of the bag about two of the retailers we are excited to have at SPIRE. The first, Revolution Cleaners, is an environmentally friendly dry cleaner.  SPIRE residents will enjoy the convenience of in-building delivery and drop off.  Here is a little bit more about Revolution Cleaners from their web site…

Revolution Cleaners opened for business in 2004 with the intention of raising the cleaning standard in both service and process. We introduced a new cleaning technology and became Denver’s only true environmentally friendly dry cleaner. We are firmly committed to serving our customers and the environment in the best way possible. That philosophy shows in our dedication to customer satisfaction, quality service and through our sustainable business practices:

• We are Denver’s true environmentally friendly cleaner, using the only non-toxic technologies available.
• We guarantee the quality of our product.
• We use wind power to run our plant.
• Our vans use alternative fuels.
• Our uniforms and laundry bags, wherever possible, are made from organic cotton and renewable hemp fiber.
• We use renewable resources in our stores such as bamboo hardwood and cork.
• Our employees are highly trained garment care professionals.

The second SPIRE retailer will be Ninety Plus Coffee, a coffee wholesaler and retailer. It will be the first retail store for the “green” company, whose clients include Whole Foods. We didn’t want our SPIRE homeowners to have to travel far at all for one of the most basic (and some would say essential) pleasures of downtown life… an exceptional cup of coffee in the morning.

We are so proud to have such wonderful tenants as part of the SPIRE retail base and in the surrounding neighborhood. You may have noticed that these two businesses pursue “green” operations. We like that. We can’t wait to announce our other retail tenants so please stay tuned.

To learn more about the a home at SPIRE or to schedule a tour of our 42 story addition to Denver’s Skyline please contact the SPIRE sales center at 720-457-7550 or visit us on the web at spiredenver.com.

If you are a fan of green initiatives in Denver,  feel free to come in and check us out at our new sales center. SPIRE is a USGBC registered project and we would love to share with you more details of all of the items that contributed to our LEED points.

Regards… and more news coming soon.

Folks keep talking about the great changes that are happening downtown. New restaurants, entertainment venues, and businesses are opening every day and there are more choices than ever for our future SPIRE residents to enjoy. It’s no accident. A great deal of planning and design is underway to enhance the heart of our downtown. One of those efforts is moving from the planning stage to the action stage this summer as construction begins on the 14th street initiative plan.

The 14th Street Initiative is part of the $14 million large scale improvement project surrounding SPIRE’s great location in the already bustling Theater District. How are things getting even better? Here are some highlights..

…sidewalks will be expanded, encouraging outdoor seating and ground floor shopping and dining uses that will bolster the experience one has when walking down the street. Key elements include the addition of about 200 trees, as well as new flower planters, better “wayfinding” signage, crosswalk bulb-outs, improved pedestrian lighting, decorative street corner monuments, bike racks and enhanced maintenance. A dedicated bicycle lane will be added in the street and on-street parking will be retained.

14th Street is becoming known as the “Ambassador Street” due to the diversity of visitor-oriented uses found along this corridor, including the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Hyatt Regency at Colorado Convention Center, and four other new or recently-constructed hotels. Altogether, $1.5 billion in public and private investments have been made along the corridor since 2002. The new streetscaping project will build on these investments to strengthen this new identity. The district covers the entire the 12 block length between Market Street and Colfax Avenue and extends approximately one-half block on either side of 14th Street.

Watching the design and plan for these improvements was wonderful, but the real excitement is in knowing it will become a reality with construction starting this summer. Those outdoor seating venues and streetscape changes are part of creating an incredible pedestrian experience and providing space for restaurants and other venues to create more places for downtown residents to enjoy meals, conversation and laughter. These are gathering places that provide the life and energy of a city and we are honored to have this project right outside SPIRE’s front door.

If you would like to learn more about what is happening in the heart of Downtown Denver and with SPIRE residences please contact our Sales Center at 720-457-7550 or schedule your own private tour of our 41 story addition to Denver’s skyline.  

 www.spiredenver.com

Something Independent

On Friday, January 29, 2010, the wonderful group at “Something Independent” held their SI Forum: Economics of Soul within the walls of SPIRE.

Not familiar with “Something Independent”? Well let us introduce you with some quotes from their own website..

• WHAT: Something Independent is a gathering of entrepreneurial minds and free-thinking spirits, which explores the collective impact these leaders have in shaping our communities and economies.
• WHY: Created in the wake of these trail blazing entrepreneurs is a certain vitality that inspires that next generation of visionaries – those who are melding commerce with lifestyle. Nowhere is this spirit embraced more than within the industry and culture of snow sports here in the Rocky Mountains.
• HOW: January, 2010. Denver, Colorado. The conversation begins. Company founders, inspiring businesses, industry visionaries, academic leadership and ambassadors of knowledge from around the corner and around the globe…

Which narrows to a focus on helping independent, creative, and inspiring businesses in Colorado grow and prosper.  There are many ways to invest in a community.  There is an investment like SPIRE which provides an addition to the architecture of a city, a home for 496+ residents or families, and an influx of positive energy to the city environment.  There is also an investment in the economic growth of a city through its individual and unique business sector which is a focus for Something Independent and an organization that all of us at SPIRE like to support.

The most recent ski and snow events downtown provided the perfect atmosphere for the folks at Something Independent to hold their most recent event at SPIRE in the heart of it all.

Cheers to Something Independent and to all our wonderful Colorado home grown businesses!  Please learn more about Something Independent by visiting their website or contacting them at…

hello@somethingindependent.com
1923 Market Street, Denver
303-297-1700

How many times have you heard the fundamental rule of Location, Location Location?

We certainly believe in that rule.   That is why one of the many attractive benefits of a home at SPIRE has always been the wonderful location.  SPIRE is conveniently located next to the light rail and the 16th Street shuttle, surrounded by the best restaurants and shops in Downtown Denver, and of course… in the heart of the Theatre District.

The Theatre district is an active and growing entertainment component of the Downtown lifestyle.  It has truly been enjoyable to speak with our future SPIRE homeowners and hear them discuss with such enthusiasm their plans to walk out their front door and into any one of the many downtown entertainment Theatres.  The Denver Theatre district offers performances at the Buell Theatre, the many other venues within the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, or even a comedy improv show at the Bovine Metropolis Theatre.

And so we decided to help keep everyone updated on new performances as they debut around us.   The Broadway classic musical “CATS!” is now playing at the Buell Theatre from January 13 through January 17, 2010.  It’s a limited engagement so don’t miss your chance to see this fabulous play.  Tickets start at $15!!

One of the many bonuses of living at SPIRE is enjoying these fabulous performances just footsteps away.  See what this feels like – spend a night in Downtown Denver at one of Denver’s wonderful restaurants and enjoy a presentation of CATS. 

Our sales office is located at 890 14th Street; phone is (720) 457-7550; hours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5:00 p.m. Sundays.  www.spiredenver.com

Interested in other upcoming shows.  Here is the current calendar..

Now Playing:

• Girls Only Garner Galleria Theatre
• Cats Jan 13 – 17 Buell Theatre

Coming Soon:

• When Tang Met Laika Jan 22 – Feb 27  Space Theatre
• Legally Blonde Feb 2 – 14 Buell Theatre
• Eventide Jan 29 – Feb 27 Stage Theatre
• Mary Poppins March 4 – April 4 Buell Theatre
• Mama Hated Diesels March 19 – May 9 Stage Theatre
• Othello March 26 – May 1 Space Theatre
• Mariela in the Desert April 2 – May 15 Ricketson Theatre
• In the Heights April 28 – May 9 Buell Theatre
• Fiddler on the Roof May 18 – 23 Ellie Caulkins Opera House
• Young Frankenstein June 15 – 27 Buell Theatre
• South Pacific July 20 – Aug 1 Buell Theatre
• The 101 Dalmations Musical Aug 31 – Sept 12 Buell Theatre
• Shrek The Musical Nov 16 – 28 Buell Theatre

Bill Amundson unveiling at SPIRE Denver December 2009

On December 17, 2009, the Denver Theatre District’s Art Salon was held at SPIRE to celebrate the unveiling of renowned artist Bill Amundson’s commissioned work for the Theatre District’s new Outdoor Art Gallery.

Members of the Denver Theatre District and local artists gathered at SPIRE to view the work of Mr. Amundson and to be present for the unveiling of what will be displayed on a large scale streetscape at 14th and Arapahoe for all the city to see for a six month time period.  The piece titled “It’s Alive” kicks off the Theater District’s Outdoor Art Gallery.  The Gallery is focused on giving exposure to the Arts throughout the downtown Denver area (all around SPIRE) with art pieces, street scapes, and LED signs.

Here are a few tidbits from denverarts.org

About The Denver Theatre District Art Gallery

The large-scale canvasses will be coupled with exposure on the three to five LED screens installed throughout the Denver Theatre District. These LEDs will range in size from 16-by-9 feet to 20-by-60 feet, and exposure time will likely range from short-form promotional pieces to long-form video art exhibits.

The Theatre District anticipates a build-out of 30 to 50 sign faces over the next few years. These signs will be primary commercial in nature, but through efforts like the outdoor gallery, the Denver Theatre District will help create an unprecedented “sign massing” combining art based and commercial pieces.

The second phase of the arts presentation in 2010 will include free electronic messaging on one of five LED screens to be installed. These multi-media screens will be located as follows:
• The Colorado Convention Center
• The Denver Performing Arts Complex
• The 16th Street Mall
• Other key locations within Denver Theatre District

For our residents at SPIRE, it means living in the midst of an engaging and evolving art district.  SPIRE is a supporter of these and many other art venues and we invite you to visit our SPIRE Sales Center to  learn about SPIRE residences and other exciting developments taking place in the heart of downtown Denver.  See more photos from the event on our Facebook page.  Our special thanks again to Bill Amundson for sharing his creative mind and words with all of us, and to everyone who joined us for this special event.

SPIRE Sales Center
890 14th Street
Denver, CO  80202
720.457.7550
www.spiredenver.com

Denver Theatre District SPIRE Event

Denver Theatre District SPIRE Event

Denver Theatre District SPIRE Event

Denver Theatre District SPIRE Event

Happy Holidays from SPIRE

Looking for something fun to do this holiday season. The lifestyle of downtown living offers something for everyone, and here are just a few.

Denver Holiday Events

November 27th – January 24th
LoDo Aglow
Lower Downtown

December 16th – January 3rd
Trail of Lights & Blossoms of Lights
Denver Botanic Gardens

December 20th
Bike Denver Winter Solstice Ride
City Park

Through December 26th
A Christmas Carol
DCPA

Through December 27th
The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet

Starting December 27th
Rio Grande Ski Train Reopens
Departing Union Station

December 31st, 2009
25th Anniversary Resolution 5K
Wash Park

To schedule your own personal tour of SPIRE please contact us at
720.457.7550

SPIRE Amenity Level 9th Floor

SPIRE was in the news again this past week with another great announcement. The Denver Business Journal published an article titled “Denver’s Spire skyscraper finished early and under budget”.

Finished Early, Under Budget.  We love to share good news and the team at SPIRE continues to be focused on exceeding expectations in every way we can.  Here is an excerpt from the Denver Business Journal Article.

Construction has been completed on downtown Denver’s 42-story Spire condo project, a month ahead of schedule and under budget, according to general contractor JE Dunn Construction Co.

The $175 million, 496-unit high-rise is located at 14th and Champa streets, in downtown’s theater district.

“Although there were challenges along the way, as with any construction project, this project demonstrated the successes that can be achieved through effective teamwork,” Dustin Liljehorn, Dunn senior project manager, said in a statement.

Project challenges included difficulties getting a construction loan, the soft metro-area housing market and security issues caused by the 2008 Democratic National Convention being held right across the street at the Colorado Convention Center.

Liljehorn pointed out that timely decision-making by project developer The Nichols Partnership Inc. and architecture firm RNL Design Inc., both of Denver, allowed construction run relatively smoothly.

The Nichols Partnership has been marketing Spire units since mid-July, and condo sales should start to close soon with the building’s completion. Unit prices start in the low $200,000s and go up to $1 million-plus for premium residences.

Spire incentives to buyers have included a $35,000 credit that can be put toward the purchase price or used to buy appliance upgrades, parking or extra storage. The developer has also encouraged buyers who qualify to use federal homebuyer tax credits, which expire in April 2010, to buy units.

We would like to thank the folks at J.E. Dunn Construction and at RNL, both of whom invested their considerable expertise and experience into SPIRE for our future residences.   The focus has always been to offer SPIRE homeowners the absolute best of the best in finishes, amenities, views, and location all at an attainable price.  Now with the current first time home buyers incentives, there exists an even greater value at SPIRE.  Sometimes everything just falls into place, but not without a lot of hard work.

And we would be remiss if we didn’t share another excerpt from the article that highlighted one of our favorite design benefits of SPIRE…

The property is pursuing LEED certification, and expects to be one of the largest condo projects in the country with that certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating for sustainable buildings.

Spire’s “green” features include using recycled and regional construction materials and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, and being close to mass transit such as light rail and bus stops.

Please feel free to visit the SPIRE Experience Center at 890 14th street or contact us at 720-457-7550 to learn more about SPIRE or schedule a private tour.