Today SPIRE was the site of celebration as Denver broke ground on the 14th Street Streetscape Improvements to Create an Ambassador Street. Downtown Denver’s 14th Street has been designed public-private initiative to emerge as a vibrant pedestrian-oriented thoroughfare. Speakers at today’s groundbreaking ceremony included Manager of Public Works and Deputy Mayor Bill Vidal, Bond Implementation Manager Don Hunt, Denver City Councilwoman Carla Madison, Downtown Denver Partnership President and CEO Tami Door, and President of the District Advisory Board Josh Fine. “Known now as ‘Ambassador Street,’ 14th Street is home to the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver Performing Arts Complex and an abundance of hotels, restaurants and residences,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “Today we are truly breaking new ground, creating a new identity for the street as a pedestrian friendly environment with a strong sense of ‘place’ that will serve the diversity of this thriving corridor for years to come.”‬

“We are excited to be a part of this project,” said Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, Deputy Mayor and Manager of Public Works. “The improvements on 14th Street will enhance both residents and visitors’ experiences in Denver. These improvements will highlight the Theater District along with some of the most prominent and important facilities while at the same time, encouraging bicycle and pedestrian movement in the Mile High City.”

Of course we are excited about every streetscape improvmeent project downtown.. but we have to share our excitement about one right outside SPIRE’s front door. When completed SPIRE residents will find expanded sidewalks filled with outdoor seating venues and ground floor shopping along the 14th street corridor. Some key elements include the addition of about 200 trees, as well as new flower planters, decorative street corner monuments, bike racks and a dedicated bicycle lane.

14th Street is becoming known as the new “Ambassador Street” due to the many great Denver amenities 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.

With these many enhancements 14th street is being designed to be a complement to Denver’s 16th street mall. SPIRE residents will get to enjoy living between these two amenity rich corridors and in the heart of Denver’s Theater District. Enjoy the above Youtube video with some renderings of this exciting Denver project.

To learn more about SPIRE and the 14th Street Initiative please contact the SPIRE Sales Center at 720.457.7550.

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