Did you happen to see the news about SPIRE and Hertz on 9 News?  If not here is a link:  9 News coverage of SPIRE and Hertz

There are many reasons why our new homeowners selected SPIRE:  the spectacular views, the construction, the many amenities, and of course the location in the heart of Downtown Denver.

But an interesting trend that goes along with the Downtown location is the attractive lifestyle of living in a car optional building.  With easy access to light rail, the 16th Street shuttle, the Cherry Creek bike paths, and the recently added citywide B-cycle program,  living at SPIRE allows freedom from traffic and long commutes for many of our residents.  For many of our new homeowners this new lifestyle was one of their decisions to live downtown and at SPIRE.

Supporting a pedestrian friendly and car optional lifestyle was one of the fundamentals involved in selecting the site location for SPIRE.  It is also the reason SPIRE hosts Denver’s first  Connect by Hertz location as one of our ground floor tenants.  Connect by Hertz offers SPIRE residents (and our neighbors) easy and flexible access to an automobile for the car optional lifestyle with plans that allow for hourly usage of their fleet of cars.

It’s a new way of life across the country (and the globe as they have locations overseas as well) as an alternative to owning a car.  With great success in other cities,  this approach removes the burdens, both financial and maintenance, of owning a car while leaving all the benefits.  One of our car optional residents may walk, pedal, or ride the light rail for almost every daily trip or night out on the town.  But for those trips where a car is necessary, there’s an easy option right at the foot of your building.  And as the Connect by Hertz website points out,  it is also a very environmentally friendly option:

Less vehicle congestion

Every Connect by Hertz car on the road eliminates up to 14 personal vehicles, reducing the overall number of cars on the roads. And wouldn’t a traffic jam-free city be so much more pleasant?

Fewer harmful emissions

Fewer cars on the road means fewer CO₂ emissions clogging up the air. In the U.S., Connect by Hertz cars are all EPA SmartWay certified. This ensures fewer air pollutants and greenhouse gases are emitted.

Lower energy consumption

With Connect by Hertz, you use the cars only when you need them. This means less fuel on fewer trips, so it’s far more energy efficient.

Of course car sharing is only one option.  B-cycle, the wonderful bike sharing program that launched in Denver this year also has a station right outside the front door of SPIRE.  B-cycle has stations across Denver,  and our city is the first large scale municipal bike sharing system in the United States.  You may have seen one of the early B-cycle bikes on display in our sales center in last year as we were eagerly supporting their launch.   The reasons to use B-cycle are many as they mention on their website…

Bike sharing makes it economical and convenient to use bikes for trips that are too far to walk but too short to drive. As a member, you can use a B-cycle to run an errand, grab lunch, travel from the bus stop to your office, or just get some fresh air.

Bike Sharing, Car Sharing… we want to make sure to mention we of course also have parking.  SPIRE also offers plenty of parking spaces including priority parking for those residents with low emission vehicles, motorcycle and scooter spaces, and bicycle racks to accommodate all forms of transportation.  Schedule a visit today or contact us at 720-457-7550 to learn more about SPIRE and our many environmentally friendly design features within our LEED® Registration.   Learn more about SPIRE today.

It’s the first big 3 day weekend of summer. For SPIRE residents it’s time to sit by the pool, fire up one of the grills with some steaks, and maybe finish off the day with a soak in a hot tub. Here’s a rundown of some Memorial Day Weekend Events.

1. May 28-30th – “The Downtown Denver Arts Festival is dedicated to supporting and showcasing Colorado visual artists. Downtown Denver Arts Festival holds its annual premier event each Memorial Day Weekend at the Denver Pavilions. The fine art exhibition features over 135 of Colorado’s finest visual artists with over 150,000 people expected to attend.  The Arts Festival is open to all Colorado Artists.  
2. All weekend long and beyond, you can enjoy the Body Works And The Science of the Heart Exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  “BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, an all-new exhibition, reveals—through the lenses of anatomy, cardiology, psychology and culture—how the heart nourishes, regulates and sustains life.”
3. May 29th and May 30th – Colorado Rockies vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Take in a ball game on a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy the sunshine at Coors Field.
4. Sunday, May 30th – JAX Fish House Crab Boil.  This one needs to be booked at least 48 hours in advance so don’t wait until the last minute if you want to spend Sunday enjoying one of the best outdoor patios downtown.  Memorial Day Weekend is a perfect time for a Crab Boil, and those from the East Coast can vouch that on a sunny summer day it’s one of the true delights you can enjoy with friends getting about as messy as possible.  Old Bay anyone?
5. Monday, May 31st – The Bolder Boulder:  Not only is this one of the most famous Colorado running events…. it doesn’t require a car drive.    The beauty of living downtown is that RTD has prepared for this event for city dwellers.  Just hop on the light rail down to Market Street station (or walk) and take a bus up to Boulder with other runners.  This avoids traffic and you can relax after your 10K run all the way home.  Known for the many bands, belly dancers, and other sights on the run itself, it is a Colorado favorite.
6. May 29th, 30th, and 31st – Old South Gaylord Street Event.   Visit Old South Gaylord Street for their 31st year of a family-oriented street festival with lots of different hand-made crafts, food and entertainment for ALL ages. Visit their site for more information.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.   So there is one other event for this Memorial Day weekend list that is very special.  The  Denver Memorial Day Parade will be held on May 29th at 10:00 AM.  Here is a link for more information.

Whatever you choose to do this upcoming holiday weekend we hope you have a wonderful, fun and safe weekend.  See you around SPIRE.

On 4/28/10 the Downtown Denver Partnership gave SPIRE an award for providing both attainable and sustainable housing along 14th Street while introducing a new demographic of residents to Downtown. This little video was made as part of that recognition and features Randy Nichols discussing some of the history of SPIRE.

Thank you to the Downtown Denver Partnership and both welcome and thank you to the many, many new homeowners moving into SPIRE almost every day. Welcome to SPIRE and welcome to your Downtown Denver Neighborhood.

Video sponsored by Comcast, and produced by BurstMarketing and Direct Edit.

We couldn’t be more excited!

Our first homeowners have moved into SPIRE!  The Denver Post even took note in this article celebrating this exciting milestone as the Downtown welcomes it’s newest residents.

The first set of keys have been given out, the first moving company has delivered furniture, and the first SPIRE homeowners have awakened to their new lifestyle in the heart of Downtown Denver.

It has been exciting to watch SPIRE through every step.  It started with site design and the initial architectural drawings.  A great location in the heart of Downtown Denver deserved a spectacular vision for every aspect.  Design progressed from the most general detail (how many stories will it be… 42) to the individual selection of every tile color for the pools or the number of treadmills in the exercise room.  Every floor plan was designed, then improved, then improved again to create a wonderful living space.  Design truly never stopped as each new idea or suggestion was evaluated and factored into SPIRE and the lifestyle of the residents who would call it home.

The construction stage carried us through a gradual rise in the Denver Skyline (time lapse below)

And as the building got closer to completion, we had the opportunity to take our first “hard hat” tours through the building.  Climbing stairs or riding the construction elevators, the SPIRE team got to introduce prospective homeowners and the occasional architectural tour to the spectacular views of Denver from any one of the 42 stories.  It was exciting to hear those first visitors share their great reviews from within SPIRE.

Construction wrapped up and finishing touches were put on the building.  Carpeting, artwork, lighting, and of course the details in the residences and amenities were completed.  Once again there was the excitement of opening the doors of SPIRE to tour our future homeowners.  But one final excitement still remained…  the first day SPIRE would fill with the energy of homeowners.

That day is here.  The front desk is staffed, the fitness center and hot tubs are open, and the first folks will be able to fall asleep and wake up to the spectacular views of the city from within SPIRE’s glass walls.  Yes Mr. U.S. Post Office, you can now start delivering mail.  The Denver Skyline now has a new set of lights glowing into the evening sky.

For more information about SPIRE or to schedule a private tour please contact our sales center at 720-457-7550.  And don’t forget closings now are within the time frame for the Home Buyer Tax Credits for those who qualify.

What is one party that you should not miss, a party that is a tradition for the city of Denver?
Why of course the Derby Party… a perfect excuse to wear your traditional derby attire and maybe, just maybe.. enjoy the perfect Mint Julep.

All of us at SPIRE love the traditions of Denver from the parades through the streets of downtown Denver to the many celebrations of our sunshine filled city.  That’s why last week SPIRE hosted the pre-party kickoff of the Derby Party.  For those of us at SPIRE, part of the fun of these events is to see the building filled with energy and laughter.  The club lounge filled with the sounds of a DJ mixing beats, the sports lounge broadcast March Madness games and highlights, and the outdoor fire pit and amenity deck each filled with happy celebration and the energy of the great residents of Denver.  In the crowd were many future SPIRE homeowners who enjoyed relaxing in their new home knowing that this was just the first of many evenings they would get to spend in the lifestyle of Downtown.

The event was capped off with a drawing to win a Schwinn Motor Scooter from Spire! The grand prize winner was Janette Juan who celebrated in the club lounge to the cheers of the room as her name was drawn and read.

Thank you to everyone who came out and we wish you all a happy Derby Party Celebration!  Images from the event can be seen on SPIRE at Facebook or ordered at Zenfolio.

If you are interested in learning more about SPIRE or in taking a personal tour please contact our sales center at 720-457-7550.

We know there are a number of steps before the Housewarming Party.  Before the party there’s the set up, the shopping, and the invites.  Champagne or wine?  Imported beer or domestic?  Tapas or hot wings?  Oysters or pizza?

Before that it’s the moving, the painting,  and all the little touches that make a home a home.  Where does your favorite reading chair go?  What about that memento from the trip overseas?  Where to put those favorite photos of friends family and cherished memories?

Before that… the moving, the scheduling of utilities, the change of address with the post office.  All the steps t0 make sure you don’t miss a single episode of your favorite show.

And before that…. you schedule the day you close on your new home at SPIRE and pick up your keys.  The day your life downtown at SPIRE begins and everything you look forward to downtown becomes only steps outside your front door.

This past week letters went out to our SPIRE future homeowners to begin scheduling those appointments.  SPIRE will soon be welcoming new homeowners to their fabulous new downtown residences — a cheerful greeting at the SPIRE front desk, a movie theater waiting for its first homeowner premier, a sports lounge waiting for its first fan-filled game, and of course the pools, spas, and fitness center waiting to relax and rejuvenate SPIRE homeowners all spells “Welcome Home”.

Cheers to future SPIRE residents and welcome to the neighborhood.

For more information about your upcoming closing or to learn more about available residences at SPIRE please contact the SPIRE Sales Center at 720-457-7550.

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

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

SPIRE Denver Happy Hour

Last night as the snow fell on the streets of Downtown Denver a few hundred future homeowners, brokers, and SPIRE team members enjoyed the spectacular view from SPIRE’s 9th, 10th, and 42nd Floors.

The views out to the snow covered city and the warm energy of celebration inside made for a pretty incredible night.  For many joining us last night it was the first opportunity to see the completed amenity areas including the fully furnished club rooms and the extensive fitness center.  Inside food, drink and laughter was shared as neighbors enjoyed meeting each other and experiencing the SPIRE lifestyle.  The winter weather was a definite gift creating a beautiful panorama of city lights and snow flakes from the 42nd floor Sky Club to enjoy.  Many were undeterred by the low temperatures outside and ventured onto the 9th floor pool deck to warm themselves by the fire pit, wine glass in hand, while taking in the glow from the pools and hot tub while steam rose into the air.  What a wonderful sight to see so many smiles.

For those who didn’t have the opportunity to join us for this event we can share a little summary of what was seen by all.  The amenity levels have been decorated with expertise from some pretty fabulous designers and the technology gurus equipped both the 10th floor private theater room and the 9th floor sports zone with amazing quality large screen displays and sound systems.  From the elaborate chandeliers in the lounge to the Macintosh workstations in the office center, attention was spent on every details.  The result is terrific and it was a pleasure to see the joyful reactions from Happy Hour attendees.

For those who made it to our event thank you for helping us celebrate the finishing touches that have gone into each SPIRE amenity.  If you would like to see more photos inside SPIRE from this event please join us at SPIRE Denver on Facebook.

If you would prefer your own personal tour of SPIRE please visit us at the SPIRE Experience Center, 890 14th Street Denver CO 80202 or schedule an appointment with one of our sales professionals at 720-457-7550.

www.spiredenver.com

SPIRE Happy Hour

SPIRE Happy Hour

SPIRE Happy Hour