Developer Submits Plans For 1,000 Feet Tall Skyscraper

DENVER (CBS4)- Denver's skyline could reach 1,000 feet high over the Mile High mark when construction a new skyscraper is completed.

Plans are moving forward for a new skyscraper that would forever change the skyline of Denver. The developer submitted a concept to the city on or about Feb 14. A concept is the very first step in the site plan review process.

Typically, over several months a concept will evolve into a formal site plan, as city reviewers provide feedback to the developer about the various codes that must be applied.

Developers hope to break ground on a roughly 1,000 foot tower later this fall. It would be the tallest building in Colorado by more than 280 feet.

Developer Michael Ursini of Greenwich Realty Capital based in New York City, has been working on this concept for many months. He says GRC hopes the building will take shape at 17th and California.

The tower's specific address is 650 17th Street, and for now that's the working name of the building. In fact, more information is available on the website, sixfifty17.com. The site between Welton and California Streets is currently a parking lot.

Ursini says it's hard to say exactly how many stories the building will be, due to double floor heights, amenity decks, retail space and penthouses.

Greenwich Realty Capital plans 248 luxury condominium residences, probably a boutique hotel, 22,000 square feet of retail space and about 780 parking spaces. Altogether, it will have about 1 million square feet of space.

Promotion materials say building residents will enjoy "not only the most breathtaking views available in Denver, but also an unprecedented collection of amenities, including multiple terraces and pools, a spa with sauna and steam rooms, and a fitness center. In addition, sporting amenities include a half-court basketball court, a bowling alley, and a game lounge with a pool table, foosball, and shuffle board."

Some who work or frequent the area shared their concerns.

"The traffic and the parking is the worst I've ever seen," said one man.

"Parking is very limited, I don't see how they would park everybody, if it is such a big building here," said Dutch Crews who works in the area.

The developer says there's a good reason for the unique shape.

"It's progressive and designed to go along with how the city is being built," Ursini says, like the other new skyscrapers in Denver. "We wanted to have a really iconic structure and we think we nailed it with this design."

"They probably look at it as real estate, not the people that park here every day and it is convenient to their location," Crews said. "Everybody has their own perspective. If I can be logical and open minded about it, I can understand that from their perspective."

The city has not yet reviewed or approved any aspect of the project.

For now, Denver's tallest building is Republic Plaza with 56 stories at 714 feet. A tower 1000 feet tall would be the 19th tallest building in the U.S.