The owners of Authentic Rugs on Colorado Boulevard have been trying to build residential space on their property for years but have been unable to get on the same page with the city when it comes to the final plan. A recent meeting with the city shed light onto what options the rug store owners are looking at, including the possibility of a high-rise residential building.
The city wants the six-acre property to include in an entertainment development project along Cherry Creek called “Glendale 180." The owners turned down a $11 million offer from the city for the land.
The city’s decision to allow its urban renewal authority to use eminent domain for the project led to an ongoing legal battle between the business and the city.
Because of this legal battle, a February development meeting between developer M.A.K., which the rug store owners are partners of, and the city, was recorded.
“This metropolitan community will double in size obviously we're going to have to get over our hysteria about high-rise buildings because Denver just, you know, the neighborhoods just get bonkers over the subject," said one of M.A.K.’s advisors, Dana Crawford, a successful developer who recently completed work on the renewed Union Station.
Deputy City Manager, Chuck Line, says Crawford shared several photos at the development meeting that included photos of high-rise buildings across the country, some of which reached 60 stories high.
“"So our inspirations and thinking about this have been Dallas and Austin and Vancouver, Las Vegas, Tehran,” said Crawford.
There are no plans at all right now for a high-rise in Glendale.
“This meeting is really to see what is possible,” said shop owner and development partner Nasrin Kholghy.
This was just a discussion between the developer and the city to discuss what the city could allow. Current zoning requirements would have to be drastically changed to allow a building over 45 feet, the city’s current limit.
“I was shocked on the extent of the deviation from what our code says,” Line said.
Beyond the building codes Line expressed concern over density, in the highest density city in the state.
“Everyone leaves at eight and comes at 5 p.m. Those peak times correspond with rush hour traffic at the exact moment all of the intersections in the entire city of Glendale are taxed,” he said.
The city says it’s not saying no. But it does appear a tall residential building plan would face many hurdles.
“Lets not focus on what we want or the city wants. Lets focus on whats the best thing for here. That’s why, thank god, we got Dana,” Kholghy said.
