The number of vacant lots in Belmar without a development proposal is shrinking rapidly!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Office Building Proposed for Surface Parking Lot at S. Teller and W. Virginia Ave. in Belmar
The number of vacant lots in Belmar without a development proposal is shrinking rapidly!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
More on Cityscape, Metro West Housing Solution's Senior Living Center in Belmar
Metro West Housing Solution has released some really nice renderings of their planned Belmar Senior Living Center.
I really, really love the modern design language used by the architect. Wow! I can't wait to see construction start.
I really, really love the modern design language used by the architect. Wow! I can't wait to see construction start.
Additional Pictures of Holland Partners Belmar Residential Development
Here are a couple more renderings that show the really nice design work done by the architects at Davis Partnership for the planned Holland Partners apartment complex in Belmar.
For more information on this project, see my earlier posting, and then take a look at the Davis Partnership's web site.
For more information on this project, see my earlier posting, and then take a look at the Davis Partnership's web site.
Extended Stay Hotel Coming to Belmar
Very good news!
Plans have been submitted to the City of Lakewood for a 135 room Hyatt House in central Belmar. I reported last August that a hotel was still in the cards for Belmar, and now it looks like it's happening.
Hyatt House is an upscale, extended stay hotel, with apartment-like one and two bedroom units. Typically, they have on-site health club facilities, conferences rooms, and laundry service. It would be the fifth Hyatt House in Colorado.
The best things about this plan, however, is it's location: 7310 W. Alaska Drive.
Yes, this is the surface parking lot directly north of the Belmar Target and, in my mind, it's the highest priority for development in all of downtown Lakewood.
Currently, the parking lot acts as a giant black hole in the center of Belmar. The constant flow of cars into and out of the parking lot makes the area feel unsafe for pedestrians. In fact, it makes the entire west side of Alaska Drive feel empty of street life, which discourages shoppers at Target or Whole Foods from walking over and visiting the other businesses that are located along that stretch of Belmar.
If well-designed (meaning with lots of street level windows and some ground level retail), the Hyatt House could cure this.
I'm sure there will be some people who will raise a hackneyed concern over the loss of parking space, but the fact is that there's a multi-level parking garage directly opposite the proposed hotel site on Alaska Drive, a parking garage that sits mostly empty right now. In addition, the Target parking garage is rarely full, even on the weekends. In truth, Belmar is awash in parking.
So, good riddance to the black hole of Belmar, and welcome Hyatt House.
Update:
Here's the rendering referenced by Voland1935 in the comments. From the picture, it looks like the building will only take up a third or so of the current Target parking lot. Hmm. I don't mind surface parking tucked away behind buildings, but I'm hoping the corner of W. Alaska Drive and S. Vance Street sees development in the future as well.
Plans have been submitted to the City of Lakewood for a 135 room Hyatt House in central Belmar. I reported last August that a hotel was still in the cards for Belmar, and now it looks like it's happening.
Hyatt House is an upscale, extended stay hotel, with apartment-like one and two bedroom units. Typically, they have on-site health club facilities, conferences rooms, and laundry service. It would be the fifth Hyatt House in Colorado.
The best things about this plan, however, is it's location: 7310 W. Alaska Drive.
Yes, this is the surface parking lot directly north of the Belmar Target and, in my mind, it's the highest priority for development in all of downtown Lakewood.
Currently, the parking lot acts as a giant black hole in the center of Belmar. The constant flow of cars into and out of the parking lot makes the area feel unsafe for pedestrians. In fact, it makes the entire west side of Alaska Drive feel empty of street life, which discourages shoppers at Target or Whole Foods from walking over and visiting the other businesses that are located along that stretch of Belmar.
If well-designed (meaning with lots of street level windows and some ground level retail), the Hyatt House could cure this.
I'm sure there will be some people who will raise a hackneyed concern over the loss of parking space, but the fact is that there's a multi-level parking garage directly opposite the proposed hotel site on Alaska Drive, a parking garage that sits mostly empty right now. In addition, the Target parking garage is rarely full, even on the weekends. In truth, Belmar is awash in parking.
So, good riddance to the black hole of Belmar, and welcome Hyatt House.Update:
Here's the rendering referenced by Voland1935 in the comments. From the picture, it looks like the building will only take up a third or so of the current Target parking lot. Hmm. I don't mind surface parking tucked away behind buildings, but I'm hoping the corner of W. Alaska Drive and S. Vance Street sees development in the future as well.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
The Village at Belmar: 140 Unit Senior Center Planned for Downtown Lakewood
The Village at Belmar, LLC has filed plans with the City of Lakewood to build a 140 residential unit retirement community at 7955 W. Alameda Ave. This is the vacant parcel just north of Lakewood City Commons.
The development will consist of fifteen two-story quadplexes, each with garages, elevators, and visitor parking. The design will allow for aging in place, with assisted living care available on-site. In addition, senior residents will have access to a dining hall and recreational facilities.
From a design point of view, the plan looks solid. I particularly like that the 3-4 story assisted living building will front Alameda (see the picture below), as the height of this building, along with its short setback, will enhance the urban feel of Alameda and hide the development's surface parking.
This will make for the third large senior center in downtown Lakewood, which reflects market reaction to the aging of the baby boom generation. It also represents an increasing rejection of suburban living by all demographics. Young and old, more and more Americans want to live in urban areas, with easy access to shopping, dining, and recreation.
The development will consist of fifteen two-story quadplexes, each with garages, elevators, and visitor parking. The design will allow for aging in place, with assisted living care available on-site. In addition, senior residents will have access to a dining hall and recreational facilities.
From a design point of view, the plan looks solid. I particularly like that the 3-4 story assisted living building will front Alameda (see the picture below), as the height of this building, along with its short setback, will enhance the urban feel of Alameda and hide the development's surface parking.
This will make for the third large senior center in downtown Lakewood, which reflects market reaction to the aging of the baby boom generation. It also represents an increasing rejection of suburban living by all demographics. Young and old, more and more Americans want to live in urban areas, with easy access to shopping, dining, and recreation.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Feb. 11th Deadline for Jeffco Public Schools Budget Survey
The Jefferson County Public Schools is surveying all stakeholders about budgeting priorities for the upcoming year, from now through Feb. 11th, 2014.
If you haven't already down so, now would be an excellent time to weigh in with your thoughts by completing this Budget Survey.
The truth is that neighborhood revitalization of the sort we're currently seeing in downtown Lakewood requires a strong public education system. Good schools increase property values and make neighborhoods desirable to a wider range of buyers. They bring in businesses, customers, and developers.
But good public schools require the substantial investment of public funds. If you support the continued investment in our schools and in our downtown Lakewood/Belmar neighborhood, then let the Jeffco Board of Education know. Again, the Budget Survey can be completely until Feb. 11th.
Monday, January 13, 2014
SmashBurger Coming to Downtown Lakewood
Smashburger, the Denver-based burger chain, will be opening a location in Lakewood City Commons-- which is to say, in the somewhat forgettable shopping center on the southwest corner of Alameda and Wadsworth that fronts the Lakewood Cultural Center.
It's too bad Smashburger isn't opening in Belmar proper, but Lakewood City Commons is home to a Chipotle and a Noodles & Company, so the location undoubtedly has the lunchtime synergy a firm like Smashburger would be looking for.
My burger dream would be for the sublime Larkburger to open a location in downtown Lakewood, but Smashburger will be a vast improvement over any of the area's current offerings.
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