What is the deal with the economy?

Hi bloggers!

What is the deal with the economy? There are rumblings of all facets of the economy that are in trouble- everything from your large, national banks, to grocery stores, to your favorite and addictive coffee chain. What is going on?

I won't claim to have any answers about what the economy is doing. It would seem that we are in a cycle with pockets of growth and pockets of depression.

Some banks seem to be doing fairly well- like Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.- which boasts a positive outlook, based on their positioning in the current market and intelligent management, is weathering the storm. It also happens to be my former employer.

Wachovia Bank, N.A. is having to cut about 6300 jobs- and showing a large loss of 8.9 billion. Tough stuff. Read the Rocky Mountain News reports.

I am under the opinion that the economic growth that has happened over the last several years has been under the 'discretionary' monkier, giving rise to things like 'organic food' and the coffee addiction that so many people maintain by going to their local Starbucks- which, by the way, is closing 9 of its stores in Colorado, alone.

The pedicab industry is being affected- I am making one-half of the money I was making last year.

It could be argued that we are going through a cleansing period, where the willingness to lend money and spend money is caught between the popular media and the upcoming November election.

Many people are holding their cards close to the vest, because of unsure futures. Whether I agree with this or not, it is a reality that the popular news media is playing a very key role in controlling how people behave. Information is unbiased, but its presentation is not.

So, what will we do? It can be said that the government is growing by the day, like homeland security. Yes, it can be said that the War in Iraq is costing money, but I would be willing to say that the tax rates are doing nothing but going up, which means that the government is the biggest business in town.

What are hot industries? Government contractors, health care, and I dare say smaller, vibrant businesses, like entrepreneurs, start-ups, and local companies. My theory of people buying smaller, more locally, and investing in bikes and public transit, instead of cars and timeshares, things are changing from the last 10 years. With large companies in trouble- like Wachovia, Qwest, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines- all are scaling back.

The silver lining: our capitalism is in a cycle. We are currently finishing a slow 10 year cycle, which may give rise to greater economic period of growth. Something to think about.

Thanks for listening!

Edward Martin
303-875-4450
Showcase Properties Unlimited
apexofdenver.blogspot.com

DNC Housing...You know it is on all of your minds!

Good Day bloggers.

This will be short. In doing some research, the DNC coming to Denver is going to have a huge economic impact on Denver. It will encourage a lot of spending and optimism about our general state and economy. Personally, I think that the case is a little overstated, but it will bring a lot of people to Denver, which is great.

I am planning on renting my place out during the DNC. I am currently charging $450 a night, which I am not getting any bites. Another strategy just surfaced: go to the housing wanted craigslist site. I have posted apartments available on craigslist before, and it has never turned out badly.

nightly rentals are going for $300-$600 in my range, which isn't too much to ask. I would ask: How much is a home worth in a short-term rental market? Check it out.

http://denver.craigslist.org

Thanks for reading!

Ed Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
Apexofdenver.blogspot.com
303-875-4450

The Colfax Corridor- improvements?

Hey all,

The Colfax corridor is obviously the focus of this week's blogging activity. My thought turns to improvements.

In looking at the street-scape of Colfax, it comes to me that improvements are the key to beginning a re-vamping of our favorite main street.

A current look:

The vision statement, courtesy of the City and County of Denver, for Colfax states:

• Colfax Avenue in 2020 will be a multi-modal, commercial and residential “Main Street” that complements and sustains the nearby neighborhoods and encourages walking, biking and transit use. The corridor teems with activity on the street and captures the attention of commuters and visitors.

• Multi-storied, mixed-use buildings with active ground floor uses characterize development nodes at the intersection of major transit routes along the corridor.

• Transportation components include a uniquely Colfax form of enhanced transit, structured parking at development nodes, on-street parking throughout, enticing pedestrian amenities, and plentiful bike racks.
  

• Housing density on the corridor supports transit and sustainable urban growth.

• Urban design integrates an eclectic mix of architectural forms and sustainable building materials which respect the surrounding historic architecture.
  

• Signage is simple and clear.

• Lighting and landscaping reinforce the street building line, enhance building facades as architectural features, and promote a pedestrian oriented environment.
  

• Significant structures have been preserved and adaptively reused.

Colfax welcomes and embraces neighborhood diversity that encompasses a wide variety of ages,
lifestyles, economic circumstances, ethnic groups and family types. Colfax exemplifies the best of what a city can offer: a vibrant, hip, and progressive urban avenue.

You can't get any more direct than this! Take a look at the entire plan here.

Thanks for reading!

Edward Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-875-4450
apexofdenver.blogspot.com

After a brief hiatus...

We are back today, folks!

About that lot on Marion (1148), here are some pictures. From front to back, the thing looks as if it has not seen any work since the demolition of whatever home that was there.







As of July 1, an City inspector went out there, and placed the notice. Good thing! I don't know how long the process takes, but the property next door is in wonderful condition- nicely edged and manicured lawn, chairs out back, etc. From the rear, it doesn't look as bad, but still...Sell the thing, or someone gets in trouble.

In other news, I took a walk down Colfax, to discover exactly what makes this street what it is. I was able to contact the master developer of the Church in the City Project, and a family member who happens to be the guy trying to sell the retail. I sent a list of questions, and judging on the response, I have more questions. The most important of these questions is this: What makes Colfax the place to develop and re-develop? What goes into the process of planning and execution?

Other than all of the neat art galleries, funky clothing stores, and fast food establishments, what kind of opportunities does Colfax encompass? What is the starting point and destination for Colorado's Main Street?

I can say that in perusing the sprucing up of property along the Capitol Hill Corridor, you find that it may be sidewalk widening, building of landscaping and bicycle routes, etc. Much of the planning process according to the City and County of Denver, is doing some aesthetic cleaning of signage, curb-driveway development, re-creating a Denver Streetcar system, a parking district, a Colfax Marketing plan- and a total re-design of the street-scape, in landscaping.

More tomorrow!

Edward Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-875-4450
apexofdenver.blogspot.com

Property Values and Quality of Property

Hey Bloggers!

There is a property, sitting between 11th and 12th on Marion, which is being neglected! It is across the street from a friend's place, and it is hideous; almost to the point of city enforcement. So, as a concerned citizen, I have contacted the City of Denver about it.

Firstly, I find it hard to believe that a lot is in so much negotiation (especially in Cheesman Park, to be exact 11th & 12th on Marion St.), that it has been completely neglected. I know that there are grumblings of recession and problems with Denver's housing market. But, here is the reason to sell, or maintain a property- so it WILL SELL!

From what I can tell from records, it has either been scraped or never re-assessed for a dirt lot. Pictures to come. As I said, there is no reason to have this kind of blank lot in this area. Pictures tomorrow.

Edward Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-875-4450
apexofdenver.blogspot.com

Cherry Creek North Project, a must see!

I came upon 5th and Josephine yesterday, and found the St. John's Garden Project.

The old St. John's Evangelist Church, is going to be the home to 9 luxury residences. A mix of old and new, there is a Denver Square home, 1900's vintage, right next to a church, built approximately the same time.

In the parking lot space, will be the luxury residences, a pool, a fountain, and a Roman-arches inspired unique oasis in the city. Even though this is out of my general area, it is still a great project- it shows that infill and revival is necessary to development in an urban area, even though it is slightly outside of downtown-urban Denver.

Here are some photos. These residences are being offered by Keller Williams, as listed on the sign.

Thanks for reading!

Edward Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-875-4450
apexofdenver.blogspot.com

Spotlight on the Esplanade!

Hi today!

Courtesy of Life on Capitol Hill Volume 34, Number 4, July 2008, we found some awesome material!

Firstly, I want to spotlight the 8th and Emerson Project, called "The Terraces." Initially, this space was slotted to be a community garden project, where there would be a variety of flowers and botanical beauty, called the Denver Urban Gardens, or Emerson Community Gardens.

In concern with urban development, it could be seen as an oasis, much like Governor's Park, or even a small version of The Denver Botanic Gardens. The owners of the property passed away, and the interest passed to a trust, making way for Priam Development to build Multi-Family homes, ranging from 1,500-2,000 square feet, with three buildings. Negotiations are out there to approve all three buildings. Read the article here.

This project is still in the approval stages. Mid-July is the hope for final approval of the development. I believe that this property was listed by Fuller Commercial Real Estate. Here is a photo of the current state of the property:
Also from Life on Capitol Hill, St. Charles Town Company has done some interesting transactions, in the past 5 years, on Colfax. The Lowenstein Theatre, home to Twist and Shout, a neat movie house, and home to the Tattered Cover Bookstore, it has purchased several for MS-1 (Main Street-1) zoning. Read about the development here, called The Esplanade.

Developer Charlie Woolley has plans to redevelop the area between 15th and 16th on Josephine, home to the Church in the City and Sunmart.

The new location for Church in the City will be the 1897 Beth HaMedrosh Hagodal Synogague, currently being remodeled for the move.

It has been vacant for many years, reports LOCH. Here is a photo of the remodel.

The project is slated to be under way this summer, with preliminary razing of structures happening in the first few months of 2009. It is also contingent on negotiations with the current tenants, Colorado Free University, Church in the City, and Sunmart.

Here is a mix of vintage, old, and new- the Pinnacle towers overlooking City Park.




More on this, as soon as I find out. Thanks for reading!

Ed Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-875-4450
Serving the Apex of Denver
eamart1@yahoo.com