Inside Real Estate News » Stapleton

New Town hosting Bennet on SAVE Act

John Rebchook — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:21 +0000

New Town Builders does more than just paint some homes green in Stapleton. They can actually generate more energy than they use.

Vote in a poll at the end of this blog.

Stephen Myers, son of Gene Myers, owner of New Town Builders, can afford to buy one of his father’s $400,000 homes in Stapleton.

But just barely.

If Stephen wants to pay an additional $26,900 for the one of New Town’s “net-zero energy” packages, he wouldn’t be able to qualify for a loan.

That is stupid, the senior Myers says, because the package, adds only $100 per month to the mortgage, but saves $100 a month from one of New Town’s already efficient homes. In other words, it is a wash.

“If you compare it to a standard home built to code, it will save you $200 a month,” said Myers, one of Denver’s top production builders when it comes to energy saving features. “So if you compare to a typical home, he comes out 200 bucks ahead. If you roll the extra $100 into the mortgage, as most buyers do, you actually come out slightly ahead on a net basis, after you deduct your mortgage payment on your taxes. And the $100 is a fixed cost for the life of your mortgage, which is not something you can say about your Xcel bill.’

Stephen is a perfect example of who would be helped by a bill co-sponsored by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, called the SAVE – Sensible Accounting to Value Energy – Act. Bennet is scheduled to appear with Myers on Wednesday at Stapleton to tout the act, which Bennett, a Democrat, is sponsoring with Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

Sen. Michael Bennett today discussed the SAVE Act at Stapleton.

The SAVE Act makes it easier for consumers to qualify to buy an energy efficient homes, Myers said.

First, it will require lenders to include expected energy costs in debt-to-income qualifying ratios, which determines a buyer’s ability to make mortgage payments. Along the same lines, lenders must also include the value of expected energy savings when calculating the loan-to-value ratio of a mortgage, allowing homeowners to finance the cost of energy efficiency improvements as part of their mortgage.

It also will require appraisers to include the energy saving features in determining the value of the homes, Myers said. If energy saving features such as photovoltaic systems are not included as adding value to home, it may not appraise for the purchase price, Myers said.

“Energy saving features should provide ‘bonus’ value,” Myers said.

Bennet and Isakson estimate the SAVE Act would create more than 80,000 jobs.

“First, this is all just common sense. Most economists believe the overall economy will not truly recover until the housing economy gets back on its feet, and this will create tens of thousands of jobs in the homebuilding industry,” said Myers, who believes New Town is currently the only production builder currently rolling out such a zero-energy option in the Denver area. Other local builders, however, are expected to offer their own versions of these type of energy saving plans in the near future.

New Town has set the bar high when it comes to being green.

SAVE Act a game changer

SAVE Act will be a game changer for energy efficient homes, Myers said. He said some big national builders in California and elsewhere already are incorporating energy saving features into production homes, although he is not sure they do it to the levels New Town is taking green building.

New Town is using the HERS Index, established by the Residential Energy Services Network, an independent, non-profit group, to measure its energy efficiency.

“HERS gives you the equivalent of MPG for a car,” Myers said. “But I tell people, like in golf, a low score is better.”

A typical homes will have a HERS score of 130, he said, a newer home built to code will have a score of 100, while an Energy Star home will have a score of 85.

But a New Town home with its energy package of added insulation, Energy Star appliances, energy efficient heating and cooling systems and about 10-kilowatt solar photovoltaic panels, “will have a HERS of negative 1. Typically, we will produce slightly more energy than the home uses. First, we build the home with added insulation and very tight construction, so it doesn’t consume much energy, and then we add things like the solar panels that generate energy.”

The SAVE Act will encourage more homes built like the net-zero homes planned by New Town. Not only does it save energy and help the environment and create job, but it helps reduce the country’s reliance on foreign countries that may not always be friendly toward the U.S.

“It is a way to encourage the construction of more energy efficient housing, without the government having to subsidize it,” Myers said. “This is not a grant program, so there is no out-of-pocket costs to increase the deficit. And because Bennet has a Republican co-sponsor, it has bipartisan support, rare these days in Washington. But the big question in my mind is given how partisan and dysfunctional Congress is, is there any hope it is going to pass? I don’t know the answer to that, but it something I’m going to ask Sen. Bennet when I see him tomorrow.”

Myers’s word echoed Bennet’s, when he made the announcement about the SAVE Act last October.

“It is rare to have such diverse interests come together, and that’s because this is a common-sense bill,” Bennet said last fall. “The SAVE Act would help provide access to useful information about energy usage that home owners, buyers, appraisers and underwriters want and need. It would lead to more complete and accurate mortgage underwriting, would encourage investments in home energy improvements, create more than 80,000 jobs and lighten the load for Colorado families’ budgets.”

Bennet elaborated on the SAVE Act today.

“When the construction and finance industries realize the benefit of accounting for energy efficiency, thousands of new jobs are sure to follow,” Bennet said. “The SAVE Act would provide owners, buyers, appraisers and underwriters access to useful information about energy usage that will lead to lower energy costs for consumers and thousands of jobs for our economy.”

If passed, Myers knows one person who will directly benefit – his son, Stephen.

One of the best features of the program, for Stephen or anyone else, is that there is no waiting for a payback. Sometimes, it can take years, or even decades, to recoup the cost of energy savings.

“People sometimes ask how long they have to wait to recoup their zero-energy option’ investment – but there is no wait,” Myers said. “If you take out a mortgage, the loan covers the cost of the Zero-Energy Option, and then you just pay the bank with the monthly savings and pocket the rest.”

To find homes by New Town Builders on the resale market, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

Stapleton residents: mark your calendars

John Rebchook — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:19:47 +0000

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Forest City plans to begin residential development north of Northfield Boulevard in Stapleton in late 2012.

The first residents will begin to move into the new development in 2013.

A public meeting regarding the design of the first 50 acres that will serve the neighborhood is scheduled for next month.

The North Stapleton Park Design Public Input Meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the Central Park Recreation Center, 9651 E. Martin Luther King Boulevard.

To find homes for sale in Stapleton, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

Forest City writes check to Urban Peak

John Rebchook — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:32:56 +0000

The 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton.

Forest City Stapleton, Inc. announced today it will make a $54,600 contribution to Urban Peak, representing the gross proceeds of ticket sales for the recent tours of the 2011 HGTV Green Home at Stapleton.

Urban Peak is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services including shelter and meals, education, employment, housing, and medical care to help homeless young people.

“We are pleased to provide this financial support for the important work Urban Peak does to serve homeless young people in the metro Denver area,” said John Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc., the master developer for Denver’s former international airport. “Tours of the HGTV Green Home not only brought the national spotlight to Denver, they also produced funding that will make a difference in the lives of so many young people who benefit from the services provided by one of Denver’s most worthwhile nonprofit organizations.”

Kay Ramachandran , CEO of Urban Peak, was thrilled with the donation.

“Our partnership with Forest City Stapleton through the HGTV Green Home effort has been very unique“because having a home symbolizes self-sufficiency for our youth.,” said Ramachandran . “Forest City’s amazing generosity has directly affected our ability to help youth achieve this success through our programs. We are privileged to have worked with such an incredible team and look forward to a long lasting relationship with Forest City.”

To see what homes are available for sale in Stapleton, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com.

New Town building Net-Zero home

John Rebchook — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:37:21 +0000

New Town Builders is constructing this net-zero home in Stapleton.

New Town Builders, which has been building energy efficient homes in the Denver area for the past 10 years, is raising the green-building bar with its first net-zero energy home.

New Town has broken ground on the net-zero home in Stapleton.

When completion in early November, the net-zero home will be so well insulated and so efficient in its use of energy, the family that buys it may find they will average “no payment due” on their monthly utility bill. New Town Builders will make the net-zero capability a regular add-on feature for all its single-family homes, if buyers request it.

New Town is not the only production builder in the Denver area that is breaking new green ground. Oakwood Homes recently completed its first net-zero home in Green Valley Ranch.

“Years ago, we believed we could set the standard in energy efficiency for new homes, and this net-zero project is further confirmation of our success,” said Gene Myers, chief executive officer of New Town Builders. “While we have consistently averaged single-family Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores in the 50s, we are not content to rest there; and we are excited to be approaching the day in which our customers will save hundreds of dollars a month on their energy bills.”

HERS goal: Zero

A home that is minimally compliant with Denver’s current building code would receive a HERS score of 100, and a home with 30 percent better energy efficiency, for example, would receive a score of 70. New Town builders’ NZE home thus would receive a “perfect” score of zero.

New Town Builders’ HERS’ score of 59 during the past three years and recent scores in the low to mid 40’s puts the company at the top of Denver home builders, according to the company. In the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star measurement, lower scores are better, and New Town Builders’ closest competitors typically average scores for their single-family homes in the 70s.

Perhaps the best news on this 2,204-square-foot house, which will be priced in the $400,000s, is that New Town Builders has designed it with affordability in mind. The features that bring the house to NZE status add only $28,000 to the cost of the house, including the solar power system. At that rate, New Town Builders estimates that the NZE features would pay for themselves after about eight years.

New Town Builders’ home at 8146 E. 35^th Ave. will collect energy via solar panels, retain heat in the winter and cool air in the summer with “super” insulation, and use all energy most sparingly.

Double-wall key

Super-insulation is one of the many green features in this New Town Home Builders net-zero house under construction in Stapleton.

The recipe for the net-zero home starts with the design. While typical “energy efficient” homes have thick exterior walls with 2×6 studs, New Town Builders has designed an innovative concept of “double walls,” using 2×4 studs and half-inch thermal gap between them. The staggered 24-inch space between the studs provides even greater insulation than normally achieved with a more traditional system.

The "double wall" design allows air to serve as additional insulation in the walls of this home under construction in Stapleton.

Other energy efficiencies in the New Town Builders NZE home:

Four-inch increase in the heel height of the roof’s trusses (allowing more space for insulation
Blown fiberglass insulation in all exterior walls
Additional insulation at the foundation wall system
Hybrid tankless water heater
Solar power system with 8-9.5 kilowatt panels
Whole-house ventilation system
EnergyStar appliances
All lighting fixtures feature compact fluorescent bulbs

To learn about New Town Builders, please visit this link.

To see what else is for sale in Stapleton, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Stapleton HGTV home to help Urban Peak

John Rebchook — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:17:53 +0000

This LEED Platinum home in Stapleton will be given away this summer by HGTV.

Urban Peak, a non-profit group that helps homeless youths and those in danger of becoming homeless, will be the recipient of a fundraising tour of the 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton.

Urban Peak provides housing, medical care and counseling to homeless young people.

The HGTV cable-TV network in August will give away the 2,400-square-foot green home in Stapleton. The house, built by Infinity Home Collection, has a Platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It also has an Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that attest to its energy efficiency, indoor air quality and careful selection of recycled materials. Recycled material from the former Stapleton International Airport used in the landscape for the HGTV Green Home includes a portion of the airport’s “blast fence” and runway concrete known as “StapleStone.”

National spotlight helps local group

“We are very pleased to help support vital services for the homeless youth of Denver by contributing the net proceeds from the tours of the HGTV Green Home at Stapleton to Urban Peak,” said John Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc., master developer of the former airport. “Because interest in the 2011 HGTV Green Home Giveaway has placed Stapleton in the national spotlight, we will be able to turn the tremendous interest in this fabulous new home into an opportunity to raise funds for an important cause in Metropolitan Denver.”

Kay Ramachandran, CEO of Urban Peak, said the green home and Urban Peak provide a good fit.

Being "green" doesn't mean ugly, as the great room in this Platinum LEED home in Stapleton shows.

“Sustainability is the perfect theme for this partnership,” said Ramachandran. “Much as HGTV, Forest City Stapleton and Infinity Home Collection have prioritized sustainability in building this exceptional home, Urban Peak focuses on sustainability and self-sufficiency in all its programs and services to help homeless youth overcome real life challenges and find a safe place to live.”

Patio view of Stapleton home by Infinity.

New Central Park West Neighborhood

The HGTV Green Home is just east of the new Central Park West Neighborhood, which is under construction now with some of the most energy efficient homes yet to be built at Stapleton. Built on intimate open space gathering places known as “mews,” many homes in Central Park West will offer solar electric power as a standard feature. The Central Park West neighborhood is within walking distance of a new Denver Public School and major retail, as well as the planned FasTracks rail station and multimodal transportation facility scheduled to open by January 2016.

Ticket sales will begin this Friday, April 1. They may be purchased online at www.stapletondenver.com in advance of taking a tour or purchased at the Stapleton Discovery Center after it opens May 5^th. All tickets will be priced at $20 with net proceeds going to Urban Peak programs addressing homelessness involving young people.

Tours of the HGTV Green Home will run from May 5^th – July 3rd, Thursdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and on Sundays, from noon – 5 p.m., as well as Memorial Day, 10.a.m.- 6 p.m., and July 3^rd, noon – 5 p.m.

Tour tickets must be picked up at Will Call, in the Stapleton Discovery Center located at Syracuse Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. Parking is available and timed tours will depart every 20-30 minutes via shuttles.

To find homes for sale in Stapleton, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Stapleton No. 1

John Rebchook — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:49:28 +0000

Stapleton retained its ranking in 2010 as the top Denver-area master-planned community, according to a report released on Friday.

Last year, Stapleton captured 7.4 percent all new home closings, according to data compiled by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence and released by the Genesis Group, a real estate marketing research and analysis firm. Stapleton boasted a 20 percent increase in new home closings in 2010 compared with a 6 percent decline throughout the metropolitan area.

John S. Lehigh, president of master developer Forest City Stapleton, Inc., attributed the success to the quality of life Stapleton has achieved through its commitment to sustainable development, a reputation recently highlighted when HGTV built its 2011 Green Home at Stapleton.

“Stapleton continues to enjoy strong housing sales in spite of a very difficult economy,” Lehigh said. “Our homebuilders offer a range of housing types and prices that has strong appeal to the market, capitalizing on Stapleton’s reputation as one of the most desirable and successful new neighborhoods in the nation.”

Central Park West

Stapleton is moving forward on a new neighborhood, which he expects will draw more buyers.

“We are now carrying that momentum forward to the development now underway for the new Central Park West neighborhood,” Lehigh said.

Central Park West is immediately adjacent to the new Swigert-McAuliffe International K-8 school Denver Public Schools will open at East 35^th Avenue and Syracuse Street in August. One of the last two neighborhoods to be developed on the south side of I-70, Central Park West is centrally located and benefits from some of the best amenities Stapleton has to offer. The E. 29th Ave Town Center is a 5-minute walk to the south and the 80-acre Stapleton Central Park is located across the street to the east. The Quebec Square Retail Center is immediately north of 35th Avenue and the future Stapleton transit oriented development and an RTD FasTracks rail stop will be located to the north of the Central Park West neighborhood along Uinta Street.

Central Park West will be comprised of approximately 375 homes ranging in price from the mid $100,000s for row homes to more than $700,000 for single family detached homes.

“Mews,” the cat’s meow

“Central Park West has unique open space and landscape features designed to define its unique character and identity,” said Heidi Majerik, director of development for Forest City Stapleton, Inc. “The use of integrated linear open spaces called “mews” will provide public open space immediately fronting homes, becoming the focus of the neighborhood and a place for residents to interact and foster a sense of community. “

Infinity Home Collection
New Town Builders
Wonderland Homes
Parkwood Homes,
KB Home
David Weekley
Standard Pacific.

About Stapleton

The redevelopment of the 4,700 acre Stapleton International Airport commenced in May 2001. Forest City is the master developer selected by the City of Denver to implement a development plan created by the citizens of Aurora, Denver and Commerce City who envisioned the former airport could become a mixed use and pedestrian friendly urban neighborhood. Currently Stapleton has an estimated population of more than 12,000 residents who live in 3992 homes and 484 apartments. Stapleton also has more than 2 million square feet of new retail, approximately 500 acres of new parks and open space, and two Denver Public Schools elementary schools, with a third under construction for a scheduled opening in the Central Park West Neighborhood in August. Stapleton also is home to the Denver School of Science and Technology.

To see what is for sale in Stapleton, please visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

Stapleton bucks trend

John Rebchook — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:29:59 +0000

Home sales in Stapleton rose by almost 10 percent in 2010 over 2009, bucking a national decline in new and existing home sales nationwide, a top official of the developer of the former airport said on Wednesday.

Stapleton home sales continued a positive trend in 2010, bucking a national decline in new and existing home sales across the nation, said John S. Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc.

Buyers purchased 453 homes in Stapleton in 2010, compared with 412 in 2009, said John S. Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton Inc..

Last year, homes purchased at Stapleton were comprised of 280 new homes with the balance involving 173 resales. During the previous year, those numbers were 238 and 174, respectively. Lehigh said the 2010 sales have built momentum for the launch of Central Park West, Stapleton’s next new residential neighborhood.

Central Park West

“We are now carrying that momentum forward to the development now underway for the new Central Park West neighborhood,” Lehigh added. Central Park West is immediately adjacent to the new Swigert-McAuliffe International K-8 school. Denver Public Schools will open it at East 35^th Avenue and Syracuse Street in August.

One of the last two neighborhoods to be developed on the south side of I-70, Central Park West is centrally located and close to amenities. The E. 29th Ave Town Center is a 5 minute-walk to the south and the 80-acre Stapleton Central Park is lacross the street to the east. The Quebec Square Retail Center is immediately north of 35th Avenue and the future Stapleton transit oriented development and an RTD FasTracks rail stop will be to the north of the Central Park West neighborhood along Uinta Street. Central Park West will include about 375 homes ranging in price from the mid $100,000s for row homes to more than $700,000 for single family detached homes.

Raising the bar on green building

Majerik said Central Park West will have energy efficient “smarter” homes that increase Stapleton’s residential sustainability performance to the highest levels to date. Builders selected by Forest City to build homes in this new neighborhood include Infinity Home Collection, New Town Builders, Wonderland Homes, Parkwood Homes, KB Home, David Weekley and Standard Pacific.

Meanwhile, Stapleton’s reputation as one of the nation’s most livable new urban communities was further enhanced in the fall of last year when Home and Garden TV selected Stapleton as the location to build a “green” home that will be given away this spring as part of a national promotion.

Built by Infinity Home Collection, the custom-built 2,400 square foot LEED Platinum home is located at 35^th and Wabash in the North Central Park Neighborhood. The HGTV 2011 Green Home will be open for public tours beginning this spring.

Stapleton is one of the nation’s largest infill developments.

Stapleton also has more than 2 million square feet of new retail, approximately 500 acres of new parks and open space, and two Denver Public Schools elementary schools, with a third under construction for a scheduled opening in the Central Park West Neighborhood in August of this year. Stapleton is also home to the Denver School of Science and Technology, one of the most successful schools in the Denver Public Schools system.

About Forest City

Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is an NYSE-listed national real estate company with $11.8 billion in total assets. The company is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.forestcity.net

For homes listed for sale in Stapleton, visit this COhomefinder.com link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

New Town Builders unveils green, affordable Stapleton homes

John Rebchook — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:04:38 +0000

New Town Builders this week opened homes in Stapleton that it describes as the most affordable, energy efficient new homes in the area.

These units in Stapleton are green, but don't cost a lot of green (as in dollars), according to New Town Builders.

The company’s Central Park Row Home models are priced from $141,800 to $235,900. Standard, sustainable features include 2×6 outer wall studs, blown-in, R-20 cellulose insulation and sealant applied to drywall and framing components at window and door openings (to eliminate air penetration and minimize drafts).

All New Town Builders homes come with the seal of approval from Energy Star, and all homes include The Energy Detective® system that monitors and tracks real-time usage of electrical energy and the associated costs, allowing residents to manage their energy expenses.

1st phase sold out

New Town Builders already has sold out of its existing inventory in its first phase. Homes placed under contract today could be available for occupancy by late November.

The two- and three-bedroom model townhomes ranging in size from 1,166 to 1,479 square feet are open at Geneva Street and 29th Drive. They feature expansive windows that open the interior to natural light, almost creating a “loft-living” sensation on the main level.

Despite the sluggish market, demand is expected to be strong for the latest offering. For example, buyers who want an “end” unit, will probably have to make their stake early in this next round of order-placing. Those end units, typically most desirable, also offer more window space with wrap-around decks.

Front porches, courtyards

Every Central Park Row Home includes a front porch (big enough for a table and four chairs) and a generous deck made of composite materials. Attached garages (one- or two-car) and General Electric black appliances are standard. Additionally, all units have covered, 8-foot high entryways, with doors containing frosted glass inserts.

The three-bedroom units come with 2 ½ baths and a walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Every unit abuts a courtyard.

The models are open Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; Mondays, noon to 6 p.m.; and Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the sales office at 2996 Geneva St., call 303-320-3800 or contact Jill Price at jill.price@newtownbuilders.com.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.

New Town Unveils Stapleton Homes

John Rebchook — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:12:31 +0000

Although the construction of new homes has come almost to a standstill in the Denver area, New Town Builders is offering two new model homes in Stapleton that are extremely energy efficient.

The pair of homes on Akron Street north of 35th Avenue opened recently as part of New Town Builders’ new Solaris collection, offering the what it describes as the “most advanced residential building techniques to conserve energy, lower utility bills and affect the environment in the least obtrusive manner.”

The Solaris collection of seven layouts (each with two elevations) are priced from $344,900 and go to $459,900 without upgrades. They range in size from 1,985 square feet to 2,490 square feet above ground.

“Our Solaris collection pulls together the most modern advances in energy efficiency and sustainability in the most cost-effective manner that anyone will see in the Denver area,” said Gene Myers, chief executive officer of New Town Builders. “These features are easy on the environment and even easier on the wallet. Many of them translate into long-term savings that make the Solaris a can’t-miss investment.”

In addition to New Town Builders’s trademark of including solar energy systems, green features of Solaris homes include: An official, measurable energy rating among the best in the Denver area; huge swaths of glass glass throughout the home, promoting a feeling of openness; high efficiency water heater, with a timed hot water recirculation system; Tyvek house wrap for protection against water and air infiltration; exterior walls with 2×6 studs, 24-inches on center, allowing for more insulation, increasing exterior wall thermal resistance; low-E windows, backed by a lifetime warranty, that meet or exceed Energy Star qualifications; and sound-dampening, and cast-iron waste lines from the second floor to basement ceiling.

The homes also feature media outlets for voice, data, audio and video services at all bedrooms, studies, lofts and kitchen

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.

Hickenlooper announces Denver design award winners

John Rebchook — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:23:26 +0000

The trendy Root Down restaurant, the Steam Plant Lofts in Lowry, Hangar 61 in Stapleton, and the entire Krisana Park neighborhood were among the winners in this year’s Denver design awards.

Mayor John Hickenlooper celebrated the growing number of Denver’s homeowners, small business owners and developers who have made design excellence a priority in their community.

The trendy Root Down restaurant, which would not have gotten off the ground without the help of borker Paul Tamburello, was one of the Mayor Design Award winners.

“Great cities are just as enriched by many small and beautiful design interventions as they are by large and bold civic gestures,” said Hickenlooper.

The awards were presented earlier this month at the L2 Arts & Culture Center located at 1477 Columbine Street in Denver.

“No matter how large or small the project, design matters. We all benefit when owners go the extra mile to invest time, money and creativity into their property, creating a culture of quality design and encouraging others to follow suit. These honorees are diverse examples of how attention to design details makes Denver a special place to live, work and play,” said Mayor Hickenlooper.

“The Mayor’s Design Awards recognizes and encourages well designed small projects throughout our neighborhoods,” said Denver Planning Manager Peter J. Park. “Good design happens on its own when enlightened owners recognize the benefit and invest in quality design. Their design efforts make our city interesting, provocative and memorable.”

Co-sponsoring the 2009 Mayor’s Design Awards were: AIA Denver, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects; Colfax Events Center, 5280 Urban Homes, Steuben’s, Pasquini’s, Whole Foods and the Denver Community Planning and Development Department.

The 2009 Mayor’s Design Awards recipients are:

Category: A Perfect Fit

1. Hodgin/Binswanger Residence, 640 Race St.

2. Bement Residence, 999 S. Euclid St.

3. Krisana Park Neighborhood, bounded by East Louisiana Avenue, South Filbert Way, East Florida Avenue and South Edison Way

Category: The Past Is Present

1. Hangar 61, 8800 East 21st Ave.

2. Dry Ice Factory, 3300 Walnut St.

3. JohnstonWells, 1321 East 15th St.

Category: Reclaimed Splendor

1. Luna Residence,1715 Ogden St.

2. Root Down,1600 West 33rd Ave.

3. in situ DESIGN, studiotrope Design Collective and Grassroots Neighborhood Development, 2942 Welton St.

Category: Home Is Where The Art Is

1. The Pattern Shop, 3349 Blake St.

2. The Reading Garden, 5th Avenue and Trenton Street.

Category: Many Shades of Green

1. The Shoppe, 3103 Colfax Ave

Category: Buildings That Beckon

1. Steam Plant Lofts, 7752 East 4th Ave.

2. Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria, 2129 Larimer St.

3. Metro Frame Works, 4400 Tennyson St.

Hangar 61 was one of a number of projects lauded by Mayor Hickenlooper.

Previous honorees may be viewed on www.DenverGov.Org/MDA .

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