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OFC's Guide to Real Estate and Home Improvement - Inside & Out

Are you prospecting for real estate 'gold'?


Are you one of the many people who live in Colorado and wish they had bought a mountain home or a LoDo loft before they became hot properties? Too bad for you.

No need to cry over spilt milk or lost opportunity, though, because everyone deserves a second chance. And for those with a pioneering spirit and adventurous attitude, another “hidden real estate gem” might be closer than you think. In fact, this gem is just down the road (Brighton Boulevard, to be more exact) from Coors Field and serves as an important gateway to our great city. The River North Neighborhood (affectionately referred to as “RiNo” by the people who already live and work there), is already underway with what could amount to $1 billion worth of new development during the next 10 to 15 years.

One of the most exciting new developments for River North is Beleza, a luxury condominium building scheduled to break ground in the next few weeks. It will join the already incredibly successful TAXI mixed-use project (being developed by Mickey Zeppelin, one of the original visionaries for LoDo) as a new RiNo project and help lead the charge for redevelopment plans along Brighton Boulevard.

Beleza could be the next great condo building in downtown's next great location and an opportunity for people to get in on the ground floor. The property will feature 66 residences in a building that will remind many of something out of the Jetsons. For example, a keyless biometric system will provide keyless access to residents. Climate-controlled window blinds will open and close automatically, depending on outdoor weather conditions. An AMX control panel will enable residents to select, request and schedule a variety of services, control audio, video and home theater systems and even check in on their doggy at the 3,800-square-foot indoor/outdoor dog park. Cool stuff.

The developers of the Beleza building have been actively involved with the City of Denver in redevelopment plans for River North. The city's project manager for neighborhood revitalization, James Busby, recently presented development plans for River North at an event hosted by the development team and Coldwell Banker Previews. Needless to say, as the final riverfront location for development in Denver's urban core, RiNo is getting a lot of careful and thoughtful attention – the kind of attention that will likely lead to new park space, quality residential, office and retail development, the addition of a light rail station and overall improvement to this next great Denver location. “River North is already a well-established neighborhood that is distinguishing itself as an emerging area for very positive and attractive development,” says Curt LeRossignol, co-owner of River North Properties, LLC, the developer of Beleza. “The future of this community is truly a 'Renaissance on the River.' It is extremely promising, especially knowing that the vast majority of businesses and individuals located here – some as long as 40 to 50 years – are in support of new development plans. We're excited to have their involvement and look forward to creating a unique, sustainable urban community unique to Colorado and perhaps the entire U.S.”

So if you were feeling left behind when it came to some of Denver's other “hot locations,” RiNo may be the second chance you were hoping for. The folks at Beleza would be more than happy to tell you about their project (obviously), and are more than capable of sharing important information about River North. If you're interested, feel free to visit them at their sales office located at 1575 California Street, or check out their Web site. Who knows – you might strike gold.

For more information, go to www.live-beleza.com.


Bell Tower Residences


A year and a half ago, the proud 100-year-old blond brick church on 23rd and Ogden sat forlorn, draped in soot and nearly vacant on its corner lot in Denver’s San Rafael district. It was on the brink of destruction, with a prospective purchaser planning to tear it down to make room for modern condos, when Denver developer Charles Nash had a vision.

In October 2007, Nash, a long-time reviver of beautiful historic buildings, walked into the vast former home of the New Hope Baptist Church to find two voluminous rooms: a sanctuary with 32- foot ceilings and a magnificent arched choir where Coretta Scott King once spoke, and a balconied auditorium adjoined to the sanctuary by a retractable wall that opened on Sundays to accommodate its thriving congregation. What Nash saw in this once-sacred place of worship were sacred places to live. To preserve the spirit of the building, Nash envisioned dividing the space not into many small living spaces, but into four large and gracious homes. What has transpired from that vision are the Bell Tower Residences, and they are nearly complete.

With soaring ceilings and 1,000-square-foot great rooms, city-view roof decks and loft-style balconies, each 4,000-5,000-square-foot home constitutes an oasis in the center of Denver, only a mile from downtown in the emerging area between Uptown and the restaurant Mecca of 17th Ave. Unique and modern design, accented by original details and the caramel-tinted glow of century-old stained glass windows, is embodied in the Bell Tower Residences.

Each residence is unique. A hand-carved oak door leads into the southernmost residence, 2267, which boasts the Bell Tower Residences’ most dramatic curve. The original church entry opens to 2271 with its turreted brick and stone archway. 2275 features an entire east wall of nearly 20-foottall stained glass windows and the stunning three-level bell tower. 2283, with its elevated kitchen and dining area, is prime for entertaining of all kinds. Each residence includes a private elevator and a two-car garage.

Future thinking for this historic building has kept the project focused on sustainability. Nash has built into the residences high-efficiency zoned heating systems, tankless hot-water heaters, highdensity insulation, Low-E windows and recycled materials to usher the Bell Tower Residences from its turn-of-the-century roots into the green revolution of the 21st century.

Having revived the building for sustainable, unique city living, Nash is leaving the details almost entirely up to the buyers. He will finish one of the residences completely to show the possibilities for interior design. The other three will be broad canvases to custom tailor to any lifestyle – an interior designer’s dream. And the price is right, too – the residences are selling for under $420 per square foot. There are still a few touches to complete before unveiling the project to the public, but a sneak preview weekend is scheduled for April 18-19 to showcase progress and entice interested buyers with a knack and a vision to custom finish one of these magnificent Denver homes.

For more information, contact Megan Price at 720-297-5191 or e-mail mprice@opusnet.com
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It's all in the name


These days, it makes a lot of sense to find out all you can about the companies you're doing business with – especially when deciding on a major real estate purchase. And while Denver is fortunate to have a high number of quality builders and developers underway on several new residential projects, one company has distinguished itself with two of the city's most successful and popular new condo buildings.

Opus Northwest (Opus), which is building The Pinnacle at City Park South (two luxury towers with 252 residences, located across 17th Street from City Park) and The Wynkoop Residences (a five-story building with 22 distinctive residences, located in LoDo), is a well-established and highly respected real estate developer. The company has been developing real estate throughout the nation since 1955 and opened its Denver office in 1994.

Today, Opus' Pinnacle and Wynkoop projects are being touted as great successes, based on their quality design and construction, the tremendous locations of both buildings and the level of services and amenities being provided. In fact, The Pinnacle was selected as the “Development of the Year” in 2008 by NAIOP, a major real estate organization, and has sold approximately 90 percent of the residences in its first tower. Both are major accomplishments for a development team that has transformed the site of an abandoned hospital building – Mercy Hospital – into one of the most valuable and sought after real estate properties in Denver.


“Opus prides itself on being able to envision what a property can become and how it can improve the overall landscape, all while addressing an existing need in the market,” says Scott Menefee, vice president of real estate for Opus Northwest. “The Pinnacle and the Wynkoop Residences are much more than new condominium projects. They're respectful additions to two great Denver neighborhoods that are helping to further elevate the value and appeal of their surroundings. It's important to us to be good neighbors, while providing more people with an opportunity to live in these great Denver locales.”

The Wynkoop Residences provide one of the more unique – and well appointed – living arrangements in all of Denver. Located in an “urban” cul-de-sac, the Wynkoop building fronts Cherry Creek and is within walking distance of everything that's great about living in the city (restaurants, entertainment, sporting events – you name it, it's right outside the front door).

The exclusive building features contemporary residences priced from $400,000 to $1.7 million and ranging in size from 927 square feet to 2,300 square feet for one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver, along with generously sized balconies and entry through a private lobby, also add to the appeal of The Wynkoop Residences.

The Pinnacle defines all that makes “high-rise living” so special. A 27-story tower and 22-story tower stand side by side and provide unmatched views of downtown Denver, the mountains, City Park and the entire cityscape. People who live here are also treated to a lengthy list of services and amenities, including a spacious outdoor pool and sundeck (with views that must be seen), a wine-tasting room complete with wine lockers, a professionally equipped fitness center and sauna and a full-time on-site staff. The list goes on. Prices at The Pinnacle range from $299,900 to $2.75 million and units range in size from 826 square feet to 4,646 square feet. Eighteen new townhomes also surround the two towers and range in price from $429,900 to $707,000 and range in size from 1,562 square feet to 2,071 square feet. If you're in the market for a new home, Opus is a company you'll want to get to know.

For more information, go to www.wynkoopresidences.com and www.thepinnaclecps.com.