District Ponders Beverly Hills Hip Vs. NY Village Vibes; Dumpsters On Street Plus Sardine Can Size Micro Apartments
by Glen Richardson
In 2018 Cherry Creek North projected completion of nine out of 10 of its building projects, but as the new decade begins the flurry of construction shows no sign of slowing. The neighborhood has slapped on so much development in the past half-dozen years many residents and small business owners are wishing for a moratorium to absorb the growth.
The pace of development-driven change has been head-spinning, adding millions of square feet of apartment and commercial space while upending shopping and crushing the streetscape, parking and vibe of the district.
In addition to lack of planning for and management of projects, construction workers and developers have total control of the streets with little or no concern for shoppers or retail owners. Equally disturbing, the district still hasn’t decided on a direction to take to make the district an attractive destination.
Beverly Hills Look
At the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District’s December board meeting, BID officials once again contemplated trying to become Beverly Hills. It was the third time the board has listened to Emzy Veazy III tell them how to copy Beverly Hills and retake lost marketing share and become a world class destination. He also attended and addressed BID in 2006 and 2017.
Beverly Hills, of course, is known as one of the most fashionable places to shop. In the heart of it all sits Rodeo Drive — one of the most famous streets on the globe. It has more than 100 world-renowned stores and hotels along its three blocks.
BID board member Terri Garbarini — owner of a Cherry Creek women’s shop for more than 20 years — has pushed for the Beverly Hills image. She once told the Denver Business Journal, “Cherry Creek has become Beverly Hills without pretentiousness — and business wants in.” She originally had a shoe store in Larimer Square, then relocated to Cherry Creek and reopened as a dress shop on 3rd Ave. In 2013 Garbarini paid $5 million for the building at 239 N. Detroit St. and moved into the larger space.
Or New York Style
Meanwhile Matt Joblon — CEO of BMC Investments and another BID Board Member — has been transforming the district into something much more like New York’s Greenwich Village. His projects have added New York style hotels and eateries to Cherry Creek. Joblon’s $30 million makeover of the Inn at Cherry Creek underway on Clayton St. is being designed as an 18-hour-a-day nightlife hub similar to those in the Village.
Referred to as the “Village” by New Yorkers, its history is artsy and edgy. It is eminently walkable, and may have more culture per square foot than any other area of New York. Today it also features sleek new construction, upscale restaurants and dozens of gyms.
Jokingly introduced by former Neighborhood Assn. President Robert Vogel as the man who wants to change the district’s name to “Joblonville,” BMC built the Steele Creek Apartments, Halcyon Hotel, the Financial House and St. Paul Collection. Projects scheduled to start this year include a five to seven-story structure with retail on Fillmore St. and a six-story Equinox Fitness building on St. Paul
Eateries, Retail Turmoil
Not all of the BID board, however, has benefited from the district’s massive construction projects. Marshall Miranda closed his distinctive Bombay Clay Oven on Steele St. in April of last year. A Cherry Creek fixture since 1997, he blamed the closure on “several years of heavy construction that made access to the eatery difficult and parking all but impossible.” Laurel Cherry Creek, a 12-story luxury condo opened several months later.
Hedge Row — the restaurant across from Miranda’s eatery at 100 Steele St. — shuttered before Miranda called it quits. Kitchen Restaurant Group co-founder Kimbal Musk blamed parking shortages and constant lane closures for the decision. Construction was also a factor for the Thirsty Lion closure. Harmon’s Eat & Drink didn’t renew its least on East 2nd Ave. blaming rent increases. Even Wolfgang Puck couldn’t make it in Harmon’s space.
Cherry Creek’s retail has also struggled due to the unmanaged building boom and rapidly rising rents. After five years in the upscale Fillmore Place development, the Hallmark store at 2940 E. 2nd Ave. closed in January. The store’s lease ended last July but remained open through the holidays paying rent monthly. The Jonathan Adler’s store at 158 Fillmore St. in Cherry Creek also closed last year. The high-end furnishings brand was the only Adler store in the region. Other closures included Eccentricity, a women’s clothing, accessories and gift store at 290 Fillmore St. and St. Croix on East 3rd Ave.
Positive Shopping News
Many residents and longtime state/regional customers are concerned about the future of what has long been a neighborhood hangout for shopping, dining and entertainment. The uncertainty that comes with new construction, vacant storefronts and potential new owners makes them apprehensive.
As development triggers the departure of eateries and retail shops — particularly independent boutiques — there’s also a bit of positive news to uplift shoppers. Rather than closing Adornments, owner Helen Wicker has sold the local store to longtime manager Consuelo Diaz. Wicker has moved to Santa Fe where she owns sister store Adorn.
Diaz has managed the Cherry Creek store for 23 years, assisting the boutique’s devoted customers. “Adornments will continue the unique, stylish and artistic vision that has made the fashion store a Valley favorite,” she tells the Chronicle. The store features a continuously changing collection of clothing, jewelry and accessories. Diaz and her friendly-knowledgeable staff enjoy helping women with their individual style and finding “clothing and accessories to Adore.” Adornments is located at 2826 East 3rd Ave. Information: 303-321-7992.
Dumpsters, Micro Flats
District shop owners, however, continue to face challenges due to the uncontrolled construction. Harriet’s, a clothing boutique at 300 Fillmore, recently found a construction dumpster taking up the metered spaces in front of the shop. Owner Harriet Gibson, an unabashedly direct business woman, eventually got the dumpsters moved albeit only few spaces down the street in front of the library.
Upscale Cherry Creek North shopping faces yet another challenge: Limited land in the district is attracting another kind of development — living like fancy sardines in micro apartments. A five-story, 37-unit micro-apartment building is expected to open this spring at 135 Adams St. in Cherry Creek. Amazingly neighborhood groups couldn’t halt the Barry Hirschfeld-led development that features no parking in the already dense neighborhood.
Whether Cherry Creek chooses to imitate Greenwich Village or Beverly Hills, the district is unlikely to become an awe-inspiring destination until it becomes walkable, has parking and can attract and keep shopping boutiques, vibrant venues and restaurants that create a unique destination.