Colorado Real Estate Journal - June 17, 2015
An approximately $75 million hotel is scheduled to arrive in the Union Station neighborhood, meeting up with a piece of Denver history. Combining an international brand with a boutiquelike product, Focus Property Group will break ground this summer on the Hilton Garden Inn – Denver Union Station, which will incorporate Hose House No. 1. Denver’s oldest standing fire station, built in 1883, the hose house will be restored and become the heart of a restaurant to serve hotel guests and the neighborhood. The 12-story, 222-room hotel, at the corner of 20th and Chestnut streets, is scheduled for completion in first-quarter 2017. Denver-based Focus Property Group selected the Hilton Garden Inn brand because it was looking for a strong, upscale select-service product with a robust distribution system, according to Josh Fine, Focus vice president and general counsel. “We really like Hilton Garden Inn because the brand allows us to be creative with the hotel,” he added. “We are able to have quite a bit of freedom and flexibility with the design of the hotel … to utilize the uniqueness of the location and site for a hotel that’s special.” Designed by JG Johnson Architects, the Hilton Garden Inn will feature a rooftop deck with a bar. “It will have really dramatic views of downtown Denver, the mountains and Coors Field – you’ll actually be able to see into the field and see some of the action,” said Fine. There also will be a little more than 5,000 square feet of ballroom space and meeting rooms for business gatherings, weddings and other events. Additional amenities include a swimming pool with floor-toceiling glass that can be opened to the outdoors, a fitness center and two levels of underground parking. Alliance Construction Solutions is the contractor. The Hilton Garden Inn – Denver Union Station will be in company of other new, “boutiquey” hotels in the Union Station neighborhood, including the Crawford, and planned Kimpton and Indigo hotels. Focus Property Group isn’t bothered by the new supply because of Denver’s strength at absorbing additional guest rooms. “We just have, historically, high occupancy. The fundamentals of Denver are very strong. I think Denver could use and really needs additional hotel rooms,” said Fine. “We are very excited for our development and very bullish on it. We really like the neighborhood because it has this ‘boutiquey,’ unique feel,” he said, adding there are travelers who want to stay in that type of location and also be able to accumulate their Hilton loyalty rewards points. “We’ve been investing in downtown Denver and this neighborhood for years, and we’re really excited about our development and all the other developments because, while we’re all competitors, we all need to develop great product to make the neighborhood the great neighborhood it’s going to be. I think Union Station is shaping up to be Denver's most exciting few blocks,” Fine said.