The future of the old Smiley’s Laundromat building at Colfax Avenue and Downing Street remains up in the air. Conflicting concerns about parking and historic preservation are keeping a planned development from progressing.
Property owner CIG Investments’ plans include two stories of below-grade parking; ground floor, marketplace-style retail; one floor of co-working space; and five stories with 184 residential units.
The current zoning code requires approximately 200 parking spaces, which would be difficult to achieve while preserving the 1930s-era building. It would necessitate excavating under the existing building, which would present structural problems.
According to CIG’s Vice President of Real Estate Tim Bertoch, “What’s becoming an issue is how to preserve the building and still provide sufficient parking to make a long-term viable project. For us to achieve the scale that would allow us to make this project successful and bring that type of activation to that area requires us to redevelop the entire site.”
It’s estimated retaining the existing building would reduce parking availability by more than 50 spaces.
Swallow Hill Neighborhood Association’s Teresa Caballero and husband Alex Torres said the project as planned is exciting.
“Finally someone is coming to invest in this area of Colfax and we need to encourage them,” Caballero said. “We hope Historic Denver and the developer can come up with a compromise. But,” she added, “parking is a huge concern and it’s not clear if the parking would be enough for the project they have planned.”
CIG filed in May for a Certificate of Non-Historic Status, which would allow it to demolish the building. Historic Denver, Inc. countered with an application to designate the building as a landmark, contending it is a significant example of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architectural styles. Moreover, Historic Denver said the building is of historic significance on Colfax Avenue. It originally was a commercial hub for the neighborhood and later became Smiley’s Laundromat, which opened in 1979 and acquired a unique identity as a community landmark, billing itself as the world’s largest laundromat with 182 washers and 170 dryers.
CIG withdrew its application and negotiations have continued. Recently, CIG met with representatives from Historic Denver, the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods and the Swallow Hill Neighborhood Association.
“It’s frustrating that neither side [Historic Denver or CIG] brought new ideas or solutions to the last meeting. It seems like they’re just reinforcing their positions,” Torres said.
“We hope the building will be retained, or at least a substantial part of the building left intact,” Historic Denver’s Annie Levinsky said.
Nevertheless, none of the parties involved have come up with an agreeable compromise.
“[CIG] had a few ideas, but nothing really specific,” Levinsky said. “Our board and committee are trying to identify other things that could be compromise elements.”
“I’m always encouraged when we can meet and have a discussion,” Bertoch said. “What’s becoming an issue is how to preserve the building while providing sufficient parking to provide long-term viability for the project. We’re continuing to follow up and see if there are ideas we hadn’t considered and ideas where we could compromise.”
“Having an unoccupied building is not good for the neighborhood,” Caballero said. “The developer’s plan is something like The Source [in RiNo]. It would bring back a marketplace like it used to be.”
She said the developers have expressed willingness to take feedback on the project’s design from the neighbors.
“Everybody wants something good to happen there,” Caballero added. “We just want a compromise.”
Caballero and Torres feel a successful project at the Smiley’s location could jump start a renaissance along that stretch of Colfax.
