Holiday hideout: Penthouse between Cherry Creek and downtown views a center city poised for a comeback
In this very improbable year, the one area of Denver’s real estate market that reacted poorly to the virus shutdown was in downtown, where Realtors and builders all reported a noticeable slowing— as opposed to other areas of town where sales rocketed this year. But the core city is about to make a COVID comeback, says Kentwood City Properties’ Dee Chirafisi, an expert in those urban markets, including LoDo, RiNo, and LoHi. Chirafisi has a dazzling penthouse condo to show you by appointment at 400 E. Third Avenue, midway between downtown and Cherry Creek, that has amazing views across that center- city area. It’s just coming on the market this weekend— decked out for Christmas by a seller that’s hosted kids and grandkids here for a dozen holidays when no one could have imagined the restrictions that families face this year in getting together. But the core city is already showing a turnaround, Chirafisi says. “Initially there was an overreaction of people wanting to flee the city; but now that’s calmed down,” she adds. “There’s not a ton of inventory on the market; people are waiting to sell, knowing that it’s going to come back.” Condos are already moving— and Chirafisi has living proof. She and Kentwood’s Kevin Garrett and Matthew McNeill are exclusive agents for McGregor Square Residences, the LoDo project on the south side of Coors Field, two blocks from Union Station. With first move- ins set for February, 65% of its 103 units are already under contract— all of those sales arriving since coronavirus.
City/ mountain views
The 15th floor penthouse that Chirafisi is bringing to market now, close to Denver Country Club and the Cherry Creek Trail, represents a big value on urban space, she says. It shows three bedrooms, four baths, and additional work- fromhome spaces— created from two penthouse units, totaling 4,542 sq. feet. The price is $ 3.175 million, at $ 699/ sq. foot. You’ll see a beckoning great room looking west across the city to a hundredmile span of Front Range peaks, showcased from several of six balconies. Kitchen and dining areas look east toward Denver Country Club and Cherry Creek; highlighting the easy access to all of the new dining there. The unit has four dedicated parking spaces, along with access to 400 E. Third’s well proportioned community areas, fitness center, and concierge services— something Chirafisi says that residents have developed a strong appreciation for during the shutdown. This is for someone who wants to entertain,” she adds, “when we can do that again.”
– Mark Samuelson writes on real estate and business; email him at mark@marksamuelson.com. See all his columns online at DenverPost.com