Landlord looks to build apartments next to establishment

The firm that owns Blake Street Tavern’s real estate plans to build apartments next to the sports bar. The bar disclosed during the weekend that it will close next month.

Seattle- based Urban Renaissance Group has submitted plans to the city proposing a five-story, 58-unit building at 2325 Blake St., adjacent to the tavern at 2301 Blake St.

The structure would be built largely on the footprint of an existing parking lot. But development plans also call for demolition of a portion of the space used by Blake Street Tavern, specifically its “tailgate room,” which has its own bar and can be rented out for private events.

Urban Renaissance Group didn’t respond to requests for comment, and tavern owner Chris Fuselier couldn’t be reached for comment. Restaurant manager Rhiannon Arriaga Mackenzie, however, told Businessden the development plans factored into the decision to close.

Arriaga Mackenzie said the business’ lease is up April 15, and the bar initially looked to move nearby. She noted the tavern moved to 2301 Blake in 2010 because its original location a block away was redeveloped into an apartment complex.

“That was our original plan; we are adapted to move,” Arriaga Mackenzie said. “But my boss is kind of throwing in the towel.”

The tavern’s final day of operation will be April 9, the weekend following opening day for the Colorado Rockies. The bar is a block from Coors Field.

Urban Renaissance Group paid $21 million in 2016 for the 2301-2325 Blake St. parcel, which in addition to the sports bar and parking lot includes space used by the coworking firm Spaces.

Blake Street Tavern’s building is part of the city- designated Ballpark Historic District, which regulates changes to building exteriors. But the restaurant’s tailgate room was added to the building after the original date of construction and is considered not to contribute to the historic district, records show.

Urban Renaissance also owns the property behind the tavern at 1561 Park Ave. West and 2399 Blake St., having paid $33 million for that site in 2018. A brick building that was formerly on that property has been demolished. The company also has submitted plans to build apartments on that site.

Urban Renaissance also owns the building at 100 Speer Blvd. used by TV station Fox31.