PRESS
RELEASE
PIONEER CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
ANNOUNCES
RELEASE OF 15 CUSTOM MODERNIST LOFTS
IN APPRECIATING EAST DENVER NEIGHBORHOOD
DENVER, COLORADO :: March 3rd 2005
Pioneer Capital Development principal Joseph Payton announces today
the release for sale of their 15 unit loft project at 1421 Oneida
Street in the Montclair neighborhood. Payton is converting the 16,500
square foot Foster's Frosty Foods warehouse into 15 moderately priced
custom lofts. Construction is scheduled for completion at the end
of summer, with a target date of July 31st.
Location: The Oneida Lofts are unique in three ways, says
Payton. First is location: The Oneida Lofts building is located just
West of Lowry in the historic Montclair neighborhood. Payton bought
the building last July from The Broker Restaurants, who used it as
headquarters and warehouse since 1976. The unique cold storage warehouse
was built in 1956 on the original site of the Montclair Town Hall.
Payton bought the building because the location is in the path of
development, which is expanding away from the city center. With homebuyers
looking for affordable homes in established neighborhoods, Montclair
has Wash-Park type homes at discounts of $50,000 to $100,000. According
to data as compiled by Metrolist, Montclair residential property appreciated
8.6% during 2004, which is more than triple that of 2003 appreciation
at 2.6% and more than double the rate of Denver Metro area.
Architecture: The second reason the Oneida Lofts building
is unique is its architectural style. Payton has remained loyal to
the buildings mid-century modernist design, adding elements that highlight
its 1950's vision. Payton has added natural aluminum window frames
with green glass glazing, and inverted metal clad columns supporting
soaring awnings. But he has also innovated. "We went back to the influencers
of the modernist style, to the Asian aesthetic." says Payton.
The biggest resistance to the defining geometry of this style is that
people see rectangles and don't think "home" or even "house", they
think "box". Payton explains that by belting the site with a horizontal
plank wood fence, including two Japanese influenced keyhole gates,
as well as adding extensive plantings, a fire pit, and swing lounge,
he softens the lines and provides natural context for the building's
otherwise too-minimalist aesthetic. "The lines of the building are
beautiful: clean, and horizontal." says Payton "And with natural wood,
landscaping and intentional community space, we create a place you
want to be as a human".
Finishes: Oneida's third unique element is its interior finishes.
Kitchens are better than most developers are providing with upgraded
cabinetry, stainless appliances and concrete bar tops. Bathrooms feature
36" tubs, stone tile surrounds and double shower heads. But the remaining
finishes are minimal. The only doors are bathroom, closet and furnace
room doors, and there are not many of them. But they are nice slab
Birch, with brushed nickel hardware. The lofts' open floor plans with
concrete floors and exposed joists reveal the finish-yourself message
Payton promotes as the reason his lofts are priced so competitively.
At $229/sf they are $100/sf cheaper than comparable downtown property.
"Homeowners can drywall, decorate, and finish floors themselves."
says Payton. For the developer, these finishes are expensive and are
often torn out and replaced with finishes more to the owners liking.
"I affect the things that are hard to change after a condominium community
takes control of the project." says Payton. The exterior and community
spaces are planned, designed and finished while the interiors are
open to individual expression.
The Oneida Lofts are still available at pre-sale pricing and are
listed with John Ludwig at Kentwood City Properties.
John can be reached at 303-601-1792.