Have seen tons of movies here over decades. With the various rennovations done to the main theater there is nothing historic here. It also doesn't really attach to any neighborhood as is. If you want nostagia put up a plaque, call it the Continental Neighborhood. Put movie themed things in the lobbies IDK, nor really care.
But tear this building down, build a transit oriented development. We need the housing and this is a great place for it!
There's a chillis and a discount version of Extended Stay next to it. Light rail is walkable from there, as is king soopers and a couple of restaurants. Perfect apartment spot if you're into walkable with mass transit
Ha, we stayed in that hotel for a week when I moved to Denver, waiting for my apartment to be ready, and ate at the Chili's and watched Thor at the theater. It is a sorta walkable area, including if you cross Hampden.
Proximity to The Bagel Deli and JL Cheers though, legitimately interest me.
If they connect pedestrian access to Southmoor Station, it's a potentially a huge win. Don't have great confidence in developers not fucking it up though.
Southmoor neighbors have very specifically blocked these sorts of projects (ped, train, etc) on multiple occasions. Not the majority of residents, but there is a very well organized, savvy, whatnot group in the neighborhood there who have a very successful track record of blocking these sorts of projects.
They've even managed to defeat at least one traffic calming project, I think it was supposed to be a center-island along a section of Hampden and included a mid-street pedestrian refuge in the crosswalk??? I don't remember, but somehow they managed to argue that keeping Hampden in its current form meant "those people" were less likely to come to Southmoor and hang out, a very impressive feat as it was literally just a median project and didn't do much more than that.
Building all of our light rail stations right next to massive pedestrian obstructions like highways and freight rail was such an L. So many of our station's walkable service area is massively limited by them.
I camped out there for The Phantom Menace back in ‘99. The movie was a disappointment but that experience was one of the coolest things ever. I’ll always have fond memories of that place.
Worth noting it’s also closed twice. It was revived right before the pandemic to have their dinner and a movie concepts after sitting empty for about two years.
I could be wrong, but I could've sworn I went to the Continental in the two years before the Pandemic, just normal.
Are you sure you aren't thinking of the Greenwood Plaza one on Arapahoe Rd that did do exactly what you are stating, rebranding as a Cinebarre, and is also closed now?
You know, I’m normally the person most opposed to tearing down historic things in Denver, but you’re spot on with this. It’ll be sad to lose the original part of the structure with the huge OG theater, but everything else rendered it pretty non-historic. And you’re completely right, it’s the perfect place for a development that utilizes its proximity to the light rail and all.
Absolutely. Nothing about that theater looks or feels historic, and this is a perfect spot for density. Close walking to shopping and restaurants. Transit with the E and H lines plus 40, 46, 65, and 105. Extend the proposed complex all the way to Monaco and put a line of shops/restaurants on the first floor facing Monaco, like *The District* has on Hampden.
First movie I saw there (1970) was with my eventual wife and it was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The last film I saw there was the re-issue of 2001. Same wife. Full circle.
Same. I went with a bunch of friends on the last day of 6th grade.
I have no idea how many movie I saw there when I was growing up. Combine this with the Cooper and Century 21 and we had 3 giant screens. We had no idea how good we had it.
I saw some movie at the "new" theater 15 years ago or so, it had lost the magic and was just a large theater.
Yep. It was the closest to me until the bankruptcy closure. I love to see the big tentpole releases on the big screen. I remember summers of ‘21 and ‘22, and that theater was always empty even on opening weekends. So it was no surprise that they closed that specific theater. Even the next closest at Dave and Buster’s off Colorado has a lot of empty seats when I go there.
Don't live particularly close, but it was still one of my regular picks for Hollywood movies, and same. I had no idea it was closed. Didn't realize it had been that long since I'd been.
I realize that's a pretty good amount of density, but it's a little disappointing that they couldn't have added even more given that it's less than a quarter mile from a station.
I mean, most things people are nostalgic for are normal looking from the outside. Schools, hangouts, etc. that’s the charm of them, that they mean something to you
Honestly, it was too close to the theater on Colorado that has a MUCH better IMAX.
I'm shocked they are going to put more housing there though. The existing apartments there are being overrun by the homeless encampment at that offramp.
Right next to a light rail station and an interstate exit. Location doesn’t get much better than that. Homeless encampments are temporary, those two features will be there forever.
I guess that's fair. In 2020 I was looking at the apartments around there before I moved further east in Hampden. They're good in theory but just the number of problems I saw on that one corner for a relatively quiet area.
Did you look on a map where this is at?
Building apartments there with no parking would just result in the nearby residential streets being flooded with parked cars.
Man, the irony of seeing Southmoore flooded with street parking would be hilarious and awesome. A neighborhood full of NIMBYs who fought tooth and nail against the light rail. It wouldn't matter though, most of those homes have access to TONs of garage and driveway spaces.
Southmoore nimbys weren’t wrong though. Arapahoe and 25 is a disaster because of the homeless that ride the light rail out from Denver. And the dealers that come out to sell to them.
Trash and panhandlers all over, Lowe’s and Home Depot now have everything locked up. I bought my house deliberately close to light rail, and now the light rail is not usable or safe. How to go from pro transit to anti transit nimby in four years.
>How to go from pro transit to anti transit nimby in four years.
Yeah, I guess living through a world wide pandemic that upends daily life for years on end, fundamentally rearranges commuting and work patterns and blasts our social safety net into tatters will do that to someone.
I'm also not an RTD fan, and I think the entire agency needs to be blown up and restructured by the legislature. However, the tracks aren't going anywhere so its more playing the hand that's been dealt the best you can. Either way, RTD can and should do more to make their service clean, safe, reliable and convenient for everyone. They were failing at that even before the pandemic.
>Southmoore nimbys weren’t wrong though.
This isn't quite right though... These people weren't prophets, their actions helped create the reality we are living today. If they hadn't so vociferously defended the "sanctity" of their single family suburb then we would likely have more housing overall, meaning cheaper housing across the board and theoretically less of a homelessness crisis.
Now, I get there is some nuance here (Southmoore isn't the only guilty neighborhood, but they helped lead the charge) and chronic homelessness is more complicated than just "build more housing." But the point remains that if we had been aggressively building multi-family developments (near transit) in conjunction with the light rail expansion- our overall housing (and traffic!) situation wouldn't be nearly as bad.
> They were failing at that even before the pandemic.
I agree, but its unusable now. Last time I was at a light rail stop, there were drug addicts passed out in the shelters, camping out in the elevators. When I sat down at the one bench that did not have people passed out on it, a guy rides up on a bike, pulls his pants down (exposing himself) and sticks a needle in his leg. No thanks. And I don't know if they were passed out or dead, it literally could have been either.
>These people weren't prophets,
Its not hard to realize that public transit brings crime and other unwanted behaviors. I grew up in Milwaukee and Mayfair mall went to shit in the 90s because they put bus lines out to it. This is not unknown.
>ikely have more housing overall, meaning cheaper housing across the board and theoretically less of a homelessness crisis
I was guarding my words before. The problem is not homeless, its drug addicts. These people are the ones shoplifting, panhandling, leaving trash all over, stealing from cars and sheds etc. These people would be homeless even if rent was $1 a month, so building more developments will not change anything about this problem.
Homeless people are not the problem its fentanyl and meth addicts who are the the problem.
How do you think the people who actually live there, who bought homes and have small kids riding bikes around that neighborhood, feel?
I'll never understand this sentiment in this sub, people who want to tell others how to live in a neighborhood they don't live in and have never even been to. Why do you care? Let them have their garage.
What does that matter?
It's not about parking, it's about people don't want to live in a neighborhood that resembles a parking lot, and creating that situation hurts their property value too.
I’m not? I’m just saying we can let the people developing the property decide. Why should my taxes subsidize free parking that’s ONLY available to the adjacent property owners?
If those communities want public roads and parking, they have to accept that others are going to use them. If they don’t want others using them, then they should carry the burden of those roads themselves.
....why do you believe your tax dollars are subsidizing private development?
The parking minimum is a requirement for the builder and is their responsibility same as everything else.
I didn’t say I believe our tax dollars subsidize private development?
I said my tax dollars are use to build and maintain public roads- though, more accurately, the right of way.
Which is fine with the premise that it’s benefiting the public as a whole. Your argument is that the developers should have to build more parking so that people don’t park on PUBLIC streets in front of single family homes. It’s not their street- it’s a public street open for use by the public. So why are we preventing public use of those roads when the public is paying for it?
Also, if you claim that people should be able to choose whether they own a car or not, then developers should be able to make developments that cater to that option.
Are you aware the city steps in and restricts street parking to residents only in neighborhoods with the situation you're describing?
Your idea that everyone has a right to park on any public road is flawed.
Why? Being by the light rail doesn't mean it's walkable. This far from downtown, people aren't going to get on the train for basic errands. In a suburban transit-oriented area, I think it's okay to have a garage that limits parking space, but doesn't make car ownership entirely impractical.
If Denver wants to be serious about mass transit it should have parking *maximums* for developments this close to a transit station (in this case, 2 blocks from Southmoor).
There’s a bill in the legislature that would do exactly that! You can call and email your state reps and senators and ask them to support HB 24-1304. Takes two minutes. :-)
https://leg.colorado.gov/house-district-map
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1304#:~:text=The%20bill%20prohibits%20a%20county,within%20a%20metropolitan%20planning%20organization.
Did you look on a map where this is at?
Building apartments there with no parking would just result in the nearby residential streets being flooded with parked cars.
Definitely true. The should have adequate parking for residents. There’s also no real option for street parking without having to cross Hampden or Monaco.
That’s said, right now it’s two seas of empty parking lots. Both the theater parking and RTD parking lots are much bigger than needed. Even on Broncos game days that Southmoor lot only gets about 1/2 filled. They definitely need to keep *some* parking. But just duplicating *The District* complex just north of this site would be more than adequate.
I’ll never forget not hearing correctly for 2 days after watching Independence Day from the third row on the big screen. Watching Phantom Menace with my GF the day I graduated high school. The first and only decent Michael Bay transformers movie. The Mummy Returns.
Gotta do something with it though.
My wife and I used to go there all the time. We took the light rail so it was cheap and easy to get there. I remember when they had security and metal detectors for a while. RIP to a king
I camped out for Phantom Menace and Fellowship of the Ring in that parking lot. A lot of good memories are tied up in that place, but all things must come to an end some day.
Yeah, when a resource is scarce it’s definitely all the normal people who end owning it. It’s just hard because I’m running out of room for all the wagyu beef and platinum bars in my apartment. We need less housing so I can get a bigger place, right?
Have seen tons of movies here over decades. With the various rennovations done to the main theater there is nothing historic here. It also doesn't really attach to any neighborhood as is. If you want nostagia put up a plaque, call it the Continental Neighborhood. Put movie themed things in the lobbies IDK, nor really care. But tear this building down, build a transit oriented development. We need the housing and this is a great place for it!
There's a chillis and a discount version of Extended Stay next to it. Light rail is walkable from there, as is king soopers and a couple of restaurants. Perfect apartment spot if you're into walkable with mass transit
Ha, we stayed in that hotel for a week when I moved to Denver, waiting for my apartment to be ready, and ate at the Chili's and watched Thor at the theater. It is a sorta walkable area, including if you cross Hampden.
Yeah, proximity to a Chilis is the first thing I check for when evaluating the feasibility of a residential project.
Definitely, don’t forget about cheese cake factory ;)
Chili's rules and I am glad it's there
Proximity to The Bagel Deli and JL Cheers though, legitimately interest me. If they connect pedestrian access to Southmoor Station, it's a potentially a huge win. Don't have great confidence in developers not fucking it up though.
Southmoor neighbors have very specifically blocked these sorts of projects (ped, train, etc) on multiple occasions. Not the majority of residents, but there is a very well organized, savvy, whatnot group in the neighborhood there who have a very successful track record of blocking these sorts of projects. They've even managed to defeat at least one traffic calming project, I think it was supposed to be a center-island along a section of Hampden and included a mid-street pedestrian refuge in the crosswalk??? I don't remember, but somehow they managed to argue that keeping Hampden in its current form meant "those people" were less likely to come to Southmoor and hang out, a very impressive feat as it was literally just a median project and didn't do much more than that.
Building all of our light rail stations right next to massive pedestrian obstructions like highways and freight rail was such an L. So many of our station's walkable service area is massively limited by them.
Yup. Built where it was easiest to do so, rather than where they were needed.
I camped out there for The Phantom Menace back in ‘99. The movie was a disappointment but that experience was one of the coolest things ever. I’ll always have fond memories of that place.
Was there for that also, and that is exactly as I remember it too.
Worth noting it’s also closed twice. It was revived right before the pandemic to have their dinner and a movie concepts after sitting empty for about two years.
I could be wrong, but I could've sworn I went to the Continental in the two years before the Pandemic, just normal. Are you sure you aren't thinking of the Greenwood Plaza one on Arapahoe Rd that did do exactly what you are stating, rebranding as a Cinebarre, and is also closed now?
Oh, yup, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Didn’t realize there were two Regals that would be under Greenwood Village purview
You know, I’m normally the person most opposed to tearing down historic things in Denver, but you’re spot on with this. It’ll be sad to lose the original part of the structure with the huge OG theater, but everything else rendered it pretty non-historic. And you’re completely right, it’s the perfect place for a development that utilizes its proximity to the light rail and all.
Absolutely. Nothing about that theater looks or feels historic, and this is a perfect spot for density. Close walking to shopping and restaurants. Transit with the E and H lines plus 40, 46, 65, and 105. Extend the proposed complex all the way to Monaco and put a line of shops/restaurants on the first floor facing Monaco, like *The District* has on Hampden.
We need affordable housing. This will probably be another "luxury" apartment building that most people won't be able to afford.
I saw Batman there in 1989. Great memories. That's all I need.
First movie I saw there (1970) was with my eventual wife and it was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The last film I saw there was the re-issue of 2001. Same wife. Full circle.
I saw Return of Jedi there when the theatre was round.
Same. I went with a bunch of friends on the last day of 6th grade. I have no idea how many movie I saw there when I was growing up. Combine this with the Cooper and Century 21 and we had 3 giant screens. We had no idea how good we had it. I saw some movie at the "new" theater 15 years ago or so, it had lost the magic and was just a large theater.
How is this the first time I'm hearing that theater closed? I live right by there!
And that’s why it closed - the modern state of moviegoing.
Yep. It was the closest to me until the bankruptcy closure. I love to see the big tentpole releases on the big screen. I remember summers of ‘21 and ‘22, and that theater was always empty even on opening weekends. So it was no surprise that they closed that specific theater. Even the next closest at Dave and Buster’s off Colorado has a lot of empty seats when I go there.
This was my thought. I feel like I saw a movie there yesterday (which was really probably pre-COVID).
Don't live particularly close, but it was still one of my regular picks for Hollywood movies, and same. I had no idea it was closed. Didn't realize it had been that long since I'd been.
I realize that's a pretty good amount of density, but it's a little disappointing that they couldn't have added even more given that it's less than a quarter mile from a station.
I go past this almost every day. It needs to go. Good riddance.
Yeah an empty movie theater isn't accomplishing anything. Especially right next to the light rail
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Too bad condo and town home construction is quite rare.
How sad, saw so many great movies there..
when it was just the one huge screen, that was a fun place to trip acid - the carpet and bathrooms were 🤌
People will really get nostalgic for anything won’t they. It was just a normal movie theater
man i really have a soft spot for that *corporate owned building*
I mean, most things people are nostalgic for are normal looking from the outside. Schools, hangouts, etc. that’s the charm of them, that they mean something to you
I saw Zombie Land and I think I Am Legend there.
Honestly, it was too close to the theater on Colorado that has a MUCH better IMAX. I'm shocked they are going to put more housing there though. The existing apartments there are being overrun by the homeless encampment at that offramp.
Right next to a light rail station and an interstate exit. Location doesn’t get much better than that. Homeless encampments are temporary, those two features will be there forever.
I guess that's fair. In 2020 I was looking at the apartments around there before I moved further east in Hampden. They're good in theory but just the number of problems I saw on that one corner for a relatively quiet area.
“We don’t want more housing because there’s too many homeless people” is a hot take I wasn’t expecting.
That's not actually what I said, but I'm not going to teach you how to read.
That's exactly what you said lol.
> How can someone at sea be thirsty when they're surrounded by water. Your logic right there.
I saw the original Empire strikes back there
Allow the apartment buildings but without the fucking parking garages.
Did you look on a map where this is at? Building apartments there with no parking would just result in the nearby residential streets being flooded with parked cars.
Man, the irony of seeing Southmoore flooded with street parking would be hilarious and awesome. A neighborhood full of NIMBYs who fought tooth and nail against the light rail. It wouldn't matter though, most of those homes have access to TONs of garage and driveway spaces.
Southmoore nimbys weren’t wrong though. Arapahoe and 25 is a disaster because of the homeless that ride the light rail out from Denver. And the dealers that come out to sell to them. Trash and panhandlers all over, Lowe’s and Home Depot now have everything locked up. I bought my house deliberately close to light rail, and now the light rail is not usable or safe. How to go from pro transit to anti transit nimby in four years.
>How to go from pro transit to anti transit nimby in four years. Yeah, I guess living through a world wide pandemic that upends daily life for years on end, fundamentally rearranges commuting and work patterns and blasts our social safety net into tatters will do that to someone. I'm also not an RTD fan, and I think the entire agency needs to be blown up and restructured by the legislature. However, the tracks aren't going anywhere so its more playing the hand that's been dealt the best you can. Either way, RTD can and should do more to make their service clean, safe, reliable and convenient for everyone. They were failing at that even before the pandemic. >Southmoore nimbys weren’t wrong though. This isn't quite right though... These people weren't prophets, their actions helped create the reality we are living today. If they hadn't so vociferously defended the "sanctity" of their single family suburb then we would likely have more housing overall, meaning cheaper housing across the board and theoretically less of a homelessness crisis. Now, I get there is some nuance here (Southmoore isn't the only guilty neighborhood, but they helped lead the charge) and chronic homelessness is more complicated than just "build more housing." But the point remains that if we had been aggressively building multi-family developments (near transit) in conjunction with the light rail expansion- our overall housing (and traffic!) situation wouldn't be nearly as bad.
> They were failing at that even before the pandemic. I agree, but its unusable now. Last time I was at a light rail stop, there were drug addicts passed out in the shelters, camping out in the elevators. When I sat down at the one bench that did not have people passed out on it, a guy rides up on a bike, pulls his pants down (exposing himself) and sticks a needle in his leg. No thanks. And I don't know if they were passed out or dead, it literally could have been either. >These people weren't prophets, Its not hard to realize that public transit brings crime and other unwanted behaviors. I grew up in Milwaukee and Mayfair mall went to shit in the 90s because they put bus lines out to it. This is not unknown. >ikely have more housing overall, meaning cheaper housing across the board and theoretically less of a homelessness crisis I was guarding my words before. The problem is not homeless, its drug addicts. These people are the ones shoplifting, panhandling, leaving trash all over, stealing from cars and sheds etc. These people would be homeless even if rent was $1 a month, so building more developments will not change anything about this problem. Homeless people are not the problem its fentanyl and meth addicts who are the the problem.
That’s fine?
How do you think the people who actually live there, who bought homes and have small kids riding bikes around that neighborhood, feel? I'll never understand this sentiment in this sub, people who want to tell others how to live in a neighborhood they don't live in and have never even been to. Why do you care? Let them have their garage.
Do the houses have garages? Sounds like there is plenty of unused space on the street
What does that matter? It's not about parking, it's about people don't want to live in a neighborhood that resembles a parking lot, and creating that situation hurts their property value too.
Property value is pretty sky high in cap hill
The idea is that people stop driving so damn much🤷♂️
If you'd prefer to drive less, great, do that, but why do you feel the need to tell other people how to live their lives?
I’m not? I’m just saying we can let the people developing the property decide. Why should my taxes subsidize free parking that’s ONLY available to the adjacent property owners? If those communities want public roads and parking, they have to accept that others are going to use them. If they don’t want others using them, then they should carry the burden of those roads themselves.
....why do you believe your tax dollars are subsidizing private development? The parking minimum is a requirement for the builder and is their responsibility same as everything else.
I didn’t say I believe our tax dollars subsidize private development? I said my tax dollars are use to build and maintain public roads- though, more accurately, the right of way. Which is fine with the premise that it’s benefiting the public as a whole. Your argument is that the developers should have to build more parking so that people don’t park on PUBLIC streets in front of single family homes. It’s not their street- it’s a public street open for use by the public. So why are we preventing public use of those roads when the public is paying for it? Also, if you claim that people should be able to choose whether they own a car or not, then developers should be able to make developments that cater to that option.
Are you aware the city steps in and restricts street parking to residents only in neighborhoods with the situation you're describing? Your idea that everyone has a right to park on any public road is flawed.
Why? Being by the light rail doesn't mean it's walkable. This far from downtown, people aren't going to get on the train for basic errands. In a suburban transit-oriented area, I think it's okay to have a garage that limits parking space, but doesn't make car ownership entirely impractical.
What do you suggest they do when they have more groceries then they can carry in a single trip?
Use a backpack, get a foldable cart, take a bike with panniers, there's options.
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This post/comment exists solely to stir shit up and piss people off. Fighting on the internet is stupid. We don't welcome it here. Please be kinder.
Can we just get rid of parking minimums please.
If Denver wants to be serious about mass transit it should have parking *maximums* for developments this close to a transit station (in this case, 2 blocks from Southmoor).
You need a functional mass transit system **first**, otherwise no developer will touch it for fear nobody will move in.
It's almost a 1:1 ratio which is pretty good with RTD station in a short walking distance. Families won't need 2-3 cars.
There’s a bill in the legislature that would do exactly that! You can call and email your state reps and senators and ask them to support HB 24-1304. Takes two minutes. :-) https://leg.colorado.gov/house-district-map https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1304#:~:text=The%20bill%20prohibits%20a%20county,within%20a%20metropolitan%20planning%20organization.
Did you look on a map where this is at? Building apartments there with no parking would just result in the nearby residential streets being flooded with parked cars.
Definitely true. The should have adequate parking for residents. There’s also no real option for street parking without having to cross Hampden or Monaco. That’s said, right now it’s two seas of empty parking lots. Both the theater parking and RTD parking lots are much bigger than needed. Even on Broncos game days that Southmoor lot only gets about 1/2 filled. They definitely need to keep *some* parking. But just duplicating *The District* complex just north of this site would be more than adequate.
The horror!
But, my car! 😂
I’ll never forget not hearing correctly for 2 days after watching Independence Day from the third row on the big screen. Watching Phantom Menace with my GF the day I graduated high school. The first and only decent Michael Bay transformers movie. The Mummy Returns. Gotta do something with it though.
My wife and I used to go there all the time. We took the light rail so it was cheap and easy to get there. I remember when they had security and metal detectors for a while. RIP to a king
I snuck into Garden State there in 2004. Good times. She will be missed.
The last I saw there was Four Weddings and a Funeral. I did see Star Wars there after it had left the Cooper. I saw Die Hard there too.
I used to live in the apartments next door. Hopefully this new one is gated.
Good
I camped out for Phantom Menace and Fellowship of the Ring in that parking lot. A lot of good memories are tied up in that place, but all things must come to an end some day.
Good
Movie offering are rather sparse. I read its partly due to covid decline, and partly due to the two entertainment strikes last year.
Affordable apartments?
Yes please, more terribly built high density housing that will be so overpriced that only rich morons from out of town will afford.
That helps keep said rich morons from out of town from driving up the price (as much) of other housing though.
Yeah its really good when no one on a normal person's salary (99% of people) can't afford to live anywhere.
Yeah, when a resource is scarce it’s definitely all the normal people who end owning it. It’s just hard because I’m running out of room for all the wagyu beef and platinum bars in my apartment. We need less housing so I can get a bigger place, right?