Wednesday, July 1, 2009

MCA Denver

15th Street & Delgany Street
Looking S.W. at Monarch Mills Building   1992

I am very pleased that the black and white image of Monarch Mills you are viewing has been selected for inclusion in the MCA PowerPoint Presentation. The image taken in 1992 from the 15th Street side shows the warehouse in the foreground and the actual Monarch Mills Grain Elevator directly behind the warehouse. This image taken after the 15th Street Viaduct that was parallel to the front of the warehouse had been demolished, allows an unobstructed view of both structures. So you are looking S.W. and Delgany Street is on the left, in front of the Daniels and Fisher Warehouse #2.

The Monarch Mill was one of many different companies/mills that ground various grains and had long warehouses connected for storage and distribution. These mills were located near rail lines and rivers and served early Denver and the area in the late 1890's and early 1900's. The large Daniels and Fisher and small Henry Wagner Plaster and Cement Supply (out of view, left) are still present today.

When I photographed this area, it was sparse with real usage, scattered remains of small structures. I admit that I was sad to see the Monarch Mills demolished, in an urban area it is complex as to what structures remain for the future. Let's face it, if a structure is not very large and very significant or the President of the United States was not born in it, any structure is subject to becoming a memory only. So here it is, the Monarch Mills in 1992, awaiting the new MCA Denver that would provide a different food for thought and create a heart of artistic talent to breath life into this area once again. I say a big welcome!

For additional images and commentary, please refer to the MCA Denver section.

The MCA Today

The MCA Denver located at 1485 Delgany Street was completed in 2008 and was designed by architect David Adjaye.  Land for the building was donated by Mark Falcone, CEO of Continuum Partners and Chairman of the MCA.  Adam Lerner PhD is Director, Chief Animator of Department of Structures and Fictions of MCA Denver.

Sleek and a deep smoky black, sometimes absorbing light, sometimes reflecting a dynamic revolving glowing red heart sculpture...

Shadows of the 15th Street Viaducts gone, constant traffic of large Post Office trucks now silent, a new energy for the future beacons.  At the corner of Delgany Street and 15th Street, bustling automobile and pedestrian traffic go hand in hand with new infill construction of residents and retail, the area is now a small community.

An open portal leads up a slight flat slope into it's shaded hidden entrance. Looking up from the street before you enter you may see people on the 4th Floor outside rooftop deck surrounding an indoor cafe and bar, inviting. Seeing art also from the street, a large glass window allows a peek inside and flirts with you, come inside of this smoky little jewel box.

Inside, as a viewer you will see modern contemporary art by some of the most talented artists on our planet, and yes some are regional. You may see large paintings, video installations, photo work and sculptures, an educational interactive room for young adults, maybe a live mixed topic lecture series or an artist lecture, enjoy a rooftop garden or fine pottery inside the adjacent cafe.

The proud spirits of the old Monarch Mills ask you remember them, the hard work and love that they earned each and everyday to lay the foundations of our city of today. I say a big thank you!

Five Points Neighborhood

Rossonain Hotel:  2650 Welton Street   1993

Back in the day of the 80's and early 90's I photographed largely on what was going to change and documented it accordingly. Most of the change was happening Downtown or the close surrounding neighborhoods outlining the city center. I saw neighborhood after neighborhood evolve with the energy of a healthy growing vision for the future. Uptown, Highlands, Capital Hill, Baker, Curtis Park, River North, San Rafael, Auraria and obviously Lower Downtown. All these neighborhoods had dreams and visions, and healthy growth resulted.

I lived at 20th and Washington starting in 1991 and since 1998 have lived 2 blocks from the intersection of Welton Street - 27th Street and Washington Street. I have lived in this area for 18 years and know a little about it. Can you guess what neighborhood I am writing about?

The answer would be Five Points.  I would not live near or in a neighborhood that I did not love, I love Five Points!

Five Points is a very ill neighborhood, the transportation infrastructure is dysfunctional at best for automobile traffic, it could hardly be worse if you tried to screw up a neighborhood. A neighborhood has to have a positive flow, getting to it, out of it, through it. It is not unlike the human body, all parts support each other.  You have a have total blood flow, if your blood flow is clogged, cut off, not in sync, you are very-very ill. Some observations to illustrate my opinion on the disconnect transportation issues of Five Points.

1.) Welton Street auto's exit from Downtown and exit Five Points, no traffic heading S.W. into Five Points, not good.

2.) Light Rail stops at Downing Street once again, no Light Rail coming S.W. into Five Points, not good.

3.) On 24th Street, you can not go N.W. across Welton Street to connect neighborhoods, not good.

4.) On 27th Street, you can not go S.E. across Welton Street to connect neighborhoods, not good.

5.) On 28th Street, you can not go N.W. across Welton Street to connect neighborhoods, not good.

So you tell me, how can you have a healthy neighborhood, foster retail and residential growth with a broken system?  It has been broken for way-way-way too long of time. Five Points deserves better. I encourage the large commercial  land owners to have a strong vision on this issue, this traffic strangulation has nearing choked you to death!

Equally important is a vision of what Five Points wants to be, does it want to be the best parts of it's Jazz age, well then partner up and get on with in, heard that story about the old days, well make it happen. Encourage the rebirth of community, have people move back into the Points, not leave it. It takes the vision of the large land owners to make Five Points something special. Communities envy a Light Rail running right through it, many-many golden opportunities have been passed up in the past.

So what is it going to be, dreams and visions becoming true and Five Points evolving into a dynamic community combining the past and present?  Or stay the way it is? Not Good.

For additional images and commentary, please refer to the Denver section.

Kim Allen 2009