Hangar 2 Partners, a business pairing of Denver-based Larimer Associates and Hartman Ely Investments, breaks ground today on the historic Hangar 2 landmark in the Lowry neighborhood.
The plan restores the 1930s-era hangar by building a self-storage facility in the interior and renovating the attached buildings into retail and office spaces.
The first phase of the buildout also includes a 4,600-square-foot doggie day-care and boarding facility.
The second phase of the project — expected to be completed in two years — is a district of 12 restaurant spaces built from the ground up.
The Lowry Dining District will contain a variety of chef-driven locally owned restaurants, much like the 32nd and Lowell, South Pearl or South Gaylord neighborhoods, said Joe Vostrejs, chief operating officer for Larimer Associates and a Lowry resident.
“What’s always been challenging in figuring out what to do with this piece of property is using the hangar,” Vostrejs said. “It’s historic and can’t be torn down. In solving the hangar problem, we’ve paved the way to do the dining district we’ve envisioned.”
The hangar’s storage facility will be solar powered and should be operational around March.
“We’ll knock out this self-storage piece now, which will also provide a lot of value that will help us make the dining district,” Vostrejs said.
The sale and closing of the hangar will help Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum finance renovations needed for the museum.
“With our new Gateway to Flight entrance construction underway, we will now be able to invest in other needed improvements worthy of our Lowry history and Colorado’s aerospace heritage,” said Greg Anderson, chief executive for Wings. “The two sites will have great synergy and will be an exciting place to visit.”
Honor for East High alums.
Fifteen local notables and East High School alums have been chosen for induction into the East High Alumni Heritage Hall, which recognizes outstanding grads who once attended Denver’s oldest public high school.
Inductees are chemistry professor R. Stephen Berry, Olympic champion and educator Jerome Cousins Biffle, women’s athletics advocate Joan Packard Birkland, Colorado State University chancellor Joseph Blake, muralist and painter Edward Arcenio Chavez, Denver City Parks planner George Cranmer, Yale law professor Harlon Dalton, civic leader and sportsman John Dikeou, author and toy designer Edwina Hume Fallis, former Colorado state Senate president Peter Groff, journalist and historian Frances Melrose, jazz artist and music professor Ron Miles, National Jewish Hospital executive Seraphine Eppstein Pisko, Denver District Attorney Philip Van Cise, and World War I ace pilot Jerry Cox Vasconcells.
The 2010 induction ceremony and dinner take place Sept. 30 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in City Park. Tickets: .
EAVESDROPPING
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Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the “Caplis & Silverman” radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com
