Editor’s Note: A suggestion was made in the 2023 survey to run some articles about the various buildings in which we have members. We liked the idea and asked Marc Heft to write the first one. We will run articles on other buildings periodically.
In 2012 I decided that it was time to leave NYC and look for somewhere new to live. I never could have imagined leaving my culture-filled, bustling island but after almost two decades, it was time. I considered a few cities and then discovered the Spire in downtown Denver.
The building itself was amazing, a big shiny glass and concrete tower in the middle of the city. I remember walking into the unit I wanted to buy, straight through the condo to the balcony. My jaw dropped when I saw the unobstructed mountain view! I remember looking at the broker and saying “OK, this one’s mine”
When I moved to Denver, I didn’t know a single person who lived here, but I figured I’d make friends in the building. I never could have imagined what an incredible place Spire would turn out to be. It’s not just a building; it is a community, and I mean that in the truest sense. There is such an incredible group of people who live here. We look after each other, and if you ever need anything, there are always neighbors willing to help at a moment’s notice. Our incredible management team is just a phone call away or you can always stop by our courtesy desk.
Spire is 42 stories high with 496 condos and close to 1,000 residents! With so many people you would think it would be a cold and impersonal place to live, but it is quite the opposite. There are so many friendships that have been formed here. We have lots of official building events, like our Summer and Holiday parties. We also are constantly having smaller gatherings organized by our social committee, happy hours, game nights, group lunches, movie night in our Box Office Theater etc.
You have also never met a more civic-minded, involved, concerned group of people who do everything they can to make downtown a better place for everyone. UpDoNA was started by several Spire residents and has grown into a tremendous organization. It has members from nine buildings, and of them have made downtown so much better in so many ways. Updona engages with the entire downtown community, working on safety issues, beautification, connecting local establishments and entrepreneurs through their business membership. They also have monthly get-togethers for everyone to socialize and share ideas.
The expression “location, location, location” was probably coined with Spire in mind! We are centrally located to everything! We have the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Denver Convention Center across the street. We are within walking distance of all our great museums and shopping on the 16th street mall. The construction is nearing completion and when it is done, it will be the spine of downtown as Mayor Johnston calls it. We have fantastic restaurants by the dozens, you can walk to the movies, to the light rail, DU campus and so much more.
Hop in your car and within minutes you are on any of the major highways heading off to the mountains or on any one of the incredible road trips you can take from downtown.
Our amenities are top notch. The Sky Club on the 42nd floor hosts more events than I can count. I have enjoyed so many great parties there! Wedding celebrations, holiday gatherings, happy hours, watching fireworks on New Year’s Eve, cookie parties, celebrations of all kinds. We also have community spaces on the 9th and 10th floor that have recently been remodeled and rival the amenities of any 5-star hotel. We have a state-of-the-art gym, a hot tub, a beautiful pool deck, firepit, and we even have an herb garden that everyone is welcome to contribute to.
I could go on and on about how awesome Spire is. With our thriving community, amazing management team and incredible location, I cannot think of any place I’d rather live. Every time I think about that decision a dozen years ago of where to live, I smile to myself, because I know I absolutely made the right decision!
Photo attribution: Spire at Night – Rob Squire Photography
