A Unique Opportunity for a Special Place in Denver
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Location
The Rock Drill site is located at the north end of the Cole Neighborhood, adjacent to the railroad and RTD’s A-Line. The site lies within the River North Art District and is one of the focal points of the newly completed 39th Avenue Greenway. The area to the west has numerous projects either in planning or under construction.
Miners pose with a drill made by the Denver Rock Drill Manufacturing Company.
An aerial photo of the Denver Rock Drill Manufacturing Plant, circa 1933
Original Denver Rock Drill office building built in 1910
Denver Rock Drill History
Established in 1910, the Rock Drill site was home to the Denver Rock Drill Manufacturing Company. The company was best known for producing a line of pneumatic rock drills known as “Waugh” drills, which were commonly used in mining operations worldwide in the first half of the 20th century. From 1910 to 1961, the company continued to expand and add new facilities to the site. At its peak, the manufacturing plant occupied nearly two city blocks and employed more than 600 workers. The property was purchased by the Mentor Corporation in the 1970s and was occupied by the Butler Fixture & Manufacturing Co. until its bankruptcy in 1988. The Weiss family purchased the property in 1992 to be the headquarters for their industrial warehouse supply business, Porta Power Inc.
The Weiss family has partnered with OliverBuchananGroup to develop the site…
The Opportunity
OliverBuchananGroup, in partnership with the Weiss family and the Denver-based design team, is re-envisioning the Denver Rock Drill site. A carefully formulated, strategic development plan with a strong vision and commitment to retain and integrate existing architecture into the project plan will provide the surrounding community with an iconic, nationally recognized mixed-use development for the greater Denver community.
The 38th & Blake Station connects the site and community to the City’s transit network and Denver International Airport offering an extraordinary opportunity to attract local, regional,
and national visitors.
Upon completion, the project will engage the 39th Avenue Greenway and surrounding neighborhoods to further transform the Denver Rock Drill site into a destination for the neighborhood, city, and region.