City Cast Denver logo
September 6, 2023

A Defunct Westside Power Plant: Eyesore or Opportunity?

City Cast Denver

A Defunct Westside Power Plant: Eyesore or Opportunity?

00:00:00
View all City Cast Denver episodes

For more than 100 years, the brick power plant at Zuni Street and West 14th Avenue generated electricity for Denver using steam. But now that the plant has been retired, it presents a conundrum: Should the crusty old building and its two smokestacks be demolished? Or somehow redeveloped into an asset for the Sun Valley neighborhood? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi visit the defunct Zuni Generating Station with Denver’s first-ever chief urban designer Eugenia di Girolamo to talk about how the building known to some as “The Devil’s Castle” could become Denver’s next iconic landmark. 


The Denver Post has more on the old Xcel Generating Station, and the Colorado Encyclopedia has more on the Denver Tramway Powerhouse (Aka, the REI building). Bree talked about the latest development in DPS’s “seclusion room” controversy and flu season


What non-residential building would you most want to live in? Residential conversions are all the rage, but is everyone thinking way too small! Of all the non-residential buildings in Denver, which would you most want to move into? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your pick on the show: (720) 500-5418‬


For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.


Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver


Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:


Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Denver

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
August 20

Does Your Bartender Secretly Hate You? Plus, How to Not Get Killed By a Bear

Multiple bear spottings around the Denver metro have got some conspiracy theories swirling online; is the drought really the reason bears...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 19

Can You Help Fix RTD? Plus, Another Round of 'Did That Age Well?' Denver Edition

Did the brewery scene in Denver age well? What about the whole scooter situation? Molly Smith, host of the “Did That Age Well?” podcast,...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 18

Breaking Down the Public Health Fight Over Aurora's ICE Facility. Plus, Crocs' New Tax Haven and Chipotle in Mexico

The state’s public health department is ordering the GEO Group to provide information about tuberculosis at an Aurora immigration detenti...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 17

Are These The Most Influential Denverites of the 21st Century?

Denver might not boast the same star-studded celebrity lists like LA or NYC, but the Mile High has its own group of movers and shakers th...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 14

Who's to Blame for Scooters on the Sidewalk? Plus, Pay What You Can Art and Another Dry Reservoir

Veo scooters,bikes, and trikes are ready to ride on nearly every corner in Denver, but whose job is it to enforce their rules of the road...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 13

Egg Salad But Make it Chic, Summer Coffee Picks, and a New Social App for the Wealthy?

Denver is officially entering the “sando” chat. Multiple restaurants around the Mile High are now serving these Japanese milk-bread sandw...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 12

Is Waymo Watching You? Plus, Doing Boring Things in Public and a Bear Attack!

The robotaxi company Waymo has been testing cars around Denver. Last Thursday, one of the autonomous vehicles got itself stuck in the mid...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 11

Debating Data Centers and Tipped Wages, Boosting EVs, and More Reflections on a Denver Lawmaker's Time in Office

Rep. Alex Valdez is coming up on the term limit for his stint as the House District 5 representative, and he’s looking back on some of th...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 10

What to Do With an Empty Stadium? Plus, First Fridays and Homie the Clown

The Broncos have released updated renderings of what the new development around new stadium could look like at Burnham Yard. Now, that’s...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
August 7

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Denver

As much as you love Denver, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have compla...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art