What in the Eye of Sauron Was Just Proposed in Downtown Denver?

For Lord of the Rings fans, those who love wizard's staffs and people who have always wondered what it would be like to sit on top of a giant, old-fashioned barber's pole: you now have something to fight for in downtown Denver.

On June 24, someone named Barry Gilbert submitted a concept plan for a project that would place a giant tower with an observation orb in downtown Denver at 1546 California Street. The plan immediately drew comparisons to everything from a candlestick to the Eye of Sauron in the Lord of the Rings movies.

While nothing about the submitted designs is reminiscent of an evil ruler focused on dominating middle earth, the designs also don't look like any other building in Denver's skyline.

Details are sparse based on the initial filings, with the project description simply, "A 673' tall observation 'Spiral Tower' feature. With new supporting structure/building on first floor."

The designs show the proposed building from four different angles, with the first-floor building including a wraparound glass atrium. The orb at the top does not seem to be solid but rather a structure that would allow air to pass through, perhaps rotating the fixture (just like the Dark Lord's watchful eye). The body of the building has a spiraled design with small orbs jutting out from the main surface.  The 1546 California land has been a vacant parking lot for years. According to the Denver Tax Assessor, several entities related to Ephraim, LLC have owned the land, valued at around $8 million, since at least 2018. Ephraim LCC is listed as the landowner in the concept plan filing, as well.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, the Shames Makovsky Realty Company is the registered agent for Ephraim, LCC. Shames Makovsky is also the registered agent for the other entities listed by the Tax Assessor.

According to the company's website, NAI Shames Makovsky is a commercial real estate firm in Denver that has existed for over fifty years. Barry Gilbert, who filed the plans with the city, is a construction manager at Shames Makovsky.

A final entity listed as an owner of the lot at 1546 California, Maniatis Holdings, is now considered delinquent by the Secretary of State's Office but was registered by William Maniatis to a Greenwood Village address.

This project has a long way to go before it becomes a reality considering plans were only filed yesterday. The lot is also located in the Downtown Historic District, so the concept will have to pass through the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission before any permits would be issued.