For rent: Denver digs for DNC ... $50K/month

Metro-area residents offer homes, apartments for rent online to convention crowd next August

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 20, 2007 at midnight

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Hey, buddy!

Need a place to stay for the Democratic National Convention next August?

Well then, has Toby got a deal for you. The Metro State student doesn't want his last name published since, in his words, "It's really a little questionable what I'm doing."

Toby was one of 61 people in the Denver area with ads posted on Craigslist as of Wednesday, offering up their homes or apartments for rent during the week of the convention.

Prices ranged from $1,200 for a one-bedroom Capitol Hill apartment, up to $50,000 for a two-bedroom historic loft in LoDo.

Sure, you could try to stay in one of the 17,000 rooms the Democratic National Convention Committee has blocked off for the 35,000 people expected to flock to the convention. But wouldn't you prefer a little more room to stretch out?

Toby's asking $7,000 for one week in his rent-controlled, two bedroom loft on the 16th Street Mall. He's charging $12,000 if you want to double your stay.

Toby acknowledged his is one of the sketchier offers, especially since his rent is only $840 a month. But check this out: His large screen TV is equipped with both an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii.

Just don't tell his landlord about the arrangement, he begs.

"I wonder if this is just a pipe dream," Toby said.

Gary Freedman thinks the expectations of people like Toby probably fall into that category.

Freedman has also put his luxury LoDo loft on the convention market. He hasn't set his rate yet, but says his expectations are more realistic.

"I don't think the insane prices are going to happen," he said. "It's like any type of hype. There's the hype and sizzle and then there's the reality."

The commercial insurance agency owner hopes to pool his place with about five other owners in his building and rent them out in a block to a corporate client looking for an upgrade from the typical hotel atmosphere.

The Denver National Convention Committee will begin assigning its block of hotel rooms to delegates and other convention attendees starting in November.

For now, the committee is focused solely on placing attendees in hotels, said spokeswoman Jenni Engebretson.

Many of the people trying to rent their residences are hoping those hotel rooms fill up fast.

"I put an outrageous price on it at first, just to see what kind of response I'd get," said Jared Theis, who is asking $12,000 for his two-bedroom LoDo loft.

Theis, 26, said he will "definitely lower the rent" if he can't get anyone to pay his top price.

Others, however, say it's all or nothing. "It's got to be stupid money or why would I go to the trouble," said David Ruley, who wants $20,000 for a week in his three-bedroom historic home with enormous yard at East 14th Avenue and Monaco Parkway.

As for Toby, his hopes of actually pulling in $7,000 for his apartment were waning Wednesday.

"In retrospect, I shouldn't have put the Xbox and the Wii in the ad," he said. "It sounds a little immature." "Do me a favor, will ya?" he a told a reporter. "If you hear of somebody looking, send them my way."

How much ya got?

Looking to rent a place in the metro area during the Democratic National Convention? Here's a sampling of what 61 owners were asking on Craigslist Wednesday:

$50,000 . . . Two BR historic loft in LoDo. Sleeps 8, but the "massive living area" and can entertain 50 people. Two parking spaces. Views from private balcony of Coors Field, just across the street! 10 minute walk to the Pepsi Center. $50,000 gets you the entire month of August.

$28,000 . . . Five BR house on 35 acres in Watkins, only a 40 minute drive from the convention! Private gated community with maid service. Limo service extra.

$15,000 . . . One BR, 1,142 square feet, fully furnished, "just steps" from the Colorado Convention Center and the Pepsi Center.

$5,000 . . . One BR, quiet corner penthouse unit with views of downtown and Invesco Field, next to a rooftop deck with hot tub.

$1,200 . . . One BR, 600 square-foot condo in Capitol Hill. Furnished!

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059

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