Denver Office Tower Listed for $750,000 Auction
The 16-story 17th Street building is being sold online through Ten-X, a fast auction that ends Wednesday.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Commercial
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A 16-story office tower on 17th Street in downtown Denver is listed for online auction on Ten-X with a $750,000 starting bid. The building was purchased for $26 million in 2015, and the Denver County assessor estimates its current worth at $7.6 million.
Why it matters
The sale reflects a record amount of empty, outdated office space downtown, as owners look to cut their losses. Denver office buildings are reportedly selling at a 90% discount to pre-pandemic prices.
The building was purchased for $26 million in 2015 and the county assessor estimates its current value at $7.6 million, while the auction opens at $750,000. The final price is unknown until the online bidding closes Wednesday.
The players
Ten-X
An online commercial real estate marketplace, originally known as Auction.com, that is now owned by CoStar Group.
Downtown Denver Development Authority
The local agency that denied funding to convert the office tower into apartments.
The details
The 1975 tower sits across from the Brown Palace Hotel and is being sold on Ten-X, an online commercial real estate marketplace owned by CoStar Group. The Downtown Denver Development Authority previously denied funding to convert the building into apartments.
Timeline
Built in 1975.
Purchased for $26 million in 2015.
Online auction began Monday, November 2, 2026.
Online auction ends Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Market Landscape
Denver office buildings are selling at roughly a 90% discount to pre-pandemic prices, a steep decline that this 1975 tower's auction continues. The sale places downtown Denver's surplus of empty office space in direct competition with conversion projects like the failed apartment plan.
For commercial buyers, the low starting bid signals that distressed downtown office properties may be available at deep discounts. Renters and local businesses near the tower could see the building's future use, including any conversion plans, shape the surrounding area.
The takeaway
Distressed commercial property sales like this one suggest that downtown office values in Denver may take years to recover. Buyers and investors should watch auction closings and conversion decisions closely.
What happens next
The online auction on Ten-X closes Wednesday, November 4, 2026, when the final sale price will be determined.
Further reading
Explore more on Denver commercial real estate for context on the downtown office market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Colorado Public Radio.
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