The Road Ahead 2016: Jobs, Housing,
Transportation: Leveraging the Benefits of TOD
The Road Ahead is an annual event combining
important social and economic issues together
with ongoing transit issue to seek out mutually
beneficial solutions. The Road Ahead attracts a
variety of different communities, including
elected officials, policy makers, private
developers, and transportation industry leaders.
The presentation elicits animated dialogue from
panelists with a passion for accessing the
benefits of transit oriented developments in the
Denver area.
- WHAT: The Road Ahead 2016:
Jobs, Housing, Transportation: Leveraging the
Benefits of TOD. The twelfth annual seminar
featuring presentations, a panel discussion and
invitation-only luncheon.
- WHO: Over
300 attendees including local and regional
officials, state and federal government
representatives, public and private sector
participants, including developers and business
leaders.
- WHEN: Thursday,
March 24, 2016, presentation: 8am-10:45am,
invitation-only luncheon: 11am-12:30pm.
- WHERE: Infinity
Park Event Center, 4400 E Kentucky Ave,
Glendale.
We are pleased to welcome nationally acclaimed
public speaker and economist, Dr. Elliot
Eisenberg. Dr. Eisenberg holds a Masters and
Ph.D. in public administration from Syracuse
University. He is the creator of the
"Multifamily Stock Index." Dr. Eisenberg's
research and opinions have been featured in
Bloomberg, Business Week, Bureau of National
Affairs, Forbes, and Fortune.
The new University
of Colorado A Line from
Union Station to Denver International Airport
will open to the public on April 22 with
22.8-miles of new commuter rail serving eight
stations, six Park-n-Rides and 4,329 parking
spaces.
And here's a new video, Making
Connections just
released by RTD as it opens many of the new
FasTracks lines in 2016.
Civic Center Station, which
opened in 1984, is showing its age and RTD has
been awarded grants from the state and FTA to
redevelop the station. Plans for a multi-modal
transit center include nine bus bays, a
glass-enclosed terminal building, a new
concourse, and public space with an open view
from the 16th Street Mall to the State Capitol.
The RTD Board of Directors will vote on
proposals received to redevelop the facility in
early spring and pending approval, a contract
will be awarded and construction will begin
later this summer.
The Regional Transportation District's
long-awaited MyRide smart
card is not yet available to the public, but
it's getting favorable reviews from riders who
have been using the card in a pilot program
since early January. The card is in the hands
of a little more than 2,000 members of the
commuting public who are able to load money onto
the card and scan it at light rail stations and
on buses. Users get a 25-cent discount on fares.
Transfers are included in the fare, with a
three-hour window from the first scan. RTD does
not yet have online capability for users to load
money on their MyRide cards or check their
balance, but it should be available sometime
this summer, according to RTD spokesman Scott
Reed. There is no set date for a release to the
general public.
The Denver Post reports that San Francisco-based
Gehl Studio has been working with Denver
planning officials and the Downtown Denver
Partnership since 2014 to boost the "linger"
factor of the 16th
Street Mall, part of a $650,000
initiative to improve the mall experience. In
a report released recently Gehl said it will
take not one change, but many that address
infrastructure and activation, to truly
revitalize the mall. That could include
additional tests that move the Free MallRide off
the mall and to dedicated lanes on 15th and 17th
streets, physical changes to the mall
environment to emphasize its distinct zones, and
expanding activities to flow down streets that
intersect the mall. Gehl's report includes
dozens of recommendations aimed at providing
different experiences along the mall, new
transportation choices, lively edges between
public and private space and wider investment.
The report also lays out a process in which
incremental improvements would be tested and
then rejected, refined or permanently adopted,
avoiding any "major changes that later prove to
be unsuccessful."
The Denver Business Journal reports that Denver
plans to install 182 new street lights along the 16th
Street Mall as
a way to help mall visitors feel safer at
night, The purchase of $1.9 million on better
lighting on the street was among the
recommendations made during a recent security
study of the mall performed by business services
firm KPMG. The new lighting will be paid for
through tax-increment financing funds
distributed by the Denver Urban Renewal
Authority. Denver and the DDP will launch a
variety of initiatives in conjunction with the
Gehl study's recommendations, including the
expansion of the third-annual Meet in the Street
event, set to kick off on June 25.
During Meet in the Street, the buses are shifted
to parallel 15th and 17th streets on a set
number of Sundays in the summer and the 16th
Street corridor becomes a pedestrian walkway.
Restaurants expand patio space and various other
attractions are lined up to attract people to
the mall -- and keep them there. Shuttles will
be moved off 16th Street for five full weekends
this summer, not just Sundays as in years past.
In addition, nine other weekends between
Memorial Day and Labor Day will be used to test
out various pilot programs meant to generate the
same kind of activity on the mall as Meet in the
Street, but with the 16th Street Mall shuttles
running in their regular place. During its
initial study, Gehl found that pedestrian
traffic on the mall increases by 30 percent
during Meet in the Street and that 90 percent of
businesses said that sales were the same or
better when compared to Sundays when Meet in the
Street was not being conducted.
The new free GoDenver app
allows you to plan your trip using all available
public and private types of mobility. The app
provides public transit options in real time and
allow users to compare transit options to decide
the best route. The City and County of Denver is
piloting the new mobility platform, powered by
Xerox to help residents and tourists make
transportation choices more easily. The Go
Denver app also provides data-driven insights
into how Denver's transportation infrastructure
can be improved as the population continues to
swell.
Mayor Michael B.
Hancock announced the city's commitment to
eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious
injuries on Denver's roadways. Denver's
Vision Zero commitment
seeks to reduce fatal crashes consistently
year-over-year through numerous projects,
policies and strategies, including increased
coordination of city department work and
community engagement. In the coming months,
Denver will develop a comprehensive Vision Zero
action plan. The city will directly engage with
community organizations, including the Denver
Vision Zero Coalition, to create the plan. The
city announced a number of actions for 2016,
including development of a comprehensive
strategic plan. The Vision Zero commitment is
supported by an investment of $750,000 in Mayor
Hancock's 2016 budget for planning, enforcement
and education.
Residents of the eight-county Regional
Transportation District (RTD) who are interested
in public transit issues and community
engagement are encouraged to apply for one of
five vacancies on the RTD
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The
17-member citizens group has advised the agency
on its voter-approved FasTracks program for the
past 10 years. The committee's role has been
recently expanded to also advise RTD on its
strategies and initiatives. RTD invites
interested individuals to submit letters of
application to serve on the all-volunteer panel.
Appointment is for a three-year term, with an
opportunity for one reappointment thereafter. "RTD
is one of the premier transit agencies in the
country and this is an exciting time to be part
of this organization and the impact it has on
the region," Bob Rizzuto, CAC co-chair, said.
"We rely on informed citizens who can join us to
guide and provide advice to RTD. We want people
who truly want to make a difference as we move
forward." CAC members represent a wide variety
of backgrounds, interests and professional
experiences. The group's public outreach
meetings keep metro-area citizens informed of
FasTracks progress and RTD programs and
encourage input from local communities.
Individuals interested in applying for a
position on the CAC should submit letters of
interest to
Letters must be received by the close of
business on March 31, 2016, and should include:
- A brief statement of interest in serving on
the committee
- Qualifications for serving on the CAC
- A résumé
Appointments to the panel will ensure a broad
representation of stakeholder interests, to
achieve diversity and to provide geographical
representation within the district. Selection
criteria will include, but not be limited to,
residency within the RTD district; a
demonstrated interest in public transit and the
FasTracks program; previous community service;
experience working with local jurisdictions on
regional issues; and professional expertise.
The CAC's expanded role is to:
- Continue to monitor and provide input on the
improvements for each corridor in the FasTracks
Plan.
- Become familiar with the District's
strategic plan and long-term vision.
- Provide region-oriented advice to RTD
regarding the implementation of the strategic
plan, its strategies and initiatives.
- Represent the citizen perspective on behalf
of a wide range of stakeholder interests and
community organizations
- Gather information from community members to
share with the agency.
- Share information with community members to
promote public awareness of the agency's
programs and projects.
- Other tasks as assigned by the RTD Board of
Directors.
For more information, contact Roger Sherman at
303-592-5465. The RTD Citizens Advisory
Committee (CAC) monitors and provides
region-oriented advice on the FasTracks Plan and
RTD's strategic plan. It represents citizen and
community perspectives on transit issues, and
promotes public awareness of RTD's programs,
services and projects. The 17-member volunteer
committee represents a cross-section of the
region's population and holds monthly work
sessions. Additional information about the CAC
can be found at
Central and Southeast Denver Real Estate
Unico Plans LoHi Office Building
Source: Business Denver
Unico Properties plans to develop a four-story
office building at 1615 Platte Street in LoHi.
Pending approval by Denver planners, the Seattle
developer will build 82,000 square feet of
office space along with about 9,100 square feet
of retail and restaurant uses. The site is
adjacent to the Highland pedestrian and bicycle
bridge over I-25.
Holland Plans June Start on Downtown
Project
Source: Denver Urban Review
Holland Partner Group plans to start
construction in June on a 161-unit apartment
building in downtown Denver. The as-yet unnamed
project will be located at 18th and Little Raven
streets adjacent to Commons Park on the South
Platte River. The building plans call for four
stories along the Little Raven Street frontage,
rising to seven stories at the rear of the
building. Holland Partner Group is based in
Vancouver, Washington and is a prolific
developer of apartments in metro Denver.
Insurance Website Closing Denver Office
Source: Business Denver
An insurance marketing website company will
close its Denver office, eliminating 103 jobs.
InsuranceQuotes.com allowed customers to track
options for insurance coverage. The company was
purchased by All Web Leads, which will
consolidate its operations at its home office in
Austin. In Denver the offices were located in
20,000 square feet of space at 1860 Blake Street
in LoDo.
Burgwyn Starts Work on Uptown Senior
Apartments
Source: Denver Urban Review
The Burgwyn Company started work on 5280 Senior
Housing, a 99-unit affordable apartment building
for senior residents. The project is located on
the site of a former parking lot at 1615
Pennsylvania Avenue in the uptown neighborhood
east of downtown.
Wizard's Chest Opens New Broadway Store
Source: Denver Post
The Wizard's Chest opened its new store in the
Baker neighborhood south of downtown Denver. The
customer and games retailer moved to 18,000
square feet at 451 Broadway in the Baker
neighborhood south of downtown Denver. The
company had long been a fixture in Cherry Creek
North but was forced to move when its Fillmore
Street building was sold for redevelopment.
Options Considered for Performing Arts
Complex Redevelopment
Source: Denver Post
Denver officials are considering options for
redeveloping the Denver Center for the
Performing Arts and turning the complex into a
mixed-use arts and entertainment center. The
22-acre site is bounded by14th, Champa and
Arapahoe streets and Speer Boulevard and is one
of the largest performing arts centers in the
US. Concepts under consideration would
reconfigure or replace some of the venues, move
the Denver Public Schools performing arts high
school to the complex, redesign the sculpture
park on Speer Boulevard and add more underground
parking. The City and County of Denver might
also sell or lease air rights for private
development above some sections of the center.
The next step will be for the City and County to
seek proposals for a specific design and
determine interest by developers in the air
rights.
Plans Underway for Convention Center
Expansion
Source: Denver Post
The City and County of Denver is proceeding with
plans for a $105 million expansion of the
Colorado Convention Center. The concept calls
for the addition of about 85,000 square feet of
ballroom and meeting space, a rooftop deck and
improvements to technology and lobbies. Funding
for the project will come from a tax extension
approved by Denver voters in 2015. The center
occupies a several block site generally bounded
by Speer Boulevard and 14th, Welton and Stout
streets in downtown Denver.
Metro State Starts Aerospace Building at
Auraria Campus
Source: Denver Infill
Metropolitan State University started
construction on its new Aerospace and
Engineering Sciences Building on the Auraria
Campus. The 142,000 square foot building is
located at 7th Street and Auraria Parkway.
Completion is set for late 2017.
Legacy Acquires Site for Speer Tower
Source: Business Denver
Legacy Partners acquired 2.3 acres of land at
West 13th Avenue and Speer Boulevard for $17.5
million. The company previously announced plans
for a 332 unit apartment building on the site.
Construction on the seven story project is
scheduled to begin construction in the summer.
Legacy Partners will develop what was initially
announced as Speer Tower in conjunction with
USAA. The site was acquired from Paradise
Investment Properties for the equivalent of
about $52,000 per unit.
Homeless Coalition Completes East Denver
Apartments
Source: Denver Post
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless opened
Renaissance at North Colorado Station, a
129-unit apartment building in east Denver. The
four story building is located at 3999 Colorado
Boulevard, near a new RTD commuter rail station.
The project is intended to house low income and
formerly homeless persons. Its construction was
funded by low income housing tax credits,
philanthropic foundations and the City and
County of Denver's new social impact bond
program.
Rocky Mountain PBS Plans New
Headquarters
Source: Business Denver
Rocky Mountain PBS started a fund raising
campaign to help finance a $30 million
headquarters and performance center. The
building would be located at 21st and Arapahoe
streets in the emerging Arapahoe Square
neighborhood north of downtown. In addition to
offices for the public television station the
building will provide spaces for some other
nonprofit agencies. Pending success of the fund
raising construction could begin in 2017. Rocky
Mountain PBS currently occupied smaller quarters
at 1089 Bannock Street.
World Trade Center Moving to RiBo
Source: Denver Business Journal
The Denver branch of the World Trade Center will
anchor a large mixed-use development in the RiNo
neighborhood. The local organization is one of
130 such centers worldwide that encourage
international commerce. The center is working
with Exdo Management, which owns land near the
RTD commuter rail station at 38th and Blake
streets which opens in the spring. The World
Trade Center retained Oz Architecture to design
a mixed-use project containing a conference
center, office and retail space and a hotel. A
developer has not yet been selected but the
center anticipates a 2019 completion. .
Cherry Creek North Development Report
Issued
Source: Confluence Denver
The Cherry Creek North Business Improvement
District released its 2015 development activity
report. The agency found that seven development
projects started in the east Denver mixed-use
neighborhood in 2015 and that 15 more have been
announced, including hotels, apartments, office
and retail space. Cherry Creek North is
generally bounded by University Boulevard,
Madison Street and East 1st and East 3rd
avenues, plus the Cherry Creek shopping center
on the south side of East 1st Avenue.
Apartments May Replace Church in Hilltop
Source: Denver Post
An apartment building may be constructed on the
site of a long-dormant church in the Hilltop
neighborhood of east Denver. McKinnon and
Associates filed to rezone the site at 10 to 50
South Colorado Boulevard to allow a three story
building containing about 105 units. The Denver
Planning Board will probably consider the
application in April.
National Western Center Bonds Receive
High Credit Ratings
Source: Denver Business Journal
The three major credit rating agencies in the US
gave high ratings to the bonds that will be
issued for the redevelopment and expansion of
the National Western Center. The $425 million
issue also includes $6 million for improvements
to the Colorado Convention Center. The City and
County of Denver expects to issue the bonds
shortly with priority given to Colorado
residents. The ratings were AA from Fitch's, AA-
by Standard and Poor's and An3 by Moody's.
Agriculture Supplier Leases North Denver
Space
Source: Business Denver
A Fort Collins based agricultural products
supplier leased 32,500 square feet of warehouse
space in north Denver. Way to Grow primarily
supplies products to commercial cannabis growers
and to local gardeners. It replaced a similar
company that recently closed its operations in
the building at 4501 Wynkoop Street.
Planning Board Approves I-25 and
Broadway Plan
Source: Denver Business Journal
The Denver Planning Board approved the proposed
station area plan for property around the RTD
light rail and bus station at I-25 and Broadway
in south Denver. The plan includes vacant land
south of the station that was once occupied by a
large Gates Rubber Company plant. The plan also
addresses land uses and improvements to
pedestrian and bicycle connections from
surrounding neighborhoods. It will now be
considered by the Denver City Council.
Sports Authority Closing Kalamath Street
Warehouse
Source: Business Denver
As part of a corporate restructuring, Sports
Authority will close its distribution center
south of downtown Denver. The 200,000 square
foot warehouse is located at South Kalamath
Street and West Ellsworth Avenue. The company
recently announced that it would eliminate 72
jobs at its Englewood headquarters as it
prepares to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Fowler Purchases Southeast Denver
Apartments
Source: Business Denver
Fowler Property Acquisition bought the Station
at Highline, a 138-unit apartment property in
southeast Denver. The six-story buildings are
located at the southwest corner of East Evans
Avenue and South Quebec Street. The
California-based investment company bought the
property from Asher Investments for $13.5
million, or about $97,000 per unit.
Kelmore to Develop Lowry Mixed-use Site
Source: Business Denver
The Lowry Redevelopment Authority selected
Kelmore Development Corporation to build a
mixed-use project in the Boulevard One section
of the east Denver neighborhood. The site
contains about eight acres and is located at the
corner of Quebec Street and Lowry Boulevard,
adjacent to where Embrey Partners is planning a
350-unit apartment building. The redevelopment
plan for the Boulevard One section allows up to
185,000 square feet of office, retail and
residential space, pending approvals from Denver
planners.
