DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP MEMBERSHIP FORUM

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DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIPMEMBERSHIP FORUM
Downtown Denvers Roadmap An Update on the
Downtown Area PlanMay 21, 2009
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• Tami Door
• Co-Chair 2027 CommitteeDowntown Denver
  Partnership

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DDP MONTHLY FORUM MAY 21, 2009
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Plan Area
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2007 Downtown Area Plan
The vision for Downtown Denver VIBRANT An
Economically Healthy, Growing and Vital Downtown

• 5 Vision Elements
• 19 Strategies
• 7 Transformative Projects
• 1,000 Small Steps

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• Tom Gougeon
• Union Station Neighborhood Company

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TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT! B2. Building On Transit
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Denver Union Station Plan Recommendations

• Reinforce Union Station as the regional transit
  hub.
• Create high quality multimodal connections
  between the light rail station and Denver Union
  Station on 16th, 17th , 18th and Wewatta Streets.
  17th Street Promenade will be the spine of the
  transit district and provide a high quality
  connection across the district.
• Assure that the restoration of Denver Union
  Station and development of the site as a transit
  hub becomes a significant benefit to LoDo with
  improved pedestrian connections into and through
  the site on 16th, 17th and 18th Streets and the
  Wynkoop Plaza open space.

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Denver Union Station Redevelopment
SOM
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Denver Union Station
A Public-Private Partnership

• Regional Transportation District (RTD)
• City County of Denver (CCD)
• Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
• Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA)
• Union Station Neighborhood Company (USNC)

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Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
RTD ACQUIRES DUS SITE
MASTER PLANNING
DEVELOPER SELECTION
DESIGN REFINEMENT
PRELIMINARY ENG.
2001
2002-4
2005-6
2007
2008
August 2001 RTD acquires site in accordance with
IGA between RTD, CCD, CDOT and DRCOG
April 2002 Partner Agencies initiated master
planning process 3-year public process with
96-member Advisory Committee September 2004
Vision Plan approved by four Partner Agencies
establishing transit and development
programs September 2004 DUS rezoned T-MU 30
18 month process of national significance Develop
er RFQ June 2005 11 teams submit RFP Part 1,
February 2006 5 teams submit RFP Part 2, July
2006 Developer Interviews, August 2006 Public
Presentations, September 2006
USNC team studied alternative configurations At-G
rade Solution developed and costed 15
Conceptual Plans prepared Master Plan amended to
reflect new solution EIS advances
Design Team prepared 30 Preliminary
Engineering EIS completed ROD issued October
2008 DUSPA created DDA created, TIF district
established DUS Met Districts created

Milestones
Nov. 2004 FasTracks approved by voters
Nov. 2006 USNC Selected as Master Developer, team
included SOM, AECOM, and Kiewit
Nov. 2007 Revised solution target budget
established
Dec. 2008 PE complete Start D/B Negotiations
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Future Bridge
Consolidated Main Line
Millennium Bridge
Chestnut Pl.
19th St.
18th St.
17th St.
16th St.
Wewatta St.
LRT
Mall Shuttle
Amtrak / Ski Train (4 tracks)
HOV
DUS
Wynkoop St.
Existing Condition
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Elevated Kinetic Plaza, looking South- Head of
Platform
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Milestones
Spring/Summer 2009 Anticipated NTP for D/B
Summer 2010 All Transportation Final Design work
complete
Summer 2013 Phased Opening of Multi-modal Hub
Early Action work Final Design /
Permits Continued Public Outreach through
USAC DUS Design Standards Guidelines
Approval DUS General Development Plan Approval
Phased Site Plan Approvals Continued Public
Outreach through DUSPA Public Realm Design
advancement Vertical Development Planning
Design
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Denver Union Station
Related Activities

• Wing Buildings Design
• USNC invited 15 local architectural firms to
  submit qualifications
• Six firms interviewed
• Anderson Mason Dale Architects/Semple Brown
  Design
• Start design Summer 2009
• Historic Station Building
• Measured drawings complete
• Existing conditions assessment/utilities and
  services
• Program and use planning
• Ownership and management structure
• Public Space Symposium
• Sponsored by USNC, Downtown Denver Partnership,
  and Union Station Advocates
• Focused on management and operations of public
  space
• Five nationally recognized public spaces and
  public space management organizations

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Public Space Symposium
Panelists

• Bryant Park, New York, NY
• Jerome Barth, Vice President, Bryant Park
  Corporation
• Fountain Square, Cincinnati, OH
• Chad Munitz, Executive VP, Cincinnati Center
  City Development Corporation
• Campus Martius Park, Detroit, MI
• Robert Gregory, President, Detroit 300
  Conservancy
• Millennium Park, Chicago, IL
• Terry Guen, Millennium Park Landscape Architect
• Santa Fe Railyard, Santa Fe, NM
• Richard Czoski, Executive Director, Santa Fe
  Railyard Community Corporation

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Public Space Symposium
Panel Recommendations

• PUBLIC SPACE LEADERSHIP
• Not for Profit Management Group is solely focused
  on public space and historic building
• Management Group To Have Autonomy in Operation of
  Public Spaces
• Different board members for development and
  operations, comprised of various stakeholders
• MANAGEMENT APPROACH
• Public sector goals, Private sector methods
• Professional dedicated staff
• Phase full public space improvement based upon
  management commitment capacity
• Manage Public Expectations through informed
  planning and public communication
• REVENUE COST
• Management Group to Charge Annual Site Management
  Fee to Transit Agency
• Revenue Sources All Site Based Advertising and
  Rentals
• Vendors, kiosks, Branded Items
• Marketing, Sponsorship Events
• Union Station Retail Rents
• Goal 1M/Acre/year for Clean Safe for Grade-A
  Public Space

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• Lindy Eichenbaum Lent
• Civic Center Conservancy

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CIVIC CENTER CONSERVANCY
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TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT! E2. A Rejuvenated Civic
Center
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E2. A Rejuvenated Civic Center

• Restore and reactivate the Civic Center
• Restore the Carnegie Library with active uses.
• Create clear street-level pedestrian connections
  to link the park to adjacent areas.
• Provide enhanced safety and maintenance services
  to the park.
• Enhance the parks function as the central
  location for community celebrations and
  festivals.
• Implement street enhancements for Colfax and 14th
  Avenue between Speer and Bannock.
• Encourage a mix of activities and active
  ground-floor uses in buildings facing the park.

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CONSERVANCY OVERVIEW

• HISTORY Founded in 2004 501(c)(3)
  nonprofit organization
• MISSION               Restore, Enhance,
  Activate
• GOAL Civic Center Safe, Clean, Active
  Public Community Asset
• PHILOSOPHY Amenities Activities
  Connectivity Daily Activation/Use
• CORE FUNCTIONS   Design/Advocacy
• Events/Programming
•                             
  PR/Marketing/Public Engagement
•                             Fundraising
•                 

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DESIGN ADVOCACY

• 2005 Civic Center Park Master Plan
• 2007 Downtown Area Plan
• 2009 Civic Center Design Guidelines
• Better Denver Bond Projects
• McNichols Building RFP
• Master Plans New Elements
• Connectivity

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BOND PROJECTS
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McNichols Building Adaptive Reuse
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New Elements
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Connectivity
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EVENTS PROGRAMMING

• Regions Premier Public Gathering Space
• Major Annual Festivals
• Parades Bike to Work Day Earth Day Denver
  Marathon Naturalization Ceremony
• Rallies, Demonstrations, Speakers Corner
• Public Art Tours Historical Walking Tours
• Biennial of the Americas

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CIVIC CENTER EATS OUTDOOR MARKET CAFE

• Tuesdays, 6/16 9/29 (excl. 9/8)
• 11 AM 2 PM
• Seeking sponsors

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CIVIC CENTER SOUNDS CONCERT

• Saturday, 8/8 at 5 PM
• Greek Theater
• Seeking Sponsors

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FUTURE PROGRAMMING IDEAS

• Expanded Shakespeare Series
• Comedy in the Park
• Symphony in the Park
• Weekday Morning Tai-Chi Classes
• Outdoor Art Classes
• Outdoor Storytime w/ DPL
• Photo Competitions/Exhibits
• Garden Tours
• Distance Markers along Walking Paths
• Wi-Fi
• Virtual Office Days
• Outdoor Reading Room
• Winter Ice Skating
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  and many more

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OPPORTUNITY OBLIGATION

• Located at the crossroads of government, culture,
  commerce and community, Civic Center
• Parks historical significance, spectacular
  backdrop and prime downtown location underscores
• the importance of and need for - restoration,
  enhancement and activation
• Downtown 6,000 businesses, 110,000 employees
  and 8,000 hotel rooms.
• More than 18,000 residents live in the
  neighborhoods directly surrounding Civic Center.
• One block from 16th St. Mall average of 55,000
  people use free shuttle every weekday.
• Within walking distance of the Auraria Higher
  Education Center approximately 43,000 students/
  largest college campus in Colorado.
• Surrounded by public institutions with large
  employee workforces and visitor traffic,
  including Denvers City and County Building and
  Webb Municipal Office Building (12,000 City
  employees), the Colorado State Capitol (plus 10
  nearby State office buildings), the Denver Art
  Museum (300 staff and approximately 20,000
  monthly visitors), the Denver Central Library
  (over one million annual visitors), and the
  Colorado History Museum (over 165,000 annual
  visitors).
• Four blocks from the Colorado Convention Center.
  176 conventions between 2008 2011, with a
  combined total of more than 770,500 attendees.
• Five blocks from the Denver Performing Arts
  Center, which hosts 750,000 patrons annually.

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LOVE YOUR PARK

• FACEBOOK Fan Denvers Civic Center Park
• E-MAIL info_at_civiccenterconservancy.org
• PHONE [phone]
• WEB www.civiccenterconservancy.org

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• Steve Gordon
• City of Denver Planning and Community Development
• Northeast Downtown Neighborhood Plan - Arapahoe
  Square

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Arapahoe Square

May 21, 2009 By Steve Gordon Denver Community
Planning and Development
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Downtown Denver Partnership City and County of
Denver
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Plan Area
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TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT! D3. Downtowns New
Neighborhood Arapahoe Square
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Arapahoe Square Challenges

• Highly visible concentration of social services
• Significant underutilization of large areas
  (relative to zoning and location)
• Lack of amenities in public realm
• Perceived barriers (Broadway, Park Avenue)
• Few positive identity elements

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Arapahoe Square Plan Recommendations

• Redevelop Arapahoe Square as a cutting edge,
  densely populated, mixed-use area that provides a
  range of housing types and a center for
  innovative businesses.
• Restore neighborhood character by restoring
  landscaped tree lawns and converting one-way
  streets to two-way.
• Improve Broadway and Park Avenue streetscapes
  (Grand Boulevards)
• Revise land use regulations.
• Provide amenities

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Pearl District, Portland, OR
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Arapahoe Square, looking southeast on California
St.
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NE Downtown Plan Objectives

• Establish community vision for area
• Provide strategic plan to achieve vision
• Create station area plans for existing light rail
  stations within area
• Plan for future extension of Central Corridor
  along Downing Street
• Address issues of particular importance within
  area

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NE Downtown Key Issues

• Affordable housing and housing services for low
  income populations and the homeless
• Historic preservation
• Infrastructure and mobility
• Access to green space and amenities
• Economic development
• Infill development, especially in Arapahoe Square

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Arapahoe Square Next Steps

• Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan, including
  Arapahoe Square, Ballpark, Curtis Park, Upper
  Larimer/RINO, Welton/Downing Corridor
• City-led planning process began in early 2009,
  completion summer 2010
• Involvement of residential, business and
  nonprofit stakeholders critical

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• Bruce James
• Co-Chair, 16th Street Plan Steering
  CommitteeBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck 

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• TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT!
• A2. Energizing the Commercial Core

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16th Street- A Success Story

• The premier.
• gathering place
• transit spine
• visitor destination
• retail hub of Downtown

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Long Term Planning Effort

• 2007 Downtown Area Plan
• GOAL Strengthen the vitality of the 16th Street
  Mall
• Create and enhance sub-districts
• Create and implement a Mall activities strategy
• Conduct a study of Mall infrastructure
• 18 24 month long process began April 2008
• Led by a Steering Committee
• Supported by a Technical Committee
• Public Input is key

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16th Street Plan Sponsors

• A Collective Effort of
• Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
• Downtown Denver BID
• Regional Transportation District
• City and County of Denver

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Steering CommitteeStatement of Intent and
Guiding Principles

• Outlines committees values for the Mall.
• Adopted in November 2008.
• Goal is for Mall to be socially, economically and
  environmentally sustainable.
• Mall will continue functioning as a pedestrian
  and transit mall
• Respect the Malls design integrity.

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The Mall Today Physical Challenges

• Infrastructure is aging and in need of
  upgrading.
• Granite paving in the transit lanes
• Condition of the granite surface throughout
• Mall lighting and electrical systems

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• Goals
• Pavers Address slip resistance, aesthetics, bond
  failure
• Electrical Accommodate vending, holiday
  lighting, and special events.
• Water, Storm and Sewer Accommodate development
  demands
• Urban Design Address infrastructure failures,
  mobility and access.

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Technical Assessment and Rehabilitation Study

• Time Frame January June 2009
• Scope
• Focus on granite pavers
• Other infrastructure analyzed
• Inventory of design elements
• Comparison of existing amenities to original
  construction drawings

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Utilities

• Water
• Irrigation repair leaking backflows upgrade
  irrigation at tree pits as necessary by tree
  condition
• Deck Hydrants upgrade as necessary
• Storm
• Miscellaneous inlet improvements
• Electrical
• Upgrade to 200 amp service
• Replace tree pit receptacles
• Replace infrastructure

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• Urban Design

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• Accessibility Mobility

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• Accessibility
• Mobility

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Public Involvement

• 16th Street Plan Website
• http//www.downtowndenver,com/Economic/
  16THStreetPlan.htm
• Share your opinion by completing the online
  public survey found at the above 16th Street Plan
  website.
• Questions or concerns? Email the 16th Street
  Steering Committee at 16thStreetPlan_at_DowntownDenve
  r.com