Denver Development Etceteras Thread #5 - Page 105

Strange Meat · #**2081** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 1:51 AM**

Tire center? Yay.

I was curious about it, because as the structure was going up, it looked like it was facing 20th rather than Federal which had me confused. Couldn't find any info on the fence signage. Thanks.

Fritzdude · #**2082** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 11:21 PM**

Here is some interesting redevelopment news about the Buckley annex at Lowry:

http://lowryredevelopment.org/annex/

70 acres to be turned into a mix of residential/commercial/ and open parks.

Cirrus · #**2083** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 1:21 PM**

Moved the Aurora light rail discussion to the transportation thread. /mod

bunt_q · #**2084** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 1:42 PM**

It wasn't *meant* to be a light rail discussion. I meant for it to be a development discussion. /sigh

Cirrus · #**2085** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 3:21 PM**

/shrug/ OK.

So here's the map again. Accepting the location of the LRT stops, how would folks plan for downtown Aurora? I'll make a photoshop plan over the weekend.

wong21fr · #**2086** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 3:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

It wasn't *meant* to be a light rail discussion. I meant for it to be a development discussion. /sigh

Has Aurora even come up with a station area plan for their "City Center"? I can't seem to find one.

One of the few areas where there's tons of land and it seems like Aurora isn't really putting too much though into redevelopment of anything that would be TOD friendly. I'm betting what will end up going there will be far more like the City Center development north of Alameda than like Belmar. I'll argue that we shouldn't waste our time with Aurora's failure to build an artificial downtown and should instead focus on Fitzsimmons. That's where Aurora's center is going to end up being.

rds70 · #**2087** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 7:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Has Aurora even come up with a station area plan for their "City Center"? I can't seem to find one.

One of the few areas where there's tons of land and it seems like Aurora isn't really putting too much though into redevelopment of anything that would be TOD friendly. I'm betting what will end up going there will be far more like the City Center development north of Alameda than like Belmar. I'll argue that we shouldn't waste our time with Aurora's failure to build an artificial downtown and should instead focus on Fitzsimmons. That's where Aurora's center is going to end up being.

I posted the Aurora downtown development plan earlier, but I guess it got moved to the other thread.

rds70 · #**2088** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 7:43 PM**

http://www.auroraedc.com/media/docs/...etroCenter.pdf

mr1138 · #**2089** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 8:30 PM**

Wow... that site plan makes Boulder's 29th street look like a work of urban genius.

glowrock · #**2090** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 9:00 PM**

Parts of it look fine, but the surface parking lots are just horrendous!

Aaron (Glowrock)

LAM · #**2091** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds70

http://www.auroraedc.com/media/docs/...etroCenter.pdf

Oooh, A light rail station walking distance from a big box store loading dock, shopping mall parking lot, and back side of an office building parking lot. You'd think that Aurora wouldn't be so excited about a line that they clearly think is out the back door. It's a good thing that kept all that high density housing outside the 1/2 mile radius from the station.

I'm sorry to say, but this plan has no redeeming qualities.

bunt_q · #**2092** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 2:54 AM**

That mall won't be there forever, and big boxes should always be viewed as temporary uses. That's what I don't like about the 2nd and Abilene station. Go running for a patch of greenfield, no matter how small, even if it cuts off half your walkability radius but being along the highway. I view that strip center, even the Target, as temporary also, and based in that I think the station should be on the east-west before it turns north again along the highway ROW.

DownhomeDenver · #**2093** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 3:05 PM**

Can anyone confirm this? There's a small article in Uptownonthehill.com about a hotel being planned by Presbyterian St Lukes hospital:

http://uptownonthehill.com/index.php...tel-in-uptown/

rml213 · #**2094** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 3:44 PM**

Last year when I moved to Denver, i bought some property within walking distance to the then "proposed" light rail at Sable and Alameda. Needless to say, I've been on pins and needles waiting for the red or green light on this project and SO glad its green. I truly believe this area has the ability to pop with the right plan in place. I also have to believe the city will go back to the drawing board and create a TOD plan sexy enough that developers will begin to take notice. I know its Aurora but I have to give the city props for taking action.

LAM · #**2095** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

That mall won't be there forever, and big boxes should always be viewed as temporary uses. That's what I don't like about the 2nd and Abilene station. Go running for a patch of greenfield, no matter how small, even if it cuts off half your walkability radius but being along the highway. I view that strip center, even the Target, as temporary also, and based in that I think the station should be on the east-west before it turns north again along the highway ROW.

You are correct about the mall. In the here and now, they could even put in higher density housing and parking structures in the mall parking lot adjacent to the station. However, the big box store and other "amenities" don't exist yet and are planned as part of the TOD. It's basically planning for the next 20 years in hopes that the need will eventually arise. If they simply revisited the plan, it would be a no brainer to increase the density right at the station even if it is only residential in nature.

Zmapper · #**2096** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 7:42 PM**

My thoughts on Aurora Mall:

http://goo.gl/maps/jdXJ

The actual mall seems to be doing fairly well, so there is no need to demolish it. A street grid would be constructed to better accommodate the existing mall layout, and transition the area into a secondary CBD.

The four main blocks surrounding the mall would be where skyscraper development would be focused. Behind Abilene Street, a parking garage would be constructed to allow those exiting from the Interstate to access parking easily. I included a dedicated ramp from the top level of the parking garage to South I-225 in order to keep traffic from making 3 left turns, but I don't think CDOT would likely approve of it.

In light of the tragic theater shooting last week, the land on which Century Theaters currently sits would be turned into a Memorial Gardens. (Side note: For those who have been there, where in relation to the theater lobby is theater 9? I want to make sure I didn't inadvertently propose a street over the site.)

I didn't fill in the remaining blocks, but it is presumed that they would be filled in with development as time passes. Initially, they would start out as segmented parking lots, and when it is time to build the parking would be moved into garages.

Strange Meat · #**2097** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 9:28 PM**

There is fencing up around an old parking lot on the SW corner of 23rd and the 25. Anyone know if they're just resurfacing it (it was in pretty shoddy shape) or if something is going up there?

Nexis4Jersey · #**2098** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 10:06 PM**

Why is it hugging I-225 , why not go along the Median of Sable Boulevard?

delements · #**2099** Posted: **Jul 29, 2012, 2:00 PM**

http://denverinfill.com/blog/2007/04...e-station.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Meat

There is fencing up around an old parking lot on the SW corner of 23rd and the 25. Anyone know if they're just resurfacing it (it was in pretty shoddy shape) or if something is going up there?

BG918 · #**2100** Posted: **Jul 30, 2012, 1:48 AM**

6th & Logan