The Denver Livability Partnership (DLP) will expand permanent affordable housing, improve access to jobs and create better multi-modal connectivity along Denver’s transit corridors. This HUD Community Challenge and DOT TIGER II funding will allow Denver to leverage partnerships and opportunities along the west light rail corridor to transform Denver’s west side into livable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. Through capacity building and knowledge sharing, best practices will then be applied to other corridors in Denver, in the region and nationwide.
Activity Highlights
Housing Development Assistance Fund
Often, land surrounding transit stations increase in value with the opening of new transit improvements thus hurting the economic feasibility of community facilities and affordable housing. By acquiring land and buildings within ½ mile of transit stations and high frequency bus routes before the completion of transit investments, the HDAF will ensure that properties will be available to serve urban communities before when the land is too expensive. Funds will be granted to the Urban Land Conservancy and to Denver Housing Authority.
Why is this important to my community?
The creation of this fund will help preserve and create affordable housing within one-half mile of transit stations and high frequency bus routes. It will be made available as sub-grants to the Urban Land Conservancy and to Denver Housing Authority of up to $750,000 each. These funds will ensure that predevelopment and holding costs do not get passed through to the renter/owner, thereby lowering housing and transportation costs for west side families.
West Side Transit Enhancement Study
West side residents need to be connected to the new West Corridor LRT and the rest of the region. This study will assess current RTD services and on how those services could be adjusted to better connect the west side to new and existing light rail transit. The study will also identify infrastructure improvements around transit stops to better connect pedestrians and other modes of transportation to RTD facilities and services. The goal is to identify strategies that improve access for the west side to jobs, recreation, education, and other opportunities.
TOD Strategic Plan Update
Denver’s 2006 Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategic Plan has served as a guide for prioritizing the city’s station are planning activities. The TOD Strategic Plan update will assess lessons learned, focus on strategic implementation and explore for their coordination among City departments, partners and communities in ore\der to effectively create thriving transit-oriented communities. Specific areas of focus include market assessment, affordable housing, and infrastructure and other investments.
City Kitchen
Denver’s west side is an urban food desert lacking sufficient access to fresh, nutritious food including fruits and vegetables. In underserved communities the lack of a supermarket negatively affects the ability to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet and incidence of diet-related diseases is disproportionately high in these areas. The City Kitchen will create a community destination for urban agriculture, food storage, processing and distribution, nutrition education, business incubation and health screenings among other potential activities.
Decatur-Federal Station Area Planning
This area is poised to significantly transform with the opening of the West Corridor LRT line. The opportunity to create a healthier, more livable and walkable community will require overcoming numerous barriers to development. This activity, led by the City and County of Denver in partnership with Denver Housing Authority, will focus on planning and TOD implementation for the ½ mile radius around the station in Sun Valley. This planning effort will include the Station are Plan and a resulting General Development Plan (GDP), land use, infrastructure, connectivity, housing, and economic development strategies will be utilized to yield near-term TOD results. The Plan and GDP will create a vision and identify the path towards a higher density, mixed-income, and walkable community.
Knox Court Bike Boulevard Study
Bicycle boulevards are innovative bicycle facilities that optimize low volume, residential streets for bicycle travel. In coordination with public outreach efforts, Bicycle Blvds have been successful at attracting novice bicycle riders into the active transportation network. The completion of this facility will create a backbone for the active transportation network in the west side, connecting neighborhoods to the West Corridor, schools, parks, and businesses by bike or foot.
Public outreach is critical to the success of the Denver Livability Partnership. The public outreach strategy is designed to identify multiple communication tools to reach a diverse population of west side citizens. A key outcome to achieve increase participation and decision-making by populations traditionally marginalized in public planning processes.
Core Partners
• City and County of Denver • Denver Health, Department of Public Health
• Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. • LiveWell Westwood
• Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Inc. • U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
• Urban Land Conservancy • U.S. Dept. of Transportation
• Denver Housing Authority • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Regional Transportation District • Transit Alliance
• Denver Regional Council of Governments • Urban Land Institute
For more information, please visit our website:
www.denvergov.org/dlp
The Denver Livability Partnership is supported by federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How can I get involved?
Contact your Council person, key partners, or visit www.denvergov.org/dlp to sign up for project updates.
