Urban Land Conservancy February 2014 Update
ULC February 2014 Update
ULC Selects Development Partner at 38th & Blake Site on East Line
ULC’s Real Estate Development Committee selected partners Medici Communities / Denver Housing Authority as the developer for this mixed-use project. The development located at the 38th/Blake rail station on the East Line, will include affordable and market rate housing as well as commercial space for office and retail.
ULC is thrilled to be working with Medici again after partnering at the award winning Evans Station Lofts which opened in summer 2013. Stay tuned for updates on community meetings and design concepts!
Holly Square Connections Continue
ULC is now utilizing CDBG funding, administered by the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development, to implement the Holly Area Redevelopment Project (HARP) community vision for a new 100 foot long public walkway along the detention pond area located on-site adjacent to the Boys and Girls Club, as well as minor cosmetic upgrades to signage and landscaping at the adjacent off-site existing retail center. The new walkway will provide the primary physical linkage of the new Boys and Girls Club and the adjacent Holly Peace Courts with the existing Hope Center at 3475 Holly Street.
Holly Walkway Under Construction |
We are thrilled to be working with Colorado Construction Institute (CCI) to complete this connecting walkway to provide safe access to the entire Holly site. CCI is eager for students to show off the construction, leadership, and professional development skills they have learned, and proud to do so at such a prominent community landmark.
ULC and CCI are planning a “Community Build Day” at the Holly on March 22nd for the public, please come meet CCI, ULC, HARP and the community to celebrate this latest project at Holly Square!
Tramway Nonprofit Center Gets a New Engine!
What do we mean new engine? The Tramway HUB (entire core of the building) is being reconfigured in order to create:
- Better circulation and connectivity for the 14 existing tenants to access common areas of building
- Brand new and updated restrooms, kitchen, shower facility, parenting room, telecom room, building storage, janitorial room, electrical room, on site management office and 3 conference rooms
- Better security for our daycare provider – Early Excellence
- Better access to restrooms
- Increased emergency exiting options
- Additional conference room space
- A parenting room, and
- Upgraded electrical, plumbing, lighting, HVAC, flooring, teleco wiring and more!
Since the HUB is the heart of the building, ULC saw a great need to create a better area for people to gather, meet and collaborate. Denver’s Office of Economic Development is supporting this project at Tramway, as well as new windows recently installed and a new main water line recently replaced. A million thanks to OED for being such a supportive partner!
It’s Time to Mingle and You’re Invited!
ULC would like to invite you to come socialize over happy hour on March 6th from 4:30 – 6:30pm. This event will directly follow the Mile High Connects Equity Atlas Launch so there will be much to celebrate!
Policy Corner
with Karly Malpiede, ULC Associate
ULC closely follows Colorado and Federal legislation as well as local policy to help guide our work and benefit the work of our partners. In this month’s Policy Corner, we would like to highlight Colorado House Bill 1017, written to expand the availability of affordable housing in the state.
To summarize, HB 1017 increases the resource pool for developers in Colorado to both preserve existing and construct new affordable housing. Additional funds would go to the State Division of Housing, providing additional resources for developers to build the much needed affordable housing needed statewide. The bill also reinstates the State Housing Tax Credit, which is critical to the development community’s ability to leverage the Federal Tax Credits.
Why does this matter to ULC? Easy. These additional resources will allow ULC and our development partners to more successfully meet the affordable housing needs of the Denver metro area. Existing housing will be better preserved and renovated as well as new housing being constructed, creating housing options for lower income populations.
Exciting New Projects for Denver Shared Spaces
Denver Shared Spaces has been busy so far in 2014, and it doesn’t look like the pace will slow down much as the year progresses. As our collaborative effort to support and advocate for effective shared spaces, DSS is set to accomplish three key projects this year:
- The first will be to leverage our technical assistance grantmaking to create a brand new center serving Denver residents. We are in the process of interviewing the finalists and we are excited to select this year’s grantee!
- Our second major effort will be to support the Denver Housing Authority in selecting partners for a new shared space in their Mariposa Redevelopment. They are working hard to select commercial partners for the first floor spaces that bring vitality, opportunity and needed amenities to this new mixed-income development. And we will have the opportunity to help them in that effort.
- A third key piece of DSS’s work this year will be engaging in the planning and implementation efforts in Sun Valley. The Denver Foundation, Kaiser Permanente and Mile High Connects awarded DSS grant funding to help stakeholders and community members identify how best to use shared spaces to achieve the development goals laid out in the Decatur Federal Station Area Plan. Our involvement will complement the long-term and extensive community engagement that has moved Sun Valley into the spotlight, and help achieve the inclusive, empowering vision the community has set for redevelopment.
Photo courtesy of The Denver Housing Authority |
For more information please email: megan@