In addition to helping inform the Belleview Corridor Plan, this information is intended to serve as a reference for individuals or businesses interested in locating and/or investing in the corridor.
Summary Findings/Recommendations Below is a summary of key findings/recommendations for the Belleview Corridor that emerged from the analysis: national and local trends, an overview of the corridor’s competitive position and retail opportunities, and specific recommendations for the corridor to be carried forward as part of the Belleview Corridor Plan.
National and Local Trends Retail conditions both at the national and local level have been changing, which warrants an examination of retail potential for the future of the Belleview Corridor. Nationally, the growth of internet retailers, demographic preference shifts, and retail chain changes are impacting future opportunities. On a local level, the condition of—and opportunities for— retail spaces along the corridor are changing as well. The Columbine Square Shopping Center, located at the southwest corner of Federal and Belleview, closed in 2014 and is going to be demolished. The Centennial Square Shopping Center, on the north side of Belleview between S. Federal Blvd and S. Prince St, had been declining in condition and quality of retailers but was recently sold to a new owner who is looking to reinvest in the center and attract new retailers. There has also been interest in redeveloping some portions of the corridor from retail into mixed use and/or residential.
Competitive Position The Belleview Corridor has a strong competitive position and will continue to be an attractive retail location. The corridor has two major assets that make it attractive to additional retailers. First, the corridor has a strong location based on its centrality and traffic counts. Second, it retains a number of strong retail anchor stores. The corridor has easy access from Santa Fe Drive (US Hwy 85), which is a major northsouth artery in the region. As well, Belleview Avenue is one of the few continuous eastwest arterials/highways that connect I-25—specifically the employment in the Denver Tech Center area— and Santa Fe Drive. According to ESRI, the Belleview Corridor has more than 30,000 vehicles per day, with over 70,000 vehicles per day traveling on Santa Fe Drive. The high traffic volume is attractive to retailers as it gives access and visibility to potential shoppers. The north side of Belleview is viewed as the more desirable side as it captures the “going-home” traffic in the evenings. The section of Belleview between Santa Fe and Federal Blvd is viewed as most desirable. Traffic on Belleview west of Federal is lower (18,000 vehicles per day) as commuters going to and from the south, west, and north split at the intersection of Federal and Belleview. Therefore, sites west of Federal on Belleview have lower traffic counts and require shoppers to venture off their path home to access retailers past Federal.
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Introduction and Recommendations