Reconnecting northeast denver

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Vision We envision a reconnected neighborhood, anchored by a greenway that functions as a community amenity, cultural hub, and connective link to regional transit and recreation. The Market Lead Channel will become a focal point for the community and will function as a catalyst for future investment by creating opportunities for enhanced commercial and neighborhood service uses.

We will transform an open drainage channel into a connective greenway through the neighborhood to serve as an amenity for the surrounding communities. The goal is to create a pedestrian and bicycle link from the 40th & Colorado Station, travelling along a former railroad right-of-way repurposed as park space with a multi-use trail and native habitat, through a warehouse district converted into a local shopping and business center to serve community needs, to the 38th & Blake station and out to the South Platte River. This greenway will accommodate the necessary stormwater drainage while creating a unifying identity along the corridor and providing public gathering places and other amenities for the residents of the surrounding area.

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Overview 2.1%

11% North Denver is an architecturally, culturally, and environmentally diverse area of the city. Bounded Race/Ethnicity: roughly by City Park to the south, Interstate 70 to the north, Colorado Boulevard to the east, and Broadway to the west,Compared this area consists of various with our unique identities, to the rest ofneighborhoods the study area, focus area including is the Five Points neighborhood famed for its rich jazz heritage.

70.6%

predominately Hispanic.

2.1% The neighborhood developed during late 1800s. Since the 1970s the Latino population has grown significantly, most significantly the Mexican community. Also prevalent in the neighborhood are 11% and African White Anglo Black HispanicAmerican Other residents, including some who are descendents of the original settlers.

The customs, traditions,Race/Ethnicity: architecture and food of past generations has enriched the neighborhood Compared and contributes to its unique identity.to the rest of the study area, our focus area is 2.1% 70.6%

predominately Hispanic.

2.1% from the core of Denver, and by necessity were self-reliant 11% These communities were largely isolated $240K communities with access to jobs,11% neighborhood services and rich culture.

Median Household Income: White

2.1% Hispanic Black

Compared to the rest of the study area, our focus a predominately Hispanic.

70.6% predominately Hispanic.

Race/Ethnicity: Race/Ethnicity: $240K The focus area is predominately Hispanic, encouraging a culturally sensitive design Compared to theofrest of Household the study area, our focus area is which takes Income: into account the needs Median the residents.

Hispanicpredominately Other 70.6% 137K Hispanic.

Over $100,000 lowerOther median home value White Black Hispanic 70.6%

11%

White

Race/Ethnicity:

137K Over $100,000 lower median home value Other Compared to the rest of the study area, our focus area is Race/Ethnicity:

Black

$33,562

$44,748

Median Home Value: The economic statistics reflect 25% lower median houseMedian Home Value: $240K White Black Hispanic hold Other income.Therefore, improving access to education, The median home value in is over $100,000 lower than the surrounding North Denver area.

Median Household Income: However, the homes are no less well cared for, many meticulously maintained. employment, andbeing transportation opportunities are keyIncome: Median 137K Over $100,000 lower median home valueHousehold MediantoHome Value: factors consider.

Over $100,000 lower median home value

137

$33,562

$44,748

$33,562

$33,562

$33,562

$44,748

$44,748

$44,748

$240K The economic statistics reflect 25% lower median houseMedian Household Income: holdHousehold income.Therefore, improving access to education, Median Income: 137K Over $100,000 lower median homehousehold value income.

The economic statistics reflect 25% lower median Therefore, improving employment, and transportation opportunities are key access to education, employment, and transportation opportunities are key factors to consider. factors to consider.

Median Home Value: Median Home Value: Education Attained: The economic statistics reflect 25% lower median houseThe economic statistics reflect 21% 25% lower median h Over a third ofhold theincome.Therefore, entire population is under the age improving access toimproving education, hold income.Therefore, access to educa Level of Education Attained: of 18, and nearly half of the adult population did not 43% Median Home Value: employment, and transportation opportunities are key Over a third of the entire population is under the age of 18, and nearly half of the adult employment, and transportation opportunities are complete school.

The workforce this area is more population did not high complete high school.

The workforce ininthis area is lower more heavily The economic statistics reflect 25% median houseEducation Attained: factors to consider. factors to consider.

21% dependent on carpooling and public transit than the study area overall. hold income.Therefore, improving access to education, Over a third of the entire population is undertransit the age heavily dependent on carpooling and public than opportunities are key of 18, andemployment, nearly half ofand the transportation adult population didoverall. not 43% the study area factors toThe consider. complete high school. workforce in this area is more heavily dependent carpooling and public transit than rail lines and an elevated The physical character of theon area results in barriers created by multiple the problems study area overall. section of Interstate 70, it also experiences various with drainage,Education including: Attained: Education Attained: 21% 21 • Historic alluvial plains; Over a third of the entire is entire underpopulation the age is under Overpopulation a third of the the age • Frequent flooding during storm events; of 18, and nearly halfofof18, theand adult population did not population did 43% nearly half of the adult not • Aging stormwater infrastructure bordering onEducation inadequateAttained: or obsolete; complete high school. workforce this area is more complete high school.

The workforce in thisThe area is more in 21% • Additional runoff caused by more development.

Over a third of the entirerecent population is under the age heavily dependent on carpooling and public transit than heavily dependent on carpooling and public transit than of 18, and nearly half of the adult population did not the study area43% overall. the study area overall. complete high school. The workforce in this area is more 4

The majority of the structures in this area were built by the 1930s. In addition to many well-cared for Victorian homes and rowhouses, the Denver Medical Army Depot is located between York and Steele Streets along the Market Lead rail spur. This warehouse district was built as a storage and distribution center for Army medical supplies during World War II, which has since been renovated as a business park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties. Part of our focus is to use this district to create more connections to the neighborhood and bring in community-serving commercial uses.

The City and County of Denver is currently undergoing a design process to solve the problem of flooding in the northern area of the city. The presented plans, however, have been the subject of criticism due to their need to acquire and demolish several existing single family homes in the Cole neighborhood in order to accommodate an open drainage channel along East 39th Avenue and potentially an additional detention pond. In a neighborhood already disproportionately impacted by infrastructure, from large rail yards isolating it from the core of the city to the construction of I-70 in the 1960s ripping the urban fabric, additional disconnection caused by yet another piece of infrastructure is simply unacceptable.

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Proposal

[RE]medy Flooding The proposed channel will serve as a connective link from the 40th & Colorado transit stop, through northeast Denver to the South Platte River. While the open channel will alleviate potential flooding, enhancements to the planting, treatment, and experience will allow the space to function as a cultural and social amenity.

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Creative pedestrian crossings allow permeability across the channel.

The water quality channel designed as a wetland amenity is planted with native grasses and shrubs to provide recreational opportunities, natural wildlife habitat, and clean stormwater as it passes through.

Stepped terraces provide places for people to gather and gain closer access to the channel, yet also allows water to rise into pedestrian areas during storm events.

A pedestrian and bicycle trail will link neighborhoods with transit, schools, and nature.

Instead of a simple open channel with a trail alongside it, we envision this drainage infrastructure as a multifunctional space that will: • Serve as an east-west link from the 40th & Colorado Station to the South Platte River. • Reconnect the street grid from the north and south of the Market Lead. • Accommodate stormwater runoff.

It will be designed as a bicycle and pedestrian path, utilizing the existing right-of-way so as to not disrupt the adjacent single family residences along East 39th Avenue. Stepped terraces allow people closer access to the channel while providing for greater water flows during major storm events. The channel itself will be planted with native plants and trees to mimic the biodiversity of a plains creek ecosystem.

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Proposal

[RE]duce Runoff New connections through the neighborhood will utilize sustainable stormwater infrastructure. Streets will incorporate elements to improve water quality, slow runoff, and encourage groundwater recharge. Integrated stormwater infrastructure will create an interesting pedestrian realm, and will include permeable paving materials, bioswales, street trees, and native vegetation.

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Bio-swales slow stormwater run off.

Rain gardens improve water quality.

Accessible infrastructure reduces long term costs.

Stormwater channel

infrastructure

link

Street trees protection.

to

provide

pedestrian

Shady, multi modal streets reduce VMT.

Reconnecting the neighborhoods from north to south with green streets will improve access to the 39th Avenue greenway for both pedestrians and stormwater. Incorporating storm water management infrastructure as an integrated streetscape improvement where new connections are made can reduce the volume of runoff, lessening the burden for additional detention.

In addition, green streets will: • Slow and reduce run off.

• Improve water quality.

• Enhance the pedestrian experience.

• Provide visually interesting, shady streets.

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Proposal

[RE]unite People The proposed channel will serve as a destination for existing residents, linking key neighborhood amenities including Bruce Randolph School, Harrington Elementary, Pioneer Charter School, the Saint Charles Recreation Center, and the existing transit stops. Shared streets along northern edge of channel making it accessible for vehicular traffic and pedestrians. Bridges over the channel connect neighborhoods.

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Trails and terraces provide space to walk, picnic, play sports, and socialize.

Community gardens allow people to grow their own healthy food while interacting with neighbors.

Pedestrian bridges and walkways connect the neighborhoods on either side of the channel with amenities.

Interactive spaces invite people to use them creatively as they deem fit.

Cafe seating provides places for people to gather and mingle.

Vibrant street furniture encourages interaction.

Reconnecting the neighborhoods from east to west with the enhanced greenway and from north to south with new street and pedestrian connections will allow opportunities to access existing social and cultural amenities and ensure safe routes between existing neighborhood schools.

Enhancing the greenway, reconnecting portions of the street grid, and creating opportunities for redevelopment will create attractive, pedestrian scaled, public space throughout the corridor. Existing warehouse buildings will be reused for community-serving commercial uses and to create open links from the neighborhood to the south to the greenway.

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Proposal

[RE]vive Neighborhoods Adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse structures will include community-serving commercial uses like post office and fresh produce stores allowing the area to become a cultural and social destination for existing residents. Reintroducing the street grid will provide redevelopment opportunities for appropriately scaled, mixed use, brick structures that respect the historic character of the neighborhood.

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Pedestrian connections through buildings link businesses with the surrounding neighborhood.

New development provides needed commercial, retail, fresh food, and local businesses in an area lacking community-serving resources.

Adaptive reuse of existing buildings creates community gathering places that fit within the neighborhood.

Embrace the existing railroads as a positive feature for the neighborhood’s identity.

Existing warehouse district provides opportunities to create walkable pedestrian-oriented spaces.

By reusing the existing historic landmark warehouses for community-serving commercial uses, we will create a walkable local destination within the neighborhood where people can take care of their daily needs. In addition, reintroducing the street grid where feasible in the area surrounding the channel will create opportunities for redevelopment. Our vision for redevelopment would be to create an appropriately scaled, mixed use destination with a variety of neighborhood services adjacent the channel. Services could include day care uses, grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.

In the short term, vacant land and marginal uses around the channel could be temporarily repurposed with parks and community gardens. Long term potential redevelopment is based on the River North plan projection that existing heavy rail may be relocated, as well as older industrial uses on large lots.

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Lynch Analysis

When examining the significant edges, paths, nodes, districts, and landmarks within or near the study area, some clear trends begin to emerge. Primarily, significant destinations within the study area are inaccessible from the neighborhoods, due to strong edges created by the existing industrial districts and vehicular and rail corridors. These edges inhibit pedestrian access to the three schools within the study area, Harrington Elementary, Pioneer Charter, and Bruce Randolph School. Lack of pedestrian paths from east to west across the neighborhood also limits access to amenities such as the South Platte River trail, Schietler Recreation Center, and transit stops at 38th & Blake and 40th & Colorado.

Left: Facing west, the abandoned heavy rail corridor will be the location of the open channel, with the warehouse district shown to the south.

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Edges: Heavily trafficked vehicular arterials, rail yards, and large warehouses create a significant barrier from north to south across the study area.

Paths: Paths through the study area are primarily vehicular, and include Brighton Blvd., 40th Ave., York, and Steele. Commuter rail and the Platte River trail provide alternate modes of transportation.

Nodes: Significant destinations in the neighborhood include commuter rail stops at 40th & Colorado and 38th & Blake, as well as schools and recreation centers.

Districts: The study area is characterized by several major warehouse districts, surrounded by single family residential neighborhoods to the north and south.

Landmarks: Nearby visual landmarks mainly lie north of the study area, and include the Purina Factory and the Coliseum. Within the study area, the PortaPower building provides a distinct roofline and the Denver Medical Depot structures are significant.

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