Saturday, September 23, 2006
Denver's Elitch Gardens: Don't Raze, Urbanize!
In my last blog entry, I opined that the Elitch Gardens amusement park should not be demolished and redeveloped into condos; rather, the surface parking lots surrounding Elitch's and the Pepsi Center should be developed with structured public parking wrapped by mixed-use development. This would allow for not only the addition of plenty of residential and other uses to balance out the all-or-nothing single-use aspects of these major venues, but also the establishment of a walkable, engaging, pedestrian environment that integrates the entire area into the Downtown grid and maximizes the utilization of the adjacent light rail stations.
Below are two images I've prepared to help convey this concept. The first is the area's existing conditions, showing the sea of asphalt that surrounds Elitch's, the Pepsi Center, and the Auraria Campus. When looking at this image, its clear to see how good of a job we've done in siting numerous major institutional, cultural, and entertainment facilities in this one part of Downtown. What's also clear is how we've failed to relate them to each other and to the rest of Downtown in an urban manner.
The second image is my conceptual plan for the area. This is something I just whipped up since yesterday, so please accept it as a general vision for the area and not necessarily a literal plan. I've done no traffic analysis, design studies, or financial assessment of this. There are dozens of variations along this same theme that could be envisioned for this area; this is just a quick take on one of them. What's important right now isn't the details, but that we as a community start to think of this part of Downtown in a different way.
Click on the images to see the full view.
Existing Conditions:
Central Platte Valley South - Conceptual Reurbanization Plan:
The dashed purple lines represent pedestrian-only or pedestrian-priority travelways that form the backbone of this concept plan. 9th Street, already a strong pedestrian axis within the Auraria Campus, would continue as such across Auraria Parkway into the valley. Featured along this new 9th Street Walk would be the main entrance to the Pepsi Center; a new permanent outdoor amphitheater and lawn; the light rail station and pedestrian bridge; a grand new public space featuring gardens, picnic grounds, and a major public plaza over underground parking; the main entrance to Elitch Gardens; Centennial Gardens; a new pedestrian bridge over the river; and the Downtown Aquarium.
The other main pedestrian corridor would run through the heart of the new mixed-use developments that wrap around structured public parking facilities. The Wewatta Promenade would head past the new outdoor amphitheater toward the Mile High Stadium light rail station, and feature ground-floor shops and restaurants with outdoor patios and other pedestrian amenities.
If we can transform the abandoned railyards on the north side of Cherry Creek into the remarkable Riverfront Park area we enjoy today, we can achieve something similar on the south side of Cherry Creek. If you agree, then you ought to let the power-that-be know that you'd like to see something like this be a part of the new Downtown Area Plan.
Below are two images I've prepared to help convey this concept. The first is the area's existing conditions, showing the sea of asphalt that surrounds Elitch's, the Pepsi Center, and the Auraria Campus. When looking at this image, its clear to see how good of a job we've done in siting numerous major institutional, cultural, and entertainment facilities in this one part of Downtown. What's also clear is how we've failed to relate them to each other and to the rest of Downtown in an urban manner.
The second image is my conceptual plan for the area. This is something I just whipped up since yesterday, so please accept it as a general vision for the area and not necessarily a literal plan. I've done no traffic analysis, design studies, or financial assessment of this. There are dozens of variations along this same theme that could be envisioned for this area; this is just a quick take on one of them. What's important right now isn't the details, but that we as a community start to think of this part of Downtown in a different way.
Click on the images to see the full view.
Existing Conditions:
Central Platte Valley South - Conceptual Reurbanization Plan:
The dashed purple lines represent pedestrian-only or pedestrian-priority travelways that form the backbone of this concept plan. 9th Street, already a strong pedestrian axis within the Auraria Campus, would continue as such across Auraria Parkway into the valley. Featured along this new 9th Street Walk would be the main entrance to the Pepsi Center; a new permanent outdoor amphitheater and lawn; the light rail station and pedestrian bridge; a grand new public space featuring gardens, picnic grounds, and a major public plaza over underground parking; the main entrance to Elitch Gardens; Centennial Gardens; a new pedestrian bridge over the river; and the Downtown Aquarium.
The other main pedestrian corridor would run through the heart of the new mixed-use developments that wrap around structured public parking facilities. The Wewatta Promenade would head past the new outdoor amphitheater toward the Mile High Stadium light rail station, and feature ground-floor shops and restaurants with outdoor patios and other pedestrian amenities.
If we can transform the abandoned railyards on the north side of Cherry Creek into the remarkable Riverfront Park area we enjoy today, we can achieve something similar on the south side of Cherry Creek. If you agree, then you ought to let the power-that-be know that you'd like to see something like this be a part of the new Downtown Area Plan.
Comments:
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with the combination of two light rail stations, one smack in the middle, it seems only natural that this be developed. its like the perfect TOD area even without the pepsi center, six flags, etc in the area. no pedestrian friendly pathway to downtown?
Permalink Posted by 
: 9/23/2006 07:34:00 PM
: 9/23/2006 07:34:00 PM
How about taking that little trolley that runs along the Platte, make it come across the river at each end of its line, and loop through the major sites. Charge 50 cents to hop on.
I agree with everything except taking away the ball fields from infront of the Tivoli.
I dont think we should impact the schools sports program just too make it a little denser in that section.
I dont think we should impact the schools sports program just too make it a little denser in that section.
Permalink Posted by : 9/23/2006 08:34:00 PM
: 9/23/2006 08:34:00 PM
Lots of great ideas....to these I'd add:
1.) two bridges to take people across the tracks and across the river at some point near the south end of Elitch's (connecting to the park around the Children's Museum).
2.) making the 9th Street Walk the 10th Sreet Walk through the campus, as 10th is the primary SE-NW spine of the campus, running in front of the Tivoli, the library, and crossing the Lawrence SW-NE spine at the central plaza. At Auraria Parkway (where a new pedestrian crossing would have to be created), it would cross, and then become the 9th Street Walk as it curves around the Pepsi Center.
Also, as much as I dislike sports personally, I agree with aaron(navy): Metro needs its field.
1.) two bridges to take people across the tracks and across the river at some point near the south end of Elitch's (connecting to the park around the Children's Museum).
2.) making the 9th Street Walk the 10th Sreet Walk through the campus, as 10th is the primary SE-NW spine of the campus, running in front of the Tivoli, the library, and crossing the Lawrence SW-NE spine at the central plaza. At Auraria Parkway (where a new pedestrian crossing would have to be created), it would cross, and then become the 9th Street Walk as it curves around the Pepsi Center.
Also, as much as I dislike sports personally, I agree with aaron(navy): Metro needs its field.
The only issue I see is that there isn't much additional space for Elitch's to expand, and they do definitely need expansion space. Other than that, the proposal looks teriffic!
Permalink Posted by : 9/24/2006 03:13:00 PM
: 9/24/2006 03:13:00 PM
I think anything that connects multiple attractions to each other and fosters a community atmosphere should be pushed by the city and steered by developers. I love this site, by the way, and hope it has some sway among the decision makers. One thing we could definitely need more of is more small parks that fit basketball courts or squash courts. I love to play basketball but I can't find a game anywhere downtown because why..? There aren't any friggin courts! How is that possible in a city like this? I used to live in Chicago and had housing, entertainment, cultural activities, grocery stores, parks, restaurants, retail, transportation, and schools all within walking distance. I'll buy property within the city in a heart-beat if I felt the city was trying to make this happen. I'm hoping it is!
Ken,
I like your ideas a lot. However, as the previous poster mentioned one issue that exists today is the lack of pedestrian friendly access to downtown from Auraria/CPV South. There is a half-way below grade pedestrian crossing around Speer/Curtis and the Auraria campus, but even that needs something to be desired.
Looking outside Denver, a good model for this can be found in Boulder. There are some well-thought-out below grade pedestrian walkways between the CU campus and the Hill commercial area under Boulder's busiest arterial: broadway. I think this would provide a good addition to Ken's ideas and also help improve connectivity.
I like your ideas a lot. However, as the previous poster mentioned one issue that exists today is the lack of pedestrian friendly access to downtown from Auraria/CPV South. There is a half-way below grade pedestrian crossing around Speer/Curtis and the Auraria campus, but even that needs something to be desired.
Looking outside Denver, a good model for this can be found in Boulder. There are some well-thought-out below grade pedestrian walkways between the CU campus and the Hill commercial area under Boulder's busiest arterial: broadway. I think this would provide a good addition to Ken's ideas and also help improve connectivity.
Permalink Posted by : 9/25/2006 09:17:00 PM
: 9/25/2006 09:17:00 PM
Interesting, now that Fritz mentioned it he's right there are no basketball courts. That is odd.
As far as Ken's plan, I think it's pretty awesome. What is the current zoning for this area?
I love the plaza idea since Ken made a great point that Denver doesn't have a grand public plaza like other cities. We do have the Millenium Bridge plaza, but we need something on a grander scale.
However, although this is a plan of attack who knows what developers would tackle something like this. The city may want all this, but who's gonna actually do it??
By the way I nominate Ken for city council or mayor. Who's with me?
As far as Ken's plan, I think it's pretty awesome. What is the current zoning for this area?
I love the plaza idea since Ken made a great point that Denver doesn't have a grand public plaza like other cities. We do have the Millenium Bridge plaza, but we need something on a grander scale.
However, although this is a plan of attack who knows what developers would tackle something like this. The city may want all this, but who's gonna actually do it??
By the way I nominate Ken for city council or mayor. Who's with me?
It does feel like a wasteland walkinig to, or from, Pepsi Center.
LA Live is a project being built next to the Staples Center in LA. Maybe we could do something similar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Sports_and_Entertainment_District
LA Live is a project being built next to the Staples Center in LA. Maybe we could do something similar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Sports_and_Entertainment_District
i really don't feel like this are should be redeveloped. Denver is one of (or the only) city that has this kind of attraction right in the middle of its downtown. I think it adds a lot of character to the city. Also, is it realistic to plan an urbanization plan for this area yet? I know this is a long term idea but the truth is that there are already so many urbanization ideas in the queue for the rest of the city, maybe more than can be supported by the city's future growth rate. We need a balanced approach to growth so we don't saturate the market. Isn't there something to say for the value the park brings to surrounding real estate? I mean how cool is it that you can buy a condo a couple blocks away from a six flags in the middle of Denver. I just don't think that the only value in land is its conversion into commercial/residential property. Variety is a good thing. Anyone?
Permalink Posted by : 9/26/2006 08:33:00 PM
: 9/26/2006 08:33:00 PM
Look at the proposal a little closer, it doesn't call for the redevelopment of Elitch's or the Pepsi Center, but rather taking to underutilized space, i.e. the parking lots, and developing it.
I like the concept, though I would like to see more emphasis placed upon the Auraria Campus, Denver only has one chance to integrate this campus within the urban fabric while still ensuring that it can develop to it's full potential. Call me crazy, but I see Metro eventually becoming part of a Colorado Big Three of higher education institutions along with CU and CSU.
The idea of a grand public plaza? Awesome.
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I like the concept, though I would like to see more emphasis placed upon the Auraria Campus, Denver only has one chance to integrate this campus within the urban fabric while still ensuring that it can develop to it's full potential. Call me crazy, but I see Metro eventually becoming part of a Colorado Big Three of higher education institutions along with CU and CSU.
The idea of a grand public plaza? Awesome.
Permalink Posted by : 9/27/2006 08:28:00 AM
: 9/27/2006 08:28:00 AM Links to this post:
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