Monday, July 09, 2007
Worst Parking Lot in Downtown Denver: Block 039!
The vote is in! Thank you to all of you who participated. It was a close battle with Block 001-B, but Block 039, that embarrassing half block of wasteland in the heart of Lower Downtown, has been voted Downtown Denver's Worst Parking Lot by DenverInfill readers, and a well-deserved title it is. The parking lot on Block 039 is a disgrace. Not only is the lot itself, owned by Blecker LLC and managed by Central Parking Systems, in appalling condition...
but the public right-of-way along Market Street doesn't even have curb and gutter or a sidewalk:
I'm not sure if that's ultimately the fault of the city or the property owner (according to city maps, the property line runs right along where the yellow poles are), but the fact that appropriate urban infrastructure, along a key block in the center of our most popular Downtown district, has been conspicuously missing for decades is unacceptable. There is some kind of temporary curb that was installed on top of the asphalt edge a few years ago, but that is now breaking up into big chunks of loose concrete--a pleasant pedestrian enhancement, no?
There are two fundamental, mutually-exclusive problems with parking lots in Downtown Denver: their existence, and their condition. We're making good progress in removing them from existence through all the urban infill projects that this website purposefully identifies and promotes. But the reality is that even under the most optimistic real estate market scenarios, it will be at least another decade or two before all surface parking lots have been eradicated from the Downtown core. I can live with that as long as we're making steady progress in getting rid of them. But the woeful condition of the overwhelming majority of these Downtown lots is something we can rectify today, not decades from now. We don't have to tolerate the deplorable physical state of these parking lots if we don't want to. As a community, we can--and we must--institute reasonable standards for the phyical and aesthetic quality of existing surface parking lots in Downtown. We already require new parking lots to meet various design requirements, so why not the existing ones too?
We have invested billions of public and private dollars into making Downtown Denver a vibrant and attractive place, yet we allow our existing surface parking lots--which, unfortunately, still permeate all sectors of Downtown--to be maintained in the most egregious of conditions. It doesn't make any sense. My mission via DenverInfill is to not only celebrate the positive enhancements in Downtown Denver, of which there are many, but also to shine a public light on those areas where we must do better, and to promote effective change. If you feel likewise, please let your voice be heard.
We may be stuck with parking lots for a while longer, but there's no reason why they can't be good parking lots--at least in Downtown, where, of all places in our city, we should strive to present our best face to the world.
but the public right-of-way along Market Street doesn't even have curb and gutter or a sidewalk:
I'm not sure if that's ultimately the fault of the city or the property owner (according to city maps, the property line runs right along where the yellow poles are), but the fact that appropriate urban infrastructure, along a key block in the center of our most popular Downtown district, has been conspicuously missing for decades is unacceptable. There is some kind of temporary curb that was installed on top of the asphalt edge a few years ago, but that is now breaking up into big chunks of loose concrete--a pleasant pedestrian enhancement, no?
There are two fundamental, mutually-exclusive problems with parking lots in Downtown Denver: their existence, and their condition. We're making good progress in removing them from existence through all the urban infill projects that this website purposefully identifies and promotes. But the reality is that even under the most optimistic real estate market scenarios, it will be at least another decade or two before all surface parking lots have been eradicated from the Downtown core. I can live with that as long as we're making steady progress in getting rid of them. But the woeful condition of the overwhelming majority of these Downtown lots is something we can rectify today, not decades from now. We don't have to tolerate the deplorable physical state of these parking lots if we don't want to. As a community, we can--and we must--institute reasonable standards for the phyical and aesthetic quality of existing surface parking lots in Downtown. We already require new parking lots to meet various design requirements, so why not the existing ones too?
We have invested billions of public and private dollars into making Downtown Denver a vibrant and attractive place, yet we allow our existing surface parking lots--which, unfortunately, still permeate all sectors of Downtown--to be maintained in the most egregious of conditions. It doesn't make any sense. My mission via DenverInfill is to not only celebrate the positive enhancements in Downtown Denver, of which there are many, but also to shine a public light on those areas where we must do better, and to promote effective change. If you feel likewise, please let your voice be heard.
We may be stuck with parking lots for a while longer, but there's no reason why they can't be good parking lots--at least in Downtown, where, of all places in our city, we should strive to present our best face to the world.
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There was definately railroad tracks, and I believe they were where a side walk should be right now. The tore the tracks out, but never install a side walk. One trend I see lately is the sidewalks get repaired when redevelopment occurs.
Permalink Posted by 
: 7/10/2007 07:13:00 AM
: 7/10/2007 07:13:00 AM
You're right on both counts, joeindt. I do remember railroad tracks running along there where the sidewalk should be. Also, developers are required to install or repair sidewalks as part of a development, but what if somebody doesn't want to develop their property? We get to suffer having no sidewalks? The city should just streetscape that block and send the property owner a bill.
It's too bad they all couldn't win. So many deserving candidates (sniff).
I think the owner and operator should be sent certificates of dishonor.
I think the owner and operator should be sent certificates of dishonor.
Permalink Posted by : 7/10/2007 09:18:00 AM
: 7/10/2007 09:18:00 AM
Isn't there a department in the city government that maintains roads and sidewalks? Why haven't they streetscaped it?
And also, full agreement that current parking lots should be required to meet certain standards. It's such a ludicrous business as it is, why can't they take care of their property?
And also, full agreement that current parking lots should be required to meet certain standards. It's such a ludicrous business as it is, why can't they take care of their property?
Permalink Posted by : 7/10/2007 12:11:00 PM
: 7/10/2007 12:11:00 PM
Well of course and I agree.. but there are places along blake that have elevated sidewalks along the store front that do not actually have sidewalks.. a person is more likely to walk along the street on former rail locations.. and I think that's cool.. but my own personal opinion is I wished the rails were still there, even if unusable rather than a sidewalk
Permalink Posted by : 7/10/2007 01:04:00 PM
: 7/10/2007 01:04:00 PM
Sorry Ken, I didn't fell like voting for which parking lot I thought was the worst for downtown because really I think they are all the worst. Whether they are landscaped or not. Parking lots if not verticle or thrown into a mixed use somehow will always remind me of a shopping mall. Take the newly finished 29th street in Boulder...why didn't they put all the parking lots under ground? Sure it looks better than what was there but really I think some opportunity was lost there. I love these old photos of Denver when obviously we had more foot traffic downtown, but I also love skyscrapers because they are all about urban image and impressive scale perspective. I think that the magic has to lie in a zoning department that might encourage developers to blend different architectural styles on a block in trade for more air density etc. Another thing while I'm at it...why isn't there more places to sit and rest when you're cutting a mean pace down the 17th and 18th street canyons? Some nicely designed benches or something? I just poop out and end up leaning on a light pole for a minute. Some of your best people watching is watching these young stuff shirts scurry about across 17th on any business day. And don't give me that crap about drunks sleeping on them all the time...this is the real world baby, if you got the guts to be downtown you got enough guts to poke some passed out bum up his nose with your cane and tell him It's your turn to sit there, so sit up! Boy this world has lost it's backbone hasn't it? People spend twice as much energy going around avoiding one another, how does my granddaughter say that, "That's just grose." Thank you bye
Permalink Posted by : 7/10/2007 08:47:00 PM
: 7/10/2007 08:47:00 PM
While I certainly support the idea of making our parking lots look as nice as can be to complement the increasingly aesthetic surroundings we are working hard to create downtown, I wonder where we are all supposed to park once we've successfully eliminated parking lots downtown? I take transit to work but there are those days when I have to drive in for one reason or another, and I do not want to spend $10+ an hour/day to park in a garage on the 12th floor for the early bird parking. And if we're trying to encourage more people to come downtown at night and on weekends, they aren't all going to come by bus and train, and again, where are they going to park? Rather than eliminating all the parking lots completely, how about minimum standards of upkeep and design guidelines to better integrate them into their surroundings? They do serve a purpose, as much as we may not like them.
Permalink Posted by : 7/12/2007 08:40:00 AM
: 7/12/2007 08:40:00 AM
Hello Ken,
Thought you might like to know that AIA Denver COTE (Committee on the Environment) is having a presentation on the Green Lots Initiative this Friday, March 7th at the University of Colorado Denver, 1250 14th Street, Room 480. The overall meeting is from 11:30 to 1:00, with the presentation on lots from 12-12:45 or so.
Let me know if I can provide you any additional information.
Kevin Eronimous, AIA
Chair, AIA Denver COTE
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Thought you might like to know that AIA Denver COTE (Committee on the Environment) is having a presentation on the Green Lots Initiative this Friday, March 7th at the University of Colorado Denver, 1250 14th Street, Room 480. The overall meeting is from 11:30 to 1:00, with the presentation on lots from 12-12:45 or so.
Let me know if I can provide you any additional information.
Kevin Eronimous, AIA
Chair, AIA Denver COTE
Permalink Posted by : 3/04/2008 09:58:00 AM
: 3/04/2008 09:58:00 AM Links to this post:
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