DenverInfill Blog

What about a temporary bike station?

We really need one in Downtown Denver!
 

Why tear those buildings down if you don't have any idea what your going to do with the space?!?!

Now we're talking more than a year for him to figure it out? It's not like he has a tremendous track-record of actually building things. His ability to acquire property is impressive. Yet he's rewarded Denver with a giant hole right next to the convention center and a vague promise to build something at some indeterminate time in the future.

I sure hope he can come up with something sooner rather than later.
 

Because the buildings are rat-traps. Unlike many developers, he's seeking the ULI's, the City's, and the Partnership's guidance as to the best use for the site, in addition to the best temporary use for the site. I say we give him the benefit of the doubt.
 

Forget "temporary" bike station, we need 2 or 3 bike stations. Evan is not experienced in building large urban developments. He is doing the right thing in asking for help. It will benefit Denver and himself. Doing something with the site for a critical year for Denver is also a great idea. Go Evan.
 

I'd love to see all the ideas thrown about on here... not just sent in to that link.

Ken, you're right. We should give him the benefit of the doubt. I was really puzzled that he was eager to wreck those buildings immediately, with no plans to build for another year or too... But I believe we can come up with something temporary that could be pretty cool. I'm just glad to hear he's not planning a parking lot there! ;-)

It's hard for me to think of anything real clever for that spot during the convention... but having activity there to connect the convention center with the 16th is a must.

A plaza of some sort? Kiosks... coffee... tables.. benches? Some sort of out door market? Stage?

People, let's share our ideas on here!
 

Absolutely, please feel free to post your ideas here, but only after you've posted them to the Partnership's official link. Thanks!
 

Ok, tear up the parking lot. Bring in some fill, make some little rolling "hills". Put down sod, plants some flower beds, put some trees and benches in with a temporary plaza made of colored gravel, etc. It's really not that hard. When they tore down the Arapahoe County Courthouse, they turned that entire block into a park temporarily. Do the same thing here. This is a no brainer.
 

I've got ideas for what to do, namely around having some sort of greenspace, but I can't think of an answer to No. 3.
 

A grass Plaza, with some ice cream, and coffee type mobile vendors and a stage platform for live musical performances from various homegrown bands and music groups.
 

OK, here goes. Let's run these up the flag pole and see if Evan salutes...
self funded with fees:
* farmer's market
* outdoor flea market/bazar; think Florence, Italy
* tented beer garden featuring our local brews
* tented chess coral (optionally with beer)
* full sized winter ice rink / summer street hockey rink

Evan funded:
* sculpture garden
* make shift park with soap box; imagine someone with a bull horn preaching to the conventioners as they hurry past
* sand volley ball courts
* petting zoo
 

Innovation Inspires Great Ideas! Let's go!

1) Big ass parking lot (Why not inspire more driving with affordable parking?)

2) Trailer park (affordable housing component)

3) Tent city for the homeless with the condition they serve Starbucks coffee during the day in kiosks

4) RTD's new Park and Ride location!

5) Fast food row. The lack of fast food drive thru's is appalling.

6) Helicopter pad

7) New suburban subdivision with houses built on 1/2 acre lots

8) Don't knock anything down until you know what you're going to build
 

I vote for the petting zoo.

bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
 

Ken:

I just wanted to let you and your readers know that the Auraria Master Plan is now available at the following URL:

http://www.ahec.edu/evpa/aurariamasterplan.pdf

(Note: This is an 87 MB file!)
 

RTD should build a petting zoo/ Fastracks demo. You could ride scale models of all the trains to each Park-n-Zoo, where you get off, pet the llamas and sheep, then ride the miniture EMUs, DMUs and LRTs to the next station. They could open a pizza place at the main station called Park-n-Pizza so as you ride around you can snack on pizza with pepperonis shaped like the RTD logo.
 

How about an oil or gas well? We could be just like Fort Worth with this stuff right in the middle of the city. Would create a nice rivalry between the Front Range and Western Slope.
 

over the top welcome center promoting our city and region
 

good to see everone taking this seriously. what about the big nasty parking lot along welton? why isn't that part of this plan? if it were, i'd suggest putting in some cool pavers, some benches and a fountain. and then lotsa people. denver has gotta be the only big city in the world without a public square gathering-place in the city center. then, when they build on it, maybe the city will realize setting a block or a half block aside for this purpose would be a good idea down the road as it would definitely be used.
 

isn't that what Civic Center, just a few blocks away, is for?
 

I've always thought that the block where RTD has Market St Station would be a perfect place for a public square. I think that block is slated for development as part of the union station plan, though. Maybe a public square can be made an integral part of whatever is built there. Maybe something similar to the piazza that was planned by a developer in the Prospect neighborhood.
 

sell it to donald trump. he'll start building tomorow. and trust it would not be a shoe box, and probably the tallst in the city if not the country.
 

I think downtown Denver needs a miniature golf course...
 

I think they should build a public pool with waterslides! That would be fun...maybe in the winter they can pump in pippin' hot water and make it into an attraction...like Glennwood Springs!
 

What is up with the HOTEL DREAM PROJECT or proposal?, also the denver athletic club. little of the subject but i know there are many who wonder.
 

One of my favorite areas in New York is Union Square (as with San Francisco's Union Square. I believe this block would be perfect for a "Union Square." New York and San Francisco's Union Squares attract a vibrant ongoing farmers market and art walk. Surrounding the squares are several top notch retailers and restaurants, which would be nice continuation off of Denver Pavilions. This would pave for a nice entry way into the Convention Center and neighboring hotels. As many downtown Denver inhabitants (like myself), employees and visitors can atest, we all value parks and open space just as much as retail and restaurants. Creating a Union Square would address both of these interests. Additionally, with the construction of The Spire and Embassy Suites, these buildings would create a pefect "wall" which would allow this block to feel more like an urban room, much like the Union Squares in NY and SF.