MASTER DEVELOPER TEAM WILL DELIVER
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, PRESERVATION AND
RENOVATION OF HISTORIC DENVER UNION STATION BY 2011
The Union Station partnering agencies announced today the selection of Continuum/East West as the Master Developer team to head the redevelopment and preservation of Denver’s historic Union Station. The announcement was made at an 11 a.m. press conference held at Denver Union Station, the central hub of the redevelopment and the Regional Transit District’s future FasTracks transit system.
“Denver Union Station will be the crown jewel of the entire FasTracks region-wide transit system,” said RTD General Manager Cal Marsella. “We are pleased to have Continuum/East West on board and are eager to begin detailed negotiations, so we can move forward with this critical project.”
The Continuum/East West proposal features the following highlights:
» Complete all transportation and street-level improvements by 2011, including light rail, commuter rail and the regional bus system
» Full undergrounding of the commuter rail and regional bus components
» Vertical (private) development fully integrated with public transportation components
» Overall cost is $75 million less than competing proposal
» Proposes 1.8 million square feet of development over nine years, with achievable financing plan
» Commits to 15 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation in pre-development activities
» Development that complements the character of the historic neighborhood and creates significant public space and pedestrian-friendly connections.
The Continuum/East West team includes Continuum Partners, East West Partners, Kiewit, DMJM Harris, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, PACO Group, Civil Technology, Inc., DRG Construction and Ronald A. Straka Urban Design.
Today’s announcement was the culmination of an 18-month process that drew 11 competing teams initially, but has been focused for the past five months on two finalist teams – Continuum/East West and Union Station Partners.
“As a community, we are extremely grateful to both teams for the tremendous effort and expense they put forth to help the region get the best possible project for this important public investment,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
“Both teams presented compelling proposals that provide a high degree of expertise in delivering the Denver Union Station redevelopment project,” said CDOT Deputy Executive Director Peggy Catlin. “Ultimately we made the best public policy and business decision for the four partnering agencies and we are excited to move forward with this visionary plan.”
The redevelopment of Denver Union Station is part of RTD’s voter-approved FasTracks program – a $4.7 billion, 12-year transit expansion program across the RTD service area. Scheduled for completion in 2017, FasTracks will create six new commuter rail and light rail corridors, extend three existing corridors, add 21,000 new parking spaces, and expand bus service.
“Denver Union Station is the multimodal hub for the entire region. The Continuum/East West team’s proposal ensures that all of the transportation components will be built sooner than the Master Plan envisioned. The private development will be fully integrated with the public transportation components and create an active and vibrant hub for the entire Denver metro region,” said Jennifer Schaufele, executive director, Denver Regional Council of Governments.
The Continuum/East West plan promotes the integration of development and transit into the historic Lower Downtown neighborhood surrounding Union Station. Denver Union Station will be returned to its place as the heart of the regional transit system.
“The Continuum/East West proposal will achieve our important goal of creating a great world class PLACE. The urban design builds on the strengths of the surrounding neighborhood and elevates the significance of the historic station at the center of the system at the center of the region.” Peter Park – Manager of Community Development and Planning
The next step for the Union Station partnering agencies will be to enter into detailed negotiations with the Continuum/East West team to finalize a development agreement.