Near Northwest Area Plan

Community input from past community engagement has helped us identify key topics where we would like to hear more from community members to better address the issues and opportunities you’ve identified and determine a policy direction that will help refine specific draft recommendations. The different policy ideas described below are not mutually exclusive and community feedback will be used to develop a preferred scenario that will guide recommendations in the draft plan. 

• Development Along Major Transit Corridors. This focus topic is centered on development opportunities within mixed-use and commercial areas along major streets (Federal Blvd., 38th Ave., and Speer Blvd.) where major transit investments are envisioned, including opportunities for dedicated bus lanes, frequent service, and enhanced bus stops.
  • Key Priorities:
    • Direct growth to walkable areas near transit and services
    • Support the development of affordable housing
    • Future development should be complemented by wide sidewalks, enhanced streetscapes and small open spaces (trees, benches, courtyards), and small and culturally relevant businesses 
    • Retain older buildings that are built closer to the street and contributes to the local history/culture
  • Different Policy Ideas: 
    • Idea 1: Maintain Current Height Requirements 
    • Idea 2: Increase Potential Heights at Major Transit Stops
    • Idea 3: Increase Potential Heights at Major Transit Stops and Corridors  

• Chaffee Park Local Center. This focus topic is centered on ideas to potentially expand a “Local Center,” at 48th and Pecos in Chaffee Park, which allows for shops, restaurants, and some housing to create a larger walkable destination for community members. This is also an opportunity to learn more about the desired qualities and characteristics that the community envisions for a future “Town Square” in Chaffee Park.
  • Different Policy Ideas 
    • Expand the local center designation 
    • Maintain current plan guidance  

• Sunnyside Industrial. This focus topic is centered in ideas that will help us explore options for retaining existing industrial uses and jobs in the Sunnyside industrial area while accommodating for a mixed-use destination/neighborhood.  
  • Key Priorities:
    • Support the development of affordable housing
    • Support existing businesses in the area to mitigate involuntary displacement and retain/grow employment opportunities
    • Incorporate new park space and explore opportunities to expand Aztlan Recreation Center
    • Encourage human-scaled design by requiring smaller block sizes and require street-level active uses such as ground flood commercial uses in mixed-use areas
    • Create more pedestrian-friendly streetscapes with more trees, and green infrastructure along key streets
    • Strengthen pedestrian and bicycle connections to adjacent bike and trail systems, including the opportunity to re-purpose former railroad tracks throughout the area and provide more east-west connections across the rail tracks
    • Explore opportunities to support food production and food-related businesses
  • Different Policy Ideas 
    • Idea 1: Maintain Current Land Use Guidance 
    • Idea 2: Community Center along 47th Ave. with Innovation/Flex to the south and along Inca St.
    • Idea 3: Community Center along 46th Ave. with Innovation/Flex and Value Manufacturing to the north and Innovation/Flex to the south along Inca St.
    • Idea 4: Community Center along 44th Ave. with Innovation/Flex and Value Manufacturing to the north along 47th Ave. 

• Creating a Safe Transportation Network that Supports Mobility for All Users 
• Creating a More Complete Bike Network 
  • 50th Ave
    • Install recommended 50th Street bike lane between Zuni St and Shoshone, along with the recommended neighborhood bikeway between Shoshone and Osage/48th Ave.
    • Study the feasibility of upgrading the bicycle facilities between Federal Blvd and Shoshone St to shared use paths to provide both widened pedestrian facilities to access a park, school, and transit – and to provide a higher comfort bicycle facility.
  • Wyandot St
    • Study the feasibility of installing a neighborhood bikeway or shared street between 48th Ave and 51st and Zuni Park.
  • Clay St
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of the Clay St neighborhood bikeway project. As corridor implementation progresses, aim to have a high comfort bike facility that explores different design options for lowering street volumes 
    • Include in the analysis a consideration of traffic diversion. 
    • Consider between 44th and 41st Aves. 
    • Consider between 34th and 38th Aves. 
    • Study the feasibility of implementing a higher comfort bicycle facility, particularly between 32nd and 38th Aves where the street has greater width, as a way to implement the Near Northwest Connectivity Loop.
    • Should a bicycle and pedestrian bridge be installed over I-70, implement a bicycle facility further north to connect to the facility on 50th Ave. 
  • 46th Ave
    • Study the feasibility of implementing higher comfort bike facilities to maintain the continuity of the comfort level throughout corridor. 
    • Between Clay and Zuni Streets as part of the NNW Connectivity Loop 
    • Between Navajo and Lipan Streets to match the existing facility type between Pecos St and Navajo St. Extend the bicycle facility to Jason St., should bicycle facilities be installed on Jason St.
  • Zuni St
    • Install the previously recommended bicycle facility between Speer and 32nd. Study the feasibility of upgrading the recommended facility from a bike lane to a buffered or protected bike lane.
    • Study the feasibility of installing a one-way protected bike lane on Zuni St heading south between 32nd and 46th Aves (north one-way would be provided on Pecos Street)
  • Pecos St
    • Study the feasibility of implementing a protected bike lane heading north between 32nd Ave and 46th Ave. (south one-way would be provided on Zuni Street)   
    • Partner with Denver Public Schools and STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside Campus to study the feasibility of installing a shared use path on the west side of Pecos between W Elk Pl and 46th Ave to provide a more direct connection between the bike/ped bridge over I-70 and the bicycle facility on 46th Ave.
  • 38th Ave
    • Conduct a feasibility study and develop a preferred alternative for a street redesign, with the goal of installing amenity zones (for improved tree canopy and green infrastructure); wider, separated sidewalks; bicycle facilities; and enhanced transit amenities.
    • Include in the study, an analysis of parallel bicycle facilities on 39th and/or 37th Avenues if it is determined that bicycle facilities on 38th are not appropriate. 
  • Speer Blvd
    • Conduct a feasibility study and develop a preferred alternative for a street redesign, with the goal of installing amenity zones (for improved tree canopy and green infrastructure); wider, separated sidewalks; enhanced transit amenities; and separated bicycle facilities
    • Include the option of a shared use path in the feasibility study.
    • Consider decreasing travel lanes and/or increasing required building setbacks to provide ample space for parkway design. 
  • Tejon St
    • Complete study of optimal bicycle facility on corridor between West 32nd and West 46th Avenues.
  • 32nd Ave
    • Study the feasibility of a high comfort bicycle facility between Federal Blvd and Pecos St. 
  • 29th Ave
    • Study the feasibility of upgrading the segment of 29th Ave between Zuni and 15th Sts to a protected bike lane. 
  • 26th Ave
    • Study the feasibility of a high comfort bicycle facility on W 26th Ave. between Zuni to Sheridan (connection to Sloans Lake) 
  • 15th St
    • Implement the protected bike lanes from Central St to Downtown, as proposed by Denver Moves: Bicycles and Denver Moves: Downtown.
    • Study the feasibility of upgrading the recommended facility between Central St and 29th Ave to a protected bike lane to provide a continuous level of comfort/protection on the corridor and between bicycle routes. 
  • Central St
    • Study the feasibility of a higher comfort bicycle facility as part of the Near Northwest Connectivity Loop
  • Bryant St
    • Study the feasibility of a high comfort bicycle facility between 23rd Ave and 29th Ave to provide a connection between the shared use path through Valdez Elementary and the protected bike lane on 23rd Ave. 
  • Eliot St
    • Study the implementation of the proposed Near Northwest Connectivity Loop. Consider upgrading the neighborhood bikeway segments to a protected bike lane to maintain continuity of the facility. 
• Improving Stormwater Treatment and Green Infrastructure
  • Create the “Near Northwest Connectivity Loop Trail” that integrates water quality with pedestrian/bike improvements offering multiple connections through the neighborhood
  • Implement a system of green streets to improve permeability, shade, and water quality
  • Protect, preserve, and expand the urban forest tree canopy in all redevelopment efforts, and increase tree canopy coverage
  • within public rights-of way – particularly where tree coverage is limited
  • Establish standards and incentives to increase permeability and improve water quality for new development and private property, including retrofitting parking lots and residential landscapes
• Investment in Parks & Rec Centers 
  • New Parks 
    • Leverage large redevelopment opportunities to integrate publicly accessible parks, plazas and open space
    • Explore partnership opportunities for funding of new parks, complementing city funds with partners such as developers, non‐profits and state and federal funds.
    • Work with property owners to fill in the gaps along the existing historic Federal Boulevard Parkway to create accessible, usable and permeable green space 
  • Park Access
    • Improve safety and ease of use along pedestrian and bicycle routes to parks inside and outside of the study area
    • Partner with Denver Public Schools to formalize use of school facilities as parks for the surrounding neighborhoods and raise awareness of opportunities for shared use
  • Park Amenities
    • Prioritize tree canopy, year‐round walking paths, picnic areas with bbq grills, shade structures, and improved playgrounds
    • Provide more opportunities for action and adventure amenities, such as archery, bike challenge courses, and rock climbing/bouldering
    • Expand and improve existing indoor/outdoor swimming pool and/or splashpad/water features
    • Explore adding dog parks and assemble a community interest group to work with the city to identify potential locations and establish volunteer program for management and upkeep
  • Park Maintenance and Safety
    • Address trails and walking paths in poor condition, make restrooms available all year, and focus on park cleanliness and timely trash removal
    • Install timed pedestrian lighting along walking paths to ensure that families can safely enjoy strolling/rolling in neighborhood parks
  • Aztlan Recreation Center
    • Explore opportunities for expansions and renovated outdoor space to create a new recreation campus with indoor/outdoor pool and expanded indoor/outdoor programming
    • Coordinate future improvements with future DHA redevelopment of Quigg Newton to ensure that open space/park amenities are fully integrated and not duplicated
  • Services, Events, Classes
    • Expand offerings of services, events, classes, and leagues in response to community demand and include more options for bilingual programming
• Access to Healthy Food 
  • Retain and recruit more neighborhood-scale (e.g., healthy corner stores), affordable food retail and restaurant outlets
  • Expand the capacity and public awareness of area food banks and food rescue networks, and support innovative, community-based food access models to reduce food insecurity, such as pop-up markets and pantries
  • Work with schools, parks & recreation centers, and institutions to utilize land for community gardens
  • Capitalize on existing food processing companies in and near Near Northwest to develop a food “hub” to attract other food-related businesses and incubators, and create more job opportunities
• Access to Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness, Low-Income and Set-Income Earners, and Marginalized Populations
  • Encourage stronger relationships between service providers and their neighbors
  • Increase collaboration around and funding for substance treatment services, and increase awareness of existing mental and behavioral health resources 
  • Expand the number of healthcare facilities, clinics, and pharmacies through partnerships with local medical providers and models that promote co-location of services
  • Provide more affordable childcare by supporting informal childcare services through training opportunities for future caregivers
  • Study and address existing gaps in the social service system to better integrate homeless service provisions, including reliable and affordable transportation options, housing, hygiene centers, and navigation centers that provide case management. 
• Sense of Community and Safety 
  • Promote existing and create new civic engagement programs and events by working with neighborhood-oriented organizations 
  • Focus civic engagement opportunities around community activism that directly supports marginalized populations
  • Organize neighborhood improvement projects for temporary or permanent activation in public places, including art installations and community “pop-up” events
  • Utilize existing public facilities, such as schools and recreation centers, to serve as resource hubs for children and family  

• Celebrating and Preserving the History and Culture of Neighborhoods
  • Celebration of History and Culture
    • Capture the history and stories of the neighborhoods through video, audio, and photography, and explore creative ways to celebrate and share these stories, such as self-guided tours supported by historic markers 
    • Recognize culture, history and heritage through city improvements, park design, identification of unnamed spaces and public art, while beautifying and creating a sense of place in outdoor public spaces
    • Support community events that celebrate the history, culture, music, food, art, and costumes of traditional cultures
  • Preservation of History and Culture
    • Support community initiatives that advance the findings from the Latino/Chicano Historic Context Study, which identifies significant locations and buildings affiliated with the rich Latino/Chicano history
    • Further study “potentially historic” and “key structures” identified in historic context studies and pursue preservation policies, and support new Neighborhood Historic Context Studies to identify other culturally and historically significant sites
    • Establish an adaptive reuse program to incentivize the use of older buildings, including former institutional sites
    • Identify areas along the former streetcar lines that maintain historic or architectural significance and explore tools to preserve their character  

• Enhancing Residential Design and Compatibility 
  • Compatibility with Neighborhood Scale and Characteristics
    • Work with neighborhoods to modify zoning standards or apply other tools to ensure new construction is consistent in scale and characteristics of the surrounding neighborhood
    • Strengthen standards to protect existing trees during redevelopments 
    • Encourage buildings, such as tandem homes (two detached homes on a single lot), that are more compatible with the traditional neighborhood characteristics, and remove barriers on small and unique lots
  • Renovation and Additions
    • Develop incentives that encourage renovations and additions, especially in areas that have been defined as “potentially historic” by historic context studies
    • Explore a demolition ordinance and fees to encourage the preservation of buildings or the reuse of building materials
    • Promote the upkeep and rehabilitation of existing buildings by connecting residents to resources to improve or update their homes 

• Enhancing Mixed-Use Design and Encouraging More Commercial Amenities/Services 
  • Create enhanced streetscapes through improved landscaping and expanded tree coverage, pedestrian-scaled lighting, sidewalk café seating, and wayfinding
  • Require strong street-level active uses such as ground flood commercial and retail uses at critical locations and discourage ground floors for residential, parking structures and other inactive uses 
  • Encourage the creation of small storefronts that can accommodate neighborhood-serving businesses with shared restrooms and outdoors spaces
  • Allow more businesses to operate in residential neighborhoods and homes
  • Improve the pedestrian experience by creating more visually interesting building frontages by including variations in height, massing, and setbacks
  • Encourage human-scaled design by requiring block sizes that are consistent with the surrounding neighborhoods and reducing the visual scale of larger or taller buildings 

• Preventing Residential Displacement, Affordable Housing and Wealth Building
  • Preventing Displacement
    • Conduct a door-to-door needs assessment in neighborhoods most at risk to understand the range of needs, and establish an education initiative to combat predatory lending practices
    • Provide financial support/incentives for households at risk of displacement
    • Advance prioritization policy to place at-risk or recently displaced residents in new affordable units
    • Preserve the affordability of naturally occurring affordable housing and existing income-restricted properties
  • Affordable Housing
    • Ensure affordable housing meets community needs, including households earning very low, low, and moderate incomes, and is designed for families, multi-generational living, aging in place, residents with disabilities, and residents needing supportive services
    • Support ADUs through zoning revisions, scaled fees and process reform
    • Allow the owner of an existing house to add an additional unit if the original structure is preserved
    • Explore the acquisition of properties adjacent to and near the Quigg Newton community to expand affordable housing 
    • Pioneer new ownership models that allow multiple owners in single dwellings
    • Increase the development of affordable units near transit stations, corridors, and services
  • Wealth Building 
  • Establish a Near Northwest Community Land Trust (CLT) to acquire land and support affordable units
  • Establish a policy that all surplus city-owned land be considered for CLT
  • Provide down payment and renovation financing assistance to promote/preserve home ownership
  • Create a limit or cap on home purchases by institutional investors to provide priority for local, first time and/or next generation buyers 

• Supporting Neighborhood Businesses and Retailers that Provide Everyday Goods and Service 
  • Create a designation for culturally-relevant businesses with incentives for promotion and protection, such as real estate ownership assistance and innovative ownership (e.g., rent-to-own models, commercial land trust)
  • Encourage small ground floor spaces to support small businesses in new development
  • Provide incentives to attract a variety of retail grocery options
  • Support a Chaffee Park “Town Square” that serves as a gathering place with retail/restaurant options
  • Support small businesses by providing flexibility to change-of-use requirements, particularly along major corridors, to make it easier to expand and grow their business  

• Assisting Business Districts with Promotion, Beautification and Maintenance
  • Create a local Business Alliance to build capacity and better market to neighborhoods
  • Support 44th Avenue as a central spine of the Sunnyside neighborhood that can showcase a variety of community-building opportunities, including supporting local small businesses
  • Promote creative industries, maker spaces and arts to celebrate Near Northwest heritage
  • Provide support to encourage Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and Community Development Corporations (CDCs), and other organizational options to strengthen neighborhood business districts 

• Preserving and Growing Primary Jobs 
  • Work in tandem with relevant, local organizations to provide technical assistance to existing small independent businesses to help them succeed and prevent involuntary displacement.
  • Create training and apprentice opportunities between major employers, North High School and other neighborhood schools
  • Identify “heritage industrial businesses” that should be promoted and protected, and explore a net-zero policy to protect high value industrial jobs
  • New mixed-use development in industrial area should consider live/work, maker spaces, other compatible concepts 

Sung Han - Project Manager
Senior City Planner 
sungwon.han@denvergov.org 

Fernando Abbud - Habla español
Associate City Planner
fernando.abbud@denvergov.org
720-865-3229

Council District 1
Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval
districtone@denvergov.org

• Progressive Urban Management Associates - Brad Segal, President
• Studio Seed - Cheney Bostic, Principal/Owner
• Colorado Changemakers Collective - Maricruz Herrera, President
• Grace Herbison, independent consultant - facilitation
• Studio CPG - Heather Noyes, Principal
• ALTA Planning & Design - Jennifer Bartlett, Senior Planning Associate
• ArLand Land Use Economics - Arleen Taniwaki, Principal
• Ben Kelly, independent consultant - engagement

• Urban - 46%

• Urban Edge - 13%

• Industrial - 11%

• Urban Center - 11%

• General Urban - 8%

• Other (Former Chapter 59, Open Space, Campus Zone Districts) - 11%

To help inform the neighborhood planning process, the city developed data-based indicators of planning need at the neighborhood scale. 

Each Near Northwest Area neighborhood was scored from low planning need to high planning need in five categories.

Read more about the indicators and scoring. 

• 41st & Fox Station Area Plan(PDF, 11MB) 
• Sunnyside Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 620KB) 
• Jefferson Park Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 2MB) 
• Highland Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 3MB) 
• South Platte River Corridor Study(PDF, 37MB) 
   

• North:City limits
• East:Railroad
• South:West 29th Avenue, Speer Boulevard and Platte River
• West: Federal Boulevard 

• Convey how Phase 2 input was used.
• Present and get feedback on draft recommendations and alternative policy ideas.
• Build on the successful elements of past engagement efforts: focused engagement, online surveys, and group discussions.

Phase 3 outreach was a lighter touchpoint to get community feedback on specific topics that needed additional input and refinement before being developed into draft recommendations. 

• Hosted 1 area-wide virtual meeting – Presented feedback so far and gathered feedback on alternatives and recommendations
• Hosted 3 in-person neighborhood workshops with an open house format, with draft recommendations and alternatives on boards
• Hosted 1 in-person at Quigg Newton Homes
• Hosted 2 in-person focus groups with Sunnyside Industrial Property Owners
• Conducted online surveys by module and focus topics
• Held community office hours for residents to engage directly with staff and ask questions
  • day and evening options
  • 2 virtual and 2 in person
• Attended community meetings and events 
• Continued to work with the community steering committee
• Continued to work with community navigators and local community organizations to reach under represented populations
• Used multiple channels to get word out about the draft recommendations
  • Project website and email list
  • Social media
  • Traditional media outreach
  • Registered neighborhood organizations and other neighborhood groups

• How can the draft recommendations be improved?
• Which alternatives do you prefer?

• submitted 634 online survey responses on 3 surveys – one on focus topics, one on land use and economy, and one on mobility and quality of life
• 53 total meeting attendees
  • 18 attended the virtual workshop
  • 22 attended Highland/Jefferson Park
  • 7 attended Sunnyside
  • 6 attended Chaffee Park
• Attended 4 office hours (2 virtual, 2 in person)
• Talked with staff at 14 community meetings and events
• 3 Steering Committee meetings were held
• 130 new email subscribers (1,172 total)

• Community engagement summary(PDF, 4MB)

• Refined draft vision statements based on community input from Phase 1
• Confirmed issues and opportunities the plan should address based on community input from Phase 1
• Collected feedback and developed draft recommendations
• Continued to work with the community steering committee
• Continued to spread the word about the planning process
  • 2 Street Campaigns involved visits to more than 40 locations to deliver fliers, stickers, decals and yard signs around area business districts, major streets, schools and neighborhood parks
  • More than 5,000 fliers were delivered to every home by Council District 1 to promote in-person neighborhood workshops

On Land Use and Built Form

• Offer multiple tools for preserving and celebrating culture in Near Northwest.
• Develop a package of tools that address concerns and that take into consideration the unique characteristics of each neighborhood.
• Prioritize preserving existing embedded traditional missing middle housing and find ways to add more missing middle options without sacrificing affordability.
• Allow/require commercial and/or a mix of uses on busier streets and within existing commercial areas. 
• Focus on how commercial areas can improve their streetscape and identities.

On Economy and Housing

• Study space programming within neighborhood commercial areas for the ability to expand outdoor dining and/or have the ability to temporarily close down portions of streets for festivals and outdoor dining expansion.
• Focus on supporting small businesses, as well as opportunities to train a new workforce and retain and attract jobs.
• Prioritize keeping residents at risk of displacement in place by looking at a variety of programs. For example, rehabilitation and ability to add density (ADU, second unit, etc.) to build equity.
• Build more affordable housing and offer ways to prioritize existing and past residents in new housing.
• Seek opportunities to support various types of temporary housing through key community partnerships.

On Mobility

• Implementation of infrastructure priorities should focus on:
  • More electric charging (for vehicles and bikes),
  • Completing bike network gaps and focusing on enhanced safety, especially for bike routes that lead to destinations like neighborhood commercial areas, downtown, and parks/rec centers,
  • Including a buffer between cars and sidewalks and making sidewalks wider, especially on busier streets, and
  • Improving intersection safety.
• Prioritize intersection improvements that lead to major destinations and intersections where two major roadways connect. 
• Develop recommendations for minor and major corridors, testing feasibility of desired improvements within the right-of-way and defining what, if any, challenges to improvements there are.
• Minor corridors should focus on pedestrian and bike infrastructure-improvements while major corridors should focus on making existing crossings safer and integrating the bike network. Adding more crossings at interstates and railroads is also a priority.
• West 38th Avenue should focus on making sidewalks safer and more comfortable to walk along.

On Quality of Life

• Focus on improving existing park and rec center amenities, as well as adding new ones. There should also be more of a focus on programming within recreation centers, and bilingual offerings should be made available.
• Consider a multiple action strategy to increase food access through recruitment/retention of a variety of smaller scale healthy grab-and-go and neighborhood food stores and full-service grocery stores, in addition to expanding access to mobile food-co-ops, community kitchens, and community gardens.
• Address the financial access (and cultural) barriers many residents face in terms of shopping for groceries within the study area at existing stores.
• Consider creative, sustainable approaches to build more cohesive neighborhoods where all residents have easy ways to become civically engaged and to feel they are part of the community.
• Increase physical and financial access to community-based healthcare.
• Build awareness of existing services to community members, including education, job training, and social programs.
• Provide more affordable childcare services, including before/after school programs.

• 781 surveys taken
  • 434 via the general online survey
  • 347 via the intercept survey (developed to reach focused populations, including youth)
• 244 people participated in meetings (in person and virtual)
  • 12 Neighborhood-focused meetings, including 4 online Spanish-only roundtables
  • 10 Topic-based meetings
  • 4 Business group meetings
• Steering Committee met 5 times
• Community navigators did 600 hours of work in the community, meeting people at grocery stores, food banks, business districts, schools, churches, and other cultural gathering places
• 339 new subscribers joined the email list  

• Community Engagement Summary(PDF, 17MB)
• Available in project archive:
  • Meeting materials (presentations, meeting summaries and handouts) for public meetings and steering committee meetings
  • Complete listing of neighborhood meetings and community events attended by staff
  • Past project newsletters 
  • Past survey information 
  • Local media coverage

The planning took the following steps to engage the community.

• Hosted meetings, conducted surveys, and attended community events (virtual and in person) to share information and collect input
• Existing conditions research
• Launched the project website to provide updated information, resources, and results to the public throughout the planning process. The website includes a sign-up for email updates.
• Convened a 24-member community steering committee to help guide the planning process, engage the community, and provide feedback at strategic intervals throughout the planning process. 
• Developed a Community Engagement Strategy, which was informed by community and reviewed by the steering committee, and is intended to evolve throughout the planning process. 
• Used multiple channels to get word out about about plan launch 
  • Project website and email list
  • Social media
  • Traditional media outreach
  • Registered neighborhood organizations and other neighborhood groups
  • Schools
• Distributed bilingual fliers with plan information at 41 community-serving locations
  •  2914 Coffee
  • East Foyer Coffee Bar
  • Sapor Coffee & Concepts
  • Metropolis Coffee
  • Rush Bowls - Smoothies
  • Little Man Ice Cream
  • Avanti
  • Method Collective - Coffee
  • Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
  • Panaderia Rosales
  • Taqueria La Familia
  • La Grande Mexicana
  • Ashland Rec Center
  • Pinwheel Coffee
  • Blackeye Coffee
  • Leevers Locavore - Grocery Store
  • Cherry Bean Coffee
  • Pochito Tortilla Factory
  • Aztland Rec Center
  • The Radiator Denver
  • Starbucks
  • Quigg Newton Community Center
  • Chaffee Park Senior Residences
  • Save-a-Lot
  • Mamahood
  • Safeway
  • Starbucks
  • Taco Bell
  • Terreno Macizo Nightclub
  • Crock Spot
  • Shift Cycle
  • Denver Market
  • Marisela's Night Club
  • Bienviendos Food Bank
  • Happy Camper
  • Safeway
  • Starbucks
  • Jefferson Park Pub
  • Fox and Jane Salon
  • Parkside Liquors
  • Awake

• What do you like or dislike about your neighborhood?
• Where are the opportunities?
• What are the areas of concern?
• What do you want to see for the future of your neighborhood?
• How do you want to get involved in the planning process?

On Land Use and Built Form

• Top Likes
  •  Mix of uses and density close to transit and Downtown Denver
  • Architectural variety and Historic and old homes
  • Diversity and culture of the neighborhood, including Chicano and Italian history 
• Top Dislikes
  •  Scrapes and new construction that is overpriced, poorly built, and out of character and scale with the neighborhood
  • Losing identity and sense of place
• Top Ideas
  • More Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  • Encourage new builds to look more in character with the neighborhood to modernize but preserve character
  • Incentivize ground floor commercial uses in mixed use buildings (e.g. grocery, ‘bodegas’) and other services that the community has said are important   

On Economy and Housing

• Top Likes
  • Independent retailers and restaurants and neighborhood-serving retail
  • Former streetcar commercial nodes (like 32nd Ave and 44th Ave)
  • Energetic vibe
• Top Dislikes
  • Gentrification and long-standing residents being pushed out with housing and property taxes becoming very expensive
  • Older “affordable” housing being torn down and replaced with large expensive new homes
  • Loss of small businesses
• Top Ideas
  • More services, commercial nodes, entertainment options, particularly in Chaffee Park
  • Preserve local businesses  and less expensive shopping options
  • Maintain existing and create more affordable housing options (inc. ADUs, tiny homes, etc.), including affordable housing interspersed through the community

On Mobility

• Top Likes
  • Walkable and bikeable to parks, shopping, and schools 
  • Access to Downtown Denver (pedestrian bridge is good)
  • Access to light rail, highways
• Top Dislikes
  • Dangerous intersections and streets, not safe for pedestrians to use or cross, due to inadequate sidewalks, speeding cars that result in major barriers
  • Inadequate bicycle facilities and transit options
  • Traffic increasing due to density, parking concerns in busy areas
• Top Ideas
  • Traffic calming, wider sidewalks, and better crossings
  • Transit enhancements (Federal Blvd., 38^th Ave, Speer Blvd.), more protected bike lanes
  • Better connection across I-25, I-70 and railroads for pedestrians and cyclists  

On Quality of Life

• Top Likes
  • Great neighborhood parks (e.g. La Raza Park, Chaffee Park, Hirshorn Park, Jefferson Park) with picnic areas, trees, open space, views of Downtown Denver
  • Open space and Running and biking paths along the river
  • Tree lined neighborhood streets
• Top Dislikes
  • Lack of space and amenities in parks (bathrooms, sports fields, trash receptacles, seating) with outdated play structures, and recreation centers are dated and inadequate
  • Lack of convenient and affordable grocery store options; Chaffee Park is a food/grocery desert
  • Highway pollution and noise; Drug activity, violence, and gang culture; Property crime (porch pirates, car break ins, bike theft, robberies)
• Top Ideas
  • More green space and parks, improve access to parks and open space, including dog park; upgrade existing parks with bathrooms, seating, trash receptacles
  • New and better amenities, including Community Center, places for youth to gather, indoor and outdoor pool, sports courts, indoor skate park
  • More food options

Download complete Phase I Community Engagement Summary(PDF, 6MB)

• 658 people joined the email list  
• 52 people attended the virtual kick off meeting on July 27th, 2021 
• 555 people took the online surveys 
• Steering Committee held 5 meetings
• 22 community partners participated in stakeholder interviews plus additional informal conversations 
• At least 580 community members talked with planners at 22 community meetings or events
• Intentional engagement has begun with the following partners:

  • 513 youth participated through focus groups, youth-led engagement projects, classroom visits, youth surveys and in-class writing activities.

• Existing Conditions Briefing Book (PDF, 50MB)
• Neighborhood patterns analysis (PDF, 19MB)  
• Community Engagement Strategy (PDF, 244KB)
• Available in project archive:
  • Meeting materials (presentations, meeting summaries and handouts) for public meetings and steering committee meetings
  • Complete listing of neighborhood meetings and community events attended by staff
  • Past project newsletters 
  • Past survey information
  • Local media coverage

Members of the steering committee were selected from the more than 140 community members who submitted an interest form at the start of the planning process. The group is intended to be a cross-section of the neighborhoods that make up the planning area, including residents, local business owners and property owners. In bringing the group together, the planning team consulted with the Council District 1 office, considered the area’s demographics, and sought out a diversity of interests, experiences and areas of expertise as well as voices from traditionally under-represented communities.

Community Kickoff Meeting
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Presentation(PDF, 3MB)
• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Live survey results(PDF, 2MB)

Youth Focus Groups at North High School
Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22, 2022

• Presentation(PDF, 5MB)
• Feedback summary(PDF, 358KB)

Virtual Community Discussion on Health and Environment
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Virtual Community Discussion on Industrial Future
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Virtual Community Discussion on Design Character and Preservation
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Virtual Community Discussion on Complete and Green Streets 
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Virtual Community Discussion on Affordable Housing and Wealth Building
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Virtual Neighborhood Discussion - Chaffee Park
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

Neighborhood Workshop - Chaffee Park
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Beach Court Elementary

Neighborhood Workshop - Sunnyside
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Smedley Elementary

Virtual Neighborhood Discussion - Sunnyside
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

 Neighborhood Workshop - Highland
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
North High School

Virtual Neighborhood Discussion - Highland
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

Neighborhood Workshop - Jefferson Park
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
CEC Early College

Virtual Neighborhood Discussion - Jefferson Park
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

Virtual Community Workshop
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Highland and Jefferson Park Neighborhood Workshop
Thursday, September 29, 2022
CEC Early College, 2650 Eliot St., Denver 

Chaffee Park Neighborhood Workshop
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Beach Court Elementary School, 4950 Beach Ct., Denver

Sunnyside Neighborhood Workshop
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
STRIVE Prep - Sunnyside Campus, 4735 N. Pecos St., Denver

Pop-up Events

• Saturday, August 21, 10 a.m.-noon, Federal Coffee, 2307 Federal Blvd. 

Steering Committee Meeting #1
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #2
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube) 
• Presentation(PDF, 16MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #3
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 12MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #4
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 2MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #5
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #6
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 10MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #7
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 4MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #8
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 4MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #9
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #10
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 8MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #11
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 9MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #12
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 12, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #13
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Aztlan Recreation Center – Community Room
Note: Meeting was held in person, so no video recording was done.

• Presentation(PDF, 470KB)

Steering Committee Meeting #14
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Presentation(PDF, 5MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #15
6-7 p.m., Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Virtual meeting via Teams

• Meeting recording (YouTube)

Steering Committee Meeting #16
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Virtual meeting via Teams

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Meeting presentation(PDF, 469KB)

Steering Committee Meeting #17
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2022
Sexy Pizza, 2460 Eliot St, Denver

• Meeting presentation(PDF, 971KB)
• Meeting minutes(PDF, 601KB)

Steering Committee Meeting #18
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Meeting presentation(PDF, 7MB)

Steering Committee Meeting #19
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Virtual meeting via Zoom

• Meeting recording (YouTube)
• Meeting presentation(PDF, 4MB)

2021

• 7/15: Registered Neighborhood Organization Leadership meeting
• 7/22: Quigg Newton Leadership Resident Council
• 7/28 and 7/31: Sunnyside Conservation Overlay Town Hall
• 7/29: Sunnyside United Neighbors Inc Quarterly General Membership Meeting and BBQ, 3845 Lipan Street. 
• 8/5: Jazz in the Park, Chaffee Park
• 8/6: Movie in the Park, Regis University
• 8/20: Movie at the Park, Zuni Park
• 8/21: Coffee Chat at Federal Coffee
• 8/26: Quigg Newton Leadership Resident Council
• 9/8: North Side Pride, North High School
• 9/11: Sunnyside Music Festival, Chaffee Park 
• 9/14: Back to School Night, North High School
• 9/16: Back to School Night, Sandoval Elementary
• 9/17: Back to School Night, CEC Early College
• 9/18: 3V3 Basketball Tournament, Aztlan Recreation Center, 4435 Navajo St.
• 9/19: Fun on Federal, 2406 Federal Boulevard
• 9/26: Jefferson Park United Neighbors Broncos Tailgate
• 10/6: Registered Neighborhood Organization Leadership meeting
• 10/13: Bryant Webster Festival de Otoño 
• 10/21 and 10/22: North High School class engagement (11 classes attended)
• 10/31: Highland United Neighbors Inc. Halloween Event
• 11/2: Federal Business Improvement District Walkabout & Outreach
• 11/10: Facebook Live Presentation with Esther Castillo
• 12/7: JPUN Holiday Event
• 12/8: HUNI Coffee & Chat with Platte St Business Community

2022

• 1/19: VoCEC Monthly Meeting at CEC Early College
• 2/10: SUNI PCD Meeting
• 4/18: HUNI Annual Meeting
• 5/27: North High School- Class Room

Newsletters

• 1/12/21: Ready to roll up your sleeves?
• 6/23/21: Save the date: Community kickoff set for July 27
• 7/18/21: Share your voice at Community Kickoff on July 27
• 7/26/21: REMINDER: Share your voice at Community Kickoff on July 27
• 8/8/21: Come talk to planners at community events this summer and fall
• 8/19/21: Come talk to planners at community events Friday and Saturday
• 9/22/21: Be sure to share your ideas before the survey closes Monday
• 12/16/21: You had a lot to say about your neighborhood! Here's what we've heard
• 2/16/22: Get ready to talk about key issues in your neighborhood!
• 3/2/22: REMINDER: Virtual events start next week!
• 3/24/22: Take our surveys!
• 4/18: Come talk to us!
• 5/4: Don't forget to take the surveys!
• 5/18: Reminder: Don't miss your chance to take the surveys!
• 7/21: What we heard and what's next
• 9/5: Help us put it all together!
• 9/15: Don't forget! Join us at upcoming events
• 9/20: Tomorrow: Virtual meeting to weigh in on housing options and more!
• 9/27: This week: Calling Highland and Jefferson Park!
• 10/6: Survey time! 

Local Media Coverage

• 1/15/21: Near Northwest Area Plan Kicks Off, Needs Your Input (Denver North Star)
• 7/15/21: City Planners Invite Residents to Shape Neighborhoods' Future (Denver North Star)

Phase 1

• Kick off survey data(XLSX, 2MB)
• Kick of survey map comments(XLSX, 3MB)
• Kick of survey youth engagement comments(XLSX, 118KB)
• Other comments(XLSX, 76KB)

Phase 2

Issues and opportunities survey data:

• Economy and housing(XLSX, 91KB)
• Land use and built form(XLSX, 145KB)
• Quality of life(XLSX, 104KB)  
• Mobility(XLSX, 100KB)