Southwest Area Plan

• Westwood Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 15MB) (2016)  
• I-25 & Broadway Station Area Plan(PDF, 13MB) (2016)
• South Platte River Corridor Study(PDF, 37MB) (2013)
• Alameda Station Area Plan(PDF, 21MB) (2009)
• Evans Station Area Plan(PDF, 14MB) (2009)
• Louisiana-Pearl Station Area Plan(PDF, 4MB) (2007)
• Baker Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 4MB) (2003)
• Athmar Park Perimeter Plan(PDF, 2MB) (2000)
• West Washington Park Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 8MB) (1991)

• North: Alameda Avenue
• East: The South Platte River from Alameda to Mississippi Avenue, Broadway from Mississippi to Yale Avenue
• South: Yale Avenue from Broadway to the South Platte River, Jewell Avenue from the river to Sheridan Boulevard
• West: Sheridan Boulevard  

• The Southwest Area is shaped by natural features including the South Platte River, gulches, and a hilly topography. This landscape has been intersected by rail lines, highways, trails, and other major road corridors connecting to other areas of the city, but also creating difficult barriers. 
• This area evolved from focal point of Native American culture to agricultural land and later industrial and suburban housing developments. As the area was annexed and became more populous, it became a working-class area. Redlining also took place in and around the river corridor. The Flood of 1965 damaged much of the area.  At this time, a former land fill was transformed into Ruby Hill Park.  Since then, the area has continued to grow, seeing more recent investments in light rail transit. 
• Today, the Southwest Area is home to 51,847 residents of which about two-thirds (67 percent) identify as Hispanic and nearly half (45 percent) are under the age of 30. This area has higher rates of foreign-born population and those that speak English less proficient.  Household sizes vary, but households of four or more make up 30 percent of all households (compared with 16 percent citywide) and are most common in Westwood and Mar Lee. 

General

• The majority of the area is dedicated to residential uses, mostly low residential (61 percent) one-unit properties, which leaves few spaces for other housing types or other community amenities. However, there is an opportunity to explore how and where to better integrate more housing diversity to the area.
• All of the neighborhoods include major centers and corridors with a mix of zone districts.  Many of them have strong ties to small and cultural businesses, especially along Federal Boulevard and Morrison Road. Updated guidance can help define the characteristics and future design elements that are attributed to each center and corridor as well as address mobility and business concerns.   
• The Industrial Areas Land Study classifies areas in the Southwest Area as “High Value, Low Threat” and designates some as manufacturing preservation areas (MPAs). Many MPA sites are identified as Innovation/Flex in Blueprint Denver.  Further analysis should consider mobility, environmental justice, the number of jobs, tax revenue generated by industrial uses, and sustainability elements within and surrounding industrial areas.
• This area is home to unique large regional parks and trails. There is an opportunity to assess their impact and benefits, and how accessible they are to the surrounding communities. There is also an opportunity to make better connections between them, including Ruby Hill Park, Overland Golf Course, South Platte River Trail, Sanderson Gulch, and other neighborhood parks.  There are many institutional uses, such as schools, that are community assets. There is an opportunity to better define, preserve and highlight some of these public and quasi-public community assets.
• There are additional opportunities to rezone Former Chapter 59 zone districts, expand accessory dwelling units, improve the mismatch between desired uses and existing zoning.

Economics

• Much of this area’s economy features retail and industrial sector jobs, with residents earning a lower household income and earnings compared to the citywide average.  There is a strong presence of small and cultural businesses representing the diverse population within and surrounding area, creating a cultural hub unlike anywhere else in the city.  This brings opportunities to support and strengthen these businesses through collaborative programs and to celebrate the neighborhood’s culture.  

Housing

• Much of the area is considered more affordable compared with the rest of the city, but there are ongoing displacement pressures, such as increasing property values and rents. Some residents have relied on multi-generational households or “doubling-up” to keep their housing affordable.  Although much of the area is built out, there are opportunities to improve affordability and incorporate new housing options while retaining the neighborhood character.  

Preservation and Design Quality

• There is only one local landmark and there are no design review areas within the plan area.  Much of the area is suburban, but it features some early Mid-Century Modern subdivisions and earlier commercial and residential sections to be evaluated further for preservation-related tools and recommendations.  

• The Southwest Area lacks connectivity, especially on the east side of the area.  This includes physical barriers such as the South Platte River, highways (I-25, South Platte River Drive, Sante Fe Drive), and railroad tracks.  Currently, there are only three connection points that cross all of these barriers (Alameda, Mississippi, and Evans) and some partial connections.  All of these and other key corridors and intersections are a part of the city’s High Injury Network, with a high number of vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian crashes.
• The bicycle network has many gaps and few high-comfort facilities beyond trails within the area. North-south connections are limited, and further analysis is needed to reduce gaps, improve access, and create safer crossings and segments. There is an opportunity to create a loop among key destinations within the neighborhoods. 
• Sidewalks throughout the area are too narrow, do not meet the 5-foot standard or are missing all together, especially around parks, gulches, and industrials areas.  There is an opportunity to highlight priority areas for sidewalk improvements as the sidewalk improvement fund is developed, especially along major corridors such as Federal Boulevard.

• The Southwest area has many popular parks and trails, but there is an opportunity to connect them as well as improve amenities and general usage.  Additional research is needed to better understand food access beyond groceries and restaurants. There are no major hospitals, but clinics and care facilities are scattered and will need to determine the demand for additional services. 
• There is a growing network of community services and non-profit organizations providing much needed resources and filling gaps among community spaces and cultural preservation. However, there is a lack of sustainable funding opportunities to access resources, which may hinder this network.  

• Research on existing conditions and citywide guidance from Comprehensive Plan 2040 and Blueprint Denver to develop a draft vision and preliminary recommendations
• Launched advisory committee
• Built awareness for the planning process through multiple channels:
  • Project website and email list
  • Social media
  • Traditional media outreach
  • Outreach to neighborhood groups and other organizations working in the area
  • Fliers and yard signs

• Engaged community members in conversations about existing plan guidance for the area, current challenges and opportunities, and refined potential recommendations for the draft plan.
• Collected community input through multiple contact points:
  • In-person community kickoff
  • Online opportunities survey
  • Community navigators
  • Community events and neighborhood organization meetings

• What is your vision for the neighborhood?
• What are your concerns?
• Where do you see opportunities?
• What are your thoughts on existing citywide recommendations for your neighborhood?
• How can these recommendations be refined and improved?

• 439 people joined the email list 
• About 250 people attended the community kickoff on August 27, 2024
• Advisory committee held three meetings

Fernando Abbud - Project manager
Senior City Planner - Habla español
fernando.abbud@denvergov.org

Will Prince
Associate City Planner
william.prince@denvergov.org

Council District 2
Councilman Kevin Flynn
kevin.flynn@denvergov.org

Council District 3
Councilwoman Jamie Torres
jamie.torres@denvergov.org 

Council District 7
Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez
jamie.torres@denvergov.org

Southwest Community Workshop #1
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
6-8 p.m.
Westwood Community Center, 1000 S. Lowell Boulevard

Advisory Committee Meeting 3
August 7, 2024

Advisory Committee Meeting 2
July 31, 2024

Advisory Committee Meeting 1
July 24, 2024

For a comprehensive look at where city staff has been in the community, see our Outreach and Engagement map.

2024

• 4/14: Welcome to your neighborhood plan!
• 5/20: Advisory committee interest form closes soon!
• 7/3: Take the kick-off survey! 
• 8/1: Save the date! 
• 8/28: In two weeks: Join your neighbors at September 11 community workshop
• 9/9: WEDNESDAY: Join your neighbors at community workshop this week
• 10/3: Next week: Come talk to us on National Walk to a Park Day!
• 10/9: Share your voice!
• 10/29: Don't forget to take our surveys!
• 11/12: Surveys close in two weeks!
• 11/21: This is still time to provide feedback on the online surveys