Click image to download the economy-related recommendations map (PDF)

A - HOSPITALS

The healthcare and wellness sector is the foundation for economic growth

• 60% of all jobs in the East Area (nearly 7,000 jobs total); employs 11% of East working residents
• Sector is expected to continue to grow – forecast to provide 29% of new jobs through 2040, the largest growth sector in the East Area
• Includes Rose Medical Center, National Jewish Health, and a growing influence from the Anschutz Campus in Aurora

B - HOSPITALS & SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS

Together, hospitals and surrounding neighborhoods can address community development in ways that are mutually beneficial

The Plan aims to:

• Help the hospitals stay in the area and evolve in a neighborhood-friendly way
• Partner with hospitals and nonprofit housing developers to create affordable, workforce housing
• Partner with hospitals and DPS to address workforce training needs
• Create more retail and services that benefit hospital employees, visitors, and residents
• Ensure strong connections from hospitals to transit, parks, and daily services

C - MIXED-USE CENTERS, CORRIDORS & DISTRICTS

The primary location for housing and employment growth in the East Area

The Plan aims to:

• Create new affordable housing near transit and amenities
• Preserve and enhance community-serving, locally-owned businesses
• Promote spaces that strengthen the Area’s small professional office niche

D - MOTELS

There are 17 motels along Colfax that currently serve as a form of transitional housing

The Plan aims to:

• Encourage the repurposing or redevelopment of motels into permanent and supportive housing

NEIGHBORHOODS OVERALL

A large majority of the East Area’s land is residential

The Plan aims to:

• Preserve housing affordability
• Stabilize residents at risk of displacement
• Expand diversity of housing types by encouraging “missing middle” units such as ADUs (accessory dwelling units) and duplexes

1. BOLSTER THE HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS SECTOR AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMY

• Partner with hospitals, DPS, and nonprofit housing developers to address workforce housing and training needs
• Ensure strong connections from hospitals to neighborhood amenities such as parks and transit
• Mix more medical offices and clinics in mixed-use areas throughout the East Area

2. STRENGTHEN THE SMALL PROFESSIONAL OFFICE NICHE WRITE IN ANSWERS BELOW. IF NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC, LIST WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD.

• Encourage more co-working spaces and gathering spaces for entrepreneurs
• Inventory existing buildings for underused spaces appropriate for small businesses
• Consider creative office uses to activate ground floors in appropriate locations along Colfax

3. PRESERVE AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY-SERVING, LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES

• Ease regulations that make it difficult to open a business
• Work with area partners to provide technical assistance such as marketing, lease negotiations, or English-as-a-second-language (ESL) help
• Expand the Business Impact Opportunity program for small businesses impacted by BRT construction along Colfax

4. PRESERVE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND STABILIZE RESIDENTS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT

• Extend covenants for income-restricted properties
• Better market the City’s existing programs, including temporary rental and utility assistance, property tax rebates, homeowner preservation initiatives, ownership programs, and eviction legal defense fund

5. CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT AND AMENITIES

• Support acquisition of land by the City and/or its partners, such as DHA and land trust entities, for future development of affordable housing, particularly in corridors, centers and low-medium and high-medium residential areas
• Allow higher density along Colfax in exchange for affordable units or community-benefiting space

6. EXPAND DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES & AFFORDABILITY IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS

• Encourage development of ADUs in all residential areas, in forms that address neighborhood context
• Encourage more “missing middle” types such as du/tri/fourplexes and townhouses, that are compatible and at affordable price points
• Ensure new development is family-friendly and expand housing options for non-traditional households, including seniors and group living

7. INCREASE ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS

• Encourage the repurposing or redevelopment of motels along Colfax into permanent, supportive, or transitional housing
• Develop more permanent, supportive housing that wraps in services such as health care, child care, and workforce

Click image to download map showing identified areas of preserving affordability (PDF)

INCENTIVIZE MAINTAINING EXISTING HOMES AND INTRODUCE NEW MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN AREAS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT

• Allow additional residential units to occur on a single unit lot together with tools to preserve affordability.
• Encourage new building forms at affordable price points, such as: Cottage Courts, Tandem House, Duplex/Triplex/Quadplex in “Large House” form

ALLOW ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN ALL RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

• Consider specific rules for neighborhoods that consider:
• Unique considerations in different neighborhoods, such as building coverage in flood-prone areas
• Encourage use for long-term housing rather than short-term rentals
• Goals for affordability and wealth-building
• Neighborhood-appropriate parking rules

Click image to download quality of life map (PDF)

CONNECT EXISTING OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS THROUGH A HISTORIC PARKWAY PEDESTRIAN NETWORK

• Incorporate formal pedestrian improvements along the existing Historic Parkways to create a dedicated pedestrian network throughout the area.
• Update the Design Guidelines for Denver’s Historic Parkways and Boulevards as needed, pending study of pedestrian mobility options.

DEVELOP NEW CONTEMPORARY PARKWAYS THAT CONNECT THE COMMUNITY TO OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS, AS WELL AS SERVE MULTIPLE COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS

• Expand the parkway system to complement the Historic Parkways with the addition of new distinct Contemporary Parkways geared toward increased mobility options and park-like conditions
• Contemporary Parkways should de-emphasize vehicular speed and through-put and reassign portions of the public right-of-way to the function of bike, pedestrian or transit mobility, diverse green infrastructure including tree canopy, native vegetation, and stormwater management while also including high-efficiency lighting

ENHANCE EXISTING COMMUNITY OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

• Strengthen partnerships with schools, institutions (hospitals), and private property owners to create shared open spaces
• Increase leisure opportunities within our passive linear park space
• Encourage higher utilization of existing open space and parks by increasing active programming and improving amenities and maintenance of facilities.

CREATE NEW COMMUNITY OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

• Create additional community park, recreation and cultural spaces. Prioritize future locations that align with the City’s Game Plan for a Healthy City and urban flooding areas. Some potential future locations include:
  • Mayfair Town Center
  • Area of South Park Hill close to Colfax Avenue
  • East Colfax Neighborhood along Colfax Avenue or at the Post Office Site near Verbena Park
• Incentivize and/or require mid and large-scale development, especially near BRT stations and within height incentive areas, to include publicly accessible outdoor spaces. Establish standards and guidelines that ensure public accessibility, design, and features that respond to the local community context

A. STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING TREE CANOPY AND INCREASE CANOPY COVERAGE WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY

• Coordinate with the City and County of Denver Forestry Department to support the City’s removal and replacement of existing trees within the public right-of-way to ensure a healthy and sustainable tree canopy and unique community asset.
• Increase coverage of the tree canopy through a City-sponsored community replacement program utilizing Denverappropriate trees in communities with less than 20% tree canopy coverage
• Prioritize preservation of tree canopy in right-of-way design and other CCD Public Works projects.
• Develop educational programming and partnerships within the community to increase understanding around maintenance and care of the tree canopy
• Support the development of an Urban Forest Plan to meet city-wide canopy goals for preservation, maintenance, implementation and funding.

B. PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING TREE ASSETS IN ALL REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

• Strengthen development standards to protect existing tree assets and increase requirements to mitigate tree loss in redevelopment or new plans.

C. INCREASE PERVIOUS SURFACE COVERAGE THROUGH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS

>> Download green streets map (PDF)

• Explore opportunities to convert existing impervious surface within public right-of-way to pervious acreage through the addition of street trees, tree lawn or bulbouts, trails, parkland or native vegetation
• Seek opportunities to coordinate with the design of future Contemporary Parkways
• Seek opportunities to integrate with BRT design along Colfax Ave. and redesign of public right-of way streetscape and remnant parcels to improve infiltration and reduce runoff
• Develop design standards or guidelines for a contemporary tree lawn
• Remove and replace impervious areas between the sidewalk and street with 4”-6” depressed lawn or streetscape that improves infiltration and reduces runoff
• Coordinate implementation through supporting Public Works roadway, stormwater and sanitary projects within the right-of-way
• Increase the requirements for pervious acreage, water conservation in landscaping and inclusion of natural vegetation for redevelopment and new development
• Work with private property owners, Colfax corridor Business Improvement Districts and other neighborhood organizations to transition underutilized paved lots to pervious surfaces

D. ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INCLUDING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, FLOOD PROTECTION, WATER QUALITY, AND WATER USE

• Implement a system of green streets and green alleys to increase the water quality treatment of stormwater prioritizing streets based on the City’s Green
• Infrastructure Implementation Strategy methodology and their connection to high mobility corridors such as Colfax Avenue and key neighborhood destinations like parks, churches, schools, institutions and center.
• Encourage the use of Denver appropriate vegetation that is drought-tolerant and uses a minimal amount of water within the right-of-way
• Restore the health of the waterways like Westerly Creek by increasing the treatment of stormwater upstream and improving street cleaning in contributing streets

Click the image above to download healthy food access map (PDF)

RECRUIT A GROCERY STORE IN THE EAST COLFAX NEIGHBORHOOD

• Leverage existing programs like the Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund and City funds to attract a retailer.
• Consider alternative, community-driven models such as cooperatives, or co-location with another food or community-related enterprise.

IMPROVE PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS TO FOOD STORES

• Prioritize sidewalk & crosswalk upgrades within the vicinity of grocery stores and smaller food markets including Healthy Corner Store Initiative participating retailers.

SUPPORT SMALL GROCERS & CORNER STORES

• Provide subsidies or other assistance for businesses experiencing onerous commercial rents.
• Help launch and/or fund community-supported distribution projects to remove “minimum order” inventory barriers.

EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHY PREPARED MEALS

• Provide incentives for restaurants/ retailers to offer healthy meals.
• Develop/fund community-supported restaurants

SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY

• Pursue partnerships with hospitals to deploy healthy food, resources, education, and growing space.
• Enhance capacity & efficiency of food banks & food rescue networks.
• Encourage business and institutions to decrease food waste while increasing donation and re-purposing of food.

INCORPORATE FOOD ACCESS INTO HOUSING

• Support on-site programming such as bulk food delivery, emergency food assistance, nutrition/cooking education, and community gardens.

SUPPORT MORE WIDESPREAD FOOD GROWING/PRODUCTION

• including backyard gardens, community farms at schools, and commercial greenhouses or other facilities.

SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FARMERS MARKET

Question: What do you like most about the East Area?

Responses: 1,164

Top six most  frequent responses:

• 366 mentions - local businesses
• 295 - architecture/architecture
• 283 - convenient location
• 223 - diverse local population
• 176 - local parks and green spaces
• 172 - the people/community feel

Question: "What are your biggest concerns about the East Area, now and in the future?

Responses: 1,021

Top six most frequent responses"

• 493 mentions - crime/safety
• 285 - traffic, speeding, and congestion
• 219 - walkability and sidewalks
• 203 - general clean-up and beautifications 
• 194 - development and loss of character
• 149 - chain retail, fast food, liquor stores, etc. 

Question: What is your big idea to improve the East Area?

Top 6 most frequent responses:

• Make it safer for pedestrians - 209 mentions
• Clean up and beautify Colfax - 191
• More local retail and restaurants - 173
• Rehab the Colfax hotels - 116
• Reduce crime/more police presence - 87
• Improve bikeability - 82

Total respondents: 759

The predominant themes of the community’s big ideas were safety and revitalization along Colfax. Improved walkability was a popular topic, particularly through easier street crossings, traffic calming, better lighting and improved sidewalks. Similarly, many respondents suggested beautifying and activating Colfax by adding trees and streetscaping; helping to foster growth in new local and independent retail and restaurants; cleaning up trash; reducing crime and potentially transitioning the street’s motels into higher-quality affordable housing, artists’ live-work studios, or other non-traditional group living spaces.

Question: "Please tell us what neighborhood amenities are important to you. These can be amenities that exist today or ones you would like to see in the future. The top amenities for me in the East Area are…"

Responses:

• Grocery shopping: 72 percent
• Dining: 65 percent
• Other retail and entertainment: 25 percent
• Recreational activities: 22 percent
• Outdoor seating and plaza: 18 percent
• Cultural amenities/events: 17 percent
• Medical services: 13 percent
• Educational opportunities: 5 percent
• Child care: 3 percent
• Office space: 2 percent

Total respondents: 968

Food and fun dominated the list of top amenities for residents in the East Area. Ranked highest were Grocery Shopping and Dining, both choices that were selected as “top 3” by the majority of respondents, followed by Other Retail and Entertainment, and Recreational Activities. Respondents expressed much less interest in prioritizing economic development amenities like childcare, educational opportunities, and office space.

Question: "Please tell us how friendly the East Area is for pedestrians, including the quality of sidewalks and ease of access to amenities. Walking in the East Area is . . ."

• Very easy - 10% of 1,039 respondents
• Fairly easy - 45%
• Not easy - 45%

Many felt that walking was not very safe on and around Colfax due to speeding cars, difficult crossings, and crime. There is also a well-documented lack of sidewalks in some areas, as well as sections of sidewalks needing repair.

Source: East Area Kick-Off Survey, 2017

Question: "Please tell us how friendly the East Area is for cyclists, including the quality of bicycle facilities and ease of access to amenities. Biking in the East Area is . . .

• Very easy - 8% of 990 respondents
• Fairly easy - 47%
• Not easy - 45%

Respondents asked for more and better bike facilities, specifically to improve connectivity between bike lanes and provide better access to local transit stops.

Source: East Area Kick-Off Survey, 2017

Question: "Please tell us how often you use public transit in the East Area. I take East Area local transit . . ."

• Frequently - 10% of 1,029 respondents
• Occasionally - 24%
• Rarely - 30% 
• Never - 36%

Most community members surveyed stated they take local public transit rarely (30%) or never (36%). Many provided comments stating local transit options are not reliable enough, or should run more frequently. Some respondents also noted that transit amenities (such as bus shelters) should be improved, especially along Colfax.

Question: "Please tell us about housing options in the East Area by selecting all that apply. The East Area has good housing options for…”

• Families - 81% of 941 respondents agree
• Young professionals - 72% agree
• Seniors - 39% agree
• Low-income residents - 30% agree
• Disabiled residents - 12% agree

Many community members felt that the area lacks affordable housing options for many groups and, further, that housing costs in the area are rapidly increasing. Respondents expressed concern that this would lead to less diversity in the area over time, and that new, higher-density and expensive housing development was affecting the area’s historical character.

Question: "Please tell us your opinion on the businesses in the East Area. The local businesses in the East Area _____ my daily needs."

• Meet most of - 29% of 1,024 respondents
• Meet some of - 49%
• Don't meet - 22%

The community agrees that businesses in the East Area meet “most” or “some’ of their daily needs, and that the area’s local, independent businesses are part of what makes it a great place to live. However, many also expressed concern about certain pockets of Colfax they felt have too many fast food restaurants, too many empty store fronts, and generally a lack of retailers that serve the community’s needs.

Question: "Please tell us how safe you feel in the East Area. I feel safe in the East Area . . . "

• Always - 8% of 1,032 respondents
• Usually - 67%
• Rarely - 15%

While most of the community reported feeling safe “usually” in the East area (67%), many also expressed concern with local crime, drug use in public areas, and panhandling. Many respondents left comments reporting what they felt was an increase in local property crime, and some stated they did not feel safe walking along Colfax.

Currently, the East planning area is zoned according to the following breakdown:

To help inform the NPI Strategic Plan, the city developed data-based indicators of planning need at the neighborhood scale. Click here to read more about the indicators.

Text translation of above infographic (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #1
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, July 26
East Montclair Community Center, 6740 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Summary (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #2
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, August 23
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Summary (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #3
6-8 p.m., Thursday, September 28
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #4
6-8 p.m., Thursday, October 26
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Summary (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #5
6-8 p.m., Thursday, November 16
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #6
6-8 p.m., Monday, December 11
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #7
6-8 p.m., Thursday, January 25
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #8
6-8 p.m., Thursday, February 22
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Commitee Meeting #9
6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 22
Montclair Civic Building (The Molkery)
6829 E. 12th Avenue
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #10
6-8 p.m., Thursday, April 26
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #11
6-8 p.m., Thursday, May 24
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #12
6-8 p.m., Thursday, June 28
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Agenda (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #13
6-8 p.m., Thursday, July 26
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF) 
Summary (PDF) 

Steering Committee Meeting #14
6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 23
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF) 

Steering Committee Meeting #15
6-8 p.m., Thursday, September 27
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #16
6-8 p.m., Thursday, November 29, 2018
Montclair Civic Building (The Molkery)
6829 E. 12th Avenue, Denver
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Focus Group #1: Affordable housing, social services, & financial stability 
January 8
Carla Madison Recreation Center 

Focus Group #2: Small business retention, real estate/transit oriented development, & healthy food
January 9
Carla Madison Recreation Center 

Focus Group #3: Mobility & access
January 15
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street

South Park Hill Listening Session
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Park Hill Masonic Lodge, 4819 Montview Boulevard
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #4: Green infrastructure, recreation, open space
January 17
Carla Madison Recreation Center

Steering Committee Meeting #17
6-8 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2019
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
Summary (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #5: Design quality & character preservation
January 29 
Carla Madison Recreation Center

Steering Committee Meeting #18
6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 28, 2019
Montclair Civic Building (The Molkery), 6829 E. 12^th Avenue
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

Area-Wide Community Workshop #1
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Park Hill Masonic Lodge, 4819 Montview Blvd
Meeting materials available at online workshop

Neighborhood Workshop #1 – Hale
6-8 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 2019
Friendship Baptist Church, 880 Fairfax Street
Meeting materials available at online workshop

Neighborhood Workshop #2 – South Park Hill
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Park Hill Masonic Lodge, 4819 Montview Blvd
Meeting materials available at online workshop

Neighborhood Workshop #3 – Montclair
6-8 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2019
Friendship Baptist Church, 880 Fairfax Street
Meeting materials available at online workshop

Neighborhood Workshop #4 – East Colfax
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Ashley Elementary School, 1914 Syracuse Street
Meeting materials available at online workshop

Focus Group #6: Small business retention, real estate/transit oriented development, & healthy food 
6-8 p.m., April 2 
Carla Madison Recreation Center
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #7: Green Infrastructure 
6-8 p.m., April 4 
Carla Madison Recreation Center
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #8: Mobility 
6-8 p.m., April 17 
Carla Madison Recreation Center
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #9: Design Quality and Character Preservation 
6-8 p.m., April 18 
Carla Madison Recreation Center
Presentation (PDF)

Focus Group #10: Affordable housing, social services, & financial stability 
6-8 p.m., April 23 
Carla Madison Recreation Center
Presentation (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #19
6-8 p.m., Thursday, April 25
Montclair Civic Center (The Molkery)
6829 E. 12th Avenue, Denver
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)

East Area Community Workshop
6-8 p.m., Tuesday, May 14
9^th & Colorado Development Office
1000 Colorado Boulevard, Denver
Presentation (PDF) 

Steering Committee Meeting #20
6-8 p.m., Thursday, May 23
Montclair Civic Center (The Molkery)
6829 E. 12th Avenue, Denver
Presentation (PDF), Summary (PDF)

Steering Committee Meeting #21
6-8 p.m., Thursday, June 27
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Layden
Presentation (PDF),  RNO Meeting Summary (PDF)

Drop-in Office Hours 
6-8 p.m., Thursday, July 25
Art Gym Denver
1460 Leyden Street, Denver

Drop-in Office Hours 
5-8 p.m., August 1, 2019
Friendship Baptist Church
880 Fairfax Street, Denver

Drop-in Office Hours
5-8 p.m., August 6, 2019
East Montclair Community Center
6740 E. Colfax Ave., Denver