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?

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…"

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:

58%	Urban edge context
30%	Urban context
5%	Former Chapter 59 (Old Code) Zoning
5%	Other (Campus, Open space, Urban center contexts)
5%	General Urban context

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)

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)

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

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

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