East Area Plan
Latest News
Invite us to your meeting!
As city planners along with the East Area Steering Committee continue to mine the data collected during the 2017 plan kick-off survey, the planning team has been meeting with neighborhood groups and organizations throughout the planning area to continue to gather community input and offer an update on the planning process.
If you would like a presentation at your group's next meeting, contact us to make arrangements.
What's on the horizon
Throughout 2018, city planners have been working with the steering committee analizying survey data, including the more than 10,000 comments received for both the East and East Central Area Plans. All that input, summarized below, is serving as the basis for draft vision statements for the East Area neighborhoods, as well as focus topics and geographic areas, guiding principles and map-based recommendations.
The community will have more opportunities to weigh in and give feedback on all of this in the coming months.
East Area Survey Results: What you told us about your neighborhoods
Late last year, the East Area neighborhood planning team surveyed over 1,100 people who live, work, or play in the East Area to learn more about their hopes and concerns. Since then, the results of this survey have been guiding the planners and the Steering Committee as they identify key topics to be addressed in the neighborhood plan. Below, you’ll find a summary of the feedback we received.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
About the East Planning Area
The East Planning Area includes the statistical neighborhoods adjacent to Colfax Avenue between Colorado Boulevard and Yosemite Street (Denver's eastern city limit), including South Park Hill, Montclair, Hale, and East Colfax. The area contains many great community assets, such as historic parkways, the Rose Medical Center, Johnson and Wales University, and many unique, locally-owned businesses. The area is experiencing some significant changes, such as the 9th and Colorado mixed use project, as well as plans to add Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along Colfax Avenue. Two of the four neighborhoods, South Park Hill and East Colfax, have out of date plans, while Hale and Montclair have no plans at all. The Neighborhood Planning Initiative provides a great opportunity to establish the community’s vision for maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in these neighborhoods for decades to come.
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.
| Statistics |
|
|---|---|
| Regional destinations |
|
| Natural features |
|
| Key corridors |
|
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)
Steering Committee
Council members Mary Beth Susman and Chris Herndon have convened the Steering Committee for the East Area Plan. All meetings for the committee will be open to the public.
Upcoming Meetings
6-8 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month
Art Gym Denver, 1460 Leyden Street
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Laurie Bogue | Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association |
| Tom Fesing | East Colfax Neighborhood Association |
| Bridget Galati | East Colfax |
| Yoal Ghebrehmeskel |
Street Fraternity |
| Marti Holmes | Historic Montclair Community Association |
| Kyaw Lin Oo | Hidden Brook/Street Fraternity |
| Tracey MacDermott | Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. |
| Monica Martinez | Fax Partnership |
| Tom Meyer | New Freedom Neighbors |
| Hilarie Portell | Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District |
| Merritt Pullam | Mayfair Neighbors, Inc. |
| Rosalyn Redwine | Small business owner |
| Wende Reoch | Cranmer Park/Hilltop Association |
| Andy Sense | Park Hill |
Neighborhoods
Previous Planning
- Stapleton Perimeter Assessment, 2007 (PDF)
- Mayfair Town Center Assessment, 2006 (PDF)
- Park Hill Neighborhood Plan, 2000 (PDF)
- East Montclair/East Colfax Neighborhood Plan, 1994 (PDF)