The big plans:
The Colorado Convention Center expansion is complete, but other
ambitious projects will continue to bring new places and fresh faces to downtown
Denver. Here’s a preview of three ventures soon to take center stage.
New Jail
Denver plans to build a new justice center, with courtrooms and a jail, on a
West Colfax Avenue site that includes the current location of the Rocky Mountain
News. The city bought the News building last year and recently launched plans to
buy the block west of the News, as well.
The promise: To eliminate crowding in existing jail facilities, to consolidate
services and eliminate long travel times from suburban holding sites to downtown
courtrooms.
The challenge: Denver expects to ask voters in May to approve the sale of more
than $300 million in bonds to build the jail and courts. In November 2001,
Denver voters rejected a similar plan for a justice center near West Sixth
Avenue and Interstate 25.
New Rail
In late 2006, the Regional Transportation District will open the 19-mile
Southeast corridor light-rail line along Interstates 25 and 225. It will more
than double the length of RTD’s existing light-rail system, which stretches from
downtown Denver to Littleton. RTD estimates the Southeast line will handle up to
60,000 riders a day by 2025. The recent, positive FasTracks vote means RTD will add another 119 miles of
light rail and diesel-powered commuter rail in the area over the next 12 years,
along with 18 miles of bus transit and more than 20,000 additional parking
spaces at RTD lots.
The promise: The new convention center has its own light-rail station. Rail
lines will be added from downtown Denver to Lakewood and Golden, Arvada and
Wheat Ridge, Boulder and Longmont, north Adams County, Denver International
Airport and along the I-225 corridor in Aurora. Light-rail extensions also will
be constructed to Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch.
The challenge: The ambitious project will cost a total of $4.7 billion. More
than $800 million is expected to come from the federal government, but RTD must
secure that despite tremendous competition from transit districts around the
country.
New Museum
In August, Denver agreed to take possession of 2,100 works by the late abstract
expressionist painter Clyfford Still. In exchange, the city will spend at least
$7 million to build a museum devoted exclusively to him.
The promise: Still is highly regarded in art circles, and a museum just for him
will give Denver cultural cache and a unique attraction. A new exhibition space
located in the right place could create a genuine museum district.
The challenge: So many for this risky project. The city, forced to work within
strict provisions of Still’s will, must raise construction funds, plus another
$10 million for an endowment, then choose the perfect location. And it must be
said: Still is surely a head scratcher to the masses.
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| Post / Craig F. Walker |
| The Occulus overhanging Stout Street from the Colorado Convention Center is designed to announce a commuter’s arrival into downtown Denver.
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The big projects:
Over the past decade, 11 major projects, planned or completed,
have begun to reshape Denver’s downtown and the way people use it. What’s at
stake: the vibrancy of the urban soul and the city’s reputation to the world.
Here’s a closer look.
Denver Art Museum Expansion This $90.5 million project, built with $62.5 million in public bonds and private
donations, will add 70 percent more space — 146,000 square feet — to the museum.
It’s set to open in fall 2006.
The promise: Superstar architect Daniel Libeskind’s extreme design will give the
city a new landmark and gain international attention for the museum’s excellent
and often overlooked collections. The large space will make it a more attractive
stop for lucrative, blockbuster shows.
The challenge: If they build it, will you come? The museum is counting on the
high-profile building, rather than high-profile exhibitions, to lure at least 1
million visitors a year, but it remains to be seen whether Coloradans, who value
their Western style, will like the new look.
Denver Performing Arts Complex
The 24-year-old performing arts complex is getting a big boost from the $92.8
million renovation of the Auditorium Theatre, transformed mostly with public
funds. The century-old, 2,400-seat hall reopens next year.
The promise: Finally — elegant, downtown digs that will surely add juice to the
city’s opera and ballet companies. The buzz on this place, from the acoustics to
the ornamentation, is tremendous.
The challenge: Will it be as good as they say, or another average auditorium at
the arts center? We won’t know until the first note sounds.
The Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver
Small, but splashy, the museum’s first permanent home will provide 25,000 square
feet of space, enough to show off new and adventurous art from around the globe.
The $12 million to $15 million project is expected to open in 2006.
The promise: With a design by up-and-coming architectural hipster David Adjaye
and an exhibition space open to an endless line up of international artistic
movers and shakers, MOCA could add a layer of cultural cool to Denver.
The challenge: The museum is still searching for a big donor whose name will
adorn the building. The space will be relatively small and off the beaten path.
Success depends on programming the right shows.
Colorado Convention Center
Denver’s convention center underwent a $310.7 million expansion, bringing its
meeting space up to 2.2 million square feet. The center has a 5,000-seat lecture
hall, 1,000 toilets and 28 elevators.
The promise: Planners are counting on attracting 1.5 million guests each year
who will spend their money in Denver, bringing in an estimated $273 million in
new dollars. Convention organizers say 3,800 jobs will initially be created, but
growth and the addition of a hotel next door will push that to 8,900 new jobs
within several years.
The challenge: Marketing, marketing, marketing. Getting the word out about
Denver’s newest downtown attraction is going to take skillful advertising and
forward planning.
Coors Field
The ballpark, home to the Colorado Rockies, opened in 1995. The $215 million
venue seats 50,381.
The promise: The stadium was part of a movement to bring more family activities,
dining and entertainment to downtown.
The challenge: The city must maintain a safe and family-friendly reputation for
LoDo and help sustain food and nightlife attractions that will keep people
hanging around after the ninth inning. It would help if the Rockies would win
more games.
Pepsi Center
Opened October 1999, the privately owned entertainment venue is home to the
National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche, National Basketball Asssociation’s
Denver Nuggets, Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush and the National Lacrosse
League’s Colorado Mammoth. The “Can” is a popular venue for concerts, the
circus and conventions. The $160 million center, owned by Kroenke Sports
Enterprises, holds 19,099 people.
The promise: A state-of-the-art home for the Avalanche and Nuggets and a venue
attractive enough to snag such high-profile events as the 2001 NHL All-Star Game
and the upcoming 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
The challenge: To continue to offer high-quality events in an unpredictable
concert industry and to attract other small- and large-scale events that
maintain a regional appeal.
Denver Union Station
With the passage of the FasTracks transit tax by metro-area voters on Nov. 2,
Denver’s 123-year-old landmark is poised for a major overhaul. Planners are
promoting a redevelopment of the station and surrounding land that could cost
$560 million.
The promise: The aim is to make it the hub for at least six light-rail and
diesel-powered commuter-rail lines and the downtown terminus for regional bus
lines. Approval of the transit expansion should guarantee at least $200 million
to jump-start the rehab.
The challenge: To efficiently route new rail lines into Union Station without
disrupting vehicle traffic flow in the busy downtown area.
Universal Lending Pavilion
The 5,000-seat, warm-weather tent, located on the grounds of the Pepsi Center,
opened in 2002 (as the City Lights Pavilion). Downtown Denver’s only outdoor
concert venue, it’s a joint venture of Clear Channel Communications and Pepsi
Center owner Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which also owns the Nuggets and
Avalanche.
The promise: ULP gave downtown what it needed at the time, a mid-sized theater
that could generate a summertime buzz and lure young concertgoers from the
region.
The challenge: The convention center’s new 5,000-seat theater may give this
place stiff competition — there are only so many touring acts out there these
days. Plus, it’s basically a tent in parking lot, not exactly glamorous digs for
the first-date crowd.
Denver PavilionsA snazzy, high-end shopping and entertainment complex, the Pavilions is home to
34 stores, six restaurants, a nightclub, a 15-screen movie theater and a new
bowling alley lounge. It opened November 1998 at a cost of $107.5 million. It
spans 350,000 square feet.
The promise: A unique outdoor shopping experience that helps downtown compete
with the giant malls.The challenge: The buzz has been that the second and third floors don’t get as
much foot traffic as the ground level, making it difficult for business up
above. Lucky Strike Lanes, the new bowling alley, could boost the activity. The
challenge: Getting people to realize downtown is a vibrant place for
shopping and dining, as well as attracting Denverites to visit after dark and on
weekends.
Denver Public Library
Considered one of the Denver area’s crown jewels, the 23-branch library, in
business for more than a century, tallies more than 1 million visitors a year.
It boasts more than 5 million items in its collection. A whopping 79 percent of
city residents have a library card and borrow almost 10 million items a year.
Bond and private funding totaling $91.6 million paid for the Michael Graves-
designed expansion that makes Denver’s Central Library the largest between Los
Angeles and Chicago.
The promise: To help people achieve their full potential with access to a broad
range of material, while answering reference questions and providing community
outreach.
The challenge: To deliver top-quality library services during a city budget
crunch, particularly when use is up. Hours have been reduced systemwide, and the
library is not able to acquire in the same magnitude it once did.
Convention Center Hotel
Sidekick to the enormous convention center, the 1,100-room, 37-story Hyatt
Convention Center Hotel is a $374 million project set to open in December 2005.
The promise: With thousands of square footage in ballrooms and meeting rooms,
the hotel will be the perfect headquarters for conventioneers nearby.
The challenge: Ideally the hotel would open with the convention center so sales
staff can offer both to convention organizers. The challenge, when it does open,
will be making sure the word is out that Denver can handle very large
conventions.
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| Post / Craig F. Walker |
| Panoramic view is from the roof of Courthouse Square Apartments, 901 W. 14th Ave.
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