LAKEWOOD — Three metro-area mayors joined a congressman, a state lawmaker and a new federal employee Tuesday to tout pending federal legislation that would help local governments take a “holistic” approach to planning.
They held their news conference in Lakewood, sandwiched between the St. Anthony Hospital under construction and a new light- rail line that, once it opens, will help patients from throughout the metro area get to the facility.
“This project right here is an example of a livable community,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden. “It’s really good for the entire metro area, but certainly for my neighborhood in Lakewood.”
Perlmutter in February introduced legislation that would provide grants to help local governments develop comprehensive regional plans that look at transportation, housing, community and economic development and environmental needs — a holistic approach, he said.
The measure calls for regional cooperation and cooperation among various federal agencies, including the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Transportation.
Rural communities are also eligible for grants, as part of a provision in the bill, Perlmutter said.
The word “collaborative” was repeatedly stressed, by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy and Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer.
Hickenlooper noted that the Denver metro area already has a reputation for combining retail, housing and transportation.
“We’re at the cutting edge,” he said. “Washington looks to us. It really is a feather in our cap.”
Also present were Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, and Rick Garcia, the new regional director for HUD.
Garcia said there has been a “seismic shift” in population patterns globally. A century ago, only one in 10 people lived in an urban area; now two-thirds of the population does.
That puts a stress on health care centers, affordable housing and infrastructure, he said.
