A proposed 21-acre development along the FasTracks Gold Line in Adams County may involve the relocation of a rail station from the east side of Federal Boulevard to the west side.
The TOD Group LLC of New Orleans is proposing a development that would include 805 to 1,400 residential units and between 235,000 and 555,000 square feet of commercial space north of the rail line on the west side of Federal.
The site was one of three considered for the station in 2007, but the developer was unable to get financing to buy the land until late last year, said Kevin Flynn, spokesman for the Regional Transportation District.
After acquiring the property, the TOD Group asked RTD to reconsider putting a rail stop on the site.
“We need to negotiate an agreement with the developer as far as what costs will be borne by the developer,” Flynn said.
RTD also must negotiate an agreement with Union Pacific to locate a platform on the site.
Other conditions RTD would require of the developer before agreeing to relocate the station include:
• Completing 30 percent of the engineering plans for the station area. This has already been done.
• Providing the same number of parking spaces for the station as in the current station plan.
• Demonstrating how the development will avoid environmental impacts, particularly on wetlands and the open waters at Clear Creek, according to a re-evaluation of the station site in June.
“There are fewer environmental impacts because we are entirely out of the 100-year floodplain,” Flynn said. “In the east station, we’re partially in the 100-year floodplain.”
The TOD Group is headed by John Renne, a professor of planning and urban studies at the University of New Orleans.
Renne, who is associate director of the university’s Transportation Institute and director of transportation studies, could not be reached for comment.
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to incorrect information provided to The Denver Post, the numbers for the proposed development in Adams County are inaccurate. The development will include 805 to 1,400 residential units and between 235,000 and 555,000 square feet of commercial space.
