The Center of Denver Comprehensive Planning- Colfax Avenue.

Good Day!

After a long weekend of bicycle racing, beaver-pond fording, backpacking, skiing, and a beautiful Australian Cabernet blend (with Rib-eye steak), I am ready to blog again. Yes, I did all of these things in these last 3 days. I suppose this is what Colorado is all about...

When it comes to urban planning and neighborhood planning, there are many things to consider. I believe that Denver's new urbanization is creating a city which is on the cusp of being progressive, sustainable, and vibrant. These are buzz words, but in reality, urban planning is exactly this.

I want to introduce the public resources that people can use to determine where to move, and why. Central Denver is quickly becoming a place where urban plans are becoming the norm- how we want our city. Enter website: Denver Small area plans.

Following in the same vein as Denver Infill.com, we are seeing the revitalization of places gentrified and newly urbanized- and a planning process as to what is the best use of the land for the present and future. Typically, these plans have components of transportation, land use, pedestrian use, and future planning.

One of the best sites that gives a person a great introduction to urban planning is The Congress for New Urbanism. These sites also give a real estate person something to show progress and a true future of an area.

Places like Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, and virtually any other city in the USA have embraced this idea of architecturally sound, quality planning. This is not to say that this has not been a standard, but it does tell your real estate professional that cities are hubs for new or re-urbanization.

The master planning of Denver is absolutely vital to its growth and sustainability. A perfect example is the redevelopment of Colfax Avenue.

Under the authority of the Colfax Business Improvement District and a cooperative effort with the City and County of Denver, this the main transport vein of urban Denver is bustling with mixed-use updates, new buildings, changes to infrastructure, and a new-bohemian character that speaks of revitalization and a vitalization of the urban centers.

The East Colfax plan gives a 26.2 mile account of revitalizing Colfax, courtesy of the City and County of Denver. View the plan here. The Mixed Use plan, courtesy of the CBID can be viewed here.

I believe that the urban plans should also speak to the necessary vibrancy and diversity that the area must have in order to continue to sustain growth, popularity and development. It cannot turn into a suburbanized track-mall area, where large corporate business takes over the character of the area.

I suppose you could use the Haight-Ashbury area in San Francisco an example. There are differences between Denver, and Haight-Ashbury. For our purposes, Haight is being used as an example of vibrant and diverse urbanized life.

It has diverse population, small business, mixed use development (characteristically built in the Victorian era and style), and a vibrant culture affiliated with it- namely the arts (visual, performing) and many different restaurants, cultures, and food.

The area itself is sometimes affiliated with the San Francisco Hippie movement, but for all intensive purposes, it is a good example of vibrant urbanization.

Thanks for reading! The last tidbit that I will leave today is an article I found on the 9news website: Colfaxlove.com. Taj Moore fell in love with Colfax the second he stepped foot on it. Read the article here. The goal of this site is to bring lovers of Colfax to the street itself. Enjoy!

Best!

Ed Martin
Showcase Properties Unlimited
303-399-5777