Peoria Station
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Figure 2.6: Peoria Street center median with boulevard treatment option DENVER REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AHA Site Developed Vision peoria station DECEMBER 5TH 2014 Catalytic Project Report Draft | 11.07.2014 4969 Broadway | Boulder, CO 80304 303-440-9200 | www.migcom.com In association with: Fox Tuttle Hernandez Transportation Group | EPS | EES | Project Vision 21 Acknowledgments PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE John Fernandez, Aurora - Comprehensive Planning Karen Good, Denver - Public Works Paul Aldretti, DRCOG Kevin Wegener, Aurora - Public Works Michele Anderson, DRCOG Mike Turner, RTD Craig Maraschky, Aurora Housing Authority Steve Gordon, Denver - Community David Gaspers, Denver - Community Planning and Development Planning and Development Tom Reed, DIA Elizabeth Gundlach Neufeld, Aurora Housing Authority Tracy Huggins, Denver Urban Renewal Authority John Fernandez, Aurora - Comprehensive Planning Mike Turner, RTD CONSULTANT TEAM Steve Gordon, Denver - Community Planning and Development MIG Chris Beynon EAST CORRIDOR WORKING GROUP Jay Renkens Angie Rivera-Malpiede, Stapleton Foundation Jeff Liljegren Craig Maraschky, Aurora Housing Authority Chase Mullen Crissy Fanganello, Denver - Public Works Cole Gehler David Gaspers, Denver - Community Seth Lloyd Planning and Development Fox Tuttle Hernandez Duane Launder, Aurora - Public Works Carlos Hernandez Elizabeth Gundlach Neufeld, Aurora Housing Authority Jessica Hernandez Gete Mekonnen, Northeast Denver Housing Center Holli Riebel, Metro Denver EDC/ Denver Metro Chamber Economic and Planning Systems Huiliang Liu, Aurora - Comprehensive Planning Dan Guimond Ismael Guerrero, Denver Housing Authority Chris Ryerson Jeanette Hilaire-Stoufer , DIA Jeanne Shreve, Adams County - Deputy Entitlement and Engineering Solutions, Inc. County Administrator Unit Amanda O’Connor Jeff Romine, Denver - Ofce of Economic Development Kelly Kloosterman Jenn Hillhouse, Denver - Public Works Project Vision 21 Joelle Greenland, Adams County - Planning Francisco Miraval Table of Contents STUDY AREA LAND USES AND 1 INTRODUCTION ...............1 4 DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL ..... 55 Purpose, Need and Background ................... 1 Introduction ................................... 55 Station and Study Areas .......................... 4 Remnant Parcels ............................... 57 Stakeholder Outreach ............................ 9 Impacted Parcels ............................... 59 Vision and Goals ................................ 9 Adaptive Reuse ................................ 59 Report Organization ............................ 11 Additional Station Area Development ............. 63 STREETSCAPE, CONNECTIVITY STRATEGIC PARKING MANAGEMENT 2 AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ... 15 5 FOR PEORIA STATION ......... 67 Introduction ................................... 15 Introduction ................................... 67 Potential Peoria Street Improvements .............. 17 Peoria Station Parking in Context ................. 69 Potential 33rd Avenue Improvements .............. 30 Parking Tools for Peoria Station ................... 73 30th Avenue, Nome Street and Moline Street ....... 34 Tools to Affect Surface to Structure Conversion ...... 76 End-of-Trip Facilities ............................ 34 Strategic Actions at Peoria Station ................ 78 AURORA HOUSING AUTHORITY 3 DEVELOPMENT .............. 37 6 NEXT STEPS ................ 85 Introduction ................................... 37 Introduction ................................... 85 Existing Area Housing ........................... 39 Potential Phasing ............................... 86 Demand for Affordable Housing .................. 43 Stakeholder Engagement Plan .................... 87 Potential for Retail at AHA Site ................... 44 Conclusion .................................... 89 Site Planning Objectives ......................... 44 Conceptual Site Design ......................... 48 Implementation Strategies ....................... 51 1 Chapter 1: Introduction Purpose, Need and Background Peoria Station and the surrounding areas in East Denver and Northwest Aurora together present a great opportunity for transformation. With strategic planning and investment, the area can evolve with bolstered economic vitality, enhanced livability, a strong sense of place, and a recognizable identity in the coming years. With its central location along the East Corridor and terminus of the Aurora Line/I-225 Rail, the residents and workers of the area and the adjacent neighborhoods will be able to travel by rail to a variety of destinations throughout the metropolitan region – downtown Denver, Denver International Airport (DIA), Southeast I-25/Denver Tech Center, Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora City Center and more – in just minutes (see Figure 1.1). Fully leveraging the signicant increase in transit connectivity to the region will require a series of key actions by a variety of players. The Peoria Station Catalytic Project assembled the key public entities – Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), City of Aurora, City and County of Denver (CCD), Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) – for an intensive planning and design process that resulted in this multifaceted implementation strategy. The Peoria Station Catalytic Project’s focused analysis, planning and design was made possible with resources associated with the Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI). The Denver region was awarded $4.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support planning and implementation activities related to the large amount of resources being invested in transit. With this grant, the SCI hosts a partnership of government agencies and public and private sector organizations who work together to implement Metro Vision while leveraging the multi-billion dollar FasTracks transit system expansion. The goal of the SCI is to align investments, programs and policies to maximize the benets of the region’s investment in transit. The East Corridor, a 22.8-mile commuter rail line between Union Station and DIA, is under construction with an anticipated 2016 opening. Over the past decade, several station area and neighborhood plans have been developed at the local level for stops along the line. The City of Aurora adopted the Peoria-Smith Station Area Plan in 2009. As part of SCI’s corridor implementation activities, a site offering the potential for transformational changes was selected for each corridor. Peoria Station was selected as the catalytic project site for the East Corridor. FIGURE 1.1 - REGIONAL RAIL TRANSIT NETWORK 2 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The purpose of the project is two-fold: First, 3. Conduct a parking structure feasibility the project identies the policy-, project- or study to assess the potential for higher program-related moves for aspects of the study intensity development around Peoria Station. area that will catalyze additional investment and The focus of the project was to identify near- transformation of the area to a more transit- term opportunities to attract uses that will oriented and supportive development pattern. serve as a model for future development and Second, the project explores strategies for catalyze additional development while improving Peoria Station that have the potential to be access to existing adjacent communities. applied at other station locations along the East Corridor and elsewhere in the region. It is benecial to explore ways to enhance rst and last mile connections to nearby Northeast The three primary project objectives include: Denver and several Aurora neighborhoods in order Peoria Street between 31st Avenue and 33rd Avenue, view looking south. 1. Explore opportunities for development to maximize the benet of transit investments. and improvements in the Peoria The current effort is built upon a strong foundation Street corridor through the utilization of of previous and concurrent plans and studies for publically-owned and purchased remnant the area. In addition to the Peoria-Smith Station parcels, through creating a better walking and Area Plan, other foundational documents and biking experiencing, and by establishing an initiatives include Metro Vision; Transit Oriented esthetically pleasing environment that creates a Denver: Transit Oriented Development (TOD) more attractive “front door” to Peoria Station. Strategic Plan; 61st & Pena Station Area Parking 2. Provide pre-development planning Handbook – A Toolkit of Parking Strategies & for an AHA owned property Best Practice Examples; Blueprint Denver; and within the Station Area to assess the City of Aurora’s Comprehensive Plan. its future development potential. AHA Site along Peoria Street. DENVER REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS | PEORIA STATION CATALYTIC PROJECT 3 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Radius 70 Mile 1/2 Station and PEORIAStudy STATION CATALYTIC Areas PROJECT Radius Peoria Station Aerial 70 Mile 1/2 40TH AVE LegendPeoria Station is the convergence point of PEORIA STATION CATALYTIC PROJECT City Boundary PEORIA ST the East Corridor commuter rail line and Peoria StationParcel Aerial Highway 40TH AVE Legend the Aurora/I-225 light rail corridor. The 39TH AVE Rail Station CityT Boundary PEORIA ST Aurora/I-225Rail Line light rail corridor will provide Parcel Highwayservice south through the City of Aurora to 38TH AVE39TH AVE T Rail Station JOLIET ST Railthe Line Southeast Rail Corridor. As an important 37TH AVE LIMA ST NOME ST REVERE ST QUENTIN ST commuter station,DENVER Peoria Station will serve 38TH