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Agenda & Session Details 2015 YLG Leadership Exchange Dates: Thursday, June 18th- Saturday, June 20th Thursday, June 18th 4 pm- 5:30 pm: Walking Tour of Riverfront Park/ Platte River Valley: A History Tour guide: Amy Cara, Partner, East West Partners Denver & Incoming District Council Chair, ULI Colorado Meeting location: Terminal Bar, inside Denver Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street, Denver CO Session Description: Only 20 years ago, the Central Platte Valley between Denver Union Station and the South Platte River was a wasteland of abandoned rail yards. The land value was so low that surplus parking for downtown was considered a possible “highest and best use.” In the late 1990s, this 54-acre, single-owner parcel was re-envisioned through an extensive community process as a high-density urban neighborhood. In 1999, resort developer East West Partners bought 23 acres and branded it as Riverfront Park. Since then a vibrant new neighborhood has emerged focused on 19-acre Commons Park, the first major new city park in decades. Three beautifully designed new pedestrian/bike bridges cross the barriers of an Interstate, river and railroad tracks, now linking downtown, Lower Downtown and Riverfront Park to the re-emerging Highlands Neighborhood to the west. Now considered Denver’s hottest area, Riverfront Park features nearly 2,000 new condo and rental apartments in 14 buildings, along with office, restaurants and other commercial. From 2001 to 2014, Riverfront Park generated $413 million in condo sales. The latest addition is an infill, transit-oriented retirement community called Balfour at Riverfront Park. This walkable, mid-rise community is connected directly to new transit stations and to the Denver Union Station Neighborhood and Transit Hub, with which it overlaps.
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