Denver Union Station (DUS), and the 20 acres surrounding it, will be being transformed into a multi-modal transportation hub as part of FasTracks. The redevelopment will maintain the current historic DUS building and add to it a pedestrian and bike-friendly urban center, which includes housing, office space, shops, restaurants, outdoor plazas, and even a hotel. It will be the connecting point for light rail, commuter rail, and intercity rail, as well as for local, regional, and inter-city buses.

The DUS redevelopment is the perfect setting for a model transit-oriented development (TOD) in downtown Denver. TOD is the creation of compact, walkable communities centered around public transit, where residents can meet their daily needs without depending on automobiles. TOD is a key smart growth strategy because it locates people closer to urban centers, in livable communities where they don’t need to drive everywhere they go. This adds up to less greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution for everyone.

CEC is working as part of a diverse coalition of conservation, faith-based, labor and community organizations to ensure that the DUS redevelopment project provides benefits to the whole community, since it is being built largely with public money. The coalition is working to ensure that the redevelopment provides family-supporting jobs with good wages and benefits, affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for local businesses. As part of this coalition, CEC has been part of a team negotiating with the private developer and public partners over these issues.

So far, the development team and the coalition have reached agreement on two issues: small business and environmental sustainability.  The developer has agreed to set aside a number of storefronts for use by small, local businesses. Additionally, the developer has agreed to build new buildings on the site to certified green building standards. This means the DUS redevelopment will use significantly less resources, both in construction and operation, and provide a healthier environment, both indoors and out.

The coalition and the development team continue to discuss the issues of affordable housing, family-supporting jobs, and strategies to encourage increased usage of trains, buses, bikes, and walking by residents and commuters using the site. CEC will continue to play a key role in these negotiations.

For more information on the Denver Union Station redevelopment project, click here.