|  | Colfax on the Hill Inc.
COLFAX STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDY
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The City and County of Denver (CCD) is working to assess the technical and economic feasibility for development of a “modern streetcar” line on the Colfax Avenue Corridor. The initial study area is bounded on the west by Interstate 25 (I-25), on the east by Syracuse Street, on the south by 12th Avenue, and on the north by 19th Avenue. In addition to exploration of the feasibility of a streetcar application on Colfax in the study area, the Colfax Street Feasibility Study (CSFS) process will identify criteria to evaluate candidate corridors for a potential broader streetcar network.
PROJECT PURPOSE
The Colfax corridor is currently functioning as a productive transit corridor and has experienced redevelopment and reinvestment in recent years. Stakeholders in the Colfax corridor have suggested a modern streetcar would have mobility and economic investment benefits. If these outcomes could be achieved they would also support the City’s broader policy objectives for transportation and land use as described in the East Colfax Small Area Plan, the Strategic Transportation Plan, Greenprint Denver, and Blueprint Denver. These goals for the Colfax corridor include:
* Enhancing mobility
* Improving sustainable transportation options
* Enhancing and promoting economic development
The primary purpose of this study is to identify how a modern streetcar in the Colfax corridor would affect:
* transit ridership
* types of transit riders
* reliance on private automobile trips
* traffic operations
* adjacent property values
* new economic investment
The secondary purpose of this study is to develop criteria that can be used to evaluate the potential for streetcar implementation in Denver’s other transportation corridors.
Project Contact:
Terry Ruiter
Principal Planner
Denver Public Works - Policy and Planning
terry.ruiter@denvergov.org
720.865.3136
Colfax on the Hill is a volunteer business association comprised of property owners, business owners, and business managers located on East Colfax Avenue between Broadway and Colorado Blvd. It also includes associate members from the Denver business community and East Colfax residential neighborhoods. Its purpose is to promote retail business and office space, attract new businesses and services, and to engage in the overall economic development and revitalization of the Colfax on the Hill business district.
Learn more about Colfax on the Hill Inc.
Chronology
2009: As part of its monthly “Happy on the Hill” socials for Colfax property owners, merchants, employees and neighborhood organizations, COTH has initiated its series of “friends and neighbors of Colfax merchants” series. With the steep economic downturn and its impact on local businesses on East Colfax neighborhood organizations Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) and South City Park Neighborhood Association (SCPNA) have joined with Colfax on the Hill, Inc. to sponsor a series of promotions and events to support local businesses in the 40-block Colfax on the Hill district (Broadway to Colorado Blvd. The first in the series of “friends and neighbors of Colfax” was held January 14th at the Tattered Cover Books Store. The February 11th gathering was at the Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast. Judging from the hundreds who have attend these events thus far, there is growing support from nearby resident/consumers who understand the value of having so many business services close at hand and the need to support them with their patronage, especially now during these difficult times.
Additional Colfax promotions and events are being planned, including expansion of mycolfax.org and its My Colfax Card, which is an inter-active communications link between Colfax merchants and our 6,000+ and growing legion of My Colfax cardholders who receive on-going merchant discounts via www.mycolfax.org and timely e-blasts about store sales and events. CHUN and SCPNA will link their respective websites and e-newsletters to mycolfax.org to expand the network of nearby neighbors who can enjoy the convenience and offerings of Colfax merchants.
________________________________________________________ 1983: Organized by property owners and merchants on Colfax between Grant and Josephine to collectively work to address the deterioration of East Colfax, i.e. loss of businesses moving out, high crime, deteriorating buildings and infrastructure.
1986: Attains streetscape funding from the City to install pedestrian lights and street trees in seven face blocks in the district.
1989: COTH created the Colfax Business Improvement District (nee Colfax on the Hill Business Improvement District) in 1989 to fund operations to East Colfax revitalization activities and programs. B.I.D. by charter had to create a separate board of directors from the COTH Inc. board.
1993: Colfax on the Hill, Inc. incorporates former Colfax at the Park, Inc. and extends COTH's boundaries to Colorado Blvd. Focus is on "Safe and Clean" -- priority is to provide cleaner street environment and to marshal business community attention on crime issues.
1994: Colfax on the Hill negotiates contract to manage the B.I.D. operations and sets up in-house maintenance crew to handle trash/litter.
1995: Colfax on Hill works with other neighborhood organizations to lobby for the new district to serve both sides of the street (DPD District 3 formerly handled south side of Colfax; District 2 the north side). The new DPD District 6 was created, headed by now Chief of Police, Gerry Whitman. The crime rate in Colfax precincts decreased over 50% in the first six years of District 6.
1995: COTH organizes first of annual “DPD District 6 Halloween Party for the Kids of Capitol Hill to provide safe trick or treat venue for children. Over 1,000 attended.
1996: COTH Inc. management contract with B.I.D. dissolved due to alleged conflicts of interests between the two entities. B.I.D. board resumed direct oversight of operations and changed its name to the Colfax Business Improvement District.
1996: COTH Inc. initiates the process to re-zone the B-4 East Colfax zoning.
1998: Re-zoning proposal rejected by the City Council Land Use Committee and by the Denver Planning Office.
1998: Colfax on the Hill commissions the "Colfax Corridor Revitalization Action Plan."*
1999: Colfax on the Hill raises $25,000 to commission the Colfax Avenue Segment Revitalization Plan (includes Pearl to Downing segmentation study)*
1999: COTH works with Colfax property and business owners to create vision of street as a mixed-use, pedestrian friendly, transit-oriented "Main Street," and produces Report on Private Investment Actions and Problems Needing Government Action on East Colfax Avenue, 1999.*
2000: Colfax on the Hill, Inc. wins Denver Foundation $10,000 grant to help fund: "East Colfax Avenue: An Opportunity and a Model for Development Action"*
2001: Colfax on the Hill works with C.B.I.D. to promote Colfax priority attention in the Denver Land Use & Transportation Plan -- Blueprint Denver.
2001: 149 Colfax property and business owners and area residents turn out for the East Colfax Land Use & Transportation's "East Colfax Workshop," the most well attended, successful of five workshops held by the City.
2002: Blueprint Denver adopted by Denver City Council. Colfax selected as the first "Small Area Plan" for the implementation phase of Blueprint Denver.
2002: Colfax on the Hill and Colfax Business Improvement District representatives will serve on the City's "Colfax Corridor Small Area Plan Stakeholders Committee."
2003: COTH supports initial investigation of potential of street car line on Colfax to spur economic development and enhance public transit. Hosts party for visiting light rail, streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit experts from Vancouver, Los Angeles, Portland and Boston.
2003: COTH co-sponsored Colfax stakeholders meetings with six Denver Mayoral candidates on Colfax revitalization and redevelopment. Similar meetings on Colfax redevelopment also held with city council candidates. Candidates signed on to support the Colfax redevelopment initiative.
2003: COTH's ad hoc Colfax Marathon Committee meets with Denver marathon race organizer and producer Creig Kelley to hear his recommendations on how to proceed with determining feasibility of staging a Colfax Marathon.
2003: COTH helps fund two CU Graduate School of Design & Urban Planning Colfax projects: 1) Studio project urban plan for the Pearl-Washington and 2) urban plan for East Colfax between Colorado Blvd. and Yosemite.
2003: COTH board members Brad Buchanan, Andy Baldyga and Jim Peiker serve on the East Colfax Corridor Small Area Plan Stakeholders Committee and contribute memoranda for use in the plan for higher density, mixed-use, enhanced transit and pedestrian-friendly redevelopment of East Colfax. Dave Walstrom, executive director co-chairs the stakeholders committee with Congress Park resident Anna Jones, who subsequently joined the COTH board.
2004: COTH co-sponsors four public meetings to hear citizen input into the East Colfax Corridor Small Area Plan.
2004: District 8 Councilwoman and City Council President Elbra Wedgeworth convened a “Colfax Corridor Revitalization Meeting” of the Colfax Nine,” the name given to the nine city council members who have placed Colfax redevelopment high on their agendas.
2004: The East Colfax Corridor Small Area Plan was officially adopted by City Council by unanimous vote June 14, 2004.
2004: The cities of Denver, Aurora and Lakewood fund feasibility study for the First Annual Colfax Avenue Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, May 21.
2005: The first annual Colorado Colfax Marathon was announced by Mayors John Hickenlooper, Steve Burkholder and Ed Tauer. It will be held May 21, 2006,
starting in Aurora at Sportsman’s Park and ending in Lakewood at the Colorado
Mills Shopping Center. 6,000 runners are expected to enter.
2005: Main Street Zoning Language Amendment unanimously adopted by Denver City Council, Sept. 12, 2006.
2005: In partnership with the Colfax B.I.D., the two organizations call attention to criminal activity, especially drug dealing on the west end of the district. With DPD Patrol Districts 2-3-6 launch Colfax Business Watch to recruit block captains; B.I.D. installs surveillance cameras on west end.
*Sections of these reports/studies were used by the Denver Planning Office in its Blueprint Denver and East Colfax Corridor Small Area Plan
2005: COTH supports new and adaptive use projects by Bob Aronowitz (Chamberlin Heights), Chris Swank (Bluebird, Mezcal) and Tom Secrist (Atomic Cowboy, Barb’s Flowers, et. al.). The resurgence of this three-block retail and restaurant district and mixed-use residential exemplifies the kind of Colfax redevelopment COTH, Inc. has been advocating, working in behalf of these new businesses and with the adjoining neighborhood organizations South City Park and Congress Park to promote these new businesses to their immediate neighborhood market of 10,000+ residents. In that effort COTH awarded a $2,000 grant from the CHUN People’s Fair Grants and $5,000 from the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (MOED).
2005: COTH board members and Colfax Stakeholders Committee work with the Denver
Planning and Community Development Department to draft the proposal to rezone Colfax between Broadway and Colorado Blvd.
2005: COTH meets with Denver Police Department District 6 Commander Deborah Dilley and Councilwoman Jeanne Robb on neighborhood crime and “quality-of-life” public safety issues, e.g. drug dealing, drug/alcohol abuse, prostitution, panhandling, loitering, etc. Resulting plan included:
1) Additional 2 officers on overtime working four-hour shifts \ three days per week;
2) Increasing the number of undercover narcotic operations by 50%;
3)Increase on-duty Special Crime Attack Team and Neighborhood Police Officers working with Parole and Probation officers to contact and arrest parole/probationviolators; 4) 2 additional officers working on overtime to locate and arrest those wanted on outstanding warrants.
2005: COTH provides editorial information and data for lengthy feature article in The Denver
Business Journal, titled “East Colfax – An Extreme Makeover.”
2005: COTH works with Steve & Linda Ballas of SL and B. Inc., to remodel the old Phillips 66 station at 3525 East Colfax and open “Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs” eatery and helps attain Denver Office of Economic Development façade renovation loan.
2005: Culminating three years of work, COTH and Colfax Stakeholders Committee and the City adopt the new Main Street Zoning Ordinance and Map to facilitate higher density, mixed-use development and enhanced transportation service on East Colfax from Broadway to Colorado Blvd.
2006: COTH first championed the idea of a Colfax Marathon in 1995 and brought national/international marathon expert Creigh Kelley in to consult.
2006: COTH co-ordinated Rocky Mt. News four-page feature article on Colfax redevelopment in the newspaper’s Wall Street West section.
2006: COTH helped organize and host a city-wide forum sponsored by the Urban Land Institute on Colfax redevelopment titled Colfax Avenue – Hip, Happening and Ripe for Redevelopment, which was well-attended bydevelopers, Realtors, architects, planners, bankers and the general public.
2006: COTH provided funding and fund-raising support to update the 2000 documentary
“Colfax Avenue – Main Street Colorado,” a 30-minute documentary on the history of Colfax Avenue by Jim Havey that was distributed to all of the state’s elementary schools and libraries
2006: The lst Annual Colorado Colfax Marathon debuted Sunday, May 21, 2006 with over
5,000 participants, 1,400 volunteers and a projected $7.8 million economic contribution to the three sponsoring cities, Denver, Lakewood and Aurora.
2006: COTH works with developer Charles Woolley and his St. Charles Town Company on
securing entitlements and funding support for the long-awaited redevelopment of the Lowenstein Theatre, to house The Tattered Cover, Twist & Shout, and a 3-plex neighborhood theater.
2006: As part of its policy to support Colfax revitalization in other sections of Colfax outside the COTH district, COTH provided contributions and technical support to the East Denver Colfax Partnership and its business component, “The Fax” to stage the first annual “Feast on the ‘Fax” as part of the Colfax Marathon festivities. 17 restaurants in the Fax district between Colorado Blvd. and Yosemite participated in hosting the event, which was attended by over 500 people.
COTH also helped sponsor the 19th Annual “Uptown Sampler” tour of local restaurants on East Colfax and 17th Avenue in September with after expenses proceeds going to the neighborhood’s Wyman Elementary School.
2006: The September “Charlie’s Best Ball Golf Tournament” fundraiser for COTH was a success and provided $9,000 in net proceeds.
Began due diligence on creating a maintenance district in the “Bluebird District” between St. Paul and Madison streets. Services would include trash and litter removal, pedestrian lights maintenance and other public improvements not currently provided by the City.
2006: Yet another Colfax fete, this one from the Colorado Community Revitalization
Association (CCRA) Governor’s Award to the East Colfax Plan & Main Street Zoning projects.
And the Colfax Marathon was recipient of the 2006 community service award from Historic Denver, Inc.
2006: Times flies. Hard to believe it was 12 years ago when the new DPD District 6, COTH
and CHUN created the annual District 6 Halloween Party for the Kids of Capitol Hill the then new District 6 Police Station at 1566 Washington. Over 12,000 children have gone through “Trick or Treat Street” since 1994.
2006: As Denver City Councilwoman Carol Boigon concluded in summing up a year of progress for Colfax redevelopment: “We have many successes to report on Colfax, including the opening of the Tattered Cover in the old Bonfils/Lowenstein Theater, new zoning, the Colfax Marathon, and improved safety. But we haven’t reached the tipping point yet where Colfax’s momentum can sustain itself. We must continue to support improvements through economic development, safety, and public works in the west and east.”
2007: Colfax on the Hill, Inc. begins transition of its business association into a marketing
revenue generator for its merchants through the My Colfax Shared Marketing Program and the My Colfax Card promotion.
2008: The My Colfax Card subscriber base exceeds 6,000 cardholders.
2008: City selects Bluebird District of Colfax on the Hill as one of five Denver Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative pilot programs to determine what City tools and resources can be deployed to enhance the area as a mixed-use, retail shopping district. COTH officers and volunteers brief representatives of Progressive Urban Management Associates (P.U.M.A.) on its past, current and future plans and programs to enhance development and commerce in the Bluebird district; facilitates communications with Bluebird district property and business owners via its web sites and e-blasts to inform stakeholders and South City Park and Congress Park neighborhood associations of DNMI/Bluebird activities, outreach and community meetings.
2008: 11th Annual Colfax on the Hill golf tournament renamed in honor of the late Wayne Jakino, former president of Colfax on the Hill, Inc. and creator of the annual benefit golf tournament to raise funds for Colfax on the Hill, Inc. revitalization activities. This year’s event was the most successful ever in terms of golfer participation, sponsorships and net proceeds raised.
2008: 2nd Annual “Boo & Brew” Halloween event for adults and family (kids trick or treat of Bluebird District merchants and Halloween partying at seven participating district bars and restaurants brought estimated combined attendance of 1,500+ and record retail sales for the establishments.
Colfax on the Hill Inc.
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