Tuesday, March 31, 2009

USA March 2009 News Update

Project Status

Progress on the Union Station project continues, but much of it remains behind the scenes. For instance, we’ve heard scuttlebutt that the bond sale, which was targeted for May, is being rethought in favor of DOT loan financing. There may still be a bond sale, but it may be for a smaller portion of the overall financing requirement. Other scuttlebutt includes word that the developer, Union Station Neighborhood Company (USNC) has asked for a below-grade easement under part of the Union Station Plaza (Wynkoop side of the station) for an additional bay of parking. It wasn’t clear as to whether the grade level above would be included in the easement for outdoor seating associated with retail tenants. The issue for an at-grade easement onto the plaza is a concern over encroachment into the open space left for public use. Of additional interest is USNC’s selection of Anderson Mason Dale and Semple Brown Design to jointly design the first two buildings bordering north and south sides of the Union Station Plaza.

Meeting Reports

Two public meetings were held this month, a meeting on March 12th and the final USAC meeting on March 19th. Also the minutes of the DUSPA Board Meeting of February 19, 2009 were published and are available on the USA Blog.

The Land Use/Urban Design BOG meeting outlined the comments made regarding the draft Standards and Guidelines presented in February. A summary of these comments will be posted on the www.denverunionstation.org website. There will be opportunity to address specific comments/issues in April at a joint meeting of the Landmark Preservation Committee (LPC) and the City Planning Board. Two of the concerns mentioned included the station building (active uses, the west side ROW, and potential penetrations in the historic structure), and transit architecture issues (a request for a revisiting of the Intent Statement, the upper level deck, and stops for the shuttle and circulator). Other comments addressed the mixed use building design (specifically ground level uses), bicycle issues (access, routes and facilities), and how above-grade parking would be handled for mixed use buildings.

At the USAC meeting, the DUS Transit District General Development Plan (GDP) and the Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDMP), which is a required part of the GDP. The GDP guides all development within the defined boundaries of the Union Station project. It reflects the conceptual land uses and documents the necessary infrastructure systems. Specifically listed were land use, open space, urban design, pedestrian circulation, transportation, water, waste water and utilities. The GDP will be presented to the LPC and the Planning Board on April 7th. USNC will host a public meeting on the GDP in mid-April.

Tom Gougeon addressed several issues related to sustainability that USNC is evaluating. His slides and the GDP slides should be posted to the www.denverunionstation.org website.

The intent of the TDMP is to promote transit use, specifically to reduce car trips by encouraging alternative uses of transportation. Three programs were outlined. The first, which is called the Committed Program, will be available at development time. The second is the Near-term Program which will add incentives when additional funds become available. The third is the Long-term Program will build upon incentive implemented in the first two programs such as Car-sharing and a virtual Commuter Store. Details should be available on the website listed above.

The minutes of the DUSPA Board Meeting of February 19, 2009 describe the Denver Union Station Project Authority proceedings in a nine page document, now available on the USA blog. Of particular interest is the take down schedule for the project presented by Chad Fuller of the City of Denver:

  • The South Wing Building - late spring 2009
  • The North Wing Building – December 2009
  • The Triangle Parcel - early 2012
  • The A and B Blocks - December 2011 and December 2012
  • The G Block – June 2011
  • The Market Street Parcel should be taken down in 2012 rather than 2014 because it is linked to completion of the Project and the opening of DUS and the bus facility

Diane Barrett, also of the City, added that the take downs of A, B and G Blocks have added assurance because they are guaranteed by the parent companies of USNC.

Upcoming Project Milestones and Meetings

April 7: DS&G joint presentation to LPC and Planning Board
April 15: GDP Planning Board hearing

Watch the USA blog for additional meeting details as they become available.

Union Station Advocates Roundtable

The Roundtables continue to be an effective and engaging meeting allowing our members to have informal discussions on important issues of the Union Station project. Recent Roundtables have focused on the Design Standards and Guidelines, the Historic Station Building, and future Governance/Maintenance of the project. We recently appointed a task force to focus on the Historic Station Building and how it can most effectively be used in the evolving context of the site (the new buildings, the redeveloped transit functions, etc). This task force is making exciting progress on a report of their findings to be given to the Roundtable group and the USA Board later this Spring.

The next topic we will discuss is Sustainability at the Historic Station and Train Shed area. We will hold this Roundtable discussion on:

Monday, April 13, 2009, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Kentwood City Properties Conference Room, 17th & Wynkoop (enter off 17th)


Roundtable meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and are open only to USA members and their guests. Led by USA board member and architect Levi Reeves, each Roundtable meeting provides the opportunity for attendees to discuss in-depth a topic associated with the Union Station project. A few days before each Roundtable, all USA members will receive an invitation via email for the upcoming meeting with an opportunity to RSVP. We hope we’ll see you at our next Roundtable meeting!

Union Station Libation(s)

Union Station Libation(s) is an informal monthly social gathering for Union Station fans. Here's how it works:

Show up sometime between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on the second Friday of each month at the Wynkoop Brewery (upstairs) and socialize with fellow Union Station enthusiasts. No program, no speeches, no sign-up sheets... just hang out and chat about Union Station or whatever. You pay for your own drinks and/or food and you leave when you want. Simple as that. Union Station Libation(s) is a great way for you to meet new people, stay up on all the latest Union Station gossip, and start your weekend off right.

We hope you’ll join us for the next Libations on Friday, April 10!

Download this News Update

To download this March 2009 News Update in PDF format, please click here.

Monday, March 23, 2009

DUSPA Meeting Minutes - February 19

Below is a link to download or view the Denver Union Station Project Authority's meeting minutes from February 19. The minutes contain detailed discussion and information about a number of issues associated with the Union Station project. Take a read!

DUSPA Minutes 2009-02-19.pdf

Friday, March 20, 2009

Next Week's Roundtable - Monday

Greetings!

We will hold our regular roundtable this coming Monday. The topic for discussion is Governance Implementation, Maintenance, & Revenue Creation of the DUS public realm. This is a very important and timely topic and we need your input to ensure we make the best recommendations to the project team and the city.

Union Station Advocates Roundtable
Monday, March 23, 2009, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Kentwood City Properties Conference Room

Hope to see you on Monday!

Levi Reeves
Roundtable Director

Reminder: roundtables are a benefit to all our members. If you are not a member, we would love to have you! It's simple: sign up through our website, or just come to the roundtable Monday and we will give you information on how to join.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Some Funding For Union Station Approved

RTD's recent approval of some funding for Union Station. This is a marginal amount but the ball is rolling.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11936864

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Read All About It!

Our friend Joel Warner at Westword posted a short article yesterday on our recent letter to him regarding the state of the project/design. Read it using the following link. Post comments and share with your friends!

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/03/union_station_advocates_weigh.php

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

USA February 2009 News Update

NEWS UPDATE
February 2009


There has been a dearth of public meetings about the Union Station project over the past two months, but this month two meetings took place which are briefly described herein. The following Project Status report is our understanding of some of the behind-the-scenes activities that have taken place. Also included are USA’s reports on this month’s public meetings and a notice of upcoming meetings/activities in the next few months.


Project Status

Legal, contractual and financial matters have preoccupied the Union Station Project stakeholders over the past month. Key milestones and works-in-process include:

The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) is projected to receive $3 million to cover operational and administrative costs. $1.5 million is to come from the city's contingency fund. The finance committee of the Denver City Council gave its blessing to the plan, which now goes to the full City Council for consideration. In addition, RTD has committed $1.5 million.
DUSPA is actively pursuing federal stimulus funds. These funds would most likely be channeled to the project via CDOT, DRCOG and RTD.
RTD is in process of negotiating a contract with Kiewit for the transportation components of the project. AE Com and SOM will work in concert with Kiewit.
The EOC (Executive Oversight Committee) has adopted a resolution to transfer responsibility for the project from the current Project Management Team and the EOC to DUSPA.
DUSPA meets every other Thursday at Hogan & Hartson’s offices in the Tabor Center. Their meetings are open to the public. The most recent meeting was February 19, 2009.
The development of the Financial Plan for the project is in process. It must precede the Bond Sale and the Notice to Proceed to Kiewit, both currently scheduled for May 2009.


DUS Design Standards and Guidelines

The draft Denver Union Station Design Standards and Guidelines is now available for public review and comment. The document can be viewed/downloaded on the DUS project website at:
http://www.denverunionstation.org/pdfs/design_standards_guidelines_090211.pdf

The Design Standards and Guidelines will be used by the Landmark Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and Community Planning and Development staff to review and approve proposed development on the 19.5-acre DUS site. Adoption of the document as City Rules and Regulations will occur at a formal public hearing later this spring.


Meeting Reports

The Land Use and Urban Design Breakout Group (BOG) met Wednesday, February 18, 2009. An overview of the draft Design Standards and Guidelines (DS&G) was presented by Kristopher Takacs of SOM and Ellen Ittelson from the City, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and provide initial comments. The presenters also reviewed the process for submitting written comments and the schedule for final review and adoption of the Guidelines.

The Union Station Advisory Committee (USAC) met on Thursday, February 19, 2008. The agenda included a transit architecture presentation by Marilyn Jordan Taylor and Roger Duffy, partners, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLC., and a summary of the February 18th Land Use and Urban Design BOG meeting. A copy of SOM’s February 19 transit architecture presentation will be posted to our USA blog once it is available. A previous SOM presentation on transit architecture that is similar to what was presented at the February 19 meeting is currently available on our USA blog (posted February 9).


Upcoming Project Milestones and Meetings

March 5: DS&G written comments deadline
March 12: BOG: Review list of public comments
§ March 19: USAC: General Development Plan (GDP) Review (this may be the final meeting of USAC)
March 23: GDP deadline for written comments
April 7: DS&G Joint presentation to LPC and Planning Board
April 15: GDP Planning Board hearing

Watch the USA blog for additional meeting details as they become available.


Union Station Advocates Roundtable

The deadline for comments on the Design Standards & Guidelines for the Denver Union Station development is fast approaching (March 5). For this reason, we will suspend our previously scheduled Roundtable topic and focus entirely on the DS&G at the next USA Roundtable.

The intent of this roundtable will be to identify any inadequacies or changes we feel should be addressed in the DS&G. The USA board will then formulate a written response (based on your comments at the Roundtable) for consideration by the project team and the City and County of Denver. The next Union Station Advocates Roundtable is:

Monday, February 23, 2009, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Kentwood City Properties Conference Room, 17th & Wynkoop (enter off 17th)

At the last Roundtable, we charted the major players (companies, organizations, districts, etc) in the DUS project and their relationships to each other. Thanks to each of you who participated! After this diagram has been finalized, we'll make it available to our members.

Roundtable meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and are open only to USA members and their guests. Led by USA board member and architect Levi Reeves, each Roundtable meeting provides the opportunity for attendees to discuss in-depth a topic associated with the Union Station project. A few days before each Roundtable, all USA members will receive an invitation via email for the upcoming meeting with an opportunity to RSVP. We hope we’ll see you at our next Roundtable meeting!


Union Station Libation(s)

Union Station Libation(s) is an informal monthly social gathering for Union Station fans. Here's how it works:

Show up sometime between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on the second Friday of each month at the Wynkoop Brewery (upstairs) and socialize with fellow Union Station enthusiasts. No program, no speeches, no sign-up sheets... just hang out and chat about Union Station or whatever. You pay for your own drinks and/or food and you leave when you want. Simple as that. Union Station Libation(s) is a great way for you to meet new people, stay up on all the latest Union Station gossip, and start your weekend off right.

Our inaugural Union Station Libation(s) was a big success! Thank you to everyone who showed up. We hope you’ll join us for the next Libations on Friday, March 13.

Land Use/ Urban Design BOG 3/12/09

Meeting Announcement - Land Use and Urban Design Breakout Group

The Land Use and Urban Design Breakout Group (BOG) will meet on Thursday, March 12, 2009, from 5:30 - 7:0 p.m. The agenda will include a review of major comments received regarding the Design Standards and Guidelines and present an overview of the draft Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM) prepared by UrbanTrans on behalf of USNC. The Land Use/Urban Design BOG will be held at the Parsons Brinckerhoff office, 555 17th Street, 5th Floor.

Friday, March 6, 2009

In The Press, Read All About It!

Our friend Joel Warner at Westword posted an article this morning on the transit architecture presented a few weeks ago. You can read his article using the following link:

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/03/new_architectural_images_relea.php

You can post any thoughts/comments at the end of the article. Share with your friends!

Roundtable - What Should We Do With The Historic Building?

Greetings!

Thanks to all who participated in our roundtable on the Design Standards & Guidelines! We submitted our comments yesterday. There is an upcoming Break-Out Group (BOG) meeting on March 12 to discuss the DS&G comments and proposed changes. We will post time and location when it is available.

Now that the DS&G comments are out, we will resume our previous roundtable schedule. This coming Monday, we will discuss the historic station building. This is a follow-up discussion from the last station building roundtable a few months ago and we'll focus in more specifically on programming, uses, and design.

Union Station Advocates Roundtable
Monday, March 9, 2009, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Kentwood City Properties Conference Room

Hope to see you on Monday!

Levi

Reminder: roundtables are a benefit to all our members. If you are not a member, we would love to have you! It's simple: sign up through our website, or just come to the roundtable Monday and we will give you information on how to join.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

March Union Station Libation(s)

Union Station Libation(s) is an informal monthly social gathering for Union Station fans. Here's how it works:

Show up sometime between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on the second Friday of each month at the Wynkoop Brewery (upstairs) and socialize with fellow Union Station enthusiasts. No program, no speeches, no sign-up sheets... just hang out and chat about Union Station or whatever. You pay for your own drinks and/or food and you leave when you want. Simple as that. Union Station Libation(s) is a great way for you to meet new people, stay up on all the latest Union Station gossip, and start your weekend off right.

Our inaugural Union Station Libation(s) was a big success! Thank you to everyone who showed up. We hope you’ll join us for the next Libations on Friday, March 13.

Here's a flyer you can download and email to your friends. Come get you some!