Meeting Reports
Synopsis of the May 21st and June 11th DUSPA meetings:
Main items covered included:
The City of Denver and RTD has provided some startup funds to DUSPA so it can begin conducting business. Operating money will pay for fees on DOT loan applications, attorney fees, payment to the Owner Representative (Bill Mosher), fees owed the developer (USNC), etc. Also, a tentative operating budget is in development.
Contracts with Kiewit ($40 million authorization to proceed) and Alex Brown (Project Financial Advisor) were approved. Next meeting (June 25th) the Trammel Crow Owner Representative contract will be on the agenda for approval. Also, at this meeting the USNC contract will go to the board.
The federal loan applications are in process. The RRIF loan application has been submitted and a financial consultant has been hired by DOT to structure the loan. This 90-day process is underway. The plan is to submit the TIFIA loan application in mid-September with the expectation of approval in early 2010.
The design process is proceeding and will include both a 5-Person Peer Review Process and a public process on the transit/public realm design. See http://www.denverunionstation.org/pdfs/related_activities/PeerDesignReviewWorkPlan_FINAL061109.pdf for more details. It is unknown if the station building is part of that process.
Although not part of the recent meetings, the consensus regarding the CoRail lawsuit against the FTA is that the suit is without merit. RTD is in process of assembling a record of information for the courts review.
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DUSPA overview: The Denver City Council created the Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) with a Board of Directors that has membership incorporating representatives of all the partner agencies. DUSPA will be the primary financing entity for the DUS project and will be the contracting entity for the construction contracts. It is likely also to be a key component of any governance structure that is developed for the project. The DUSPA Board meets twice monthly (2nd and 4th Thursdays) at Hogan & Hartson, 1200 17th Street, Suite 1500. See the Events Calendar for upcoming meetings on the DUSPA website: http://www.denverunionstation.org/related_activities/duspa.aspx
Organization Chart
Denver Union Station Redevelopment Project Organization Chart as of June 24, 2009 (click to view in full size):
Important Upcoming Event
Join the Union Station Advocates for a special evening as Mayor Hickenlooper and City Councilwoman Judy Montero offer a complete update on the Union Station redevelopment and the latest on the project plans. The meeting is open to the public and will be held:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
5:30 PM
Oxford Hotel (17th & Wazee) in the Theatre Room
Hope to see you there!
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.
The next Roundtable will be held:
Monday, July 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 5:30 and 7:30 PM on the second Thursday 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 Thursday, July 9, 2009!
To download a PDF of this June 2009 USA News Update, click here.
