This News Update includes USA reports on two DUSPA meetings and a City Planning Board meeting. It also references links to two Denver Post articles this month regarding Union Station project matters, and provides a brief update regarding the ColoRail lawsuit.
But first is the following announcement of the February 5th National Film Premier: Denver Union Station – Portal to Progress.
Union Station Film Premier
Announcement: From Havey Productions, creators of Colfax Avenue: Main Street Colorado, and Downtown Denver: Heart of the Queen, comes a new documentary film about one of the most recognizable buildings in Denver: Union Station.
The film premiers on February 5, 2010, at the Convention Center Hyatt Regency for the National Film Premiere of Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress. The event is being produced in association with Colorado Preservation, Inc. as the culmination of their Saving Places Conference. The premiere is open to the public.
Proceeds from this event will be used to distribute the film to 2000 public schools and libraries throughout Colorado. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this celebration of the past glory and future promise of a grand community icon, Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress.
Patron level tickets are available for $100. The Patron Reception starts at 5:30 P.M. and includes a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres. General admission ($15) starts at 6:00 P.M. with remarks and the film presentation commencing at 7:00 P.M.
REGISTRATION
For more information or to register to receive an invitation to the film premiere visit
www.coloradopreservation.org. Also, see the Events page of the USA website:
www.unionstationadvocates.org/events
Denver Post Articles
Links to two January 2010 Denver Post articles related to Union Station:
Denver City Council votes to back up federal loan for Union Station By Christopher N. Osher The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14268277#ixzz0dwYB65J0
RTD officials steamed over proposal to cut moving walkways from Union Station overhaul By Jeffrey Leib The Denver Post:
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14275638#ixzz0dwXYqeT0
January 7, 2010 – DUSPA Meeting Minutes
I. KEY DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. TIFIA/RRIF Progress Report and Update – Claude Pumilia/Chad Fuller/Alex Brown
B. Owner’s Representative Report – Bill Mosher/Mike Sullivan
i) Update regarding Project Progress
ii) Update regarding U.S. Department of Transportation Budget Submittal
iii) Correspondence from Stuart A. Ohlson, AIA
II. ACTION ITEM: Approval of U.S. Department of Transportation Budget Submittal
USA Report:
TIFIA/RIFF report by Claude Pumilia
The current target for negotiations to be complete is March 2010. The DOT loan application will be submitted to the Credit Council at the end of January 2010.
Owner Representative Report by Bill Mosher:
The latest projected date for the Notice to Proceed on the project is April 5, 2010.
Stuart Ohlson submitted an alternative proposal for the bus box which the DUSPA board reviewed. They decided to stay with the current plan.
Construction Update:
Activities include profiling the soil (contamination was found, but there were no hazardous conditions), negotiating the MOA with Amtrak, and refining the smoke evacuation plans for the bus box, Other matters mentioned were that RTD is setting up a project management office in Suite 250 of the station, all permits are ready, and there will be update presentations to the City Council/FASTRACKS committee and to RTD at their retreat. It is expected that the issue of the moving sidewalks in the bus concourse will be discussed in these update meetings. At some date in late January USNC will present their plans for the new 16th and 18th Street wing buildings on Wynkoop Plaza. Also, there will be a presentation to the City Planning Board regarding the public realm design on January 20, 2010.
January 20, 2010 – Planning Board Meeting Summary
USA report:
The City Planning Commission met regarding the encroachment into the 17th Street corridor area on the west side of DUS, DUS Urban Design Package #2. Prior to the opening of the meeting the West Washington Park HOA president spoke on behalf of her own personal opinion regarding light rail. She stated that 99% of people don’t live within a ½ mile of a light rail station and they don’t know how to use it. She stated that people need to be educated on the usefulness and convenience of light rail and then the electorate may be more inclined to support it.
Permitted Encroachments: The encroachment was reviewed within the criteria for consistency of the DUS Standards and Guidelines– massing and form, character, entries, accessories, etc. The fabric of the canopy is self-cleaning. There is some debate as to the color of the steel support structures for the canopy, but the paint regardless of color will get dirty and it is RTD’s responsibility for maintenance. The Wewatta Pavilion, like the train canopy, has a design of sliding glass doors for access down to buses.
No one attending the meeting spoke at the public hearing for or against the encroachment. The staff recommended to the planning commission that the encroachment be approved and the redefined height be accepted. Motions were made and both issues approved by unanimous vote of the commission.
Vent Tubes: The planning commission moved on to the next item of business concerning redesign of the vent tubes at the light rail terminal. The information given was only informational with no public hearing allowed. Kristopher Takacs of SOM stated that the vent tubes would be of precast materials with the size of the tubes remaining the same and the design broken up into three pieces. The motif would simulate a tree design (branches) with a layering affect. The concrete would be sandblasted for a two tone reading of the skin. The vent tubes would be animated at night through upward extended lighting. Kristopher anticipated questions of people’s ability to climb the structures, bird proofing the tubes, noise issues and the tubes covered at the top with a grating design. Graffiti is deemed not an issue as the concrete will be coated with an anti-graffiti paint that can be re-applied when it wears off. Kristopher believes that the tubes’ tree effect will be high enough in height that the tubes will not become climbing walls. One commissioner asked the question of skateboarders using the sides of the tubes for leverage to push off. This question was not adequately answered.
The planning commission complimented SOM on the redesign and appeared generally in favor of the changes.
Status of ColoRail Lawsuit
In May 2009, Colorado Rail sued the Federal Transportation Agency over its approval of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Union Station project. Since then the federal judge reviewing the case has requested more detail from the parties involved in the suit by mid-February. RTD has submitted an Amicus Brief. When asked about the status of the lawsuit by City Council on January 25, 2010, Cole Finnegan responded that the suit was still in the discovery phase.
January 21, 2010 DUSPA Meeting Summary
Per Bill Mosher, the public part of the meeting focused on the DUSPA board and the City approving a Contingent Commitment for the subordinate RIFF loan. See note below:
Other business included approval of CDOT to receive a portion of the grant money, the City entering into an agreement for a temporary AMTRAK facility, and reference to an expected announcement about plans for the North Wing Building on the Wynkoop Plaza
Note: At the City Council meeting on January 25, 2010, a questioned was raised regarding the City’s exposure in making this commitment. The answer was that it was minor as it would not potentially be called before 2020, there were two reserve funds that would activate before any call on the commitment, and the maximum exposure to the City would be $8,000,000.
The following is the makeup of the DUSPA Board:
DIRECTORS
Mario Carrera - Entravision Communications – VP/GM - City Director
Jerry Glick - Columbia Group LLLP – President - City Director
Don Hunt - Antero – President - City Director
Robin Kniech - FRESC – Program Director/Staff Attorney - City Director
Elbra Wedgeworth - Denver Health – CGCAO - City Director
Michael West - Michael D. West, CPA – CPA - City Director
Judy Montero - City Council District #9 – Councilwoman - City Director*
Claude Pumilia - City and County of Denver – CFO - Manager of Finance, ex officio*
Marla Lien - RTD – General Counsel - RTD Director
Terry Howerter - RTD – Chief Financial Officer - RTD Director
Russell George - CDOT – Executive Director - CDOT Director
Jennifer Schaufele - DRCOG – Executive Director - DRCOG Director
Tom Gougeon - Union Station Neighborhood Company - Met District Director
* Non-voting
Membership Renewal Time!
Thank you for your continued support!
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.
Roundtable meetings are generally held the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and are open only to
LoDoNA Event
PLEASE JOIN LoDoNA FOR THEIR ANNUAL MEETING:
“Trains, Brains and Meat on a Stick”
Wednesday, February 3, 5:15 PM
1513 Wynkoop Street
5:15 – Membership renewal and Social Hour
6:00 – Business Meeting
6:20 – Featured Presentation
Update on Union Station activities presented by:
Judy Montero , Councilwoman District 9
Bill Mosher , Project Owners’ Representative
Tom Gougeon , Union Station Neighborhood Company
Diane Barrett , Special Assistant to Mayor Hickenlooper
$ 10 for LoDoNA members, $ 15 for non-members, payable at the door
Included are one complimentary drink ticket and a bottomless selection of appetizers.
Union Station Advocates Is Now On Facebook!
Are you a USA member or just excited about our historic Union Station and its big transformation? Join us on Facebook by being a fan of Union Station Advocates! Here’s a link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Union-Station-Advocates/43803914945?ref=ts
To download a PDF version of this News Update, please click here.
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