USA April 2010 News Summary

This issue continues to provide USA Members with reports of meetings related to the Union Station redevelopment project that occurred this month, plus adds a new feature regarding updates by our Reporter on the Ground monitoring the construction. Our Reporter provides a summary of activity between March 30th and April 13th in this News Update, but for those of you that want more frequent updates and lots more photos, we direct you to this link: www.denverinfill.com/blog where our Reporter on the Ground provides regular construction updates and a link to DenverInfill’s page at JobSiteVisitor where even more DUS photos are stored and accessible to the public.

We begin with reports on a DUSPA Meeting and ULI Conference, then move to the official DUSPA construction report, followed by our summarized report (with photos) from our Reporter on the Ground, and end with notice of an upcoming Landmark Preservation Commission meeting on April 20, 2010.

April 1, 2010 DUSPA Meeting

The public portion of the meeting was short as some of the principles were presenting at a ULI meeting (described below). A legal agreement with the City regarding the Lodgers Tax and Assignment for the TIF was mentioned in context of TIFIA/RIFF loan discussions. Also mentioned, construction is underway and the latest design for the Wynkoop Plaza will be presented to the board in a future meeting.

April 1 Urban Land Institute DUS Event

On April 1, the Colorado chapter of the Urban Land Institute held their quarterly Explorer Series meeting with Union Station as the focus. The program took an in-depth look at the entire DUS project and began with a panel discussion about the project at the Denver Athletic Club, followed by a tour of the DUS site with project experts, and finished with a hosted reception inside the historic station. Over 180 people were in attendance!

April 7, 2010 Official Construction Update from DUSPA

With the arrival of spring weather, construction of the Denver Union Station transit improvements is becoming more active. Some of the current activities you can expect to see over the next few weeks are:

- Crews are busy excavating dirt for the underground bus facility using 30- 45 trucks each day. This activity will go on for about 30 more days at which point the dirt will be stock piled on site instead of being hauled away.

- Pumping to lower the ground water level to allow for excavation to continue is on-going. There are 10 pumps running 24 hours a day.

- Crews are working on a retaining wall that will support part of the new light rail tracks near the Consolidated Main Line (CML).

- Utilities will be relocated east of Wewatta St. near 19th St.

- Unused commuter rail track will be removed starting at approximately 20th St and moving south towards 14th St. This work will take about 30 days.

Now more than ever, it's important for you to stay informed by becoming a subscriber to our e-newsletter, visiting the Denver Union Station Web site often and utilizing the tools that have been established to keep you updated on progress and impacts.

To get the latest information on construction, please visit the project's Web site at: www.denverunionstation.org.

Construction Update from our USA “Reporter on the Ground” (as of April 16)

Let’s begin with two photos. This first one was taken March 30:

And this one was taken on April 13:

A picture is worth a thousand words so two pictures must be worth, well, a lot more. This Union Station update will focus on the changes in these two pictures taken on March 30 and April 13. The most obvious progress is the size of the hole that will eventually be home to the underground RTD bus terminal. It’s commonly referred to as the bus box. The hole will be 1,200 feet long, 165 feet wide and 28 feet deep. The bus box will fit in that hole and will be somewhat smaller.

At the time of the second photo, the hole had nearly reached its eventual width. Excavation work is now focused on expanding the hole toward the historic station. Soon, Kiewit (the contractor) will begin digging the hole deeper. It appears that it is currently about 15 feet deep. To make it deeper, bulldozers will push dirt into a hopper. The hopper will deliver the dirt to a conveyer system which will raise it to the surface where it will be stored to be used later as backfill around the concrete bus box.

What follows will give you a sense for the complexity of this massive project. Towards the top of the second photo, you can see two tall pieces of equipment. One is a well driller; the other is a crane. The crane places 25-30 foot long i-beams into the hole made by the driller. As the bus box hole is dug, large boards are fastened to the vertical i-beams forming a wall that will shore up the sides of the hole to prevent collapse. The shoring wall will be along what was the center of Wewatta Street (the west side of the street was removed before the first photo was taken). The wall will go between the original water and sewer lines that ran under the west side of the street and the new, bypass water and sewer lines that were installed last summer under the east side of the street. Over the past few weeks, water and sewage have been diverted to the bypass pipes. As the hole is dug, the original pipes will be removed. The original pipes will be rebuilt over the top of the bus box and water, and sewage will be diverted back to the original route. Then the bypass pipes will be removed and digging will continue towards the historic station.

Meanwhile, there is plenty of other activity. Tracks are being removed from the area immediately behind the historic station. A retaining wall that will be part of the new light rail station is being built alongside the consolidated main line (the freight tracks) near the Millennium Bridge. The granite sidewalk has been removed along 16th Street between Wewatta Street and the Millennium Bridge.

The level of planning and coordination for this project is impressive and is resulting in a very efficient operation.

Note: For official construction notices, sign up to receive project updates and notifications at: www.denverunionstation.org and, in the lower right corner of the home page, enter your email address, then click on GO. You can also follow along with DUS construction updates, including photos, at the DenverInfill Blog (www.DenverInfill.com/blog/)

April 20, 2010 Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) Meeting

The next LPC meeting will address Denver Union Station. The meeting will include Hargreaves presenting the landscape concept for Wynkoop Plaza located east of the Station Building and architects Anderson Mason Dale and Semple Brown presenting the conceptual design for the North and South Wing Buildings. The presentation can be viewed at:

http://www.denverunionstation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=72

USA Plans Upcoming Meeting with Landscape Architects

On May 13th the Union Station Advocates will partner with the American Society of Landscape Architects and other local design and planning groups in showing William H. Whyte’s, classic film, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. Following the film we’ll facilitate an open discussion surrounding these design principles and how they may be applied to Denver’s Union Station. We’ll post all the event details at www.unionstationadvocates.org in the days to come. The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces: Whyte wrote that the social life in public spaces contributes fundamentally to the quality of life of individuals and society. He suggested that we have a moral responsibility to create physical places that facilitate civic engagement and community interaction.

Membership Renewal Time!

For those of you that joined Union Station Advocates in late 2008 or early 2009, it is now time to renew your membership! Your continued support is much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for an email concerning your membership renewal or you can go to the USA membership webpage and renew today: http://www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership.html

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. 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.

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 of this News Summary, click here.

USA March 2010 News Summary

In this issue, USA reports on the major events and meetings related to the Union Station Project that occurred in March, 2010. A new feature is USA’s Roving Reporter in the Field and his reports regarding the construction activity. Described in this News Summary are two significant meetings that took place in the latter part of the month, the March 22nd Roundtable and the March 25th Public Meeting regarding the Wynkoop Plaza Design.


Judge Denies ColoRail Temporary Injunction!

Read all about it in the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14700902


USA March Events and ULI Program in April

To highlight the loan approval and the start of construction for Denver’s Union Station transit project, USA sponsored two events in March, and we are promoting one in early April.

The March events were a DUS Loan Approval Celebration at Gumbo’s Restaurant on Wednesday, March 3rd to commemorate the Federal loan of $304 million for the DUS project, and the LoDo Premier of the Havey Productions’ film Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress at the Oxford Hotel Ballroom on Thursday, March 18th. The film program began with a reception and cash bar, followed by comments by Dana Crawford, the film, and closing comments by Jim Havey.

The April event is the Urban Land Institute Colorado – State of the Union, April 1, 2010, 1:30 – 6:30 PM, at the Denver Athletic Club – 1325 Glenarm Place. The program will provide an in-depth look at the entire DUS project. It will begin with a panel discussion about the project at the Denver Athletic Club followed by a Mall Shuttle ride down to Union Station, a tour of the site with project experts, and finish with a hosted reception inside the historic station.


Reports from USA’s Roving Reporter in the Field

Starting this month, the USA News Summary will include reports from our Roving Reporter in the Field (a USA member who has a bird’s eye view of the project). Here are the first reports:

At 7:26 the morning of March 17, 2010, the biggest of the Kiewit excavators started digging the hole for the bus box at the point where buses will enter and/or exit the box. At 7:00am there were 9 tractor-trailer dump-trucks lined up to haul away the dirt. It takes only three excavator scoops (about 2 minutes) to fill a truck. The trucks move the dirt only about a mile away so they make the round trip quickly enough that the excavator does not have to wait for returning trucks. I can see the dumping spot over the top of some commercial buildings to the east.

On Monday March 22nd, Kiewit brought in a second driller. For the past 7-10 days, the first one has drilled 35 holes 20-30 ft deep for vertical placement of i-beams along a line parallel to and 50 ft from the CML. I assume the i-beams will support the eventual shoring wall for the bus box hole. The second driller has not yet been used, but I assume they brought it in to speed up the drilling process.

The second driller went into action today, Thursday March 18th. Also on the 18th, I talked with three Kiewit employees for about 30 minutes this afternoon, and learned the following:

- The vertically-placed i-beams are for the shoring wall, as I suggested previously.

- The shoring wall will not surround the entire bus box hole. It goes along the entire CML side of the hole and turns the corner for about 100 ft onto the 16th St side. The rest of the hole will have sloping walls.

- Currently, they are using a huge excavator to remove the dirt and put it into dump trucks which haul it off site. Later, they will use bulldozers to push dirt into a hopper that will feed a conveyor system. Some of the dirt will be stockpiled on site to be used later for backfill behind the cement walls of the bus box.

- Based on the bus box dimensions provided by one of the construction supervisors, the hole will be 1300 ft by 165 ft by 25 ft. That's nearly 200,000 cubic yards of dirt to be removed. 54,000 cu ft of concrete will be used to build the bus box.

- Work began this afternoon to redirect water into the bypass water line that was installed on the Union Station side of Wewatta St last summer. The current water line will be removed and replaced once the bus box is dug. From the street level, one can see an excavator digging up the CML-side of Wewatta St.

- In two weeks, work will start on the new light rail station.

- The employees I talked with were working on a productivity study. They were timing various tasks ... load time for trucks, round trip time for trucks, drilling holes for i-beams, etc. The results of the study help to determine resource requirements for each task. Interesting!

Here's a run-down on dump truck activity as of March 22nd:

- At 7:10 this morning, there were 21 tractor-trailer dump trucks in a long queue, waiting for the excavator to get started.

- At 7:15, the first truck pulled away full of dirt.

- By approximately 7:25, that first truck had returned to the queue.

- At 7:41, the 21st truck (the last truck in the original queue) pulled away full of dirt.

- At 7:53, 30 trucks had been filled. It took 38 minutes to haul away 30 trucks of dirt.

- The interval between the time the excavator dumps the first bucket load of dirt into one truck and it dumps the first load into the next truck is only 75 seconds.

At peak times, there are 30 trucks per hour (or more) hauling dirt. However, the operation does not continue at that pace all day. The excavator is able to out-perform the supply of trucks so it keeps busy doing preparation work when the truck-queue runs dry. By 8:05, there were no trucks in the queue. I think there are traffic jams at the dumping location, where three more excavators are at work. I can see that location over the top of some commercial buildings on the other side of Park Ave.

Note: For official construction notices, sign up to receive project updates and notifications at: www.denverunionstation.org and, in the lower right corner of the home page, enter your email address, then click on GO. You can also follow along with DUS construction updates, including photos, at the DenverInfill Blog (www.DenverInfill.com/blog/)


March 4, 2010 DUSPA Meeting

The DUSPA meeting was short with little significant topics. Chad Fuller reported that TIFIA/RRIF loan agreements were in progress with loan disbursement expected by the end of March. A limited notice to proceed has been issued and work is progressing, in particular dewatering and storm sewer work. The bus box excavation is scheduled to begin March 15th. Bill Mosher discussed the DUS canopy and stated that they still had to finalize the design, which they are hoping to do by April 20th. He also stated that the design of the north building is 85% completed and plaza design is 15% completed.


March 18, 2010 DUSPA Meeting

The meeting started with a TIFIA/RRIF Progress Report and an update by Claude Pumilia, Chad Fuller, and Alex Brown.

Representatives from TIFIA and RRIF have toured the project and met with USNC. The project team is waiting for another draft of the loan agreements - TIFIA first followed the RRIF agreement which should parallel the language in TIFIA. The team plans to have a conference call with the rating agency to update them on the project in advance of submitting the final loan documents.

In the Finance Committee Report, the following agreements are in process:

- DUS Project Mill Levy Pledge Agreement
- DDA/TIF Agreement
- DUSPA/CPVMD Agreement – Construction of Improvements
- DUSPA/CPVMD Agreement – Second Amendment to Infrastructure Open Space

In the Owner’s Representative Report, Bill Mosher presented a project update and discussed Federal Compliance issues. The excavation had started. Also, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Amtrak is agreed to in principle, but still no signatures. Design work continues with a focus now on Wynkoop Plaza. In a public meeting, the design team is presenting the latest round of results on Thursday March 25th. Design of the plaza is coinciding with the design of the north and south wing buildings. These concepts are being presented to the Landmark Preservation Committee on April 20th.


March 22, 2010 USA Roundtable Report

On Monday, March 22, 2010, the monthly USA Roundtable took place at the offices of Union Station Neighborhood Company (USNC). Frank Cannon of USNC and Andy Nielsen of Anderson, Mason, Dale Architects presented the current status of plans for the two wing buildings to be constructed on the DUS plaza (alternately referred to as the Wynkoop Plaza).

Frank talked about the design review and approval process with the Landmark Preservation Commission which will start April 20, 2010 with a presentation (open to the public) for preliminary approval (mass and bulk) and culminate late summer for final approval (color palette and material board) of the North Wing Building (located on the 18th Street side of the plaza). Final approval for the South Wing Building (located on the 16th Street side of the plaza) will be held until later. Construction on the North building is slated to break ground in the spring of 2011.

The two wing buildings will not be identical, but the architecture/design will be coordinated. As Frank put it, “rather than identical twins, they should be ‘close relatives’.”

Anchor tenant, IMA Financial Group, will occupy 7000 square feet of the North wing building.

USNC is obligated to purchase the land for these wing buildings in 2010 and the site for the triangular building at 16th and Wewatta in 2011.

Plans for the parking garage on the site behind the Ice House garage have been downsized to accommodate the 160 spaces required for public parking.

Andy Nielsen of AMD showed a slide of the solar context for the two wing buildings. The North building will experience more sun; the South building will have less sun due to shade from the EPA building across 16th Street.

As he highlighted aspects of the current plans, he emphasized the governing Design Standards and Guidelines, as follows:

- Service areas shall not directly face the pedestrian or public spaces
- Building entry faces to be visible from the DUS plaza, Wynkoop and 16th Street
- Reduce the sense of bulk
- The new structures, public spaces and the station will work together as a powerful destination and urban ensemble.

The four-story South wing building will have extended underground parking to accommodate 104 spaces. The five-story North building will accommodate 120 spaces. These spaces will also be available for public use after business hours and on weekends. Issues associated with color, tone and materials are being considered in light of setting off (emphasizing) the historic station. The preferred ground floor uses of both buildings are food-oriented services, restaurants, and retail.

A DUSPA audit will be required for 2010. The Audit Committee will have a plan in place to meet the requirements.


March 25, 2010 Public Meeting on Wynkoop Plaza Design

Bill Mosher opened the meeting by describing the intended uses of the new wing buildings on the Wynkoop Plaza. He indicated that both buildings would accommodate office space (upper floors) and that the ground level would most likely be food and beverage type establishments. He also indicated that the wings of the historic station are slated for retail. He then framed the meeting to include four presentations as follows:

- Review of current public space framework – Mary Margaret Jones of Hargreaves
- Plans for new wing buildings – Andy Nielsen of Anderson, Mason, Dale
- Review of previous public comments – Ellen Ittelson of the City of Denver
- Three options for revisions of the public design – Mary Margaret Jones, Hargreaves

The slides presented by these speakers are available at: www.denverunionstation.org.
Following the presentations, the meeting opened to questions and comments. One comment, made by Mary Margaret, was that the design team has heard “loud and clear” from the public and the Peer Group that a red color tone for the paving should be seriously considered. Another comment related to the tree border along Wynkoop Street, which in the slide presentation appeared as a double line of trees. A suggestion was made that there should be visual openings in logical places along the street edge.


Membership Renewal Time!

For those of you that joined Union Station Advocates in late 2008 or early 2009, it is now time to renew your membership! Your continued support is much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for an email concerning your membership renewal or you can go to the USA membership webpage and renew today: http://www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership.html
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 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.


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 of this News Summary, click here.

Union Station Film Premiere - A MUST SEE!!

Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress – LoDo Film Premiere
Thursday, March 18, 2010
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Oxford Hotel Ballroom – 1637 Wazee

Did you miss the big premiere at the Hyatt in February of the new film about Union Station? Did you see the film already and loved it so much you want to see it again? Either way, you’re covered! Union Station Advocates, in cooperation with Havey Productions, is proud to present the LoDo premiere of the film Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress.

The program begins with a reception and cash bar, followed by the film and comments by Dana Crawford and Jim Havey. General admission is $15, or for $30 you can see the film and get the DVD, or for $60 you can see the film, get the DVD, and get a discounted membership to Union Station Advocates. What a deal! Click here to download a PDF flyer about the event.

USA February 2010 News Update

Two public meetings related to the Union Station Project took place in February, one DUSPA meeting and one Landmark Preservation Commission meeting. Summaries are provided below. Notable also was the premier, attended by 800 people, of the film by Havey Productions, Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress. For those of you that missed this outstanding historic account of Union Station, Union Station Advocates in cooperation with Havey Productions invites you to view it on March 18, 2010. See invitation details below.

We start this News Update with an invitation to USA members and guests to a Social at Gumbo’s Restaurant to celebrate the great news of the approval of the Union Station project Federal loans. For more on the loan approval and the first building to go under contract, check www.unionstationadvocates.org.

March 3, 2010: Gumbo’s Social

The federal loans for the Union Station project have been approved! Please join Union Station Advocates for celebratory drinks and Louisiana fare at Gumbo’s on Wednesday, March 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00PM. Gumbo’s great drinks specials will be provided as well as complementary gumbo with any cocktail purchase. Gumbo’s is located on the 16th Street Mall at Wazee Street.

March 18, 2010: Film Invitation: Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress

Please join Union Station Advocates and Havey Productions in viewing the outstanding new film: Denver Union Station - Portal to Progress

From past glory to future promise, discover the legacy of a grand community icon and participate in the rebirth of Denver’s Union Station

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 5:30 – 7:00 PM

The event will take place at the Oxford Hotel Ballroom - 1637 Wazee Street - Denver, CO. A cash bar will be offered. Prices are as follows:

$15.00 - General Admission

$30.00 – Admission, DVD of the film

$60.00 - Admission, DVD of the film, Union Station Advocates membership

Film introduction by Dana Crawford with a post-film discussion by Jim Havey. Proceeds will be used to further Union Station Advocates’ mission of assuring design excellence and enduring success of a redeveloped Station and its surrounding public realm.

Reservations – Purchase tickets by check to Union Station Advocates, c/o Tyler Reed, Treasurer, Frederick Ross Company, 717 17th St., Suite 2000, Denver, CO 80202 or online at www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership

To download a PDF of the March 18 Film Invitation, click here.

February 4, 2010 - DUSPA Meeting

Owner Representative Report by Bill Mosher:

• A layout of the current bus facility plans has been posted to the DUSPA website: www.denverunionstation.org in order to facilitate discussion of the proposed change to remove the moving sidewalks.
• There will be a joint meeting of the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) and the State Historical Preservation Society to review the proposed canopy designs for the canopy connecting the station to the train shed.
• RTD has moved into Suite 250 of the station.
• A Memo of Understanding (MOA) with Amtrak is under review covering a lease with the Stadium District related to the relocation of the Amtrak facility to the Light Bulb Supply building.
• An assessment by Historic Denver of the renovation/improvement needs of the historic station will initiate the week of February 8th.
• Under consideration is what entity might provide auditing service to DUSPA for its federal compliance reporting.

Private Development Report by Tom Gougeon of USNC:

• The first two site acquisitions by USNC will be Block B in first quarter 2010 and Block A by the end of 2010. The triangular Block C is slated for 2011.
• Regarding the current status of private development plans, IMA Financial has committed to lease the top four floors of the five-story building to be built on Block B (on the north side of the Wynkoop Plaza). The south building will be four stories. USNC is pursuing discussions with interested parties for two additional building sites in the Tax Increment Financing district. These three buildings could generate $4 Million in tax revenues to be applied toward repayment of the FTA loans.
• Regarding parking, the two buildings to be constructed on the Wynkoop Plaza will each have two levels of parking which could be made available for public parking on evenings and weekends.
• USNC is obliged to develop public space operations and management cost estimates, and a public infrastructure management plan and budget, participate in the station building assessment, and develop a budget and schedule for station renovations, develop a parking solution for the 19 acre site, assess bike station options, and assess tail-track options.
• In order for USNC to obtain a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) for the north wing building, DUSPA will need to have developed a 20’ right of way in the public space on the south facing side of the building that would provide the required access to the main entry.

February 16, 2010 - Landmark Preservation Committee Meeting

The Landmark Preservation Commission met on Tuesday, February 16th to discuss the canopy connection between the historic station and the new train shed. Ellen Ittleson of the City wanted the Commission to seek a consensus on the placement of the canopy in order to avoid a conflict with State historical groups and other entities. Formal approval will take place at a later time.

Options were presented concerning a smaller footprint for the canopy, the structure itself with a lower arch than currently shown, and the use of a translucent membrane as a change from the white, denser fabric. The canopy options were attaching the canopy to the train hall (1A or 1B), or, the canopy as an independent structure two to three feet away from the DUS building (2A or 2B). The need for water drainage has been taken into consideration on all four corners of the canopy.

1A or 1B would use existing structure in place now and would be constructed to look like it was part of the past historic structure. 1B would require new interior columns. A question was raised as to the condition of the existing steel and the structural capability of the masonry wall. SOM has not investigated this issue.

DUSPA, with the advice of the Peer Review Committee, recommended 2A for the following reasons: the canopy does not touch the building; it provides transparency and is lighter in weight; and 2B requires a larger structure to be built.

The Commission reached the consensus that option 2A was the preferred alternative for SOM to pursue. It was stated that people are concerned about the canopy attaching to the building. The canopy is to be made as transparent as possible to achieve the least intrusive impact while conforming to the original historical structure.

Membership Renewal Time!

It is now time to renew your membership! Renewing your membership is easy, just go to: http://www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership.html

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 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. The Roundtable committee is currently identifying agenda topics for the next series of Roundtable meetings coming this fall. If you have a suggestion for a Roundtable meeting, please send us an email to info@UnionStationAdvocates.org

Union Station Advocates Is Now On Facebook!

Are you a USA member or just excited about 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 newsletter, please click here.

It's a Celebration!!

The Federal Loans for the Union Station Project have been approved! Please join the Union Station Advocates for celebratory drinks and Louisiana fare at Gumbo’s on Wednesday, March 3rd from 5:30 – 7:30PM. Gumbo’s great drink specials will be provided as well as complementary gumbo with any cocktail purchase. Gumbo's is located on the 16th Street Mall at Wazee Street.

In an effort to raise awareness of the Union Station Advocate's and increase our membership base, we're looking forward to a great turnout. With that, please pass this invitation on to others as all are welcomed.

Film Premiere: during the cocktail hour we'll announce the details for another showing of Havey Production's Union Station: A Portal to Progress! If you have yet to see this film this is your second chance to learn more about Denver's history and the importance of our Historic Union Station.

Look forward to seeing you all there!!

USA January 2010 News Update

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!

For those of you that joined Union Station Advocates in 2008 it is now time to renew your membership! Your continued support is much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for an email concerning your membership renewal or you can go to the USA membership webpage and renew today: http://www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership.html

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 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.

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.