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
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.
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