USA December 2009 News Update

Happy New Year!

Union Station Advocates (USA) wishes you a prosperous 2010! With the commencement of construction in earnest, 2010 should be an exciting year for the Union Station project. USA will continue to keep you informed monthly of progress on the project, so stay tuned.

The following report concludes our 2009 News Updates. It includes reports on two DUSPA meetings held in the month of December, a link to an article by Jeff Leib of the Denver Post regarding the consideration to remove the moving sidewalks in the bus station, and a report from a USA Roundtable Meeting regarding a possible placement of a replica of the Mizpah Arch.

First up is a recap of some of USA’s major initiatives in 2009.

Major USA Initiatives in 2009

Throughout the Year:

• Monthly Roundtables
• Attendance and reporting on all DUSPA and Public Meetings
• Revamp of USA Website
• Addition of Paula Grey, Liz Orr, Mike LaMair and Gary Taipalus to the USA board

February: Governance Symposium in concert with the Downtown Denver Partnership

• Panel of representatives from five cities with varied model public spaces
• Closed sessions with Union Station project representatives and a session open to the public
• USA-prepared letter to DUSPA summarizing the panel’s recommendations and USA’s comments

April: Celebration of Union Station

• Wine and Hors d’oeuvres on the mezzanine of the Train Room
• Tours of the model trains by Platte Valley and Western Model Railroad Club

April: Havey Film Contribution

• Raised and contributed $5000 for the Havey Production film about Union Station
• Posted a 7-minuted trailer for the film on website and showed it at the Union Station gala in November, 2009

July: Member/Guest Panel Presentation

• Facilitated by Councilwoman Montero
• Welcome by Mayor Hickenlooper
• Update presentations by Tom Gougeon, Jerry Glick and Diane Barrett
• Q&A from audience of over 100 people

November: A Night in Old Union Station

• Over 800 people attended the gala affair
• Over 650 tickets sold
• Generous in-kind contributions from local vendors
• Raised about $70,000 toward Arch Fund
• Launched Buy-a-Light fundraiser

December 3, 2009 DUSPA Meeting

Here is USA’s summary of the December 3 DUSPA meeting:

TIFIA/RRIF Report and Update – Claude Pumilia/Chad Fuller/Alex Brown

Meeting with DOT: Formally presented capital structure of project and began formal negotiations on the loan. It was a productive meeting and the DOT was very complimentary on the quality of the presentation, on the investment grade rating that the project has now attained and the credit enhancement by the City of Denver with its moral obligation piece.

Process and Schedule Going Forward: The package now goes to the credit committee for review. All parties are hopeful for a quick review and closing as soon after the New Year as possible.

Owner’s Representative’s Report

Organizational Budget: There is $650,000 remaining in the original $3M organizational budget.

Construction Schedule: The contractor continues to prepare for mobilization over the next two months in preparation for a full notice to proceed based on a loan closing.

Construction Design/Budget: The design portion of the design/build process continues with November being the most productive month to date in submission of design packages (11 submitted). The contractor is finalizing its study of the 100 year storm design requirements for the project and the results are looking far better than expected in that the scope will likely be scaled down. The budget for the original scope was in the neighborhood of $5M and its looking like that may be reduced to $1.5M. The Design Peer review process continues to be successful with acceptance of the recommendations on the LRT and Commuter Rail platform areas. These new designs are being integrated into the new design build package. Easement and ROW agreements are in the final stages of negotiation. The license agreements with Amtrak are also in final stages with 2 of the 3 agreements completed. The contractor continues to pothole the site to locate all utilities and their depths and also is training workers on how to handle discovery of any environmental contamination.

Design Issues Regarding Moving Walkways – Robin Kniech

Robin gave a thorough analysis of the moving walkways in the bus box to help the board understand the constraints as they move forward with a decision. RTD reminded the board that this decision is really RTD’s to make and they would not take it up until the next FasTracks Monitoring Committee meeting which is on the first Tuesday of the month… next one is January 5^th. The City of Denver would also like the council to have the opportunity to comment. Removal of the moving walkways could save the project up to $2M.

Public Outreach Report – Mario Carrera and Roger Sherman

Roger Sherman of CRL outlined the work completed by the PI team since the contract was signed on 11-17 as follows:

PI Plan drafted

DUS website updated to include all DUSPA meeting minutes and public presentations. Work on the website redo underway. They intend to complete and do a soft launch of a revised website. Once kinks are worked out… they will do a press release.

DUSPA logo has been created

They are coordinating with project management team

They are working with the Denver Post and Westword regarding press coverage with the intention of being proactive with media stories

They have secured a Spanish speaking outreach person

They have canvassed the immediate neighborhood within a three block radius of the site and have contacted 400 people and obtained contact info from 300. The response was overwhelmingly positive during the canvassing effort.

They continue to coordinate public meetings.

December 4 Denver Post Article

An article entitled “Moving walkways may be stripped from Union Station plan” is available at the following web address: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13922616

December 7, 2009 USA Roundtable

Because of the fast-moving design work and potential effects of locating the Welcome/Mizpah Arch, USA held an additional Roundtable with our members in December, including several prominent members of Denver’s community. Through a series of discussions, presentations, and Q&A, we established a preferred site for the Arch (for which funding is well underway). The Arch represents an exciting integration of history with the modern buildings and transit architecture and we feel the location of the Arch within the context of the new buildings is of utmost importance.

The desired location of the Arch was found to be along 17th Street at Wewatta (or slightly further west along the 17th Street axis). It is important that the Arch serve the same symbolical function which it historically served, which was a gateway to the station facility. As such, it seems appropriate that the Arch be placed on the east side of the intersection of 17th and Wewatta, inviting visitors and transit-users to the “great hall” of the new train shed from the new drop-off/pick-up, LRT station and bus facility. Because this location is over the bus facility, we hope the design team will spare no time in considering how this could affect the foundations and structure of the bus facility to allow the Arch to be placed in this location.

Note 1: In a Q&A session following the December 17, 2009 Public Meeting (See 2nd report below), Bill Mosher stated some concerns with the location recommended in the USA Roundtable. They were the structural issue described above, the proximity of the Wewatta canopy to the street, a 21’ height restriction on the west 17th Street view corridor, and a 25’ requirement for a fire lane south of the Wewatta canopy.

Note 2: USA would welcome your thoughts on this issue. Please send them to info@unionstationadvocates.org.

December 17, 2009 DUSPA Meeting

Public Comment: USA presented two letters to the DUSPA board and made comments summarizing them. One letter addressed future management and maintenance of the public spaces, and the other commented on design issues and made a suggestion as to the location of a replica of the Mizpah Arch. Please email USA for the full text of the letters.

TIFIA/RRIF Progress Report: A credit council meeting is expected to occur in January. Prior to that meeting, a working group is expected to convene during the week of the 11th to put final touches on the package that will be submitted to the Credit Council. There may be some site visits by TIFIA and RRIF. Both entities continue to be optimistic that the loans will be approved and closed sometime early in 2010.

Owner Rep’s Report: The owner rep reported that two issues are their primary focus at this time and that they are advancing the design of the site improvements and the Amtrak agreements for both the temporary station and relocation of the permanent station. At this point in the public portion of the meeting, the design team presented their progress. See report of this SOM presentation in the Public Meeting report below. At the end of the meeting it was announced that there will be a presentation to the planning board on January 20th of the site’s architectural and streetscape elements for its review and approval. The Public Information Plan and the Press Protocol Policy were both formally approved by DUSPA at the meeting too.

December 17, 2009 Public Meeting

The meeting was opened by Bill Mosher, DUSPA Owner Representative, and turned over to Kristopher Tacas of SOM. Kristopher stated that the transit architecture and infrastructure design is 70% complete and that 100% construction documents are scheduled for spring 2010. Regarding the public realm and landscape architecture, the design is 15% complete with 100% construction documents scheduled for December 2010.

Current activity on the Wynkoop Plaza includes coordinating with USNC on the wing buildings, and assessing the massing and circulation issues. Regarding the train shed, Kristopher mentioned that there would be vertical circulation to all tracks from the bus concourse. He also mentioned that the Peer Design Group had influenced the change in the support struts so they are now designed to be parallel to the tracks, not across the tracks.

The parking structure planned to be built over the tracks west of the Ice House is still being evaluated. There are 150 spaces for public parking that need to be accommodated for if the structure is not built.

There will be a 25’ wide Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) right of way directly to the west of the historic station. The paving for this EVA will be the same as the Wynkoop Plaza, which is yet to be determined. There will be a 3-step edge between the EVA and the train platform. The canopy between the station and the train shed will be transparent with a beige tone.

The Kinetic Plaza has been replaced with a bridge that spans from the Wynkoop Plaza to 18th Street west of the tracks. There will be stairway and elevator access to the tracks from the bridge. Access to Wewatta Plaza will be considered when the building on Block B is designed.

The Wewatta Plaza is 160 feet square and will accommodate stair, elevator and escalator access to the bus station below. There will be an 8’ arcade on both sides of the Wewatta Plaza canopy. A 25’ fire lane is required on the south side of the canopy. The plan is for active retail on both the north and south sides of the canopy. There is a 21’ height restriction along the west 17th Street corridor, which may preclude putting a replica of the Mizpah Arch in that location.

The 17th Street Gardens will be characterized by a series of “rooms” that work with the tectonics of the skylights. Game rooms, a water room, activity areas and seasonal garden areas with extensive seating walls are planned for this walkway.

The Light Rail Terminal will have three canopies, one along the LR tracks, one to the north of the terminal and one to the south which will include the waiting area for a shuttle stop.

The bus station is 60% designed. Its overall length is 980’, with the public concourse being 783’. It is 44’ wide and is designed to have a ticketing area half way between Chestnut and Wewatta. It is sized for the passenger capacity load projected for 2030. In comparison, the current RTD Market Street Station is 52’ wide, 366’ overall in length, with the public concourse being 290’.

A major design change is the proposal to remove the moving sidewalks, also known as “travelators”. They are currently designed to be 3’ 4” wide (single file), one in each direction, and are 73’ 9” and 142’6” in length. Together they will take out 11’ of the 44’ concourse width. Another 10’ of clear passage further reduces the pedestrian area. Without the travelators, there will be 16’ 2” of clear passage and more room for disembarking passengers and seating.

The bus station will include glass mosaic tile, terrazzo floors, light scoop below the skylights and both digital and fixed signage.

It is projected that 5% of the LRT passengers will use the bus station, with less than that traversing the concourse to the train shed and station. It is projected that 80 to 90% of people in the bus box will be there for bus transit purposes.

Another change of plans for the bus station is the addition of a layover lane for RTD buses. According to Bill Mosher, this change was precipitated by the fact that staging buses on city streets is not welcome by residents and businesses.

The meeting ended with questions from the attendees.

Membership Renewal Time!

For those of you that joined Union Station Advocates in 2008 it is now time to renew your membership! Please 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 once a 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 Roundtable meetings in 2010. 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 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

For a PDF of this monthly news update, please click here.

USA November 2009 News Update

Havey Productions Film: Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress

On February 5, 2010, the National Film Premiere of the film by Havey Productions, Denver Union Station – Portal to Progress will be shown at the Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center. Union Station Advocates contributed to the production of this film to help highlight the historic and future significance of Union Station. For more information and a sneak preview of the film, click on the following link: http://www.vimeo.com/7596441

Recap of A Night in Old Union Station

Attended by over 800 people, USA’s “Night in Old Union Station” event raised about $70,000 toward the revival of the Welcome/Mizpah Arch and was overall a grand success! Check out the USA website (www.unionstationadvocates.org) for reviews. Additional contributions to the Arch Fund can be made by buying a light for the replicated Arch at $1,000 per light. The lights will be numbered between 1 and 2194 (the number of lights on the original arch), so you can choose a number that is meaningful to you, and your name will be on the arch. Please refer to the membership page on the USA website.

November 12, 2009 DUSPA Meeting

The major news was that the project has received approval for an investment grade credit rating from Fitch Rating service, as described in Jeffery Leib’s article, “Union Station transit hub project wins loan rating” in the November 13th issue of the Denver Post (see http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13775645). Per Claude Pumilia, Denver finance chief, “With the Fitch rating in hand, the station authority can start the process of negotiating terms of the loan package with Federal officials. Officials hope that they can close on the loans in January. Doing so would allow construction to begin in earnest at Union Station.”

The loan referred to is the TIFIA loan, which is now in the senior position, and the RRIF loan through the Department of Transportation. The process over the next two months includes submission of the application, a formal presentation followed by a workshop, then submission of the proposal to the Secretary of Transportation followed by negotiation of the term sheet.

Bill Mosher, Owner Representative for the Union Station project, reviewed the current budget as of October 31, 2009 stating that the cash account had $683,000 and the $3,000,000 budget was being restated as funds committed and future fund payments. He went on to state that the Landmark Preservation Commission was meeting on project matters on November 17th, that Amtrak and RTD had reached an MOA regarding relocating a facility for Amtrak (open issues related to parking and the temporary station remain), and that the remediation on the contaminated soil along Wewatta Street was complete.

The meeting then moved into executive session.

November 12, 2009 Public Meeting – Public Realm Design Update

Mary Margaret Jones of Hargreaves presented the revised design for the Light Rail plaza, the 17th Street Gardens, and the Wewatta Pavilion. She mentioned that Chestnut Street would be targeted for neighborhood retail and serve as a bike connection, and that Wewatta Street would be targeted for regional retail. She also addressed the Wynkoop Plaza design and answered questions from the floor. The slides from her presentation are available on www.denverunionstation.org.

The Light Rail plaza will include a fire lane which requires barriers to prevent unauthorized access to the terminal. The current plan is to extend the light rail platform paving around the ventilation tubes. The pattern of pedestrian movement will inform the paving. Trees will be planted to grow as tall as the tubes. The location of the planters will respond to the anticipated pedestrian movement. These planters will have 18” seat walls with lighting at their base.

The 17th Street Gardens will encompass seven skylights between Chestnut and Wewatta Streets. There will be ample room for exhibit tents and cafes. The gardens will be robust and low maintenance. To help minimize maintenance and care, there will be more evergreens and grasses and fewer perennials than portrayed in earlier concepts. A fountain is planned near the bus box egress. Movable seating is also under consideration.

The Wewatta Pavilion has shifted away from the train hall. In the slides, the pavilion appeared to be aligned with the paving that extends from Chestnut to and across Wewatta.

The Wynkoop Plaza slides showed an asymmetrical design with the south plaza being active and the north plaza a more restful and calm setting. The south plaza design featured an interactive fountain that could be shut off for other uses like concerts or an ice rink. The north plaza would be more shaded, with the trees located so that the train room would be clearly visible. Both sides are being designed for programming in all seasons. Public art in the plaza and the plaza’s relationship to the new wing buildings and the station itself were mentioned as important. The plazas are both approximately 1/4th acre. If extended across Wynkoop Street for certain festivities, they would approximate 1/3rd acre.

Discussion of the paving design, patterns and materials, is deferred to early 2010, pending a survey of all options. A linear pattern was mentioned as being under consideration.

Questions and comments addressed the annual cost of maintenance ($4 to $6 million was mentioned), the scale of the pavilions (an 18’ height was mentioned), and the amount of protection the train shed would provide from the weather (not weather proof from horizontal rain, but an effective sun screen). A significant change in the north and south plazas is the redesign of linear seat walls framing the space along Wynkoop Street. This design replaces permanent concrete benches within the plazas previously depicted.

The meeting concluded with a few comments from Bill Mosher. He stated that the next public meeting, which will address the bus box, will be December 17th at 5:30 P.M., and that SOM/Hargreaves will return for more design discussions in January/February 2010. Bill also mentioned that DUSPA had received verbal approval for an investment grade credit rating, which clears the way to finalize the major sources of funding for the project. One open issue was the possibility that the Block B building over the tracks will not be built, which would preclude the need for the Kinetic Plaza. If the decision is to not build, the currently planned Kinetic Plaza would be replaced by a pedestrian bridge from the north Wynkoop Plaza to the area of the Wewatta Pavilion. Another unresolved issue is the parking structure currently planned to the northwest of the Ice House garage. If this structure is not built, the project team would have to find another location for the planned 150 public parking spaces.

Ski Train Update

See the 11/16/09 Denver Post article by Jeffery Leib, “New Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train gears up for this winter” at: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13796183

A Discussion with Bill Mosher – November 19, 2009

USA met with Bill Mosher, DUSPA Owner Representative, to learn more about the issues that the Peer Design Group was addressing in their monthly meetings. The Peer Design Group consists of seven distinguished local architects and landscape architects who have been chartered to review the transit and public realm architectural plans for the Union Station project.

Regarding the transit architecture, the Peer Design Group has addressed several issues including the ventilation tubes, the Chestnut Pavilion, the commuter rail Train Hall and the Wewatta Pavilion. Their accomplishments include: 1.) modifying the ventilation tube from one massive structure to three 20’ high tubes (two outflows, one intake); 2.) modifying the commuter rail Train Hall to be more elliptical, to provide more coverage from the elements, and to reduce the number of structural columns for better views of the station; and 3.) modifying the Wewatta Pavilion canopy to stand away from the train shed (closer to Wewatta Street) and more in line with the 17th Street Gardens pedestrian walkway. The crosswalk across Wewatta Street remains offset from the 17th Street Gardens walkway and the Wewatta Pavilion.

One limiting aspect of modifying the transit realm is that the design in some cases was as far along as 60% before the Peer Design Group got involved.

Regarding the public realm design, the Peer Design Group has influenced Hargreaves to modify their original concepts for the Light Rail Plaza, the 17th Street Gardens, the Wewatta Plaza and the Wynkoop Plaza to be more in line with local project team and citizen preferences.

The pavilion connection between the west side of the station and the train shed, and the redesign of the pedestrian bridge over the tracks on the 18th Street side of the station remain key issues to be addressed in future meetings.

Another issue discussed was changes to the underground bus box. RTD is requesting inclusion of a “layover lane” for up to six buses on the north side of the bus terminal. The City supports this as they are against staging buses in the Central Platte Valley, LoDo, or downtown Denver. Capacity issues were discussed and Bill’s opinion is that the current planned bus bays are adequate for both RTD buses and commercial buses for the foreseeable future. Bill also revealed that there are discussions about eliminating the moving walkways from the underground bus station. Currently there are two moving walkways in the plan, one 70’ in length, the other 140’. They take up 11’ of the 44’ width of the concourse. He mentioned ideas for making the space a more amenable experience for pedestrians through art and materials.

When asked about maintenance of both the public and transit spaces, Bill stated his preference that the station site should be included in the current BID that covers the rest of LoDo and Downtown Denver, with an assessment on the private tenants. For the balance of the site, it is proposed that the 30-mill Denver Union Station Metro District property tax levy be allocated 20-mill for capital expenditures and 10-mill for maintenance. RTD would maintain its own facilities.

Other open issues include security and how to program the spaces.

One concerning issue was funding for improvements to the station itself. USA’s understanding was that $17 million has been set aside for station infrastructure improvements, and that these funds were not to be tapped for other needs. Bill said that $8 million are dedicated to that end, but the other $9 million are not. He said the $26 million for the public realm is still untouchable for other uses.

Our discussion ended with a brief exchange about the Welcome/Mizpah Arch. Bill said the size and location of the arch would be a topic for a future Peer Design Group discussion.

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. 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 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 copy of this newsletter in PDF format, click here.

Roundtable Monday - Design Updates

Greetings!

There have been two presentations by the design team in the last six weeks showing continued updates and progress on design for the public spaces at Union Station. Also, there have been some revisions to the master plan. We will hold a roundtable Monday to discuss these changes and updates.

USA member architects, landscape architects, urban planners, designers, engineers, city leaders, and those of you interested in making Union Station successful (that should include everyone) are encouraged to attend!

When: Monday, November 23, 5:30-6:30pm
Where: Kentwood Properties Conference Room @ 17th and Wynkoop (enter from 17th)

We hope to see you Monday!

Levi Reeves
Roundtable Director

Reminder: Roundtables are a benefit to USA members. If you are not a member, we would love to have you join! It's simple: sign up through our website at www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership

USA October 2009 News Update

Included in this News Update are reports on two DUSPA meetings held this month, plus an update on plans for the November 11, 2009 gala: A Night in Old Union Station. To download a PDF version of this News Update, please click here.

Gala: A Night in Old Union Station, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7-11 P.M.

This event is a fundraiser to return a replica of the Welcome “Mizpah” Arch to the redevelopment site surrounding the Historic Denver Union Station. The event, “A Night in Old Union Station”, will be held on November 11th, 2009. Tickets and details can be found HERE.

Some of the evening’s festivities include:

• A historic railcar donated by Phil Anschutz’s private train car collection - available for tours and cocktails.
• Food provided from restaurants including McCormick’s, Jax, Mortons, Kevin Taylor, Wynkoop Brewery, Vesta Dipping Grill, Bistro Vendome and Sullivans Steakhouse.
• Entertainment for the evening to be provided by Al Kraizer and Shawn Stokes of the Pepsi Center, plus the Denver Theatre District under David Ehrlich.
• Live music by Jim Robischon’s Eohippus, and Sullivans Jazz Band.
• Wines donated by Dry Creek Vineyard, beer from Coors, rum from Boca Loca, and liquor from Orchid Liquors.

It will be a party to remember! We hope you will join us.

DUSPA Meeting of October 15, 2009

Dana Crawford presented Sketch-Up models of various potential locations for the Mizpah Arch to the DUSPA Board. Possible locations included 16th Street, 18th Street, south side of station building, north side of station building and off 16th Street behind future south wing building at entrance to train shed. The Board expressed its appreciation for the initiative.

Bill Mosher stated that the Board has yet to see the Hargreaves presentation from the public meeting in early October. He is working to schedule it. Regarding construction, he stated that work continues on water lines and soil testing… and design continues, but proceeding slowly, waiting for the financing to fall into place.

Financing: A letter to be included in the TIPIA application concerning the project’s credit rating was due last week. TIFIA also requires a peer review of the financial feasibility. DUSPA sent out RFPs for selection of peer review group, they’ve received proposals back and were to select an entity in executive session.

The Public Information contract was on the docket to be approved in executive session.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:15 and moved into executive session.

DUSPA Meeting of October 29, 2009

After voting to approve a logo for DUSPA, the meeting moved to an update on the credit rating process by Diane Barrett. Diane mentioned that there had been a delay in the process. This had been reported in a Denver Post article on October 27, 2009, per the following link: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13647438. She also mentioned that the Federal Railroad Administration continued to support the TIPIA loan.

Bill Mosher then discussed the following items in process:

• An easement agreement with the railroad is being developed in order to proceed with the de-watering of the bus box.
• Amtrak has verbally agreed to a Memo of Understanding regarding track usage and is close to signing.
• Kiewit and AECOM are evaluating the cost implications of building the parking garage on Lot G and a Go/No-Go decision is expected soon.
• An agreement for the north wing building land purchase is being negotiated with USNC.
• The CDOT Senate Bill 1 issue is resolved, which related to the funding process.
• The waterline relocation is complete and is ready for connection during construction.
• CRL has been selected by DUSPA to be the Public Information entity to interface with the public. They are preparing a Public Information Plan.
• Amtrak will operate the chartered ski train and a separate company will provide the on-train services. The charter train will be ready for operation in December and run until March 31, 2010.
• A review of the CB Richard Ellis financial projections will be reviewed by EPS. They will assess the market, absorption projection, and revenue forecast.

The next DUSPA meeting will be November 12, 2009. It will include a recap of the October 1, 2009 SOM/Hargraves public realm presentation and an overview of the next SOM/Hargraves presentation to the public, which will be that evening starting at 5:30 P.M. A meeting of the Peer Design Review committee will take place before the DUSPA meeting.

The meeting adjourned without an executive session.

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 once a 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. If you have a suggestion for a Roundtable meeting, please send us an email to info@UnionStationAdvocates.org

Welcome Arch Party - New Date!!

Due to a potential conflict with the Rockies' playoffs, the Union Station party to raise money for the Welcome Arch has been moved to Wednesday, November 11. Have you bought your tickets yet? This is going to be a great evening for a great cause... We hope you'll be there! All the details are below:

Roundtable Monday - September 28

Greetings!

When: Monday, September 28, 5:30-6:30pm

Where: Kentwood Properties Conference Room @ 17th and Wynkoop (enter from 17th)

Our discussion will include the following:

1. General update on the project, including recent DUSPA happenings.

2. Update on the letter of support regarding the findings of the Symposium.

3. Discussion of the Wynkoop Plazas (this is primarily for the video, as we've discussed this numerous times).

4. Discussion of the upcoming fundraiser gala, A Night In Old Union Station, and the Mizpah arch, which it will fund.

Levi Reeves

Roundtable Director

Reminder: Roundtables are a benefit to USA members. If you are not a member, we would love to have you join! It's simple: sign up through our website at www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership

USA September 2009 News Update

This News Update includes details of a gala event at Union Station in the coming month of October, and the two DUSPA meeting that have taken place this month.

A Night in Old Union Station: A Benefit to Revive the Welcome (Mizpah) Arch

Celebrate the Arch with Honorary Chairmen Mayor John Hickenlooper, Helen Thorpe, and Councilwoman Judy Montero. Join us for this gala event at Union Station on:

October 15, 2009 from 7 to 11 P.M.

Ticket options include:

The Oyster Bar/Patron Level – tickets are $200.00 each. The Oyster Bar will be located on the mezzanine level and will feature reserved table seating, gourmet dining ala Grand Central Station, seafood at the Raw Bar, hors d’oeuvres, wine provided by Dry Creek Vineyards, and family style dinner with New Orleans flavors. There will also be premier seating for the entertainment.

The Main Dining Hall - tickets are $100.00 each. The main Dining Hall is Entertainment Central. It will feature gourmet buffet dining, open seating, with free beer provided by Coors. The theme will be a celebration of international immigration through the Mizpah Arch in the historic first two decades of the 1900s. Food and drink will be contributed by Denver’s finest establishments.

Speakeasy – tickets are $40 each. The Speakeasy will be located in the departure tunnel. Tickets include free beer donated from Coors, and a good light dinner fare. A cash bar will also be available. Sullivans is providing a jazz band that will also play music for tango dancing. Costumes are optional. Flapper attire is encouraged. There will be a prize for the best costume.

For tickets R.S.V.P. to: www.blacktie-colorado.com
R.S.V.P. Code: USA10/15

Also check: www.anightinoldunionstation.com


September 3, 2009 DUSPA Meeting

The meeting opened with Chad Fuller, Senior Financial Analyst for the City, discussing the Plan of Financial Schedule for the project. He stated the RRIF and TIFIA loans seem to be on schedule for approval in November, 2009. The City is reviewing sample financing agreements for the RRIF loan and clarifying eligible costs for this loan. 100% of DUSPA’s costs are considered direct costs.

Alex Brown recapped discussions with the Standard &Poor’s rating request. He stated that S&P asked for more information on seven matters, which have been responded to in a letter. The Credit Committee meets next week and will address these matters. He also talked about addressing liquidity issues during construction. A new financial model to reflect cash needs during construction is being prepared.

Bill Mosher reviewed selected items from a critical issues list, as follows:

- Wewatta Street traffic will be rerouted as of Wednesday September 9th for a 24” water line.
- Amtrak is to sign off on a plan for a temporary station within the Union Station site.
- A state grant to Historic Denver for $133,000 will be used by the project team to assess implications of restoring the historic station. Slaterpaull is the architect firm selected to perform this work. DUSPA will expand upon the scope of this engagement, under the auspices of the Building Evaluation Team Process.
- The interviews for selection of the Public Representative are complete and DUSPA is in negotiation with a candidate. Selection is projected for October, 2009.
- Locations for parking at Union Station are under consideration with Lot G being re-examined first. If Lot G does not work, other options will be considered.
- Maintenance of the site is a pressing issue. RTD will maintain its facilities, but the maintenance of the other areas (including the public spaces) remains unresolved. USNC will need a decision on this matter for development of Lot A.
- The Lot A under-build ramp under track improvements from 16th Street was mentioned as a critical item. Regarding Lot B, Mosher stated that it was important to preserve the option to build over the tracks, which brings the pedestrian bridge in question. Foundations would need to be constructed during track improvements which will occur before any development on Lot B.
- Peer Group Recommendations for the LRT plaza, mid-block (West 17th Street) stairs and the CRT shed were discussed, as follows:
> For the LRT plaza, the changes have been accepted and consideration is being given to the building materials.
> For the mid-block stairs, the major public ingress and egress option is deemed infeasible, but the stairs will be redesigned for improved use.
> For the CRT shed, the design team is looking at the time, design and construction implications of extending the space between columns from 15’ to 30’. Two other changes are altering the shape of the shed from rectangular to oval, and redesigning the beams to be parallel to the train station. Note: A fourth item was added to the Critical Issues List regarding the connection of the canopy to the train station.

Jerry Glick introduced the initiative by Dana Crawford and Union Station Advocates for “A Night in Old Union Station” to be held October 15, 2009 at the station, which will be a fundraiser to re-establish a replica of the Welcome (Mizpah) Arch. A discussion ensued. Bill Mosher stated that he had architects looking into possible locations for the replica. Others posed questions that Jerry and Bill couldn’t answer, so it was suggested that Dana meet with the DUSPA board.


September 17, 2009 DUSPA Meeting

Business items include: The resignation of Peggy Catlin of CDOT from the board and replacement by Rush George of CDOT. The current officers were re-elected: Elba Wedgeworth, President; Jerry Glick, Vice President; and Tom Gougeon, Secretary. It was announced that the Owner Representative Agreement with Trammel Crow has been signed and extends through 2013.

Financial Report: There will be a peer review of the Federal Loans by an independent third party. The RRIF and TIFIA loan applications are in process including completion of the standard form documents. Application for the RRIF loan will be in the magnitude of $200,000,000. The S&P credit rating process is moving forward. The Financial Plan, a legal document, is in development. It addresses funds management and includes a funding matrix showing cash flow, liquidity requirements, revenue sources, and a plan for any surpluses. Timing of debt repayment is addressed. The finance team is also talking to banks regarding terms for a line of credit.

Work on the Union Station Building is to be contracted for separately from work outside the building as only the latter is Federal eligible. The work inside the historic building is being referred to as non-Federal eligible.

Field work on a 24” by-pass water line commenced September 8, 2009, but was halted for some mitigation work. This is not expected to delay the project schedule as it was anticipated.

The Denver Union Station building assessment ($17 Million) is due November 1, 2009.

The final item discussed in the open part of the meeting related to the relocation of AMTRAK to a temporary station at the Light Bulb Supply building for a three year period. AMTRAK is in discussions with the new Ski Train regarding use of this site.


Public Meeting – Transit Architecture Update

The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) will hold a public meeting Thursday, October 1, 2009, to present ongoing schematic design work for the project's transit related architectural design features and initial design concepts for the public spaces linking the transit modes . The meeting will be held from 5:30-7:00 PM in the RTD Administrative Office, 1600 Blake Street, in Rooms T&D. The meeting is open to the public.


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 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 copy of this newsletter in PDF format, click here.