The church that owns a unique parcel of agricultural land in the middle of the Denver metropolitan area is prepared to sell to a developer that plans to build a mixed-use, master planned community.
John Aguilar reports on the story of the Uplands development, proposed for a "150-acre perfect square of grass, corn and upturned soil" in the city of Westminster, outside of Denver, which boasts "exquisite views of the mountains and the city."
A rare break in the sea of rooftops that stretches uninterrupted from Broomfield to Denver and Thornton to Arvada, the field at the northwest corner of West 84th Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Westminster stands as a vestige of a Front Range agrarian past that’s largely been subsumed by ever-expanding suburbs.
The past owner of the land, Pillar of Fire church, is planning to sell the land to a developer with "plans to build 2,350 homes along with office, retail, civic and recreational areas, according to a recently launched website describing the project," reports Aguilar.
"Some of those homes and a portion of that commercial space is destined for several smaller parcels totaling 85 acres that the church owns adjacent to the farm. But the bulk of the development — dubbed Uplands — would happen on the 150-acre centerpiece plot bounded by Federal and Lowell boulevards and West 84th and 88th avenues."
As the details of the sale and the development proposal have emerged, a group of local residents has organized an effort to preserve some of the farm.
FULL STORY: Developer sets sights on huge swath of scenic metro Denver farmland
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association