Zoning Change Could Produce a Skyline Change in Denver

The owner of three centrally located parking lots in Denver is seeking a zoning change that would leverage affordable housing for free future development from height restrictions.

October 3, 2019, 8am PDT | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

Two of the parking lots that could be transformed by a zoning change are located a block north of the Denver State Capitol, at the corner of 16th Avenue and Lincoln Street.

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"Under the terms of a proposal expected to land in the Denver planning office this month, a trio of asphalt parking lots on Sherman Street east of downtown could be replaced with the city’s next batch of skyscrapers," reports Joe Rubino.

The properties would potentially build into the City Park view plane, according to Rubino—one of the most famous views in the city, maintained by a height restriction that limits construction to 155 feet.

"In exchange for the right to change one of Denver’s most iconic views with new, tall buildings, the [property owners] would agree to a city mandate that any new skyscrapers built on their lots include affordable housing and would pay for more than a half-million-dollars in sidewalk repairs, new trees and other streetscaping work along Sherman," according to Rubino.

Initial plans for the sites, prepared by local architecture firm Tryba Architects, would construct buildings as tall as 48 stories with a combined total of 211 affordable units.

Full Story:

Rezoning deal could make way for new skyscrapers on Denver’s Sherman Street if developers agree to build affordable housing

Published on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in The Denver Post