Something will be done to help Denver's Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods recover from decades of decline brought by the construction of I-70. Will a plan to bury the interstate be replaced with an ambitious proposal to reroute the road entirely?
Monte Whaley discusses the competing visions for how to "make way for the rebirth of a depressed part of [Denver]" that was severed by the construction of Interstate 70. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) favors a $1 billion plan to bury the highway and cap it with an 800-foot-long deck that could provide park space.
For some activists though, CDOT's plan "is not bold enough to save the Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods."
"CDOT
is really good at laying concrete," said Thaddeus Tecza, a senior
instructor emeritus of political science at the University of Colorado.
"These guys are engineers, and their answer to everything is to put down
a lane of concrete. What they are not really good at is planning for a
community."
"Tecza and Frank Sullivan - a retired biology
instructor at Front Range Community College - in August presented their
idea for realigning I-70 around Denver using the corridor occupied by
Interstates 270 and 76."
At an estimated cost of $4-$5 billion, CDOT nixed the Tecza and Sullivan plan last week. However, according to Whaley, "Tecza is undeterred, as are others who see the
East I-70 corridor as a unique opportunity to revamp north Denver and
maybe beyond."
FULL STORY: Planners suggest rerouting I-70 out of central Denver
Denver to Focus on Reviving Long-Neglected Area of the City
A $1.8 billion proposal to bury I-70 beneath a landscaped lid is just part of an ambitious plan to remake a 23-mile corridor of northeast Denver that includes the Elyria-Swansea and Globeville neighborhoods.
Commuting to Denver from Colorado Springs Gets Easier
Thanks to Bustang, an interregional bus service that began July 13, commuters can relax in reclining, high-back chairs or choose to plug their devices into outlets and utilize wifi for the 69-mile trip between Colorado's two largest cities.
I-70 Highway Update May Exacerbate Segregation
A piece in The Nation argues a Denver highway plan will further shrink the black community in that city through the use of eminent domain.
Eugene Ends Parking Minimums
In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.
How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit
A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.
San Diegans at Odds Over ‘Granny Towers’
A provision in the city’s ADU ordinance allows developers to build an essentially unlimited number of units on single-family lots.
San Francisco Approves Zoning Reforms to Avoid ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The county board of supervisors voted to approve zoning changes that bring it closer to compliance with state housing mandates.
Where Are Millennials Moving to?
As the housing crisis rages on, four U.S. states are seeing high levels of new migration from young and middle-aged workers.
California Cities Cite Historic Preservation to Block Development
Are some cities using historic designations disingenuously?
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
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