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.

1 minute read

December 19, 2013, 9:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"The area — which runs from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport — suffered from benign neglect for years that produced cracked sidewalks and haphazard road systems, which alienated neighborhoods, say residents and officials. But a new push of projects, including a controversial remake of Interstate 70, will turn the area into a so-called 'Corridor of Opportunity,' said Kelly Leid, project manager for the new 'North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative.'"

"The I-70 proposal — which also calls for adding two lanes in each direction along 12 miles of the highway between Interstate 25 and Tower Road — is one of six redevelopment and infrastructure projects included in the Corridor of Opportunity program that aim to revive Elyria-Swansea and Globeville to the west," reports Monte Whaley. "It's all part of a commitment by [Mayor Michael] Hancock to tackle a part of the city that for a long time was avoided by planners, mostly because there were easier projects to tackle, Leid said."


Tuesday, December 17, 2013 in Denver Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight