SunshineVisualJournalism

Visual Journalism Project

To coincide with the expansion of the Metro Denver Light Rail system, the city of Arvada is considering an area for redevelopment around a new station at the intersection of West 58th Avenue and Sheridan Blvd. The area is currently a number of privately held properties primarily of industrial use. Over the years some of the properties have been quarries which where then used for land fill. An EPA study of the contamination of the area recommends it for redevelopment with considerations for clean up of the contamination.

The City of Arvada Office of Planning and Zoning would like to see this area redeveloped in accordance with Transit Oriented Development sensibilities in the vein of the successful redevelopment of the Cinderella City Mall site into City Center Englewood and the redevelopment of Stapleton Airport. Transit Oriented Development is an updated system of organizing the redevelopment of urban areas with an emphasis on public transportation and pedestrian traffic rather than on the use of and dependency on the automobile. A group of Urban Planners and Architects have organized a movement known as New Urbanism. They have published several books on the topic of urban redevelopment under the principles of smart growth.

My intent is to show redevelopment possibilities for two of the properties in this area of South East Arvada under the principles put forth in the Charter for the New Urbanism; a book of design standards compiled by members of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The principles I have chosen to highlight are:
• Brownfields Reclamation
Brownfields are idled, abandoned or under-used industrial or business sites where redevelopment is complicated by possible environmental contamination.
Two sites; The former Sigman Meat Plant and Suburban Reddi-Mix have been Identified as high risk areas. The EPA report recommends that these property owners be informed about a potential methane hazard and that the area is properly monitored. The reports also recommends that the properties be considered for potential development under the current assessment study.
Under the principles of new urbanism the first concern for a redevelopment of an urban area is a highly connected street grid

• Highly Connected Street Grid
“In new urbanist communities transportation planning focuses on reducing dependence on the automobile, increasing public transit use and developing a more flexible road system.”

“The highly connected grid is an ideal environment for walking, biking and public transportation because it provides direct connections between where people live and where they need to go.”
The second major concern is for the development of neighborhoods from the classic ideal of a neighborhood central to urban living.

• Creating Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods are basic building blocks of all residential districts.
Creating neighborhoods builds on highly connected street systems by developing a defined town center where neighborhood activities become centralized and improves the pedestrian environment because all of the daily trips are within walking distance of one another.
Within the frame work for new neighborhoods is the inclusion of parks and open space to encourage congregation of people

• Parks and Open space
Vital to new urbanist principles for creating centrally located areas for everyone’s enjoyment and use. Parks provide a place for activities and gathering.

The final principle I have explored is the need for mixed-use zoning in a neighborhood environment

• Mixed-Use Development
Codes are established in human interest to protect “property values, promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and develop a satisfactory visual appearance.” In practice these codes tend to separate daily activities by a great distance. By specifying areas for specific or one use only. Mixed-use neighborhoods provide for walking to and from many different facilities; the office, the store and home.

In an effort to stunt urban sprawl and the detrimental effects of development based on a dependency on the automobile several urban planners and architects have formed the Congress for the New Urbanism and put forth a set of sensibilities to direct redevelopment of urban areas in a more pedestrian friendly direction. These principles when put into use have proven successful in the redevelopment of other urban areas and provide a good frame work for urban redevelopment away from traffic congestion, pollution and consumption of natural resources. Smart growth principles are essential to revitalization of urban blight in downtown and other neglected areas. Intelligently directing growth back into higher density areas conserves natural resources and promotes better human health.

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Sunshine Creative • D Manton Reiser • Graphic Arts
mrsnshn@sunshinecreative.com
720-406-7732