new denver plan seen as response to dramatic growth

The City of Denver has officially given its approval to a plan designed to accommodate the growth of Colorado’s largest city over the course of the next two decades.

What is being called Denveright has now been approved by the Denver City Council and anticipates a city that is expected to add another 200,000 people, for a population of more than 900,000 by the year 2040.

According to U.S. Census figures, Denver’s current population stands at over 716,000, up from 600,000 only eight years ago.

Among the most talked-about aspects of the plan is the goal of spurring more middle-income housing in the city, particularly with the construction of new town homes and duplexes.

The plan also calls for building out a more extensive bike, pedestrian, and vehicle transportation network, while encouraging a greater adaptive reuse of historic structures.

Roughly three years in the making, with input from thousands of city residents, the Denveright vision additionally includes a stepped-up demand for more parks and transit.

Promoted as a blueprint for a healthier Denver, the Denveright plan emphasizes the need for “equity in the distribution of parks and park resources” throughout the city, as well as making the overall parks system more environmentally sustainable and resilient.

The city’s Community Planning and Development Department has already taken on the task of making some of the plan’s recommendations a reality by creating an incentive for the construction of more affordable housing near transit locations, and using zoning to protect historic neighborhoods.

After the council approved the Denveright outline, Mayor Michael Hancock said the plans “reflect the type of city our residents want Denver to be today and in the future. This is the community’s vision, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the community to implement their vision.”

By Garry Boulard

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