Denver's 14th Street Takes Off

Officials symbolically break ground on 14th, a $14 million transformation into an Ambassador Street.

Downtown’s 14th Street, long in the shadow of the pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall and the financial horsepower along 17th Street, is gaining its rightful place in the pantheon of important streets in downtown DenverAt a ceremony on Tuesday – attended by many of Denver’s movers-and-shakers, as well as those who work behind the scenes to make Denver a better place – 14th was crowned as an “Ambassador Street,” as ground was broken on a $14 million project. Some $10 million of it is being funded by a 2007 bond program approved by voters, with another $4 million being contributed by property owners.

Compared to 16th Street Mall

“Today, we are celebrating the most significant groundbreaking since the 16th Street Mall was created in 1982,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, on the 9th floor of the Spire condominium high-rise building.

Door noted that since 2002, public and private investments along 14th Street have topped $1.6 billion. “When you look back, there has been almost exactly a dollar-for-dollar private match for every public dollar invested,” Door said, following the event, which initially took place in the Spire at 891 14th Street, in case of inclement weather, and moved outside for the traditional shovels-in-the dirt photo opportunity.

The investment along the 14th Street corridor is a model for how public-private investments should work, she said.

Runs through the heart of downtown

Door noted that John Desmond, vice president of the partnership, has been working tirelessly on the project since the partnership unveiled its Silver Triangle Plan in 2005, which described 14th Street as a “signature public space,” as well as the “premier street running through the heart of the district.” She notes it connects Colfax to LoDo.

Bill Vidal, manager of public works and deputy mayor, said that the city has wanted to see the 14th Street corridor achieve its true potential for 10 years or more. The streetscape and sidewalk enhancements during along 14th Street between Market Street and Colfax Avenue will include:

Expanded sidewalks and sand-blasted accents.
Outdoor, granite seating.
At least 150 trees.
Raised granite planters with colorful planting.
Banners on poles.
New signage.
An extension of the corner sidewalk area at intersections on the south side of the street.
Improved pedestrian lighting.
Monuments and pedestrian kiosks.
Bike rack, and combination trash/recycling cans.
Dedicated bike lane.

Bike lane coming

The bike lane will be among the most welcomed improvements, Vidal said. He called it a legacy of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008, when many people took to the streets on bikes – their own or ones provided to outsiders – to help avoid the traffic jams.

“Not every street’s purpose has to be simply get you from Point A to Point B as fast as possible,” Vidal told InsideRealEstateNews, following the ceremony. He said that 14th Street will be narrower in most places and traffic will be slowed. While the construction will inconvenience some people, ultimately they will make people want to spend more time admiring the sites along the street, and perhaps park and enjoy the existing amenities and ones that will spring up, hence its Ambassador status.

“It will be a real place-maker street,” Vidal said. “By that I mean it will be a place where you will want to spend time.” In addition, the project will create dozens of construction jobs at a time when the economy really needs them, he added. He said the $550 million bond program approved in 2007, which is providing $10 million for 14th Street, has created an average of 1,000 construction jobs each year. The construction imporvements were supposed to be finished in five years, but Mayor John Hickenlooper asked that the city try to accomplish them all in four years, to help Denver’s economy at a time when it is struggling, Vidal said. He said the vast majority of the projects will be completed in four years.

Denver City Council Woman Carla Madison said that 14th Street will become a stop for tourists and a place where residents will want to bring out-of-state guests. And it will become far more bike-friendly, a move in making all of downtown a safer place for bicycle riding, she said.

Microcosm of downtown

Josh Fine, president of the 14th Street Advisory Board, said that street has a lot to offer.

“When I walk down 14th Street what strikes me is the incredible diversity of uses in such a short stretch- government buildings, art facilities, hotels, corporate offices, restaurants and retailers, historic buildings, brand new high-rises, parking lots and residences,” Fine said. In essence, he added, 14th Street is a “microcosm of the excitement and vibrancy Downtown Denver. The process of re-making this street into the ambassador corridor for downtown was not an easy or quick process. The challenge – which ultimately became was so exciting about this street – was the astounding array and varied interest of the stakeholders.”

He noted the $4 million investments by property owners and a $150,000 annual maintenance tab they will pick up, “are significant commitments.”And he agreed with the partnership’s Door in comparing the improvements to 14th Street to the creation of the 16th Street Mall.

“In working together and collaborating on what would be best for the corridor and for Denver, we achieved what I think we all would agree is an incredibly exciting project and perhaps the biggest and most impactful street improvement project since the 16th Street Mall in the ’80s,” Fine said.

Watch a video of 14th, Denver’s Ambassador Street, courtesy of the city.

For a look at homes that are for sale in the area, check out this COhomefinder link.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

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