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Denver proposes safe occupancy program for buildings
Voluntary program would ensure safety, avoid displacement
Denver Community Planning and Development and the Denver Fire Department have proposed a conditional building occupancy program for unpermitted spaces that will ensure life safety, limit displacement, and allow extended deadlines and collaborative solutions to achieve code compliance. The program is designed to incentivize the owners and tenants of unpermitted spaces to come forward and work with the city to make their buildings safe — thereby increasing safety for occupants, visitors, neighbors and the general public.

This week a City Council committee advanced the proposal to City Council.

The program would make Denver the first city in the country with a law explicitly granting legal occupancy of unpermitted spaces while a building is being brought up to code voluntarily. Life safety hazards must be addressed up front. 

While first and foremost ensuring public safety, the program offers three key benefits:
  • Allows people to remain in place 
  • Offers an extended deadline for compliance
  • Encourages collaboration for creative and potentially cheaper solutions

As property values rise, displacement is a very real concern, for the arts community and for other vulnerable groups in Denver. This program can make it safer, easier and less expensive for people to continue living and working in their neighborhoods.

The safe occupancy program was designed with creative spaces in mind but is applicable to many other uses of existing buildings. It allows building improvements to progress at a pace that makes sense for the property owner and the city, increasing the affordability of the project by distributing construction costs over a longer time. City code officials will work with building owners, tenants and contractors to identify reasonable and more affordable ways to meet the intent of building and fire codes.
Lend your expertise to help preserve Denver's creative spaces
Are you passionate about helping others achieve safe building designs, or promoting the adaptive reuse of Denver’s existing building stock?

As a complement to Denver’s proposed Safe Occupancy Program, Denver Arts & Venues is looking for 10 skilled architects, engineers, or contractors to volunteer their expertise toward preserving the city’s creative spaces.

In an effort to improve building safety, we hope to connect the tenants of these spaces with individuals (or firms) who are willing to offer pro bono consultations or discounted rates, and who have a working knowledge of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC).

To find out more about serving as a go-to resource, please contact Create Denver program administrator Lisa Gedgaudas at Lisa.Gedgaudas@denvergov.org.
Join us: Downtown Plan amendment meeting
The future of the Elitch's / Pepsi Center / Downtown Aquarium area
cpv auraria map
On July 13, share your vision for the Central Platte Valley-Auraria District, the area encompassed by I-25, Speer Boulevard, and Auraria Parkway.

The 2007 Downtown Area Plan, which guides development in the downtown area, was conducted under the joint leadership of the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership, with the input of more than 2,000 community participants over a 15-month period.

The "Central Platte Valley Auraria district," located between I-25, Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway, was included but not detailed in the 2007 Downtown Area Plan. It was also part of a 2012 South Platte River Corridor Study that studied redevelopment potential in five distinct riverfront areas. Much of the land is surface parking lots serving cultural and entertainment venues, including the Pepsi Center, Elitch Gardens, the Downtown Aquarium and the Children’s Museum.

A key recommendation of the 2007 plan was to attract more housing, mixed-use and pedestrian-friendly development to this area. City planners feel it is important to revisit the undetailed “Central Platte Valley Auraria district” section of the Downtown Area Plan in 2017 so that the people of Denver, and particularly downtown residents, may provide input into the future of this area. 

Downtown Area Plan Amendment community meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 13
Tivoli Student Union, Room 320
900 Auraria Parkway, Denver
Commercial permitting how-to on July 26
Join us for our second annual "Navigating Commercial Permitting in Denver" event July 26! This is part of a series of forums on permitting for commercial and residential projects.
ICC and AIA credit will be provided.

Please  RSVP to CPDCommunications@denvergov.org by July 21. Learn more>>

Scheduling note: Planning Board will not meet July 5

The Denver Planning Board -- an all-volunteer board -- will not meet on July 5. Check our website for upcoming meetings and agendas.


Planning and zoning at your fingertips
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Visit denvergov.org/cpd to find up-to-date planning and zoning information about any property in Denver.

Do I live in an "Area of Change?"
Visit our Blueprint Denver page and go to the map to view current land use classifications across the whole city.

What's my zoning? 
Our online zoning map can quickly tell you the zone district for any Denver address.

What city plans apply to my neighborhood?
Visit our completed plans page and go to the map that allows you to search using your address. All plans, assessments and studies are available online. 

How can I learn about proposed rezonings? 
Review proposed rezonings, and visit our rezoning page, where you'll find general information about the rezoning process for applicants and neighbors.

What are the site plans for a specific project?
The site development plans map at denvergov.org/maps displays information about projects involving new construction that have received site development plan approval from the city. It does not include single-family and duplex projects. 

What construction procedures are allowed? 
Every project must follow Denver's safety codes to minimize ill effects on the community. For basic rules, visit denvergov.org/constructionprocedures. Call 311 to report construction-related code violations.

How can I watch Planning Board meetings? 
Visit our Planning Board page to watch live or archived board meetings or submit comments to the board. 

How can I provide feedback to Denver CPD? 
Please take our survey and let us know about your experience with planning and development in Denver!

BUILDING COMMUNITY:
About Community Planning and Development
Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD regulates planning, zoning, development and maintenance of private property in Denver. We're BUILDING COMMUNITY -- working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Learn more at denvergov.org/cpd.
Denver Community Planning & Development | denvergov.org/CPD