2024 Mayor's Design Award Winner: One Platte

Development news from Community Planning and Development (CPD)

In this issue, you will find:

• Citywide ADU project would allow ADUs in all residential areas of Denver
• 2024 Mayor's Design Award winners announced
• Join us for an in-person meeting on Landmark Design Guidelines for ADUs
• REScheck-Web now supports the 2022 Denver Energy Code
• Temporary Managed Communities
• ICYMI: Recaps from our last newsletter

As part of the city’s ongoing effort to expand housing availability and choice, Denver Community Planning and Development launched the Citywide ADUs project, in partnership with Mayor Mike Johnston and Councilmembers Sarah Parady, Chris Hinds, and Darrell Watson.

Following the recommendations of Blueprint Denver, this project will look at potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code, zoning map, and Former Chapter 59 zoning to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all residential areas of the city.

Allowing ADUs in all residential areas of the city would expand housing availability and choice through gentle density without significantly changing how neighborhoods look and feel. It would also remove barriers for homeowners who would no longer be required to undertake a lengthy and expensive rezoning process before building an ADU.

The project builds upon the ADUs in Denver project, which updated building standards for ADUs to make them better fit in different neighborhoods. Prior to the code changes approved through the ADUs in Denver project, the zoning code considered ADUs through a one-size-fits-all approach with little variation by neighborhood.

This project implements proposed state legislation (House Bill 24-1152) by allowing administrative approval of ADUs in all residential districts.

If approved by City Council, the project would result in an update to the language of the Denver Zoning Code as well as a change to the city’s zoning map. The proposal is expected to go to City Council for a vote this summer.

2024 Mayor's Design Award Winner: Boulevard One Parks

Mayor Mike Johnston and the Department of Community Planning and Development announced the winners of the 2024 Mayor’s Design Awards on Tuesday, March 12, as part of a celebration of the best in design, architecture and place-making in Denver.

Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, urban design and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists and others for their creative contributions to Denver’s built environment through excellence and innovation. The winners are:

• Farm & Market: Design + Revive, 2401 Larimer St.
• Boulevard One Parks, 7098 E. Lowry Blvd.
• The Blackwood Building, 2624 W. 32nd Ave.
• ART Studios, 1200 N. Lincoln St.
• Concord Energy Headquarters, 1408 Wazee St.
• The Slate Hotel, 1250 Welton St.
• Central Park Community Streetscapes, Parks and Open Spaces, Central Park Neighborhood
• RiNo ArtPark, Arkins Park & Promenade, and Elevated Walkway, 1900 35th St.
• The Mercer, 2059 19th St.
• Prodigy Globeville Coffee Shop, 4500 Broadway
• Aston on South Pearl, 1250 S. Pearl St.
• Market Station, 1661 Market St.
• Santulan Architecture HQ + Tula Apartments, 388 Santa Fe Dr. + 868 W. 4th Ave.
• One Platte, 1701 Platte St.

If you missed the virtual community conversation about landmark design guidelines for accessory dwelling units and still want the chance to talk to landmark planners in person, a new in-person public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 20. We will use this meeting to build on concepts presented during our virtual meeting February 27. We will have ADU examples for open discussion and if you have examples of your own, please bring them. If you missed the virtual meeting, the recording is available online. 

Creating Design Guidelines for ADUs

6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The Studio Loft, 980 14th Street, Denver

REScheck products makes it fast and easy for builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new homes, additions, and alterations meet the energy code requirements.

REScheck-Web now supports the 2022 Denver Energy Code (DEC). By selecting "2022 Denver, CO" as the Energy Code, the program will provide full functionality with Denver's code, including amended U-factors, glazing area calculations, and R408 Additional Efficiency Package selections. Plus, if you utilize REScheck-Web, supplemental manual calculations will no longer be required.

If you have questions on how to use REScheck to show compliance with the 2022 DEC, email us at energy.review@denvergov.org.

A Temporary Managed Community (TMC) provides temporary shelter or housing to people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. At a minimum, a TMC provides a safe, managed space for residents or guests to sleep overnight. Sleeping accommodations may be provided inside temporary structures such as “tiny homes,” tents, or a guest’s own parked vehicle. In many cases, a TMC will also include areas for personal care, such as bathrooms, showers, and laundry; community gathering spaces; and workspaces for operational staff, service providers, or case managers. In Temporary Managed Communities that operate 24/7, resident or guest stays of 30 days or longer are typical. A TMC may be permitted in the same location for up to four years.

These communities are allowed in all Denver Zoning Code zone districts, except for areas zoned as open space, and are also allowed in all zone districts in Former Chapter 59. Please refer to Article 11 of the Denver Zoning Code to review the specific limitations that apply to these communities.

Learn more >>

ICYMI:

Recaps from our last newsletter

Get caught up on last month's news >>

• Denver is piloting an adaptive reuse program in two locations: Upper Downtown and East Colfax Ave. These pilot programs will support projects undergoing conversion to a new use or purpose by providing direct assistance to business owners, developers, and property owners as they navigate the City and County of Denver’s review and permitting process. Learn more about the city's adaptive reuse program >>

Your resource for permitting and policy changes

View recent CPD news

Copyright © 2024 City and County of Denver. All Rights Reserved.