Neighbors protest apartment project

Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 19, 2006 at midnight

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Neighborhood groups near RTD's new University of Denver light-rail station are opposing plans for an apartment building on a wedge- shaped lot next to the rails.

Mile High Development wants the city to rezone the 2.7-acre piece of land, which is now a detention pond for storm runoff from the transit station. The company would keep the drainage system in place while building an 11-story, 210-unit apartment building on top of it.

But the West University Community Association believes that the building would be too large for the property and that it couldn't handle the parking it would generate.

"Ultimately, none of us really think this is making any sense," said Katie Fisher, president of the neighborhood group. "All of our eyebrows are up, going 'huh?' "

The Denver planning board has a public hearing Wednesday on the request to rezone the property to a higher density class. If approved, the change would allow half of the normally required parking because of the proximity to the train station.

The rezoning also is opposed by University Neighbors, another group that represents the area. Denver planning staff recommends approval.

The land is owned by Denver and the Regional Transportation District, although the developer is asking the city to transfer its parcel to RTD.

Mile High Development, led by George Thorn, would have a 40-year lease on the site, and would build a fifth level on the nearby RTD parking garage to provide 130 spaces for apartment tenants.

The West University Community Association wants a one-year moratorium on developing the parcel because it is concerned about how traffic patterns will develop around the new station and parking garage on Buchtel Boulevard.

The group also feels that the 11-story, 210-unit apartment building isn't really transit-oriented development.

It's being niche-marketed as graduate student housing for the adjacent campus, although Thorn says it will take any tenants.

RTD doesn't have a development agreement with Mile High, and is waiting until the zoning issue is decided.

Originally, Mile High had talks with University of Denver officials to work together on the project. Later, the university dropped out. The developer has met with the neighborhood groups over the past two years, Thorn said.

He said he believes that fears over traffic won't materialize, but the neighborhood says that crowding and traffic remain issues.

If you go

• What: Denver Planning Board meeting

When: Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 West Colfax Ave., Room 4.F.6

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