October 22nd 2024.
On Monday, the Denver City Council took a significant step towards allowing Stan Kroenke, owner of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, to develop new skyscrapers on the parking lots surrounding Ball Arena. This move is seen as a crucial component in the city's plan to expand downtown Denver and address the dire need for housing by adding 6,000 new apartments and condos.
The council voted on a series of six bills related to the 70-acre Ball property, with the first one amending the city code to exempt the Old City Hall view plane. This essentially removes the height restrictions for buildings on properties within the view plane, which was put in place to protect westward views from a specific point at the intersection of 14th and Larimer streets. However, the council was informed that the view plane is no longer applicable due to the existing buildings on the Auraria Higher Education Center campus, which were exempt from city rules.
Despite concerns about the impact on mountain views from other areas, the council voted in favor of the exemption, with Councilman Kevin Flynn stating that he would have preferred the view plane to be repealed altogether. This decision allows properties with specialized zoning to exceed the view plane's restrictions.
In addition to this, the council also approved the rezoning of the 70-acre arena property. While the land was already zoned for buildings up to eight stories, the new specialty zoning allows for taller buildings in exchange for including more affordable housing on the site. This, along with the exemption of the view plane, brings Kroenke and his company, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, closer to their development goals.
However, some residents of the Lower Downtown neighborhood expressed disappointment as their hopes of preserving their views of the Rocky Mountains were dashed. One resident, Casey Pitinga, argued that the appearance of new skyscrapers would not only impact her building but also businesses that boast rooftop views, such as the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center.
Despite this, an overwhelming majority of speakers at the public hearing were in favor of the dense development on the land and the new housing it would bring. They believe that this project is exactly what the city needs, with one resident, Matthew Larsen, stating that it is essential for meeting their greenhouse gas goals.
Apart from the rezoning bill, the council also considered four other bills related to Kroenke's ball arena plans. These include amendments to the existing arena agreement, extending the timeline for a development agreement for the neighboring River Mile property, and establishing special taxing districts to fund infrastructure around the arena.
One of the bills also sets a legal requirement for future construction and operations on the arena lots, including a mandate for 18% of all new housing to be affordable. This exceeds the city's existing requirements and could result in 1,080 new units of affordable housing.
Overall, while there were concerns about the impact on views and the legal protections in place, the majority of the council and residents believe that this redevelopment project will greatly benefit the city and its residents. It will not only add much-needed housing but also bring a new energy to downtown Denver.
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