Some big changes are headed to LoDo. Today, Colorado-based architectural design firm Stantec, in partnership with the Colorado Rockies, unveiled their plans to transform an entire city block into a new “stadium district.” Renderings and preliminary plans were released to change the West Parking Lot at 19th and Wazee Street into a dynamic downtown space. The mixed-use area will feature an outdoor gathering plaza, a Colorado Rockies Hall of Fame facility, a hotel, offices, residential, retail, entertainment, food and beverage spaces and more.
“The plaza is designed as a pre- and post-game gathering place for Rockies fans, complete with unique restaurants and state of the art audio and visual systems,” said Larry Weeks, principal at Stantec. “Beyond baseball, the plaza will serve as Denver’s ‘outdoor room,’ a year-round space that can accommodate neighborhood concerts, festivals and other activities,” said Daniel Aizenman, senior principal at Stantec.
Plans to develop this area came to the forefront as the Rockies lease at Coors Field was coming to an end this March. Earlier in 2017, this led to renegotiations which settled in a 99-year lease on the west parking lot. The lot is currently owned by Metropolitan Baseball Stadium District which represents taxpayers in seven metro area counties who helped fund the stadium when it was first built. In the breakdown of the lease, a majority of the $200 million is to lease the land for the new development while only $75 million will go towards leasing Coors Field for the next 30 years. According to Metropolitan Baseball Stadium District, this is good news for the taxpayers.
“The Rockies are taking all of the risk, the fans get all of the benefit,” said District board member Bob Lee to 9News. “The taxpayers benefit, in that we don’t have to go them and ask for tax increase, the fans benefit because the stadium will be kept up in a very first-class fashion and the Rockies benefit because they now have 30 years of stability.”
The project is still in its early stages but according to Stanec it hopes to begin construction in the second half of 2018. This development joins a new trend in arena districts across North America. Stantec is currently providing design support for growing stadium districts in cities like Dallas, Tampa, Chicago, and Edmonton, Alberta, among others.
“We’re incredibly proud to help realize the vision long-held by the Rockies,” said John Yonushewski, Stantec buildings senior principal. “This development will be an urban jewel for downtown Denver and provide a much-needed public amenity for families and the neighborhood. Our team is inspired to design such an epicenter for excitement.”
All renderings courtesy of Stantec.
This is an exciting use of the space. I am a huge fan of the outdoor gathering space. I look forward to more updates.
Me, Too! Would this be a place w/apts for seniors? Will there be a grocery store included FOR residents? I am SO interested & anxious for more info
It’s a start.
Designs like this one gradually move towards designs that I made in 1988/ 1989.
Wonder what the neighbors think.
The neighbors? They’re all retail. Plus, for the few that live down town, they’re there because they want to be around stuff like this. Otherwise, they’d live in Highlands Ranch.
Sounds awful! More useless construction that will make downtown busier and takes away parking. Great idea…
Don’t drive or own cars, if you do you are the problem. Cars are terrible for the environment and no one needs them.
No one needs them?? That your sheltered opinion.
Just take an Uber, Lyft, train, bus, bicycle, car2go, b-cycle, or walk your ace there like the rest of us. People who drive in from the burbs just don’t get it. I know who you are; i watch you parallel park…