Construction Update From The West Colfax Business Improvement District

West Colfax BID

R-O-W Construction to Continue Through Fall; West End Lofts; Library Design

August 16, 2011

Westside Library Design

North Elevation Schematic Design

Studiotrope Design Collective's prelimiary design for the library building at Irving and Colfax contributes to an urban presence at the East gateway to the West Colfax corridor. The design will also meet LEED silver building standards, raising the bar for sustainable building along the corridor.

Under Construction

West End Lofts: 8/6/11

Adjacent to the corner of West Colfax and Sheridan, the $17 million West End Lofts is currently under construction, with completion projected for spring, 2012. The project consists of 101 residential units together with first floor retail of 9,480 square feet. 1,900 square feet of the commercial are committed for a cop shop, leaving four bays totaling 7,580 square feet currently available.

West Colfax Construction Schedule

Three consecutive projects are due to begin or already underway on West Colfax that will affect business in the short term, but significantly improve improve roadway and parking conditions once complete. The BID has promoted and is undertaking one these projects in order to re-work West Colfax as a pedestrian friendly street. Together the projects will take about 3 months from start to finish.

The projects include utility under-grounding and light pole replacement by Xcel Energy; R-O-W reconfiguration for on-street parking with median curb and gutter by Denver Public Works; and the BID's median improvements with splashguards, landscaping and artwork, plantings at Colfax and Irving, and solar pedestrian lights through the district. Denver Water is also just completing work to replace the water main under West Colfax. The respective schedules are as follows:

Xcel Utility under-grounding and light pole replacement: about 40% complete with new hockey puck style light poles already "hot" between King and Osceola.
Denver R-O-W reconfiguration for on-street parking with re-milling and restriping and median curbs and gutters: approximate start August 22, at either the intersection of Irving and Colfax or the median near Zenobia.
BID median splashguard, planting and artwork, as well as plantings at Colfax and Irving, and 11 solar pedestrian lights: start approximately 11 days after City start.

Most of the work will be concentrated near the new medians being built by Public Works and enhanced by the BID with splashguards, sculptures, and plantings. Those median are near Colfax and Zenobia and Colfax and Irving, and run about 250 feet in length.