In This Issue

To our permit customers

Permits via email

Citizens' Planning Academy

Mayor's Design Awards

The Mall Experience

Historic Five Points

2015 Building Code

Website tips

Tour Harvey Park's Cliff May Homes

Visit Harvey Park and experience Denver's only houses designed by Cliff May, the "father of the modern ranch house."

The tour will feature mid-century modern homes restored by homeowners passionate about May's ideas for modernism and informal living.

Sunday, Sep. 13

Noon - 4 p.m.

Tickets $10

More info:

hpmodern.com

Quick Links

Denver Community Planning & Development

Denver Development Services

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A message to our permit customers

July 2015 was the single highest volume month for Denver building permits since 2004, at nearly 7,300. Demand has been high all year, but summer numbers are especially high due to seasonal volume and recent storms.

As many of you have found, this unprecedented demand for building permits is affecting review times and wait times at our permit counter.

We are taking major steps to improve the services we provide, including hiring, paying overtime, and outsourcing some reviews, as well as improving our business processes and technology.

We know your time is valuable. We will continue to work hard to keep pace with demand, while making changes behind the scenes for long-term success.

Thank you for your patience during Denver's building boom.

For current estimated review times or to give us feedback about your experience, visit DenverGov.org/DS.

Avoid the line: Some permits now available via email

Minor permits, sometimes called "quick permits" are now available via email, allowing you to avoid the wait at our permit counter. Visit DenverGov.org/quickpermits for more.

Denver's first Citizens' Planning Academy slated for Fall 2015

Photo: Coreen Zuniga

Local residents will get an inside look at how city planning works starting in September, when Denver Community Planning and Development launches the first-ever Citizens' Planning Academy. Hosted in partnership with the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) neighborhood coalition, the free, three-part Citizens' Planning Academy curriculum will give 30 participants insight into the key aspects of citywide plans, neighborhood plans and zoning.

The goal of the academy is to empower residents, business owners and others with information so they can engage in and guide planning efforts effectively both in their own neighborhoods and for the whole city. The academy will be held on three evenings this fall: September 30, and October 14 and 28. Apply by August 14 at DenverGov.org/CPD.

Know a neighborhood gem? Nominate it!

New McStain homes in the Curtis Park Historic District are past Mayor's Design Award winners

This year, in an effort to recognize the special places that help make Denver's neighborhoods unique, the Mayor's Design Awards will include for the first time the "Neighborhood Gem" category. This category will honor exterior design and public spaces that locals recognize for contributing to and elevating their neighborhood's character and charm.

The Mayor's Design Awards, first handed out in 2005, honor projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, exterior design and place-making.

Many different types of projects are eligible. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they all have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and create community. Nominate at DenverGov.org/MDA.

The Future of Denver's 16th Street Mall

Meet in the Street activities

The Mall Experience: The Future of Denver's 16th Street Mall, a study led by Denver Community Planning and Development in partnership with the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), is aiming to guide improvements to the 16th Street Mall.

We want people to enjoy the mall; come more often, and stay longer. To achieve that, we are studying mall activity and conducting public outreach to identify ways to help the mall reach its full potential as a welcoming place for everyone, in the heart of a vibrant downtown.

This summer, the DDP hosted five "Meet in the Street" events on Sundays to activate the mall through live music, kids' activities, extended patios, arts and culture. RTD's Free MallRide service was detoured onto 15th and 17th streets to allow for diverse programming on the mall. Meet in the Street events allowed planners to test and observe a variety of mall-activation tactics that could inform future recommendations for the mall.

Learn more and take our 16th Street Mall survey at DenverGov.org/TheMallExperience.

Introducing: The Five Points Historic Cultural District

New sign in Five Points

The former Welton Street Cultural Historic District recently got a bit of a makeover -- new signs proclaiming its new name: Five Points Historic Cultural District.

The change comes in response to the community's request that Denver Community Planning and Development give the district this name, which better reflects the corridor's longstanding identity and cultural heritage.

"It's a change that symbolizes a lot to the people of this community," said Brad Buchanan, executive director of the Denver Community Planning and Development Department, which oversees landmark preservation in the city. "A historic cultural district helps to tell the story of our city's development, so it's important that its name reflects the district's true identity." Read more>>

2015 Building code on the way

In 2015, Denver will adopt the 2015 international codes for building and fire safety, bringing Denver codes in line with the latest building safety and energy-efficiency standards worldwide. Review proposed amendments at DenverGov.org/buildingcode.

Planning and zoning at your fingertips

Visit DenverGov.org/CPD to find up-to-date planning and zoning information about any property in Denver.

Do I live in a designated "Area of Change?"

Blueprint Denver map

Visit our Blueprint Denver page and go to the map to view current land use classifications across the whole city.

What city plans apply to my neighborhood?
Visit our completed plans page and go to the map that allows you to search using your address. All plans, assessments and studies are available online.

What's my zoning?
Our online zoning map can quickly tell you the zone district for any address in Denver.

How can I learn about proposed rezonings?
Review proposed rezonings, and visit our rezoning page, where you'll find general information about the rezoning process for applicants and neighbors.

What are the site plans for a specific project?
The site development plans map at DenverGov.org/maps displays information about projects involving new construction that have received site development plan approval from the city. It does not include single-family and duplex projects.

What construction procedures are allowed?
Every project must follow Denver's safety codes to minimize ill effects on the community. For basic rules, visit DenverGov.org/constructionprocedures. Call 311 to report construction-related code violations.

How can I contact the Planning Board?
Visit our Planning Board page to learn the best way to submit comments for a public hearing to ensure your voice is heard.

How can I provide feedback to Denver CPD?
Please take our survey and let us know about your experience with planning and development in Denver!

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