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UNION STATION PROJECT
Denver Union Station Project is huge and encompasses far more than the future use of the historic station itself. To get a feel for the scope of the project, consider the giant hole in the ground that was dug last year on the northwest side of the station. It is now occupied by just half of the new underground regional bus facility. Excavation will soon start on a similar hole to complete this project. The facility will include bays for 16 RTD regional and express buses, four for the Downtown Circulator and two available for other commercial carriers or new services. Say goodbye to the Market Street Station.
In addition to the RTD construction, a major portion of the project is the development of the last remaining large piece of real estate in downtown Denver. The Union Station Neighborhood is the area between Wynkoop Street and the Consolidated Main Line. The other boundaries are 16th and 18th Streets.
Learn about all of this and more at the meeting. If you don’t already know, you will want to learn that:
• Light rail and commuter rail are not the same even though RTD will operate both.
• There are plans for a Downtown Circulator bus service. This is in addition to the Mall Shuttle.
Frank Cannon is one of the key individuals involved in this giant undertaking on a daily basis. There is no one more knowledgeable about all aspects of the project. Don’t miss this opportunity!!
Guide Line Review
Source: Denver Union Station Project Authority
DENVER'S UNION STATION, Past, Present and Future . . .
Mr. Cannon is an Urban Designer and Developer, representing Continuum East/West Partnership, which has overseen other projects in Denver and Colorado. He showed and explained a video on plans for the Denver Union Station Project Association (DUSPA). He also took us on a walking tour to Millennium Bridge to view work already done and location of some exterior facilities on the project.
The first trains whistled and puffed their way into Denver, Colorado, in 1870--in June the Denver Pacific, from Cheyenne (Wyoming) to the North, in August, the Kansas Pacific to the East, and the Colorado Central from Golden, CO, to the West. As rail companies made Denver a destination, each had their own depot. It was suggested by railway financier and owner Jay Gould and local investor Walter Cheesman, the need to consolidate the half-dozen stations. Livestock and cattle corrals along Wynkoop Street, at the terminus of 17th Street, was the site chosen for a stately building, which could be expanded later if needed. Three rails were built for each railroad to accommodate both narrow and standard gauge trains.
Union Station, the Grande Dame of Wynkoop Street, was opened June 1, 1881, at a cost of $525,000--a large center section topped by a clock tower, and with a wing of stone to each side. Fire destroyed the mid-section and adjoining parts of the wings in 1894; it was rebuilt. A new group took ownership of the depot in 1912; the Denver Union Terminal Railway Company. These owners demolished and rebuilt the center section of granite, trimming the building in rhyolite from Castle Rock and sandstone from Morrison--a building we've viewed in recent years.
In 1906, a "Welcome" Arch greeted arriving passengers, and soon a "Mizpah" Blessing bid them farewell. This archway was removed in 1931 due to increased traffic and the cost of electricity for 1,600 bulbs. A restaurant was located in one corner of the mid-section and remained there until after 1960. High-backed oak benches with warming radiators beneath were added. Lights had been added to the benches in 1949 for those wishing to read while awaiting departure. Tickets were purchased from ticket windows representing several railway companies. Eighty trains a day with thousands of travelers passed thru its doors in the early days. They came from all walks of life, including "troop trains" of both World War I and World War II.
Motorcars had come into vogue shortly after the turn of the century, as did air travel between the wars, giving travelers a choice of car, train or plane. Train travel declined due to these new modes of travel. Postal ramps which had been added beyond the side wings were torn down as rail traffic decreased. Office spaces in the building became vacant, and the baggage area was moved to the former restaurant space. Since 1958, rail use has declined to where now it is only two trains a day--Amtrak--one Eastbound to Chicago, the other Westbound to California. A Saturday "ski train" left for the Winter Park Ski Area (owned by Denver as a mountain park) in the morning and returned to Denver that evening. Now even the latter has been discontinued and the building is in disrepair.
Since the 1980s, Lower Downtown (LoDo) has been redeveloped from an industrial area of manufacturing, storage, wholesale goods and distribution into a thriving historic community of residential lofts, retail, bars, restaurants and a gateway to sporting venues. More land between LoDo and the South Platte River has many lofts with small street-level commercial outlets. Most of the old viaducts are gone, new bridges put in place, traffic moved to street level. Recreational pathways were designed and built to connect with those of the South Platte River and along Cherry Creek. Trendy? Yes! The Place to Live and Have Fun!
But, what's to be done with Union Station--the depot and adjoining approximately 19 acres?? When boundaries for the Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo) were drawn in the late 1980s, Wynkoop was a boundary. The Depot was not included. Plans were submitted for use of the venue by several groups, but nothing happened. Finally it was purchased by the Regional Transportation District, used as a stop for RTD buses, and the end of the line for RTD Light Rail, plus the depot for Amtrak.
The main facility for commuter buses and Mall buses was underground at the 16th & Blake/Market Street station. RTD offices were located in a historic building facing Blake Street between 16th & 17th Streets. The Union Station Building, once a part of "Skid Row", received status on the National Register of Historic Places and as a Denver Landmark. Union Station was used for scenes in the "Father Dowling" and "Perry Mason" TV series.
An O-gauge model railroad was, and still is, in the lower level, begun after an agreement was reached between the Denver Society of Railroaders and building owners that if the Railroaders would clean out mud and silt from a 1930s flood, they could have the space to build model railroads there.
Finally RTD bought Union Station, with the idea of turning it into a transportation hub. They asked for development plans for the Depot and surrounding land. Others began to think about the plan--it sounded good! It all took time, but plans began to fall in place!
Union Station stands alone on Wynkoop Street between 16th and 18th Streets, facing LoDo. Open spaces between the building and adjoining streets have been used as parking lots. The Union Station Neighborhood Company, a master developer (East/West Partners and Continuum) is overseeing development. Plans now are to do away with those parking spaces and build a multi-storied building to each side with adjoining plazas. Some of the Depot is boarded, the tunnel to the trains, blocked. Amtrak's depot has been moved temporarily to a building at the junction of 21st and Wewatta Streets--where one takes the baggage, buys the ticket for east- or west-bound destinations and boards the train when it arrives. If you wish to take Amtrak, check out its location--it's not the easiest places to locate off the 23rd St. /Park Ave. Bridge. At Union Station, where the baggage area once was located, is now headquarters for the USNC redevelopment taking place around and in back of the Station. Construction fences are up (the fence along 16th Street has become an art project instead of just a barricade). Tons of dirt have been moved, excavations dug, new cement and foundations poured. New terminals for RTD Light Rail and Commuter buses are under construction on land which adjoins the 16th Street Mall to the Millennium Bridge connecting Lower Downtown and the South Platte Riverfront Development area, next to high-rise lofts. The underground regional bus facility is under construction, and tracks have been moved to the Consolidated Main Line (freight trains). "Buoys" for regional and express traffic, possible downtown circulator buses and other commercial carriers are next to the Consolidated Main Line. The Market Street Station will be closed. Chestnut Street will be opened from 20th Street. The O-Gauge will remain in its present location. (It is open one night a month except in the summer for viewing). And, at the present time, the public restrooms to the back of the Station are available.
Future plans include a walkway around the Building, plazas between Union Station and new construction. On the interior, the USNC would like to see a waiting area and lounge, information kiosk, newsstand, business center, retail, a restaurant, and small retail stores. Benches would be refurbished and rearranged by RTD. Outside: tables/chairs for eating or networking, a public-farmers type market (both inside and outside), a fountain, benches, landscaping with trees and flowers, all plans making it most attractive. Inside, upper floors would be business offices. The lower level would contain 8-track CRT, 3-track LRT, a 22-bay regional bus facility. The 16th St. Mall would be expanded and possibly two downtown circulators (the latter to go as far as Civic Center, Broadway & Colfax Avenues and back). ADA has approved the proposal of no "moving stairs". There would be paneled skylights to allow natural light into the lower level.
Another group, the Denver Union Station Redevelopment Team would prefer seeing upper floors made into a boutique-type hotel--perhaps 100 rooms and associated with The Oxford Hotel. Retail-commercial is considered for the main floor, inside and out along the plaza areas.
Trendy? Yes! The Place to Live and Have Fun!
But, what's to be done with Union Station--the depot and the adjoining approximately 19 acres?? A Request for Development Proposals for Union Station should go out later this summer. Hopefully RTD will be able to select a proposal quickly so work can begin by the end of 2011. Meanwhile, Union Station Neighborhood Company will be working on the remainder of the development and RTD transit improvements. When finished, the plan is to have a $488 million transit hub with an under-ground regional bus terminal, and a multi-track commuter rails to the west. The south area would contain commercial relaxing, attractiveness. And, then there's the $1.1 billion line to Denver International Airport We were shown only a part of the work ahead and needing to be finished, both inside and out!. The final costs on the building of Light Rail lines and work at Union Station and the surrounding project are potentially $7 billion.
What about the future? Proposals for Union Station, once a final one is accepted by RTD and completed, are to be more than a restoration--This is to be a Renaissance--a place where the City will Work and Play--and Redefine!
RMGA thanks Frank Cannon, Union Station Neighborhood Company, for all the information, plans, tour and time he gave to Association members to answer our questions about the future of Union Station and the surrounding area. It's mind-boggling, and . . . This Is Only The Beginning!