Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is the site being sold and redeveloped?

CDOT has moved its headquarters from the Virginia Village campus to a new building in the Sun Valley neighborhood near W. Colfax and Federal Blvd.  When CDOT started their disposition process to sell the property, the City & County of Denver intervened as a public agency and entered into a contract to ultimately sell the property to the Kentro Group, who won the competitive bid process.  The contract requires Kentro to rezone the site from the current Campus zone district; provide at least 200 permanent jobs and 150,000 square feet of commercial space; and construct 150 units of affordable housing (at 60% Area Median Income) within the City and County of Denver or pay a fee to the City’s Affordable Housing Fund.  If the City & County of Denver did not intervene and enter into a contract with these elements, the site would have been sold by CDOT to another purchaser who could develop the site under the existing Campus zoning or seek to rezone the site.

How will traffic be impacted and handled with the site’s redevelopment?

Traffic is an important issue and Kentro is committed to working with the City & County of Denver, the City’s Public Works Department and CDOT regarding appropriate transportation improvements and traffic/infrastructure analysis as the site is rezoned and redeveloped.  Under current Campus zoning, the site could be developed with a high density of residential and office uses which would add a number of new destination vehicular trips.  Under the mixed-use rezoning scenario, while the site would experience an increase in vehicle trips from its former headquarters use, the number of net-new destination trips would be decreased with a mix of uses and more pass-by and alternate mode (walk/bike/etc.) trips.  As part of our community meetings, we conducted some early traffic modeling scenarios (pages 14-16 of this PDF) that will evolve and adjust with the ultimate mix of uses for the site.  While traffic will increase regardless of the zoning as the site is developed, Kentro has hired a traffic engineer that is actively working with the City on all traffic impacts and considerations with the ultimate goal of protecting the neighborhood and minimizing traffic disruption.

What community outreach has Kentro performed and what feedback has been received thus far?

Kentro held eight public/community meetings in 2018.  At each of these meetings, a variety of input was received on topics including Uses, Zoning, Traffic/Infrastructure, Aspirations, Concerns, etc.  In addition to the eight community meetings, Kentro has been meeting with a group of dedicated neighbors that formed the CDOT task force.  Kentro has attended other group meetings such as the East Evans Business Association and met with Denver Public Schools about Ellis Elementary School.  Kentro has attended special meetings convened by City representatives regarding environmental and traffic issues.  In all, Kentro has received a wide-array of input and feedback, all of which is immensely valuable.

Below is a list of some of the main points of feedback which we’ve received and how we are proposing to respond:

• We received input on the types of Uses that are desired and not-desired on the site.  This has informed our thinking and direction with respect to entering into discussions with preliminary users of the site.
• We received input on zoning and heights and how various areas of the site differ in their adjacencies and sensitivities.  This has informed the rezoning application we ultimately submitted and will also inform the ultimate users we enter into discussions with.
• We received feedback about traffic and circulation from the neighborhood and the City Planning and Public Works departments.  This has informed our traffic engineer as we seek to perform traffic analysis and studies on future conditions.  We have also expanded the required scope of the traffic study to include a larger area, analyzing more intersections for more potential improvements for the area.
• We received feedback on neighborhood character and open space and how important these elements are to the site.  In response to this feedback, we are exploring and presented at the last meeting how we are willing to commit to a development agreement that would require a minimum amount of open space, potential neighborhood character or design elements (such as step-backs, etc.), and other access/traffic considerations.
• We received feedback on how important affordable housing is to Denver and this area.  This input has informed our thinking on uses and the critical need to deliver affordable housing as part of this project.
• We received feedback on the need to increase notification and information regarding this project.  As such, we agreed to pay for two flyers that were delivered to the surrounding area (single-family homes and apartments).  We also included Spanish and Arabic languages on our May 3^rd flyer.
• We also built a website to post information and obtain input and continued feedback.

What is being done to address the environmental issues on the site?

Kentro is actively working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), CDOT, the City and County of Denver and our consultants to understand the environmental components of the Property. A Special Public Environmental Meeting will be held 7:00 Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Cook Park Recreation Center to discuss 4201 E Arkansas Ave Property.

What will happen to the Communication Tower on the east section of the Property (next to Birch)?

The Communication Tower and land/building beneath it will not be included in the sale. The State of Colorado will continue to own and operate the tower.

How can I connect with Kentro Group to learn more and provide input?

Kentro is committed to having an open door policy throughout the rezoning and development process.  There are a number of ways to connect with us:

1. You can submit comments or questions on this website on the “Community Feedback” link, which we will respond to as quickly as possible.
2. You can attend one of our upcoming meetings, all of which will be listed on the Home/About link of this website.
3. You can contact Kentro’s community outreach consultant, Sean Maley by emailing:info@kentrogroup.com or by phone: 303-592-5453.
4. We will meet or speak with everyone that would like to, as we truly believe an open door and frequent meetings and communication is critical to a successful project that will make this site an amenity to the neighborhood.