CityCenter Redevelopment

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Thank you for accepting feedback on this project.

I would like to start by saying that City Center was redeveloped only 22 years ago. And it now needs redevelopment again. This is way too soon to be in need of redevelopment. My point in bringing this up is to say, . . Let's think longer term this time and get a better bang for our buck.
#1 Ich-factor is the expanse of dead, black, hot awful concrete and asphalt with no shade . . . everywhere!!! Even the performance pavilion, where summer concerts are held, is a hot miserable place to sit. Parking lots everywhere. Awful!
I see a few restaurants - Tokyo Joe's, a juice bar with a patio on 285 and almost no one sitting out there. The reason is because it is noisy, choke-filled with exhaust, baking in the hot sun in the summer time. Dining alongside congested busy streets is far from inviting - who thought this would be a winner?
One thing I notice that Englewood keeps talking about is trying to create inviting ways to encourage non-car transportation into the downtown areas. I agree with this 100%!!! But there is a problem - there are no USEFUL bike racks or places where one can safely and securely park their electric bikes or mopeds. Yes, there are a couple of green ill-designed bike racks that one can chain their bike to. But it can only be used by 2 bikes at once, one on each side of the structure. While cute, it's ill conceived in terms of genuinely enticing bike riding into our downtown areas.
I agree with those who think that we should bring back the creek and make this the CENTRAL HEART of the redevelopment. I am not shouting, btw, . . .I am simply trying to emphasize the fact that the largest component of this redevelopment that is currently missing - and should be corrected - is the CENTRAL HEART. The creek should be the central heart and give rise to rest of the redevelopment. It is the creek that will give the redevelopment and the City what it is missing which is its SOUL.
Bring in areas of charm and warmth - bakery, restaurant, coffee shop, trees!, a summer farmers market pavilion (think of old south pearl district), etc. While I realize that walking areas need to be ADA standardized with flat stable concrete, what about sistering-up a soft walking path of 'soft-trail' to soften the hard hot concrete. How about a few benches along the way?
I understand a hotel is being considered - great idea. Apartments with main level shops/restaurants is fine as well. But orient these places so that patio areas face east in the morning, not on the north side of tall buildings where the sun never shines and it's uninviting to sit.
How about a bookstore? Invite Tattered Cover or Barns & Noble to open a store front. Have you ever noticed how much fun kids have in the found in the summer time in front of the Library? That's a great little park idea . . . expand on that.
I encourage you not to think in terms of more chain restaurants and chain stores. You've done that already and it didn't work. Englewood if filling up with young families . . . think in terms of bringing them into town center. Go look at the Boulder Pearl St. mall, ARvada's town center, Littleton town center. Do you see a Walmart there? I realize the City needs revenue and I'm not against that; in fact, I'm all for revenue. But Walmart makes our city come across as low-life, trashy and certainly isn't inviting. Englewood has always felt rather 'dumpy' to me in the decades that I've lived here. It's time for some class, character, with SOUL & HEART.
Thank you for letting me comment. I hope I will be allowed to add to my comments in the future as I think more about our home.

It is wonderful to see the attention to detail being put towards the potential of Englewood's City Center. As a family with two small children, I'd like to strongly recommend that a splash pad be included in the design for the City Center. The fountain that is currently there is not really designed to be played in, and yet always has children splashing in it during the summer. In order to make it a more functional area, it could be designed so that during the non-summer months it is a natural play space where people can gather or children can climb on the structures even when water is out of season. As an example, Clement Park in Littleton has a wonderful splash pad that does not have a huge footprint, is packed all summer long, and has great natural structures that look good year round. Since the water feature in the current City Center is currently the only one in Englewood, having it be a highlight of the new City Center would be wonderful.

Also, I second the comment from CO below about prioritizing bike infrastructure.

Thank you for your consideration!

With regard to business development, rents have to be reasonable (or subsidized). High rents are likely the main reason there are so many existing vacancies in the City Center.

I would like to see actual dedicated bike lanes throughout the City Center redevelopment -- not sharrows and not just treating bicycle infrastructure as an afterthought. I would also like to see a greenway or multiuse path that connects Little Dry Creek.

Please remember that the retail area East of City Center, and formerly Cinderella City was once a park donated to the city for the perpetuity for Englewood residents. There a an enormous opportunity to give a wonderful and beautiful redevelopment back to the citizens of city. Daylighting Dry Creek and creating a series of mill ponds and waterfalls with retail, corporate offices, housing designed for artists, writers, think tank types, e developers etc, would create a vital and vibrant foundational core of residents and that have the potential to benefit Englewood tremendously. As is, the only large housing developments in downtown are Public Housing. And while Public Housing is needed, recipients from anywhere in the country can migrate here and that have no roots to the community. Turning downtown housing into low income solely doesn't support local business and give back to the community. And public housing developers reap tax benefits for decades.

Please do not make a mistake and focus solely on public housing developments. Create an environment for Englewood that nourishes and sparks innovation for many years.