Tune in to get informed about what RTD has planned for the front range. This time it’s my land but next time it just might be yours.

http://www.kbdi.org/community_voice/CIOL_main.cfm?CFID=17216843&CFTOKEN=35784446

Who is the suit in this clip? Is that RTD’s lawyer? He definitely lied through his teeth in the news clip. He said that RTD is only acquiring the property they need for the voter-approved West Corridor project. Here’s the other info I found, broken down by page reference.

The “RTD Fastracks Transit Oriented Development 2007 Status Report” (link below) describes their entire urban development plan by area. It’s dated December 2007; it’s not like it’s even an old plan. It specifically mentions what type of development will occur and how many units or square feet of space will be constructed. The worst part is that it barely mentions anything about the train lines - what they are actually supposed to do.

http://www.drcog.org/documents/RTDTODStatus2007.pdf

Page 6-1 (page 43 on the pdf) describes Federal-Decatur Station which is close to your lot.

“This station area has strong redevelopment potential due to three factors:
- A 10-acre City maintenance facility located east of Decatur Street and north of the alignment is slated for demolition as part of the West Corridor project,
- While it currently has no identified funding for the project, DHA plans to redevelop the 33-acre, 333-unit Sun Valley public housing located three blocks south of the station as a mixed-income community, and
- Land use restrictions on Invesco Field at Mile High will sunset when the Stadium District bonds are retired in 2012, creating the opportunity for development on the parking lots located north of the station.”

The other document is the “Transit-Oriented Development Strategic Guide” from the City of Denver (link below). It seems Denver needs RTD to acquire the land for them so they can realize their development ideas.

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/193…%20plan%20.pdf

P. 25-26 (pdf p. 29-30) “Similarly, there may be a desire in some locations to strategically purchase properties for later development as TOD, affordable housing, or both. Denver does not yet have a land banking program or strategic land acquisition fund.”

p. 28 (pdf 32) “RTD and the City should work closely together to engage in corridor planning that maximizes the opportunities for TOD. Together RTD and the City should undertake station area planning so that station facilities and access improvements fit closely with Denver’s long-term community development desires and new improvements are designed to maximize walking access and the goals of TOD whenever possible. The West Corridor workshop initiated by RTD in February 2006 is a great initial step in this effort.” (Note: Why did RTD initiate this if they’re just building the train line?)

p. 36-37 (pdf 40-41) “Sun Valley and Westridge Homes/Decatur Station –

The area surrounding the Decatur transit station is one of the largest TOD opportunities in Denver and the one with the greatest potential for creating a new, thriving transitoriented district close to Downtown and overlooking the South Platte River. … The sheer size of the area and the fact that many of the parcels are publicly owned, make this site a strong TOD opportunity. Sun Valley in particular, and to a lesser extent Westridge Homes, are two of DHA’s most distressed properties. In order to leverage private investment in this area, these projects will need to be addressed. Recommended activities include: …
• Create a City property acquisition fund that could move opportunistically to purchase key privately-owned sites that come onto the market.
Determine if DURA, DHA or other non-city entity can acquire and hold available land and play this role if the City is unable to take on this activity.”
The last bullet states, to purchase private lands that “come onto the market”. Your land is not on the market.

This was a caption on page 36:
“There are two vacant sites immediately adjacent to the 10th & Osage transit station totaling three acres. These properties are presently owned by RTD and Denver has expressed an interest in purchasing them for the purposes of supporting transit-oriented development.”
Note: Why would RTD sell land to Denver if they needed it for their light rail? If it wasn’t needed for the light rail, why purchase it in the first place?

I know this is very long, but hope it helps somehow. Keep fighting the good fight!

-Billy

Keep fighting the good fight,