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Real Estate

Campaign begins in support of DIA “aerotropolis” initiative

Justin September 14, 2015 at 1:09 am 0

This month, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Adams County Commissioner Erik Hansen joined leaders from Adams County and Denver at Denver International Airport to launch the “1A for DIA” campaign.

Image courtesy Denver International Airport

For this initiative to come to fruition, it will require voter approval on Nov. 3rd from Denver and Adams County voters. The aim of this agreement is to create economic opportunities and job growth by developing the available land at DIA. “DIA is an economic powerhouse,” Mayor Hancock said. “The airport pumps more than $26 billion a year into the state’s economy, making it the leading economic driver in the region. 1A for DIA will allow the airport to continue to be a catalyst for economic development for the metro area, giving us the opportunity to strengthen our economy, produce thousands more jobs, and attract new businesses into the region. 1A for DIA campaign is targeting voters in both Adams County and Denver to support new commercial businesses at DIA, bringing new manufacturing, new retail, and an estimated 12,000 new jobs to the airport according to the 1A campaign. In 2016 the commuter rail line that has been under construction will connect DIA to Denver's Union Station will open. Trains will run every 15 minutes, and at a top speed of 79 mph passengers will be travel from DIA to downtown Denver in just under 40 minuets. Currently the trains are being tested in advance of the 2016 opening. “DIA has a major transportation advantage, sitting at the center of interstate highways, freight rail lines, passenger rail, and international air shipping routes. Combine that with our world-class workforce, and DIA has advantages that make it competitive with major cities across the world. By passing 1A for DIA, voters in Adams County and Denver can bring DIA and our entire region to the world stage,” said Adams County Commissioner Hansen. “And we’re able to elevate Colorado’s economy without raising taxes.” Measure 1A does not create new taxes or raise any tax rates, with money created by the new businesses to be split evenly between Adams County and Denver. Current restrictions on noise and residential development will remain unchanged under 1A. “Twenty years ago, the opening of DIA introduced Colorado to the world,” said Denver International Airport CEO Kim Day. “With our new hotel, new passenger rail line, and as the 5th busiest airport in the country, DIA is a world-class operation. Voters in Denver and Adams County have the opportunity to take DIA to the next level and compete internationally for businesses that will boost the entire region’s economy.” For a more detailed view, take a look at Denver Urban Review's first article on this initiative from June by clicking here

DIA

Project Announcements, Transportation

New East Line station with transit oriented development

Justin July 22, 2015 at 1:09 am 2

Rendering of planned Peña Station courtesy DIA.

Rendering of Peña Station courtesy DIA.

Denver International Airport (DIA) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) have announced that a sixth station will be added to RTD's East Line adjacent to a planned 400-acre transit oriented development. RTD's East Line is a 22.8 mile commuter rail line that is slated to open in 2016. This line will connect Denver's Union Station with DIA. The original plans for the East Line did not include this sixth station that will be located at 61st and Peña Boulevard. Travel time from Union Station to DIA was originally slated to be 35 minutes. With this station at 61st, the estimated travel time is now 37 minutes. The commuter trains will travel at a top speed of 79 mph. “This new station provides a convenient access point into RTD’s regional rail system for commuters and other riders from the growing northeast metro area,” said David Genova, RTD’s interim general manager and CEO. “This improvement would not have been possible without our long-term partnership with Denver, its airport team and the landowners, who worked together to create an asset that will significantly benefit the region.”

Exterior view of the RTD Commuter Rail Car at Denver's Union Station.

The transit oriented development that is planned to be developed adjacent to this new East Line station has been named "Peña Station." This master planned mixed-use development is slated to include commercial, multi-family residential, hotel, healthcare and retail components. The first ground-up construction at Peña Station will be the 112,000 square-foot headquarters facility for Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company. “This rail stop, anchored by the Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company headquarters facility, will create a unique smart sustainable transit-oriented development which will set the stage for the next generation of transit-oriented developments in North America,” said Cal Fulenwider, President of L.C. Fulenwider Inc.

Rendering of Peña Station courtesy RTD.

The planning of new East Line station and Peña Station has been a joint venture between four property owners, including DIA and L.C. Fulenwider, Inc. They also agreed to an overall finance plan to fund all of the initial infrastructure. Fulenwider will serve as lead developer for Peña Station. “The transit oriented development at Peña Boulevard Station validates the Mayor’s vision of an Aerotropolis: the airport serving as a catalyst for regional economic development around its perimeter,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “Airports around the world are increasingly using development opportunities to enhance the economic benefits to their airports and their communities and while many are ahead of us, we are now well on our way.” Construction of the Panasonic facility is expected to begin this October and the East Line is slated to begin service in the spring of 2016 with the Peña Boulevard station being operational at that time.

Transportation

DIA sets record for busiest April

Justin June 15, 2015 at 1:07 am 0

Airplane takes off at DIA. Image courtesy DIA.

Denver International Airport (DIA) has announced that April set a record for passenger traffic as the busiest April in the airport's history. More than 4.22 million passengers passed through DIA this April up 1.5 percent from April of 2014. “As we enter the busy summer travel season, we are seeing strong increases in capacity by many of our airline partners,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “United, Southwest, American, Delta and Spirit all had increases in passengers in April, and we continue to see strong gains in international passenger traffic among United, Lufthansa, British Airways and Volaris as, increasingly, travelers are using Denver to connect with the world.”

DIA begins resurfacing of runways

Work to resurface runways at DIA began this month with an estimated cost of $46.5 million. Runway 17L-35R will be closed until September 15th. The runway is 12,000 feet long and 150 feet wide and contains over 2,000 concrete slabs that are being removed and replaced. “DIA is now 20 years old, and there is an increased requirement for maintenance of the facility,” said Ken Greene, DIA’s chief operating officer. “Our robust pavement management program allows us to efficiently track the age and condition of more than 150,000 individual concrete panels on the airfield, and to make proactive maintenance decisions that will help to ensure the safe operation of more than a half-million flights a year."

Opening date for DIA Westin announced

DIA also recently announced the DIA Westin will open to guests at 3 p.m. on November 19th, 2015. The Westin DIA will house 519 rooms in the 433,000 square foot, 14-story hotel.

Rendering of Westin Hotel and public plaza. Image courtesy DIA.

The Westin DIA has been constructed in concert with the airport's new transit center. In 2016 the East Line, a commuter rail line will open and provide a connection to downtown Denver on trains that will reach a top speed of 79mph. Trains will run every 15 minuets during peak hours along the 22.8 mile line and will deliver passengers from DIA to Denver's historic Union Station in 35 minutes. The hotel was designed by international design firm Gensler, which also designed the recently completed 16M mixed-use development in downtown Denver.

Denver hotels DIA

Project Announcements

Denver, Aurora and Adams County communities agree on DIA future

Justin June 3, 2015 at 11:50 pm 0

Leaders from Adams County, Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Federal Heights and Thornton have announced that an agreement has been reached on how the land at Denver International Airport will be managed for future development. The parties involved are members of the Airport Coordinating Committee. This agreement is the result of more than two years of talks between these parties. The agreement includes an amendment to the original 1988 intergovernmental agreement, that helped guide the creation of the airport.

Image courtesy Denver International Airport

“This historic agreement will have a seismic impact on metro Denver’s competitive edge in the global marketplace," stated Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. "Not only has our region come together once again to take hold of our shared future, but we are setting ourselves on a trajectory abundant with opportunity. I’m immensely proud of where we stand today because I know the possibilities we are creating for Colorado’s economy." For this agreement to come to fruition, it will require voter approval from Denver and Adams County communities this fall. The aim of this agreement is to create economic opportunities and job growth by developing the available land at DIA in a manner that ensures all parties involved and the entire Denver metro area and Colorado benefit.

The Westin DIA currently under construction. Image courtesy Denver International Airport

“From day one, we have viewed DIA as an enormous opportunity for economic development, not only for Aurora, but all of Colorado," said Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan. "While the negotiation was complex and took time to reach, it is good news for all of our communities. This agreement will allow us to take full advantage of the enormous economic development and job creation opportunities that deliver tangible benefits for area residents. Because of the hard work of all the jurisdictions in coming to this agreement, the future of Adams County, DIA and the entire region is stronger, brighter and more exciting.” Below are the parameters of the agreement as listed in the press release that was issued by DIA, Denver and the Adams County Communities:

Denver and Adams County communities would create a 1,500-acre pilot program on DIA to allow a wider spectrum of commercial uses than is currently permitted under the original 1988 IGAs. For example, the pilot program clearly would allow uses such as retail, office parks, warehouses and manufacturing even if they are not directly related to airport operations or aviation.

Adams County and Denver would evenly split tax revenues generated from the new commercial uses on these 1,500 acres. ACC members have set a formula to apportion the Adams County share of revenues among themselves.

Denver also would provide Adams County with an upfront payment of $10 million, to be divided among Adams County communities based on the same formula.

DIA would retain all of the lease revenue from these new commercial businesses.

The 1,500-acre pilot program could be expanded with approval from the ACC.

Denver and Adams County communities would create a regional entity to jointly market these new commercial business opportunities at DIA and the region – and possibly over time plan, fund and develop regional infrastructure.

Land-use restrictions also would be lifted on property on the edges of the airport. These “clear zones” were initially created as a buffer around DIA but there is now consensus that the restrictions are no longer needed. Adams County and overlapping municipalities would receive 100 percent of the tax revenue from new development in the clear zones, while DIA would retain the lease revenue.

DIA would not seek new commercial businesses that would compete with the nearby Anschutz Medical Campus and Fitzsimons Innovation Campus in Aurora.

DIA

Construction Updates

Opening date for Westin DIA announced

Justin June 2, 2015 at 12:09 am 2

Denver International Airport (DIA) and The Westin have announced that the DIA Westin will open to guests at 3 p.m. on November 19th, 2015. The Westin DIA will house 519 rooms in the 433,000 square foot, 14-story hotel.

Westin DIA. Photo courtesy DIA and Westin.

“Adding a state-of-the-art hotel and conference center to our international airport places our region front and center as a leader in travel, transportation and tourism,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “We now look to the completed vision of a commuter rail that will soon connect DIA to downtown Denver, creating additional economic opportunities along the Peña Boulevard corridor stretching to our city core.” The Westin DIA has been constructed in concert with the airport's new transit center. In 2016 the East Line, a commuter rail line will open and provide a connection to downtown Denver on trains that will reach a top speed of 79mph. Trains will run every 15 minuets during peak hours along the 22.8 mile line and will deliver passengers from DIA to Denver's historic Union Station in 35 minutes. The hotel was designed by international design firm Gensler which also designed the recently completed 16M mixed-use development in downtown Denver.

Rendering of Westin Hotel and public plaza. Image courtesy DIA.

“We are thrilled to be delivering our brand promise For A Better You to Denver International Airport before the busy holiday travel season begins,” said Tom Curley, general manager of The Westin DIA. “As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Denver is primed to soon have a hotel with refreshing ambience that allows the traveler to feel well while on the road, as well as a conference and transit center that will connect more people with everything the Rocky Mountains have to offer.” The hotel will feature a 37,000 square foot conference center and an additional 19 meeting rooms. A swimming pool and exercise facility are also included. Adjacent to the Westin DIA will be an 82,000 square foot public plaza that can be utilized for events and entertainment.

Construction Denver hotels DIA RTD

DIA

DIA begins resurfacing of runways

Opening date for DIA Westin announced

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