WHAT TO KNOW

The project is currently in it's 1st Public Hearing - May 12th

Lincoln Properties is seeking to become a Metro District and will use Mill Leavy to fund for the Metro District. The tax will only apply to those who live within the 59 acres property. This tax is  to maintain The Bend, water/ sewer hook up, and events.

The City of Lakewood is seeking to make the project an Urban Renewal Plan. This means that it has to fix "blighted conditions" for remediation, such as updating streets, sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks, aging infrastructure and much more. 

To pay for the URA the funding will come from property taxes of the "taxing entities." Included is the City of Lakewood, Jefferson County, West Metro Fire Dept. and a few more. This is calculated based off of their property value. It will not create a new tax but will re-adjust their tax distribution in order to pay for these taxing agreements. 

Phase 1: "The Bend"- "identifies opportunities to create a more walkable and attractive urban district with strong connections to the Federal Center light rail station." 

• 2,000 Luxury Apartment units (10% affordable housing = 200 units)

• 100,000 sq. ft. Office & Retail Space

• Parkland/ Open Space/ Public Easement: 3 acres Public Open Space, 3 acres dog park, 5,00 sq. ft. Trolley/ Meeting Space

The redesign will "refine the vision for the area, help establish a sense of place, and create a consistent and identifiable character for the Union Boulevard Corridor."

The area will "evolve as properties develop or redevelop under the current zoning to higher density, mixed-use development."

Smaller city blocks will establish a network of street connectivity and pedestrian walkways that will integrate with mixed use development.

DENSITY

To shrink the size of a city block, "density" is absolutely required for successful development.

There are  3 main ways of creating density specific to the City of Lakewood's "Comprehension Plan" and other "area" plans as well.

1) "Infill" undeveloped areas near older buildings, as well as, underutilized parking lots.

"Infill" means the process of building on unused land or underutilized land.

2) Building mixed use spaces between 6-12 stories tall, with the upper levels utilized for multi family housing and the ground level devoted to retail and office spaces.

• Multi-Family Housing (apartments) = 2,000 units

  • • 10% affordable housing = 200 units of the 2,000 units

• Office and Retail = 100,000 Sq ft.

3) Existing parking lots will be replaced with appealing and functional parking garages.

This will mitigate underutilized spaces and create concentrated locations for automobiles.

PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED

• Encourages alternative ways to travel by light rail transit - W Line

• Reinvention of streets so that they coexist with bicycle and pedestrian use, and adding of crosswalks that focus on safe pedestrian crossing of busy streets.

• Adding and improving old sidewalks

• Creating safe bicycle lanes

• Bike and Ride Share opportunities

• "Potential Shuttle Services that will connect the surrounding community to the Union Corridor, Light Rail Station, Federal Center and potentially Red Rocks Community College".

• Implementation of a tree program

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

One of the biggest concerns are known contaminations at "The Bend" location site. 

"The Property has gone through extensive environmental investigations over several decades and various remedial measures have been completed or implemented at several locations across the Property."

Click here to see the Summary of Investigations and Current Regulatory Status

Click here to see the Review Report for the Former Denver Federal Center Redevelopment Parcel conducted by TriHydro Corporation

Please take the time to watch this portion of the Planning Commission Meeting on 1.22.2025 to get familiar with environmental factors in this area, "blight conditions", and costly expenses to remedy these factors.

Planning Commission Meeting 1.22.2025 @  27min : 55sec (YouTube)

PROJECT FINANCING

This project will need the participation of the surrounding residential community, property business owners, and private entities to finance the project.

1. Incremental Property Tax Revenue (property tax)

2. Sales Tax

3. Private Equity

To learn how Metro Districts and Urban Renewal Areas are financed, please watch this video https://youtu.be/l3hrwg-hnxU?si=BriwHVkmveqd6Fbo

You can find a more detailed breakdown of Project Financing within the document below.

Extracted pages from the 9.11.24 The Bend @ Lakewood Urban Renewal Plan revised 12.30.24 corrected 1.8.2025

At the recent Planning Commission Meeting on 1.22.2025, Commissioner Rhonda Peters inquired to the degree of "why are the rental properties potentially going to be taxed at 0% and residential and business property owners get the higher tax rate?"

Please take the time to watch this portion of the Planning Commission Meeting on 1.22.2025 to hear the answer. What do you think? Let me know!

Planning Commission Meeting on 1.22.2025 @ 42min : 37 sec (YouTube)

WHAT TO EXPECT

If you reside, or, a business owner in the boundaries of Ward 1, in particular the Union Square Neighborhood, this project will have a direct impact.

To find the Ward that you reside in

Visit -  https://www.lakewood.org/My-Neighborhood

Patience, this project will be completed in 7 phase developments and will take an unknown time to complete.

Alongside the phase developments will be street reinvention which will take time to complete and patience due to construction.

Prepare for population growth and added traffic to the area.

Population growth is to be expected as 2,000 housing units will be available for rent.

Office and retail space will influence pedestrian and automobile traffic.

WHY IT MATTERS

It matters because the development will majorly transform Union Boulevard Corridor and will inevitably effect the surrounding community, in particular, the Union Square Neighborhood and local businesses within the vicinity.

There are major downsides, such as...

• the surrounding residential and business property owners will face higher property taxes

• the discrepancies in the tax breakdown between the developer and the community should be acknowledged

• costly environmental remediation

• no opportunity to buy into residential real estate as mixed use-multi family apartments will be available for rent

• population and traffic growth, and continuous construction disruption are just a few to name.

There are many positives too, such as... 

• Long term investment into the Union Boulevard Corridor district.

• Encourages businesses to come to the area and will create jobs. 

• Adds much needed housing and affordable housing in the City of Lakewood.

• Will fix environmental concerns including deteriorating street infrastructure, and  environmental remediation at The Bend site.

• Focuses on pedestrian use and ease of walkability.

•  Influences alternative ways to travel via the light rail, bike and car share, and a potential community shuttle are all a few to name.

Do your research and decide what you think. Reach out and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

HAVE A VOICE

Local businesses and residents have the power to create an equitable environment for their community. By creating a unified voice can facilitate necessary improvements for the overall growth of our residents, local  businesses, and all who visit our area.

Do Your Research - You can find all city documents related to the project in the "Be In The Know" section below.

Write down your questions and/ or concerns.

Attend the 1st Public Hearing at the City Council Meeting on,

Monday, May 12th, 2025 @ TBD

Be Vocal - You can attend in person to make a public comment on this project at the coming public hearing.

You can also participate online and write your public comment on the Lakewood Speaks webpage when the agenda is available. 

To find upcoming meetings and to write your public comment online, visit: https://lakewoodspeaks.org/

-OR-

You can attend ANY City of Lakewood government meeting and make a public comment as long as "The Bend" @ Lakewood Renewal Plan is NOT an item on the agenda.

To find upcoming meetings, visit: https://lakewoodspeaks.org/

Take a survey  - The Bend Neighborhood Survey