Lowry Residents Speak Out On Redevelopment, City Council Approves Plan
DENVER (CBS4) - Over two dozen community members voiced their concern or support for proposed changes to the growing Lowry neighborhood on Monday night.
Residents both for and against a redevelopment project spoke to Denver City Council before a vote on the old Buckley Annex.
"This area is being way over built," said one resident.
"This project works. It truly works," said another.
Denver City Council was asked to rezone the 70-acre property near East 1st Avenue and Quebec Street, in order to allow for the development of a mixed use community.
It would include 800 housing units, plus retail and restaurant space.
Hilarie Portell with the Lowry Redevelopment Authority said the project known as "Boulevard One" has been in the making for several years.
"We've made 60 specific changes in this plan in response to neighborhood input since 2007," she said.
Some of the concerns from would-be neighbors include the height of those new buildings, which are limited to 5 stories, and a concern about increased traffic.
"The streets and the infrastructure in that area do not support that extra population," said a resident.
Portell and the redevelopment authority believe the current plan would have the opposite effect, putting residence closer to necessities.
"What you want to do is create a mix use community where people are living and working and going to school and recreating, and they are coming and going at different times of day and using different ways to get around," she said.
Denver City Council approved the Lowry redevelopment plan at about 10:20 Monday night.