Denver City Council has approved Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s redevelopment projects that will see the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets playing in downtown Denver through 2050. The massive project will transform the 55 acres of parking lots around Ball Arena into a mixed-use neighborhood with housing, businesses, and open spaces. The redevelopment could double downtown Denver’s square footage and include skyscrapers, bridges, and over 6,000 new apartments and condos, including affordable housing.
The project also includes extending the current arena agreement to 2050 and rezoning the property for additional developments. While there are no immediate plans to replace the 25-year-old Ball Arena, the zoning allows for the construction of a new stadium on the site.
KSE worked closely with stakeholders and committed to including 18% affordable housing in the neighborhood, up from the city’s previous 10% requirement. Councilmember Jamie Torres, whose family was displaced in the 1970s for the Auraria Campus, led the charge in getting the project passed to ensure accessibility for all residents.
The project aligns with Denver’s Downtown Area Plan to decrease parking and increase density. Challenges around view plane rules were overcome, with taller buildings required to be thinner to preserve mountain views. Despite some residents voicing concerns about obstructed views, the community largely supported the redevelopment plans.
Overall, the approval of six bills from City Council signifies a significant shift in Ball Arena’s future. While the Avs and Nuggets will continue to play in downtown Denver for the next 25 years, the area around the stadium will undergo a transformative redevelopment process.
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Photo credit denversports.com