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Boulevard One: Lowry's Big Finish
Final Neighborhood Development Nears Conclusion; Retail, Signature Condo Completion Likely In 2020
by Glen Richardson
Lowry's 70-acre Boulevard One — an infill site about the size of Cherry Creek — has commenced construction of its retail zone and signature condos with buildout likely by mid-2020.
Unlike the rest of Lowry, Boulevard One has been built with very high-density and massive traffic concerns. Boulevard One is seen by some as a way to maximize the profits for developers at the expense of the rest of Lowry and surrounding neighborhoods.
Once the tail end of historic Runway One at the former Lowry Air Force Base, the multimodal, mixed-use community features mostly rowhomes, townhomes, attached homes and apartments. There are approximately only 130 detached single-family homes. According to developers, Boulevard One's dense urban hum is a new way of thinking about how to live, work and interact as a community.
Bounded by 1st Ave., Monaco Parkway and Quebec St., it abuts both the old section of Lowry to the east and south and the Crestmoor neighborhood on the west that created community tension. There were 60-plus public meetings and a lawsuit against the project. Originally planned as 10-12 story buildings and 1,200 dwelling units, it was downsized to 800 units with a maximum of five stories for rowhomes, apartments and commercial space.
Massive Makeover: Lowry's Boulevard One, an infill site about the size of Cherry Creek is nearing completion. The tail end of Runway One at the former Air Force Base is quickly filling with rowhomes, townhomes, attached homes and apartments.
A curving "main street" named Lowry Blvd. is now open connecting Monaco Parkway to Quebec St. through the middle of the rectangular development. Mixed-use projects soon will anchor each end of the street. The Met, Boulevard One's signature condominium community is already under construction on the west side. It is designed to be the project's "artfully designed" gateway to Lowry Blvd. at Monaco Parkway. Located on 3.72 acres, it will feature a public and private art collaborative showcasing various artists within the project's common spaces and communal grounds.
Two three-story buildings are taking shape on either side of Lowry Blvd. at Mon-aco with a total of 90 upscale condominiums being built. The one, two and three-bedroom homes will range from 1,000 to 1,850-sq.-ft. with 10-ft. ceilings, expansive windows and two-car underground parking.
A 350-unit luxury apartment block will face Quebec with single-family and rowhomes dominating the western two-thirds of the site. A five-acre community park forms the transition from the apartment block to the rest of the residential area. Except at the Lowry Blvd. intersection, a landscaped berm is being retained and will incorporate the site's public art program. The berm was built as a buffer to the Crestmoor neighborhood in the 1970s when flight operations ended at Lowry.
Retail Zone Underway
Local firms Confluent and Kelmore Development broke ground in April on The Boulevard at Lowry, the development's retail and commercial zone. The groundbreaking for the project coincided with the 25th anniversary of Lowry's transformation from an Air Force base. When completed the project will have approximately 140,000-sq.-ft. of building space. The 1.5-block section is designated for restaurants, retail, office and entertainment venues. Boulder-based grocer Lucky's Market will have 25,000-sq.-ft. on the ground floor of a three-story commercial building in the commercial zone at the site.
Retail Launch: The April groundbreaking, at right, for the retail zone coincided with the 25th anniversary of Lowry's transformation from an Air Force base. The 1.5-block section will have restaurants, retail, office and entertainment venues.
Situated on more than five acres at the northwest corner of E. Lowry Blvd. and Pontiac St., it is the last zone to begin development thus completion could be as late as the fourth quarter of 2020. Unlike the original Lowry development, however, it will be the only commercial development at Boulevard One.
Pedestrian trails throughout Boulevard One will lead residents to the commercial core with restaurants, cafés, boutiques, entertainment and other retail. The space will include professional offices plus community work-play spaces. A mixed-use center will feature a plaza, seating and public art.
Traffic Concerns Remain
Denver's rapid growth plus the addition of Boulevard One has increased traffic congestion concerns for Lowry, Crestmoor and the entire northeast corridor. Quebec St. is a "high injury network" street according to the city, and the area between First Ave. and Lowry Blvd. is a "pedestrian priority area," where families, seniors, children, people with disabilities, transit riders and others are trying to get to various destinations. Safety modifications are being completed at Quebec and First Ave. and at Quebec and Lowry Blvd.
Traffic Trepidation: Boulevard One buildout plus the city's rapid growth has increased traffic concerns for Lowry, Crestmoor and the northeast corridor.
LRA claims traffic volume and parking at Boulevard One will be the same as the office use at the demolished Air Force Finance & Accounting Center estimated at about 9,500 car trips. In addition they say car trips will be dispersed by the numerous connecting streets. As for parking, they say the same ratios have been applied at Boulevard One as the rest of Lowry. LRA installed a new signalized intersection at Monaco and Lowry Blvd. on the east side of Monaco Parkway. In addition to adding a neighborhood connection it has somewhat dispersed area traffic.
Improvements such as wider medians extended through the crosswalk to shorten the crossing distance; smaller turning motions for motorists; elimination of bus pullouts; and slightly narrower travel lanes have or will be made. These are not major changes but may improve pedestrian safety while helping to accommodate a growing volume of vehicular traffic. When completed the mixed-use center will include a mobility hub with bike racks, scooter parking, car share parking and a meeting spot for Uber/Lyft or a future shuttle. The "Flight Ride" art installation will be repurposed as a meeting spot and waiting area.
Buildout Buildup: In addition to the final project, the pace of construction on units of all sizes is humming with intense energy as site's completion nears.
When completed Boulevard One will contain about 800 residential units housing more than 1,800 people. Upon completion the total will include approximately 250 rowhomes and attached homes plus about 420 apartments. The total includes 14 townhomes and 72 apartments designated to offer "affordable prices and rents." Multi-story buildings located within the interior of the site are rising a maximum of 4-5 stories.
Classy Condos: Construction has started on The Met, signature condos designed to be the project's "artful" gateway onto Lowry Blvd. at Monaco Parkway.
Residents on the west side of Boulevard One will have an easy walk across Monaco to the established Crestmoor Park, which has a great trail that loops the park for power walks-runs. Crestmoor Park itself will likely become far less quiet and intimate than it was in the past.
On the east side of Boulevard One, the original Lowry is known for its green spaces, such as Sunset Park and Great Lawn Park, offering playgrounds, meadows and summer concerts. Housed in a former aircraft hangar, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum exhibits aircraft from different eras. Big Bear Ice Arena has skate sessions and hockey games.
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