Colfax Ave Streetscape Initiatives

Our streetscape efforts in the public realm help create a spirit and vibrancy to Colfax to attract people to come and spend time at our businesses. On this page you’ll find a Design Guide for existing and new development, our Master Streetscape Plan that provides a long-term vision for Colfax, and our efforts surrounding 16th Avenue, a crucial connection for residents and visitors who bike, walk, or roll to our businesses on Colfax.

Colfax Ave Streetscape Design Master Plan

The Colfax Ave Streetscape Plan, created by studioINSITE, in partnership with ArtHouse Denver, Centro Group, our advisory council and Colfax Ave BID board, provides a strategic plan for Colfax Improvements, including safety implementations, branding, and building guidelines.

 

We know that Colfax Avenue holds a special place in the hearts of many and we spent countless hours working with our stakeholders, business and property owners, residents and friends to create a plan that provides enhanced safety guides, respects the historic nature of the street and improves the pedestrian experience, all while keeping our independent and original street thriving.

 

The ideas in the Streetscape Plan are conceptual and based off of over 500 points of data that were collected through various focus groups, stakeholder meetings, events, and online surveys. 

Click here or on the image to view the Streetscape Plan in its entirety, or choose from one of the chapters below.

 

  1. Introduction – sets the stage for the plan including a brief history of the area, future vision, phasing strategy and overarching principles.
  2. Accessibility – includes an overview of data analysis as well as recommendations for improved connectivity and accessibility to the corridor. It focuses on creating a multi-modal environment – one that puts more emphasis on the pedestrian than the current environment provides
  3. Land Use – includes recommendations for preserving and enhancing the “Colfax character” through new development and adaptive reuse.
  4. Placemaking – presents “big ideas” for elevating Colfax Ave as a destination.
  5. Wayfinding – includes recommendations for a unique brand and identity and preliminary wayfinding signage design package.
  6. Final Streetscape Design – includes recommendations for specific streetscape elements as well as streetscape design guidelines.
  7. Funding – this chapter includes cost estimates and funding mechanisms for implementing recommended improvements.

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16th Avenue Shared Street

The 16th Avenue Shared Street was established during the pandemic and designed to deter non-local vehicle trips and reduce speeds to create a safer environment for all ages and abilities to use the street for recreation and mobility. We teamed up with the Denver Streets Partnership in 2021 to host community events that demonstrated the need for safe and accessible travel along 16th Avenue, which serves as a “gateway” to our many local businesses along Colfax for those who bike, walk, or roll to their destinations.

Bike From Work Day

On September 22nd 2021, we hosted a Bike From Work Day party at the Economist Apartments with live music, free beer, and tasty food samples from our local businesses.

Porch Fest

On October 23rd 2021, the 16th Ave Porch Fest celebrated the benefits of safe, accessible, shared spaces for people as neighbors from Gaylord Street to Humboldt Street opened their porches to host musical acts and community members and called on Denver to permanently maintain 16th Avenue as a people-first shared street.