Page 17 - Denver, CO Adaptive Reuse Program

ments, as well as regulations in fire, health and building codes.
While creating an adaptive reuse ordinance is not the exact tool
used for this program, the intent continues forward through the
creation of the adaptive reuse program. The East and East Cen-
tral Area Plans are expected to be adopted in 2020.

2019 Strategic Plan for the Denver Economic Development
and Opportunity (DEDO) Department
The 2019 Strategic Plan outlines DEDO’s vision, which states that
they will lead “an inclusive and innovative economy for all Denver
residents and neighborhoods.” Their mission also states that they
“Catalyze an innovation ecosystem… invest in opportunity areas,
and support small business development to help catalyze respon-
sible growth in Denver.” While adaptive reuse is not specifically
mentioned in the Strategic Plan, the vision and mission statements
lend themselves directly to the nature of businesses that utilize
buildings that have been adaptively reused. These are also most of-
ten small businesses, rather than large chains or franchises, fitting
directly into DEDO’s pledge to support small business develop-
ment.

Broader Policy Considerations and Benefits of an
Adaptive Reuse Program
More broadly, an adaptive reuse program supports citywide
policies related to economic development, historic preservation,
livability and environmental stewardship. It helps property owners,
developers, and business owners create places that are tailored to
their needs and that serve the greater community. An adaptive
reuse program attracts businesses that bring life to neighborhoods,
which in turn stimulate the revitalization of other properties near-
by and helps maintain and enhance neighborhood character. In a
competitive economic market, such as that along the Front Range,
showing Denver’s commitment to adaptive reuse supports business
development.

Facilitates retaining neighborhood character
Adaptively reusing properties helps retain features that contribute
to neighborhood identity. In the pilot area along the East Colfax
corridor, this would help retain small scale buildings and also help
to preserve the unique features of many buildings that collective-
ly contribute to the area’s unique character. These finer-grained
features provide variety and interest along the corridor as well as
a sense of connection with the area’s heritage. This is particularly
important as other properties redevelop and change occurs.

Adaptive Reuse Strategy Paper 13