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Page 2B— COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL — June 17-June 30, 2015
A dams County is
projected to be one
of the fastest-growing
counties in Colorado, with its
current population of 469,000
expected to increase by 50 percent
in the next 30 years.
Rapid residential, commercial,
industrial development
and redevelopment is
transforming the landscape
of the county. Contributing to
this transformation are four
significant areas – Adams County
Aerotropolis, Clear Creek Valley,
‘7 to 70’ North I-25 corridor, and
the North Washington area. These
areas combined with the county’s
projected growth will help to
ensure prosperity for Adams
County businesses and residents
for years to come.
THEAEROTROPOLIS
Touted by Time Magazine
to be “one of the ten ideas that
will change the world,” the
“Aerotropolis” is a urban form
placing airports in the center
with cities growing around them,
connecting workers, suppliers,
executives, and goods to the global
marketplace. The Aerotropolis,
which includes Denver
International Airport (DIA) in
Adams County, which includes
the cities of Aurora, Brighton,
Commerce City, and Denver,
is poised to be one of the most
impactful development corridors
in Colorado. Significant highlights
include:
In June, AdamsCounty and
Denver reached a historic agreement
that would amend the 1988
Intergovernmental Agreement to
guide commercial development
at Denver International Airport.
In part, the agreement – pending
voter approval – includes:
• Denver and Adams County
would create a 1,500-acre pilot
program on DIA where a wider
spectrum of commercial uses
would be allowed than are
currently permitted under the
1988 IGAs.
• Adams County and Denver
would evenly split tax revenues
generated from new commercial
uses on these 1,500 acres at DIA.
• Land restrictions would be
eliminated on 1,130 acres of
commercially developable land in
Adams County near DIA. Adams
County would receive all lease and
tax revenue from this land.
Front RangeAirport (FTG) and
SpaceportColorado: With almost
4,000 acres of land, Front Range
Airport is one of the largest
general aviation airports in the
United States. The airport is six
miles fromDenver International
Airport (DEN). Proximity
to a highly skilled aerospace
workforce, research universities,
major aerospace and defense
companies combine to make FTG
an ideal location for a commercial
spaceport.
CLEARCREEKVALLEY
Located at the southwest corner
of I-25 and U.S. 36, the corridor
contains a significant portion
of the county’s commerce and
industry, has aging infrastructure
and a number of brownfield sites.
However, the Clear Creek Valley
is experiencing a “renaissance”
as new developments and
investments are helping to
rapidly change the dynamics
and demographics of the area.
Significant highlights include:
• Adams County government
launched the Federal Boulevard
Corridor Framework Plan with
the goal to provide guidance for
future planning, transportation
and economic development
investments along Federal
Boulevard between 52nd Avenue
and 72nd Avenue.
• In May, the Environmental
Protection Administration
awarded Adams County a
$200,000 assessment grant
to inventory and conduct
environmental assessments on
properties focused in a 2-mile
corridor in the Clear Creek Valley.
• Brookfield Residential’s
MidTown at Clear Creek is
described as a “boutique new
home neighborhood” less than 5
miles from downtown Denver. It
offers all the benefits of the city
– art, entertainment, restaurants,
nightlife – and the advantages of a
new home.
ClearCreekTransit Villageis a
21-acre project being developed
in partnership with renowned
Denver developer Dana Crawford,
The TOD Group and Trailbreak
Partners LLC along the RTD
Gold Line. This development will
offer a resortlike atmosphere with
housing, employment, and retail
opportunities.
‘7TO70’NORTH
I-25CORRIDOR
The North I-25 corridor is
experiencing an explosion of
growth, opportunities, and major
investments. The boundary of the
corridor is I-70 on the south to just
north of Hwy. 7 or 168th Avenue,
Huron Street on the west and
Washington Street on the east.
Significant highlights include:
• The corridor is home to a
great mix of office, industrial,
residential, retail, hospitality,
and medical uses and home to
companies like Ascent Solar,
North Suburban Medical Center
and Cabela’s, and it is the future
home to DigitalGlobe and the
University of Colorado Health’s
new medical campus.
• The corridor is experiencing
major transportation
improvements, most notably is
RTD’s $343 million contract with
Regional Rail Partners (RRP) to
design and build the first 13 miles
of the North Metro Rail Line from
Union Station to 124th Avenue.
NORTHWASHINGTONAREA
Considered to be the gateway
into Adams County, the North
Washington area is located at the
intersection of “Main and Main,”
where I-25 and I-70 converge.
Significant highlights include:
• The corridor is anchored
by Crossroads Commerce Park,
the 77-acre former smelting
facility that is nearing the end of
a massive redevelopment effort.
Trammell Crow has agreed to buy
the property from EnviroFinance
Group and build the biggest
industrial park in central metro
Denver, adding up to 900,000 sf of
new industrial space to the market.
• The story is inside the mostly
nondescript buildings in this area:
Balistreri Vineyards, Brannan Sand
and Gravel, Colorado Lighting,
Continental Sausage and TruStile
Doors; and companies using
cutting-edge technology, like Clear
Intentions and Prescient.
For more information,
contact Tricia Allen, at TAllen@
AdamsCountyED.com, or visit our
website at
com.
Barry Gore
President/CEO, Adams County
Economic Development
Adams County Economic Development