The Denver City Council has approved a proposal which outlines a package of new zoning rules for the Golden Triangle neighborhood, including an increase to maximum building heights.
According to the new verbiage, typical building heights in the Golden Triangle neighborhood range from 3 to approximately 20 stories, with the general building form intended to provide architectural variety and flexibility for all uses. The Point Tower building form provides an opportunity for building heights of more than 20 stories in a slender tower.
The updated zoning will provide a foundation for better design, a better experience for pedestrians and a better mix of uses, including more affordable housing. Denver Community Planning and Development undertook this project to implement the community’s vision for an eclectic, connected, creative and livable neighborhood, as envisioned in the Golden Triangle Neighborhood Plan. City Council unanimously approved the zoning changes, which implement the plan’s vision.
“The Golden Triangle is a unique part of the downtown fabric, and these updates will ensure it remains vibrant and accessible for those who live and work there, as well as those who come to enjoy its cultural destinations,” said Laura E. Aldrete, executive director of Community Planning and Development.
“Today is a great day for the residents of Golden Triangle, the pedestrian experience, breaking Denver’s dependence on cars, and historic preservation,” said District 10 Councilman Chris Hinds. “I am particularly proud of how we’re redefining affordability in this neighborhood so more have access to housing in our city.”
Home to Civic Center Park, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Public Library’s Central Branch and multiple historic landmarks, the Golden Triangle is a unique, culturally-rich downtown neighborhood. The zoning changes aim to ensure future development honors the eclectic, pedestrian-friendly nature of the area by:
- Encouraging a mix of land uses, building sizes, and development types
- Promoting a broad range of housing opportunities
- Reducing the physical and visual impacts of large parking structures
- Supporting the protection and reuse of existing buildings
- Ensuring a better experience for pedestrians through better building design, highly active ground floor uses, and outdoor public gathering spaces
The update, which is a text amendment to the Denver Zoning Code, affects the Downtown Golden Triangle (D-GT) zone district and is the first such update in the Golden Triangle since 1994. Along with new zoning, the neighborhood will benefit from updated design standards and guidelines, which will be part of the new Downtown Design Standards and Guidelines, which also include Arapahoe Square and Central Platte Valley-Auraria.
Visit DenverGov.org/goldentriangle for complete details on the project.
