On Monday, October 21, Denver City Council approved the rezoning of 70 acres surrounding Ball Arena in downtown Denver. The major development proposed by developer Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) will transform the large parcels of parking lots and constrained access points into a 10—to 12-million-square-foot mixed-use development.
The redevelopment is proposing 6,000 housing units, 780 hotel rooms, retail spaces, a recreation center, a childcare facility, new transit stops and a 3-acre park. According to the Large Development Review plan, over twenty percent of the land area will be dedicated to parks and open spaces, creating a rich diversity of parks for the downtown area and make critical bicycle and pedestrian connections across and over current physical barriers that have previously landlocked the site.
Among the approved changes, the city council unanimously rezoned the land, allowing buildings of up to 12 stories. The development agreement also ensures that 18% of the units built will be affordable. Also passed, an amendment that guarantees the Colorado Avalanche hockey team and the Denver Nuggets basketball team will remain in the area until June 30, 2050.
Kroenke could break ground on the development in 2025 but it will likely take up to 30 years to complete the project.
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