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Community Hubs

Intent

The purpose of the Community Hubs Future Land Use Category is to include:

  • Mixed-use, urban, higher density and intensity activity areas.
  • Regionally-serving destinations that also serve local residents.
  • Typically found at arterial intersections and/or near light rail stations.
  • Highly walkable, with frequent transit service, while still accommodating automobile access.
  • Active and lively places–daytime, evenings, and weekends.
  • Enhanced public plazas and other spaces that incorporate art and other amenities.

Example Land Uses and Typical Forms

Within the Community Hubs Future Land Use Category, the following land uses and building forms are most common:

  • Vertical and/or horizontal mixed use
  • Mixed Use Buildings: Ground Floor Commercial with
  • Residential or Office above, depending on context
  • Office, Retail, Services, Hospitality
  • Auto oriented uses generally not allowed
  • Gathering spaces for larger events (indoor and outdoor)
  • Live/work
  • Townhomes
  • Multifamily Housing
  • Includes Large Form and High Density Residential with taller building heights

Land Uses Generally

The following land uses are typically allowed in each Future Land Use Category, including the Community Hubs Future Land Use Category:

  • Schools
  • Religious institutions
  • Parks, trails, and recreational uses
  • Community Gardens
  • Urban Agriculture, horticulture, and limited animal keeping
  • Drainage, transportation, and utility infrastructure
  • Government/Civic Uses
  • Cultural/creative attractions
  • Renewable Energy Generation
  • Limited and accessory home occupations where residential is allowed
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Attached and Detached

Lakewood’s Community Hubs

The Community Hubs shown on the Future Land Use Map identify areas of Lakewood that are anticipated to be regionally-serving destinations comprised of mixed use, higher density development that results in walkable, urban environments. While all Community Hubs share a variety of characteristics including the potential land uses identified on the previous page, each individual Community Hub is unique. The descriptions that follow identify the distinct characteristics of each Community Hub, which will be used to review potential future projects to ensure compatibility with the desired character of the area.

Sheridan Station Community Hub

The Sheridan Station hub is located directly north and south of the station area and extends west toward Harlan Street where it joins the 40 West Arts Creative District/Colfax Core Hub. The area is envisioned as a 20-minute neighborhood, with mixed use redevelopment opportunities and strong local and regional transportation options via the trail network and bus and rail transit. The area will benefit from future multi-modal transportation improvements that are identified in the Sheridan Station 20-Minute Neighborhood Implementation Strategy and through regional corridor planning efforts. Opportunities to create a stronger and more cohesive identity for the area through design guidelines and coordinated planning with Denver, Lakewood, CDOT, and RTD will also improve livability in the area.

40 West Arts Creative District/Colfax Core Community Hub

The 40 West Arts Creative District/Colfax Core hub is a designated state-certified creative district and planning and development in the area should be done in close collaboration with 40 West Arts. The area is envisioned as a walkable, vibrant, arts and creative business-focused area that serves the local community and is also a regional attraction and destination.

The hub is generally located between Depew and Teller Streets and encompasses the 40 West ArtLine. The area is known for its public art and creative placemaking enhancements, as well as creative businesses and destinations like Casa Bonita, the 40 West Arts HUB, art galleries, theater, the historic Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design campus, and transit-oriented development near Lamar Station. Local, neighborhood-serving businesses in vertical mixed-use buildings, especially along Lamar Street, are envisioned. Flexible standards to encourage adaptive reuse of existing buildings (including motels and industrial brick buildings) and creative urban design should be encouraged. Zoning should be updated to prohibit new auto-oriented uses to help ensure the area develops as a pedestrian-oriented hub. Safe multi-modal connections via transit, biking, and walking are a priority as is activation and enhancement of the limited park and open space in the area.

The adopted 40 West ArtLine Framework Plan establishes an aspirational long-term vision for the area and provides additional guidance. The 40 West ArtLine Design Standards and Guidelines provide direction for development along the ArtLine route. Design guidelines should also be created for areas of Colfax outside of the ArtLine route in this hub area.

Lakewood-Wadsworth Station Community Hub

The Lakewood-Wadsworth Station hub is focused on the blocks immediately surrounding the station and extending north across Colfax Avenue. The area will include high-density residential south of the light rail station and mixed-use with transit supportive commercial business to the north. Wadsworth Blvd is a key transportation connector between historic West Colfax Avenue and Downtown Lakewood/Belmar and bisects this hub.

Multi-modal connectivity along and across Wadsworth Blvd and 14th Avenue near the hub is important to achieving the long-term vision. Consideration must also be given to transition in height and scale from the hub core to adjacent residential neighborhoods as the area redevelops. The plaza on the west side of the parking structure is envisioned as a future activation area for events and community gathering space.

Downtown Lakewood/ BelmarCommunity Hub

The downtown Lakewood/Belmar hub is the City’s primary mixed-use, entertainment, government, and large-scale cultural destination. It will continue to grow as a retail, employment, residential, and visitor destination, with enhanced arts and cultural venues and creative destinations.

In order to continue to accomplish this, the City, partners such as Alameda Connects, and developers, will:

  • Continue to evaluate and implement the recommendations of the Downtown Lakewood Connectivity and Urban Design Plan.
  • Evaluate opportunities to implement improved pedestrian connections across Wadsworth Boulevard.
  • Continue to support and grow art and placemaking efforts including the Discover Alameda Trail and Arts on Belmar.

Oak Station Community Hub

The Oak Station hub is being transformed into a mixed-use center, with an emphasis on research and development, retail opportunities, and residential redevelopment in accordance with transit-oriented development and walkable neighborhood principles.

In order to fully accomplish this, the City, its partners, and developers, will:

  • Develop a specific plan for the hub that evaluates mixed-use development opportunities for existing underutilized properties and includes design standards and guidelines.
  • Develop a green street, or tree lined parkway, between the rail station and Colfax Avenue, and connecting north of Colfax as well.
  • Develop and implement identity and placemaking elements along Colfax Avenue.
  • Enhance safety and improve the pedestrian experience on Colfax Avenue.
  • Improve multimodal connectivity within the Hub on both sides of Colfax by reconnecting the street grid and creating quality pedestrian and bicycle connections to the light rail station.

Denver West Community Hub

The Denver West hub, which includes the Colorado Mills shopping mall, will continue to be a primary regional retail and office location, with opportunities for infill residential and redevelopment opportunities, including mixed-income housing. The City and major stakeholders and property owners should work with RTD to evaluate opportunities to better connect the Denver West hub to nearby light rail stations via pedestrian access, public transit and/or shuttles.

Union Blvd. and Federal Center Community Hub

The Union Boulevard/Federal Center hub will provide a significant growth opportunity due to the continued expansion of the St. Anthony Hospital campus and development of necessary medical office buildings, and the growth and potential changes at the Federal Center. Along the Union Boulevard corridor there will be mixed use commercial and office development as well as residential infill and redevelopment.

In order to accomplish this, the City, major stakeholders, and developers, will:

  • Improve pedestrian access from the Federal Center Station to Union Boulevard and surrounding areas, improve pedestrian and bike crossings of Union Boulevard, and implement other recommendations in the Federal Center/ Union Boulevard Corridor Connectivity Plan.
  • Create a more walkable and attractive urban district with strong connections to the Federal Center Station, streetscape improvements, sidewalks, and pedestrian and bicycle connections, lighting, and other recommendations from the Union Boulevard Corridor Urban Design Plan.

Jewell and Wadsworth Community Hub

The Jewell Ave and Wadsworth Blvd hub is a smaller scale community hub that is envisioned as a well- connected mixed-use activity area for southeast Lakewood. To help achieve this, the following multi- modal transportation improvements are needed:

  • Connect the hub to adjacent neighborhoods via pedestrian and bicycle paths.
  • Improve multimodal connectivity within the hub by reconnecting the street grid.
  • Evaluate improvements to multi-modal access across Wadsworth Boulevard and to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
  • Evaluate opportunities to improve the pedestrian experience along both Jewell and Wadsworth through the installation of detached sidewalks, tree lawns, and amenity zones.

Academy Park Community Hub

Academy Park provides an opportunity for residential infill and redevelopment of existing underutilized office properties, with enhanced multimodal transportation connections within the hub, across Wadsworth, and to surrounding areas.