Max Boykoff, I urge the Council to again thoroughly explore the feasibility of an RTD rail station with the state, which was part of the original 2007 plan. For more bold ideas regarding community spaces and green, equitable, and climate-friendly places, I encourage you to listen to the Boulder-based “The Sustainable City” podcast by William Shutkin and Andy Bush. With vision and execution, the Boulder Junction project can become a model of visionary long-range planning, sensible zoning and appealing living that’s inspiration and guidance for further (re)development in our Boulder area. The Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety tax funds certainly can help. youth, University students, low-wage Boulder workers), (2) installation of unique building architecture and public art, (3) financial incentives for locally-owned businesses (restaurants, retail shops), (4) development of kid-friendly green spaces and tree canopy, the building of a city-run recreation center onsite, (5) greater access to public transportation and (6) a binding commitment to a higher percentage of permanently affordable housing (e.g. Phase 1 is now actually the highest concentration of housing in the city, and 21.5% of housing units are designated “permanently affordable.” Phase 2 is now underway with solicitations for needs assessments, preferences and alternatives from several constituents.įor Phase 2 implementation to achieve success, there must be (1) further expanded public input (e.g. The Boulder Junction project - initiated in 2007 at the former Boulder steelyards - is a critical undertaking that can help meaningfully address these vexing problems.

EPA estimates that transportation is responsible for about 28% of climate change-causing emissions, green-tinged “Boulder than Thou” attitudes must be tempered with recognition of these intersecting and acute shortcomings. Largely low-wage workers living in adjacent counties make that time-consuming trip, with hidden costs of gasoline prices and car maintenance that they themselves shoulder. Some indications are that the median Boulder home purchase price is over $1 million and more than 60,000 workers must commute in and out of the area each day. Your take?īoulder continues to face an affordable housing crisis, and zoning laws struggle to keep pace with current circumstances. But no one knows exactly what Phase 2 will entail. Phase 1 was building 1,400 housing units, a hotel and retail, and the RTD Depot. Members of our Community Editorial Board, a group of community residents who are engaged with and passionate about local issues, respond to the following question: Fifteen years in, the future of Boulder Junction is still an open question.

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