Near Southeast Area PlanCommunity Input Summary

Phase 1: Understanding the Area

Contents

• Kickoff engagement overview

• Engagement strategy feedback

• Feedback and themes by topic

• Next steps

Kickoff Engagement Overview

Goals

• Understand how the community views the area and what they like and dislike

• Learn what they would like the area to be like in the future

• Identify major issues that need improvement

• Improve engagement strategy

Key Takeaways

• Desire for improvements to commercial corridors, particularly Evans Avenue, with better design, walkability, and shopping, dining, and entertainment options

• Better and safer mobility options for all modes

• More diverse and affordable housing options

• Preserve and improve parks, trails, green spaces, and landscaping

Overview

July - September

• Community kickoff meeting

• Online survey

• Pop-up events

• Intercept events

• Focused engagement

• Stakeholder interviews

• Neighborhood meetings

Community Kickoff Meeting

July 20, 2021

• 128 participants

• Held virtually over Zoom

• Introduced the plan and the process

• Survey questions about likes, dislikes, how the area currently meets residents’ needs, what participants would like the area to be in the future, and how people would like to participate in the process

Online Kickoff Survey

July – September 2021

• 523 participants

• 2,489 comments

• Survey questions about likes, dislikes, how the area currently meets residents’ needs, participants’ vision for the future of the area, and successful engagement

• Comments could be placed on a map

In-Person Engagement

August 2021

• 9 pop-up and intercept events

• 331 participants

• Paper surveys similar to the online survey

• Comments could be placed on a map

Demographics

• 1,400 touchpoints

• 2,960 text comments

• 1,263 map comments

5%

10%

5%

27%

20%

33%

1%

14%

10%

4%

36%

36%

Goldsmith

Indian Creek

University Hills North

Virginia Village

Washington Virginia Vale

Other

Prefer not to answer

Legend

CPD Engagement

Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)

Neighborhood

Demographics

Female55%

Male37%

Non-binary0%

Other1%

Prefer not to respond

7%

Excluded

4%

13%

14%

10%

14%

8%

2%

3%

Excluded

20%

19%

12%

11%

10%

5%

5%

19 oryounger

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80 and over

Prefer not torespond

Legend

CPD Engagement

Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)

Gender

Age

Demographics

Legend

CPD Engagement

Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)

1%

3%

6%

10%

0%

0%

69%

8%

1%

8%

0%

4%

10%

17%

0%

0%

65%

0%

4%

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish

Middle Eastern or North African

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

Multi-racial

Some Other Race/Ethnicity

Prefer not to answer

Race/Ethnicity

Demographics

Legend

CPD Engagement

Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)

1%

2%

6%

22%

21%

12%

9%

27%

5%

13%

24%

32%

14%

7%

5%

Less than $10,000

$10,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $149,999

$150,000 - $199,999

$200,000 or more

Prefer not to answer

9%

85%

0%

6%

57%

43%

Rent

Own

Other

Prefer not to answer

Rent/OwnIncome

Focused Engagement

August - September 2021

• Outreach to apartment complexes to reach renters, younger, and lower-income residents

• Engagement with students at George Washington High School

Engagement Strategy

Engagement Strategy

• Lays out engagement goals for the Near Southeast Plan

• Describes the methods that will be used to achieve those goals

• Identifies how progress will be tracked

• Draft will be developed with input from steering committee and community

Participation

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Attend in-person

communityworkshops

Attend onlinevirtual meetings

Take onlinesurveys

Take in-personsurveys

Participate infocus groups

Office hours Neighborhoodmeetings

Tours and fieldassessments

Receive emailupdates

Social media Other

How would you like to participate in the process?

Information

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

City website or emails Council officecommunications

Local media Social media Neighborhoodgroup/RNO

Friends/neighbors Fliers/mailers Other

How do you learn about things happening in your neighborhood?

Successful Engagement

Common themes:

• Ensure plan responds to community concerns

• Show how comments are taken into account

• Communicate what is going on with the plan and how people can participate

• Include everyone in the area, and reach new people to the process

• Use a variety of methods and timeframes to communicate and gather input

• Develop a plan that will be implemented and address neighborhood issues

• Build capacity of residents, RNOs, and other neighborhood groups for plan and after

• Build trust with the community that their input matters and the plan is for them

• Create interest, ownership, and community cohesion

• Continue strong engagement on the plan

Feedback and Themes

Organization

Comments have been summarized into top likes, dislikes, and ideas by topic:

• General

• Land use and built form

• Equity and housing

• Mobility

• Quality of life infrastructure

For more details on comment themes, see the October 13, 2021, Steering Committee Presentation

General

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Building design,what future

developmentshould look like,building heights,

etc.

Affordable housing Anti-Displacement(residents people

and localbusinesses);

improving accessto opportunity

Trees, parks, greenspace, andrecreation

Getting around bywalking/rolling, bikeor car; traffic issues

Local businesses,jobs or education

Sustainability,green building

Healthy grocerystores and fresh

food nearby,community gardens

Safety Other

What topics interest you most

Land Use and Built FormTop Likes

• Mix of urban and suburban feel

• Scale and location of the area

Top Dislikes

• Impacts of new development, traffic, loss of green space

• Areas in need of revitalization, Evans corridor

Top Ideas

• Sensible and sustainable growth that preserves what people like

• More mixed-use areas with businesses/services/entertainment options to walk/bike to

HousingHow good are the housing options for each of the following groups, including availability, quality, and affordability?

HousingTop Likes

• Nice homes on large lots

• Quiet neighborhoods

Top Dislikes

• Increases in housing costs

• Lack of affordable housing

• Limited middle-income housing options

Top Ideas

• High quality affordable housing

• Housing assistance

• Housing that will lead to a diverse population

Economy

Top Likes

• Easy access to shops/restaurants, downtown/DTC, and highways

• Most essentials can be found in the neighborhood (grocery, pharmacy, etc.)

• Proximity and quality of public schools

Top Dislikes

• Rundown buildings and strip malls along Evans and other corridors

• Lack of gathering places (entertainment, breweries, bars, plazas, etc)

• Increase in homeless population

Top Ideas

• More community gathering places for neighbors to connect

• Walkable goods and services

• Revitalize Evans Ave.

Economy

MobilityHow easy is it to use each mode of transportation in Near Southeast?

Top Likes• The central location of neighborhoods and

proximity/accessibility to local amenities and regional destinations like Downtown Denver

• Access to Cherry Creek Trail and ability to walk/bike with family to local parks, including Four Mile Historic Park

Top Dislikes• While there are plenty of sidewalks, the area is generally not

pedestrian friendly when it comes to comfort and safety

• Lack of protected bike lanes and bike signals at intersections and overall safety prevent people from biking

• Evans Avenue, Leetsdale Drive and Colorado Boulevard are dominated by vehicles and major intersections are unsafe

Top Big Ideas• Connect neighborhoods with more pedestrian and bike

infrastructure, and invest in mass transit for the major arterial roads

• More time to cross the street and wider sidewalks with street trees and landscaping to act as a buffer from vehicles

• Less car-centric and more incentive to use alternative modes of transportation

LeetsdaleDrive

Colo. Blvd.

Evans Ave.

Cherry Creek

Mobility

Quality of Life Infrastructure

• How well do parks and rec centers meet your needs for the following?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know

Exercising/sports

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know

Being close to nature

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know

Gathering with friends and family

Quality of Life InfrastructureTop Likes

• Trees, large open spaces to gather and do activities, and other amenities in parks

• Cherry Creek, Highline, and Goldsmith Gulch trails for green space and mobility

Top Dislikes

• Need more park amenities, better access

• Appearance of more trash and neglected streets and properties in the area, especially along major arterial corridors

Top Ideas

• More culturally significant events and festivals in the exiting parks, more activities, better rec leagues

• Improved and better-maintained landscaping, climate appropriate and less water-intensive

Next Steps

Next Steps

The input above will be used for:

• Finalizing the engagement strategy

• Developing draft vision statements

• Identifying issues and opportunities the plan should address

• The next round of community engagement to develop recommendations