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BJP2-OH2-Summary Report Boulder Junction Phase 2 OPEN HOUSE #2 – SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK I. Highlights The main engagement goals for Task 2 – Needs Assessment, Alternatives, Preferred Approach were to solicit feedback from the community and stakeholders on (i) current and future community needs and (ii) potential alternatives for updates to the plan. During Task 2, the project team sought community feedback through several channels in addition to the four Focus Groups. These include: • An online questionnaire on the BeHeardBoulder platform (May 15 – May 31) • In person Open House – May 17 (this was the project’s 2nd open house) • Emails received by the project team • Site tour with business owners, property owners and focus group members This report summarizes the feedback received from the in-person Open House and the accompanying online questionnaire, which mirrors the input sought at the in-person Open House. Feedback was received by about 94 people – with about 60 people attending the in-person Open House and 34 completing the online questionnaire. The questionnaire is an engagement tool for collecting feedback from the public. It is not intended to express a scientific, statistically-valid representation of all of the city’s residents. The responses are summarized below and detailed feedback is included in the appendix. Transportation Connections We asked: How much do you agree or disagree with the additional proposed transportation connections?  75% of respondents strongly agree or agree with the proposed connections.  None of the respondents strongly disagree and only 5% disagree. Strongly Agree, 38% Agree, 38% Neither Agree nor Disagree, 20% Disagree, 5% BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 2 | May-2023 We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed transportation connections? Samples of the feedback we heard: “Add several pedestrian underpasses to Phases 1 & 2” “The north-south multi-use connections will be great” “More alleys are always cool” “This area should have direct and comfortable walk/bike/transit connections to downtown. Goose creek doesn’t go downtown and direct routes to downtown are not safe for biking or comfortable for walking.” “Wilderness Place as a woonerf” “Where is the rail transit we have been promised for over 40 years?” “Would like to see more pedestrian under crossings of railroad tracks and better crossings of Pearl and Valmont” “Please make sure there is bus and car access. People with mobility limitations, like older adults, will be excluded otherwise.” Land Use We heard during the previous stage of the project that the Phase 2 area should maximize opportunities for housing, allow mixed use throughout, preserve existing business uses and allow for new local businesses. The project team developed three land use scenarios that would lead to different outcomes. We asked how much people agree or disagree with each option. We asked: Option 1 proposes no change to the land uses recommended in the Transit Village Area Plan. How much do you agree or disagree that only office and industrial uses should be allowed in the north, and residential and mixed- use should be allowed in the rest of the area?  The majority of respondents (69%) strongly disagreed or disagreed with Option 1.  20% strongly agreed or agreed with Option 1. Strongly Agree, 10% Agree, 10% Neither Agree nor Disagree, 12% Disagree, 37% Strongly Disagree, 32% BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 3 | May-2023 We asked: Option 2 proposes a single very flexible land use across all of Phase 2 (besides parks and open space). How much do you agree or disagree that a residential-focused, mixed-use environment should be encouraged throughout all of Phase 2?  Almost half of respondents (48%) strongly agreed; and almost three-quarters (72%) strongly agreed or agreed with Option 2.  Less than one-fifth (19%) strongly disagreed or agreed with Option 2. We asked: Option 3 proposes a combination of very flexible land uses. How much do you agree or disagree that a residential-focused, mixed-use environment (MUTOD) should be encouraged north of Goose Creek, and a light- industrial, mixed-use environment should be encouraged south of Goose Creek (MUI )?  About half (51%) of respondents strongly disagree or disagree with Option 3.  Almost one-fourth (23%) strongly agree with Option 3. Strongly Agree, 48% Agree, 24% Neither Agree/ Disagree, 9% Disagree, 7% Strongly Disagree, 12% Strongly Agree, 23% Agree, 13% Neither Agree nor Disagree, 13% Disagree, 30% Strongly Disagree, 21% BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 4 | May-2023 We asked: Which of the 3 options is best aligned with the feedback received related to future land use and will best serve our community’s needs?  Most respondents (65%) selected Option #2, followed by Option 3 (24%).  Option 1 (current plan) was the least popular choice. We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed land use options? • Can property tax vary by types of uses? • Don’t add to the jobs:housing imbalance • Move industrial away from this entry to Boulder…to area east of 55th Street • As many parks and green spaces as possible • OS-O Land Use – possible to increase to 2-3%? • MUTOD Land Use – no more than 3 stories • Include higher density residential in Option 2 We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed land use options? Samples of the feedback we heard: .. “we need housing much more than we need jobs in order to allow people who work in Boulder to actually live here and have a stake in the community, instead of adding to the traffic problems...” “We have an abundance of empty office space in Boulder already. Build more housing.” “Would like to see greater height limits if possible, especially as an incentive for affordable housing” “There are so many vacant office spaces it is sad and depressing to walk by empty units with no one being interested in renting them. COVID changed things, I get that, but it is apparent that we do not really need more office buildings.” “Option 3 would allow a mix of housing and workspace for people to easily commute between without cars.” “Boulder is already dense enough. Open space is essential to our quality of life.” “While I have mixed feelings about each of the three proposed land use options, I probably like option 2 best because it seems to be the most flexible. Generally, I think we should avoid over-zoning, and allow the area to develop more naturally.” "5 story buildings"? No thanks.” “Encourage retail and business at bottom and residential above. Minimize parking and make narrow streets.” Option 1, 11% Option 2, 65% Option 3, 24% BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 5 | May-2023 Urban Design & Character We heard the Phase 2 area should have a better-defined character, or experience. To reflect this feedback, there are options for how the different areas of Phase 2 should potentially evolve and be experienced. We provided the following options for different areas of Phase 2: 1. Main street environment that offers a variety of activity and visual interest, especially on the ground floor. 2. Live/work environment that creates a greater exchange between local business customers and workforce by infusing new residential into commercial areas. 3. Innovation environment that offers flexible opportunities for light industrial/services and commercial uses (e.g., coffee shops, bakeries, space for artists). 4. Residential environment with units at the ground floor and/or on upper floors. 5. Creative environment that is eclectic, artsy, funky and offers flexible opportunities for adaptive reuse and development. BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 6 | May-2023 We asked: For Area 1, select all descriptions for how you think the area should evolve and be experienced.  The most popular choices were live/work environment and a main street environment.  The least popular choice was residential environment. We asked: For Area 2, select all descriptions for how you think the area should evolve and be experienced.  The most popular choices were live/work environment and main street environment (also the top choices for Area 1).  The least popular choice was residential environment (also the least popular choice for Area 1). 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Main street environment that offers a variety of activity and visual interest, especially on the ground floor. Live/work environment that creates a greater exchange between local business customers and workforce by infusing new residential into commercial areas. Innovation environment that offers flexible opportunities for light industrial/services and commercial uses. Residential environment with units at the ground floor and/or on upper floors. Creative environment that is eclectic, artsy, funky and offers flexible opportunities for adaptive reuse and development. Area 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Main street environment that offers a variety of activity and visual interest, especially on the ground floor. Live/work environment that creates a greater exchange between local business customers and workforce by infusing new residential into commercial areas. Innovation environment that offers flexible opportunities for light industrial/services and commercial uses. Residential environment with units at the ground floor and/or on upper floors. Creative environment that is eclectic, artsy, funky and offers flexible opportunities for adaptive reuse and development. Area 2 BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 7 | May-2023 We asked: For Area 3, select all descriptions for how you think the area should evolve and be experienced.  The most popular choice for Area 3 is a creative environment followed by innovation and live/work.  Similar to Area 1 and 2, the least popular choice was a residential environment. Comparison of preferences in the 3 Areas • The main street environment was favored for Area 1 and Area 2. • Live/work environment and an innovation environment were favored for all 3 Areas. • A residential environment was favored most in Area 1. • A creative environment was favored most in Area 3. We asked: Do you have any other comments, ideas or concerns about how Phase 2 should evolve and be experienced? Samples of feedback we heard: “Trees please! We are turning into a concrete jungle” “I would prefer to see the creek area to be park like and surrounded by housing.” “These place types should be vertical, aligning with the streets they face.” “Urban design matters but if I can’t afford to live in Boulder I won’t be around to appreciate good urban design.” “Adding more commercial real estate without residential properties will increase the existing in-bound commuting problem.” “More green areas and more coffee shops/restaurants would be great” “Prioritize housing (and small businesses) first” “Leave the area alone - just as it is. There are a lot of existing businesses that would be displaced by phase 2 development!” 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Main street environment that offers a variety of activity and visual interest, especially on the ground floor. Live/work environment that creates a greater exchange between local business customers and workforce by infusing new residential into commercial areas. Innovation environment that offers flexible opportunities for light industrial/services and commercial uses. Residential environment with units at the ground floor and/or on upper floors. Creative environment that is eclectic, artsy, funky and offers flexible opportunities for adaptive reuse and development. Area 3 BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 8 | May-2023 Public Space We’ve heard that the Phase 2 area should have more public space (such as seating areas, small plazas, planters, grass). To reflect this feedback, we propose including more intentional locations for small public spaces. We asked: For Phase 2, how much do you agree or disagree with the proposed locations for public spaces?  Almost three-fourths of respondents (74%) agree with the proposed locations for public space.  None of the respondents strongly disagreed. Strongly Agree, 14% Agree, 60% Neither Agree nor Disagree, 17% Disagree, 10% BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 9 | May-2023 We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed public space locations? Sample of feedback we heard: “Would love to see a fenced-in, off-leash dog park. Like a smaller version of Valmont Dog Park. Would be a great community building and gathering place for neighbors” “the more of these the better” “I don't have opinions on where you add public spaces, but yes, please add public spaces that feel more like Boulder than Denver. That means less modern and more integrated with our foothills environment -- e.g., earthy tones and materials, only 1 - 2 stories so the mountains can be seen.” “How about more green and less concrete? What about some facilities for FAMILIES?” “Keep Goose Creek green!! Minimize concrete” “An indoor community center open every day to drop in and do arts/crafts/reading + a cultural center for all year” II. Respondent demographics Question 1: What is your relationship to Boulder Junction? Most respondents live in Boulder. We also heard from a few people who live and or work in Boulder Junction. *In addition to primary residence 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 I live in Boulder Junction I work in Boulder Junction I live in Boulder I do not live in Boulder I own property in Boulder Junction phase 1* I own property in Boulder Junction phase 2* I am a business owner in Boulder Junction I am a university student in Boulder Relationship to Boulder Junction BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 10 | May-2023 Question 2: What is your housing situation? About ¾ of respondents are homeowners and about 1/5 are renters. Question 3: What is your gender? Amongst the respondents who shared their gender, half are women and half are men. Twelve percent of respondents chose not to disclose their gender. Own, 76% Rent, 21% Prefer not to say, 3% Housing Situation Woman, 44% Man, 44% Prefer not to answer, 12% Gender BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 11 | May-2023 Question 4: What is your age? Eight-five percent of respondents are between the ages of 25 and 64. There were no respondents under 25 and very few above 65 (6%). Almost half (48%) fell in the 35 to 54 age range. Question 5: What is your race or ethnicity? The majority of respondents (79%) are white. About 15% preferred not to share information on race and ethnicity. About 6% of those who selected a race or ethnicity are non-white or two or more races. 25 to 34, 18% 35 to 54, 48% 55 to 64, 18% 65 and over, 6% I prefer not to say, 9% Age White, 79% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 3% I prefer not to say, 15% Race or Ethnicity BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 12 | May-2023 Question 6: What is your household income? Almost one-third (30%) of respondents chose not to disclose their income and only one person reported an income lower than $25,000. About one-third (32%) have a household income of $150,000 or more; almost one-fifth (18%) earn between $50,000-$99,000; and 9% earn $100,000-$149,999. Less than $25,000 a year, 3% $25,000 to $49,999 a year, 9% $50,000 to $99,999 a year, 18% $100,000 to $149,999 a year, 15% $150,000 a year or more, 30% I prefer not to say, 24% Household Income BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 13 | May-2023 III. Open House Pictures IV. Feedback from the Open-Ended Questions 1. We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed transportation connections? We heard: • Wilderness Place as a woonerf • Add several pedestrian underpasses to Phases 1 & 2 • Valmont safety improvements – sidewalks are not safe for biking • More alleys are always cool • Pedestrian connections from Nobo ditch to Sanitas along tracks BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 14 | May-2023 • Agree. Lots of choice • Pedestrian path to Arapahoe from extension at Frontier • More connections to and from the area. (Arapahoe) walk and bike dangerous and scary • Straight shot from Frontier to Wilderness Place • Maybe a bit too many bridges folks. lol just 1 or 2 over the creek • The north-south multi-use connections will be great • I want as much green space as possible. The city needs more quiet zones. • Where is the rail transit we have been promised for over 40 years? • More pedestrian rail crossing places. People cross the tracks at lots of points where it isn’t always safe • More important than transportation is enforcement of no meth rules. BHP has caused a lot of people a lot of pain with their lax attitude. • Make sure there odd good accessible, safe bike parking with hood bike racks in front of every building. Should be a safe entrance from bike paths, streets that doesn’t involve cutting through a parking lot. • Would like to see more pedestrian under crossings of railroad tracks and better crossings of Pearl and Valmont • Hope that isn’t a car bridge over the creek? • Creating a more robust multi-use path that connects to as many areas as possible is very favorable. Every single homeowner I know in our 24-unit community uses bikes/walks/scoots around often. If the path was safer to use it would be used more often and people would be less likely to use their vehicles out of concern for safety due to the never-ending encampments that continue to pop up and are not cleared often. • I worry about the lack of connection between the east and west sides over the train tracks. That separation feels like it would divide what could otherwise be a cohesive neighborhood. • Multi use paths are wonderful, and will only increase in utility as traffic increases. Thank you for implementing them in your design. I know this isn't your department, but if they could be kept safe, better yet. I love the bike paths in Boulder but am getting tired of being harassed by people on drugs on them. • Would be great to somehow separate bike & pedestrian paths viea dirt/concrete or somehow make it safer for walkers who have to share paths with cyclists who zoom by them. I’m concerned about the homeless encampments setting up along the new trails which will deter people from using them. • Looking forward to biking to the train station to get to / from Denver much faster than the FF* bus. • The proposed BNSF underpasses looks very important! • Please make sure there is bus and car access. People with mobility limitations, like older adults, will be excluded otherwise. Please have parking spaces for the same. I will not visit shops in this area if I can't park. Health reasons prevent me from taking public transportation. Boulder's anti-car stance excludes a large part of the population that isn't as ambulatory. There should be access for all. • I don't know what the U symbol means but I frequently carry my bike over the tracks that are marked U near the Sanitas Brew Pub (south of Frontier Ave). • This area should have direct and comfortable walk/bike/transit connections to downtown. Goose creek doesn’t go downtown and direct routes to downtown are not safe for biking or comfortable for walking. • The biggest flaw I see in the design of Boulder Junction is Pearl Parkway. 1) Very busy road , difficult to cross when high traffic, ruins atmosphere for outdoor dining and for the pedestrian. 2) At-grade railroad crossing, which will become a significant problem when we get passenger rail in the future (a future we should plan for whether or not it happens). My solution: bury Pearl Parkway, create a broad pedestrian/local traffic/local parking area on both sides of the railroad track. Pay for it with a special use district and 30-year BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 15 | May-2023 bonds issued by the district. Or divert Pearl Parkway to an overpass. Go north on Junction Place, east past the Depot, then over the railroad, and then south on Frontier Ave to rejoin the current Pearl Parkway. Again, a vast pedestrian-friendly area could be developed with great increases in economic value for all residences and businesses along Pearl Parkway. Pay for it with special district. Although out of the scope of this project, some people used the opportunity to share feedback about the airport: • The airplane traffic is loud and constant. That needs to be responsibly handled for safety and community health • I hope the city sorts the [illegible] flight traffic from the airport. It is really loud for housing/businesses. • I am concerned about the amount of low and loud flying airplanes from the airport 2. We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed land use options? We heard: • Best to optimize for affordable housing. • For the foreseeable future, we need housing much more than we need jobs in order to allow people who work in Boulder to actually live here and have a stake in the community, instead of adding to the traffic problems and then leaving. • Would like to see greater height limits if possible, especially as an incentive for affordable housing • We have an abundance of empty office space in Boulder already. Build more housing. • Love to see more high-density housing options. Option 3 would allow a mix of housing and workspace for people to easily commute between without cars. • More housing, please. • More housing • Boulder has an imbalance of too many jobs and not enough housing. Let's try to correct that. • There should also be a public park with playground for families. • Boulder is already dense enough. Open space is essential to our quality of life. • Trees please. New Boulder builds are concrete hot jungles. • with the residents residing in the Steele yards not liking nonresidents using that open space, the area is in desperate need of more greenery! Hopefully a children's playground somewhere nearby too. • Need more Open Space/Parks dispersed among housing - not as thin stretches of pathways, but open parks and areas for community activities. • Why does the City of Boulder continue to develop in flood plan areas? Are there any plans to allow for water to reside and the outcomes of covering ground that displaces water and results in damage? I see this repeatedly in the city that I have experienced over 40 years of reoccurring problems and cost to taxpayers. Also, I have asked why the roads conditions remain here so dangerous. I have witnessed multiple accidents as a result of the reckless road damages that are never maintained here. Yet you allow unmitigated damage to roadways with enormous vehicles, and never repair them. What’s going to happen when we have a few more million cars here? Where’s the rail system? Where’s the mass transit system? Colorado is still in the 1950’s and Boulder is the worst! BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 16 | May-2023 • If you could see these maps and have any idea about the impact on the community, it would make for more meaningful survey results. In general, I intensely dislike all the cheap (but very expensive) builds in this area. It's demoralizing to those of us who came to the small town of Boulder. I feel it has already ruined the special place that Boulder used to be. • It's not clear what is planned. The area was supposed to be used as an RTD light rail station and turn around point for travel on the light rail. Boulder is being ruined and planning board and city council ignore the opinions of the population of people who made Boulder what it is. I've lived here since 1963 and cannot believe the hold that out-of-state developers have on Boulder officials who allow all this ugly, dense development causing pollution, traffic and obscured mountain views. I am disgusted! • There are so many vacant office spaces it is sad and depressing to walk by empty units with no one being interested in renting them. COVID changed things, I get that, but it is apparent that we do not really need more office buildings. Hopefully, incentives can be provided to retailers and restaurants to open up shops because vacant units do not benefit anyone. Good Thymes closing along with the Bodega is sad, something needs to be done a local neighborhood go to place needs to be established. • While I have mixed feelings about each of the three proposed land use options, I probably like option 2 best because it seems to be the most flexible. Generally, I think we should avoid over-zoning, and allow the area to develop more naturally. • Increasing the density will lead to higher crime. • "5 story buildings"? No thanks. • As much as we need housing we still need industrial • Don’t let homeless people sleep or camp here. • This area is becoming too densely populated, noisy and polluted. There is no bus system on 30th. I'm voting for the smallest number of housing because an insignificant number of housing is affordable if you look at the number of developments in the area from Folsom to 30th St. High density housing equals human stress -- lack of greenery, breathing room, clean air.... • This area of town is becoming like a highly urban area of Denver and people do not come to or live in Boulder because they want the Denver experience. Very unhappy with Boulder City Planner's approach to housing that is highly dense and modern, and completely changing the character of Boulder. Changing what attracted people to Boulder in the first place. People built Boulder to be a part of nature and environmentally friendly. Boulder Junction is a concrete jungle. • Thank you for allowing input, though I already know that high density will win out. It is clear that City Council and Planners believe high density is the way to go despite many people in Boulder opposing it. There's got to be a middle way.... • Encourage retail and business at bottom and residential above. Minimize parking and make narrow streets. 3. We asked: Do you have any other comments, ideas or concerns about how Phase 2 should evolve and be experienced? We heard: • Trees please! We are turning into a concrete jungle • Shaded (hooded) outdoor lights • All of Boulder new builds are extremely concrete and lack so much in character. • I would prefer to see the creek area to be park like and surrounded by housing. BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 17 | May-2023 • You need to include more natural settings instead of lawns, what about community gardening areas? We need more mass transit, less cars! The auto pollution and infrastructure can’t handle the huge numbers of cars. Land is expensive for parking lots! Plan for a future, not the same old 1950’s approach. Think Copenhagen Please! • How about no more of the hideous boxes cramming people in like sardines like we see at 30th & Google? How about not asking for exceptions to setbacks, height limitations, etc. How about considerable open space, not just a few trees on a concrete sidewalk? How about making this area suitable for families and making it largely permanently affordable housing? Industry should happen out of the City, not mixed in with housing. How about prioritizing sales to families who have ties to Boulder, a job in Boulder. How about not selling to an real estate investor so that he can gouge people horrendously? • These place types should be vertical, aligning with the streets they face. Foothills facing should be Office, Valmont facing should be residential/commercial, 30th facing should be residential/commercial, Pearl facing should be light industrial/services. • More green areas and more coffee shops/restaurants would be great • Pearl Street is the obvious place for a "Main street environment", so that would indicate that areas 1 and 2 should support that kind of development. Generally, I'm strongly in favor of buildings on through/larger streets supporting commercial enterprises on the ground floor and residential above. Buildings further away from the large streets are better suited to industrial uses. • I am unable to vote on street types because I cannot clearly see the names of the street (e.g., where is 30th St?). However, I don't think we need another 29th St. Mall environment that is mostly concrete. I welcome trees, bushes, greenery, green spaces, gathering spaces, not just more concrete jungle packed with housing. Currently Boulder Junction has no draw for me. It is soulless housing. • Build more housing. • Increasing density is great for real estate developers, but will decrease the quality of life for those who already live here. • Adding more commercial real estate without residential properties will increase the existing in-bound commuting problem. • No more ugly condos that benefit out-of-state developers who do not care about Boulder. • Prioritize housing (and small businesses) first. Urban design matters but if I can’t afford to live in Boulder I won’t be around to appreciate good urban design. • Valmont Road … two murals which appear to have no significance to Junction Place, one a junior high level artistic effort with no “meaning” nor attraction: the other at CICLO, well rendered yet what does Maya ancient civilization have in common with Boulder (Phase 1 feedback). • The murals facing East at railway tracks are, I think, excellent in form and colour. They depict energy, motion … symbolic of a transportation corridor. (Phase 1 feedback) • Leave the area alone - just as it is. There are a lot of existing businesses that would be displaced by phase 2 development! 4. We asked: Do you have any other comments about the proposed public space locations? We heard: BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 18 | May-2023 • An indoor community center open every day to drop in and do arts/crafts/reading + a cultural center for all year • Library • Would love to see a fenced-in, off-leash dog park. Like a smaller version of Valmont Dog Park. Would be a great community building and gathering place for neighbors • need a small dog park *small park for dogs • 1. Dog park, doesn't have to be a designated "dog park" 2. basketball court 3. Restaurants • Northern public space for residents of Phase 1 • More green space • Keep Goose Creek green!! Minimize concrete • More public space along the NoBo ditch and Pearl Parkway • Community clubhouse • Steelyards modeled blocks throughout Phase 2 • Hard to think about public spaces without know the land uses around each. • Please study the landscape, the soils, the impacts of covering the amount of land with concrete and it’s often unexpected consequences the heat up landscapes and reduce water drainage. • How about more green and less concrete? What about some facilities for FAMILIES? • More variety, less cement. • The area in phase 1 by the restaurant is not an enjoyable place. Too much cement with a car lane in it. • Restaurants/coffee shops with outdoor seating in these public space locations. • the more of these the better • Another place that might work well is the intersection of the Goose Creek path and the railroad tracks. I might say the same thing for the intersection of the path and Foothills Parkway, but perhaps the traffic would make it too noisy. • I don't have opinions on where you add public spaces, but yes, please add public spaces that feel more like Boulder than Denver. That means less modern and more integrated with our foothills environment -- e.g., earthy tones and materials, only 1 - 2 stories so the mountains can be seen. Downtown Denver buildings block the views, taking away from the sense of place. • I often walk the “hood” and note very few people do unless walking a dog. The area has been free of pedestrians since I moved here three years ago. • Good to see Meredith Place open to prospective renters and their side garden looks good to me … aesthetically interesting. • Many ornamental/shade trees are again dying and need replacing due, it seems, to lack of maintenance and sufficient water and to wind gust damage. Neglect kills and scores of newly planted tree deaths is extremely depressing and unnecessary to witness on a walk. • Western wind gusts are very common and unpleasant for walking in the fall and winter months, yet windbreaks are very few. Has anyone noticed? Waiting for a bus (208) on Valmont which has a bench in only one direction at 34th Street and no shelter from wind or rain makes for a miserable trip to Safeway, Recreation Center, Broadway shops, Post Office and main bus depot. The strong winds dry out the soil, breaks tree branches, kills prairie grasses. Signs of life are rare … small birds, rabbits, squirrels do not like the area … too harsh. • *Open House Dot placed on the northwest corner of the parcel with Sanitas and the Studio with note: add more public space here BOULDER JUNCTION PHASE 2 FEEDBACK - OPEN HOUSE 2 19 | May-2023 • Parks and playgrounds adult and children, *with note pointing to property in center of Wilderness Place and comment: "one maybe here" Some people also took the opportunity to share their views on the airport: • I’m concerned about the airport noise and safety. That airport is loud and super busy. • The whole area is highly subject to the noise and pollution from the airport, including those wretched tow places that can be heard 1.5 miles away. For me, that noise keeps me inside anyway. That stupid airport serves a few privileged people for fun and recreation at the expense of the rest of us.