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03.05.24 UHCAMC PacketUNIVERSITY HILL COMMERCIAL AREA MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 5, 2024 4:00–6:00p.m. Penfield Tate II Municipal Building, Room W-101 (The public will remain remote.) AGENDA I.Roll Call Secretary II.Procedural Items (10 min.)Chair A.Approval of the January 9, 2024 Meeting Minutes B.Farewell to outgoing Commissioner(s) III.Public Participation (0-10 min.)Chair IV.Consent Agenda – Topics will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference the consent agenda memo. V.Fund Financials– The fund will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference the packet attachment. VI.The Hill Boulder Update (20 min.)Hill Merchants Association - Jake & Dakota VII.University Hill Marketing Efforts (20 min.)Visit Boulder CEO - Charlene Hoffman VIII. Matters from Staff (60 min.)Staff A.2023 Final Budget Report – Elliott LaBonte B.ULI TAP + Hill Revitalization Efforts – Reegan Brown C.District Alternatives Analysis and Capital Planning Project – Matt Chasansky Chair IX.Matters from Commissioners (10 minutes) A.Feedback from Commissioners Rockwell/Tell Jones – Meeting with Cris Jones B.City Council Request - UHCAMC Top Priorities X.Next Commission Meeting: 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, 2024 XI.Adjourn Chair Attachments: -Draft January 2024 Meeting Minutes -Special District Boards and Commissions Consent Agenda – March 2024 -UHGID YTD Fund Financials -UHGID- Historic Sales Tax -ULI Tap Report - DRAFT Letter to Council RE: UHCAMC Top Priorities 1 2 CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/Commission: University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Date of Meeting: January 9, 2024 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Lisa Wuycheck, 303-441-3254 Board Members Present: Trent Bush, Tell Jones, Cheryl Liguori, Ted Rockwell (Chair), Andrew Shoemaker (Vice-Chair) Board Members Absent: Staff Present: Cris Jones, Director of Community Vitality (CV) Reegan Brown, CV Senior Project Manager Lane Landrith, CV District Vitality Specialist Emi Smith, City of Boulder Communications Program Manager Lisa Wuycheck, CV Executive Assistant Guests Present: Jake Hudson-Humphrey, The Hill Boulder Mary Cooper Ellis, University Hill Neighborhood Association Public Present: Type of Meeting: Regular/Hybrid The meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business. Agenda Item 1: Roll Call Agenda Item 2: Procedural Items A. Approval of the November 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes • Rockwell made a motion to approve the November meeting minutes as presented in the meeting packet. Second by Tell Jones. The motion passed unanimously. B. Reminder to email headshots to Executive Assistant. • Community Vitality Executive Assistant Lisa Wuycheck reminded the commissioners to email a headshot to her for the UHCAMC webpage on the City of Boulder website. 3 Agenda Item 3: Public Participation Mary Cooper Ellis provided the following updates from the University Hill Neighborhood Association (UHNA). • UHNA is looking forward to meeting with The Hill Boulder and business owners regarding maintaining cleanliness on The Hill. Cooper Ellis said City Council and the mayor are supportive of these efforts. • Association members met with the planning director last week regarding the parking program and the strategy for the Marpa House residents. She said there are disagreements with the interpretation of the use review conditions regarding the number of visitor permits to be allocated. • UHNA has been working hard for the last 3 months to get the city to address the problem of Lime scooters on The Hill. Scooters are being left in the middle of the sidewalk causing access issues for older community members. Transportation and Mobility is working on a plan to ensure the scooters are parked correctly. • Executive committee members of the Neighborhood Association are leading the charge on addressing the chalking of houses on The Hill. They are talking with the Boulder Area Rental Housing Association (BARHA). Agenda Item 4: Consent Agenda Consent Agenda – Topics will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference the consent agenda memo. • UHCAMC had no questions or comments regarding the consent agenda. Agenda Item 5: Fund Financials The fund will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference the packet attachment. • UHCAMC had no questions or comments regarding the fund financials. Agenda Item 6: The Hill Boulder Update Jake Hudson-Humphrey, from The Hill Merchants Association, presented an update. Hudson-Humphrey said Ordinance 8590 is great news for future Hill businesses and a huge step in the right direction. He said there is no easy way for existing businesses to take advantage of the new rules without going through a time-consuming and expensive use review process. Hudon-Humphrey said half of the sentiments from business owners said it was positive, and half said it’s not easy for existing businesses to take advantage of the ordinance change. Hudson-Humphrey invited the commissioners to the Hill Business Owner/Stakeholder Meetup on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Renee Crown Wellness Center. Community Vitality Director Cris Jones reminded the commissioners if more than two commissioners are present at the meeting, public notice is required. If the commissioners don’t communicate in more than groups of two, it’s not considered a public meeting. 4 New businesses on The Hill: • Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings • Soup Smith Closed businesses: • Saint Sneakers & Vintage • iPhone Repair on the Hill UHCAMC Responses: • Liguori asked about events and activations on The Hill. Hudson-Humprey and Community Vitality Senior Project Manager Reegan Brown said they are working together to identify revitalization efforts and activations to be funding from the $50K in ARPA funds. Brown said the intent is for staff to use the funds for activations in 2025. Brown said the city may hire a consultant for support. Cris Jones mentioned staff will be creating a strategic plan for special events. • Bush asked about the process for current businesses to apply for a use review to stay open until a designated time. Hudson-Humphrey said Ordinance 8590 allows current businesses to apply for a use review by right. • Liguori discussed alley improvements and suggested businesses owners use the city’s large cement planters for beautification. She said the business owners could maintain the plants. Jones said the city has an alley plan which may not be implemented in time for the hotel opening. Brown confirmed the city has pots and suggested she schedule a site visit to walk the alley. • Tell Jones discussed murals and wayfinding as strategies to encourage guests of the new hotel to travel to the University Hill district. The hotel is scheduled to open in mid-March of 2024. Agenda Item 7: Matters from Staff A. Community Vitality Annual Work Plan Community Vitality Director Cris Jones presented the Community Vitality 2024 Work Plan. Jones reviewed the following topics. • City and Community Vitality Goals and Objectives. Jones stated Community Vitality has 3 pillars which are Access for All, District Vitality, and Cultural Vibrancy. • 2023 Community Vitality Highlights as they relate to Cultural Vibrancy, District Vitality, and Access for All • Ongoing Efforts of the Community Vitality Department • 2024 Work Plan for Cultural Vibrancy • 2024 Work Plan for District Vitality • 2024 Work Plan for Access for All B. Hill Revitalization Efforts Community Vitality Senior Project Manager Reegan Brown said she is meeting with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to discuss incorporating revisions to the ULI final report. She said staff has identified 5 revisions that will better reflect the engagement process and also include commissioner input recorded during their interviews. Brown said, once those revisions are incorporated, staff will have a final version of the report which she will share with UHCAMC. She hopes to present the final report at the March meeting. The 14th Street Lot project will be part of the ULI panel conversation. Brown discussed work being done to connect the Hill to Downtown. She said a planning and design consultant will be hired to identify actionable projects for the district, to better connect the district to Downtown, and to further explore the concept of enhancing the district brand and identity. Brown said staff is in the scoping phase. Cris Jones said staff hopes to present an update to UHCAMC at the March meeting. C. Commissioner Recruitment Efforts Cris Jones introduced City of Boulder Communications Program Manager Emi Smith. Smith provided an update on the city’s efforts to recruit applicants for the boards and commissions. She said recruitment efforts include: • Recruitment flyers • Press release • Communication to all city staff • Social media and Next Door app • Volunteer Newsletter • Arts & Culture Newsletters • City newsletter • Inside Boulder commissioner interview • City website • Community Organizations Cris Jones said both open UHCAMC seats are for business owners/representatives. Bush asked about his term ending. Wuycheck encouraged Bush to reapply. Wuycheck will confirm the 2 open seats do not need to be filled by residents. She will email an update to UHCAMC. Agenda Item 8: Matters from Commissioners Tell Jones asked about efforts to bring people from the Moxie Hotel to the University Hill district. Cris Jones said Parks and Recreation is leading the Civic Area Master Plan. Cris Jones discussed options to install wayfinding signage downtown and to expand the signage from downtown to The Hill. Liguori suggested creating a Hill-specific pamphlet for businesses to hand out at the hotel. Brown suggested a QR code that will connect people to a list of Hill businesses. Hudson-Humphrey described a map that was created by a CU student, and he discussed funding challenges to distribute the map. Rockwell said the relationship between the merchants and the hotel is crucial. Liguori suggested giving welcome baskets from the merchants to the hotel staff. Tell Jones suggested inviting staff leadership from the hotel to a meeting with the Hill merchants. 6 Liguori suggested gathering feedback from community members describing their experience/reviews on The Hill. She said comments could be included in the ‘welcome’ pamphlet. She supported the use of QR codes. Jones said staff will collaborate with Visit Boulder regarding promoting The Hill businesses. Liguori inquired about the 2023 final budget report. Cris Jones said the budget will be reviewed at the March meeting. Rockwell discussed the upcoming CU football season and finding ways to bring people to the Hill. Shoemaker suggested allowing tailgating at the 14th Street Lot. Cris Jones discussed hosting away games. Agenda Item 9: Next Commission Meeting Next Commission Meeting: 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2023. The public will be remote. Agenda Item 10: Adjourn Rockwell adjourned the meeting at 5:31 p.m. Attested: Approved by: ___________________ _____________________ Lisa Wuycheck Ted Rockwell Board Secretary UHCAMC Chair Date: ______________ Date: _________________ 7 City of Boulder Special District Board Consent Agenda University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission (UHCAMC) – March 5, 2024 Downtown Management Commission (DMC) – March 12, 2024 Boulder Junction Access District (BJAD) Commissions – March 20, 2024 Updates on Community Vitality work plan programs and projects for city special district boards and commissions. These updates are for informational purposes only and require no discussion or votes. Special District Updates University Hill General Improvement District (UHGID) - Hill Revitalization Efforts – On November 16, 2023, City Council voted to approve Ordinance 8590 amending Title 9, “Land Use Code”, B.R.C. 1981, to update the use table and use standards related to walkable neighborhood centers, including changes to the standards for restaurants, brewpubs, and taverns within the Business Main Street (BMS) district and UHGID. The code change eliminates the unique standards for restaurants, brewpubs and taverns on The Hill and instead consolidates standards for the BMS district with other similar commercial or mixed-use districts that interface closely with residential areas. These uses will be allowed by right if they are under 4,000 square feet and close by 11 p.m. Alternatively, larger sites and/or later operating hours could be considered and allowed through the Use Review process. Additionally, the requirement for restaurants that “no less than fifty percent of the gross income from sales of food and drink of the establishment over any thirty-day period must be from the sales of food” has been removed. Per liquor licensing rules and like other commercial districts, the new requirement for restaurants on The Hill is that no less than twenty five percent of their sales come from food. The restaurant, brewpub and tavern land use approvals handout provides easy to understand guidelines. Additionally, Community Vitality staff are moving forward on short-term improvement projects for The Hill. Building off the pedestrian wayfinding signage that was recently implemented Downtown, staff are identifying sites and locations to implement similar pedestrian wayfinding on The Hill. Staff are also developing a plan to activate the Events Street this upcoming summer. Lastly, looking ahead and with the release of the ULI TAP report, staff will begin to assess other short term revitalization efforts to enhance the vitality of the district, which includes exploring improvements to connectivity to and from The Hill to Downtown and enhancing the district’s overall identity. • Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) – Boulder Social Streets (previously called Downtown Streets as Public Space project) - The Boulder Social Streets project uses analysis and community feedback to reimagine downtown streets as welcoming spaces to gather, attend events and connect. The city, together with Downtown Boulder Partnership, hosted a series of free pop-up events this summer on 13th Street (between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard) to test these ideas. Visit: BoulderSocialStreets.com to view the full list of events. At these pop-ups on 13th Street, city staff engaged with attendees and our wider community to learn what they like, what could be better and what else they would like to see as we plan for the 8 future of downtown streets. Staff will go back to City Council in 2024 to discuss how this series of Social Streets pop-ups went and what we heard from the community as we plan for the future of this program. • Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) Garage Repairs and Improvements – The City of Boulder is improving public parking garages in downtown Boulder in 2024, which requires periodic partial and full closures of the garages. The projects include important maintenance repairs and improvements such as power washing and re-striping. Community Vitality staff are working with contractors, parking permit holders, commercial property owners and tenants to coordinate the schedule to ensure continued public parking garage access downtown while these projects are completed. • Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) – Mobile Vending Carts – Currently available cart positions were promoted to small business operators during the 2023-2024 season via a simple online application. Two retail vendors, Kindness Gems (west end of 1200 block) and Grace de Fleurs (west end of 1400 block), along with gourmet popsicles from Denver Pops (east end of 1200 block) have applied and currently meet all requirements for a Pearl Street Mall permit. All ten of our current Mobile Cart vendors have applied for their permit renewals, filling all 13 permitted locations for the upcoming season. Commissioners are invited to provide any comments or feedback by March 12 to Lane Landrith LandrithL@bouldercolorado.gov • Central Area/University Hill General Improvement Districts (CAGID)/(UHGID) – Downtown and University Hill Ambassador Program – The ambassador program operates in the downtown, Civic Area and on University Hill. The University of Colorado Boulder has provided $57,000 to extend The Hill Ambassador Program through December 2024. The original pilot program was to expire in March. Extension of the program ensures an ambassador is present on University Hill 32 hours per week, in addition to an ambassador team lead 40 hours per week. The program is a partnership between the university, the City of Boulder and the Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP). A Hill ambassador may be reached via phone or text at 720-576-8643. • Boulder Junction Wayfinding Signage Project – This project aims to improve wayfinding and recognition of Boulder Junction as a distinct neighborhood and general improvement district (GID) within the Boulder community. City staff entered into an agreement with a vendor called e3 Signs, based out of Loveland, Colorado, to fabricate and install the signage. Installation is complete for the signage in the Public Right-of-Way. Our next step will be to permit and install the signage on private property locations. We anticipate the private property signage to be complete by Spring 2024. Commutifi Pilot Program – Community Vitality recently entered into an agreement with a local tech company called Commutifi to implement a transportation demand management 9 “TDM” wallet concept in 2024 in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) and Boulder Junction Access District (BJAD). The purpose of the Pilot Program is to encourage companies within CAGID and BJAD to participate in sustainable commuting practices through a financial incentives matching program directed at their employees. The program will provide financial incentives (up to $2.50 per commute with the city’s match) to employees who use sustainable transportation methods to get to and from work, such as walking, biking, public transit and more. The goal of the Pilot Program is for commuters to become more educated on Boulder’s many multimodal transportation options in an effort to reduce carbon footprints, improve air quality, and decrease traffic congestion. We are currently in the product development phase in which Commutifi is developing the landing page and platform for both employers and employees to utilize. We will begin product testing and promoting the program to employers in March. The incentives program is set to launch on April 1, in which employees can begin earning and using program funds. The Pilot Program will run through the beginning of 2025. City of Boulder Updates AMPS Implementation: New on-street pricing changes to align with performance-based pricing went into effect Jan. 2, 2024. Performance-based pricing uses data driven analysis to implement pricing changes based on demand, which are monitored and adjusted on an annual basis. Questions or comments: Samantha Bromberg, brombergs@bouldercolorado.gov. Affordable Commercial Program Development – City staff went to City Council for a Study Session on Aug. 10, 2023, to provide an update on the development of an Affordable Commercial Pilot Program. Staff received general support and direction from council on our recommendations. Staff are now exploring bringing on a program administrator to assist in developing a formal implementation and administration strategy for this type of program. Staff have been engaging with various community partners and other city departments to draft an RFP, with the goal of entering into an agreement with a community organization by the third quarter of 2024. This effort will incorporate broad community engagement and the city’s Racial Equity Instrument in the development and implementation of the Affordable Commercial Pilot Program. Outdoor Dining Pilot Program - Boulder City Council voted to implement an Outdoor Dining Pilot Program based on feedback from the temporary outdoor dining expansions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-year pilot program provides year-round outdoor dining rules for restaurants, brewpubs, taverns, breweries, distilleries, and wineries. The program enables these businesses to offer more space to customers by expanding outside with more consistent, pre- approved infrastructure for the expansion areas. The program began Sept. 1, 2022, immediately following the expiration of emergency orders on Aug. 31, 2022, that allowed the temporary expansions. There are currently a total of 25 participating businesses. The application period for the program reopened on Feb. 1, 2024, and will close on March 1, 2024. Details and applications are found at: https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/outdoor-dining-pilot-program. This year, staff will conduct a mid-point program analysis through surveying and other data collection methods 10 to better understand how the program is going and what improvements can be made. We anticipate providing an update to council later this year with the hope of extending the program beyond 2027. Parking & Access Signage Refresh Project – City staff are working on a project to holistically replace outdated metered-parking signposts and pay-to-park signs across the community. Modernizing the signposts will allow city staff to ensure proper placement of regulatory signs and reduce future sign installation costs. Redesigning and replacing the pay-to-park signs will allow for more transparent communication of parking codes, increasing compliance, and providing a more seamless customer experience. The new signs have made their appearance across most city streets and the full installation is expected to be completed prior to the end of the year. 11 UNIVERSITY HILL GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (UHGID) - UHCAMC REPORT2019 Actual 2020 Actual 2021 Actual 2022 Actual 2023 Budget 2023 YTD Beginning Fund Balance1,049,184$ 1,036,361$ 998,254$ 3,773,884$ 3,685,211$ 3,685,211$ Sources of FundsProperty Tax 32,282$ 32,763$ 32,559$ 32,415$ 38,339$ 35,902$ Specific Ownership & TobaccoTx 1,622 1,621 1,648 1,409 1,562 1,539 Parking Revenue 111,339 122,574 71,618 71,875 44,500 58,219 Interest & Investment Earnings 16,826 17,303 15,840 47,201 17,862 84,413 Real Estate Sales - - 2,734,117 - - - Transfers In 350,000 325,000 250,000 270,000 270,000 270,000 Total Sources of Funds512,069$ 499,260$ 3,105,781$ 422,900$ 372,263$ 450,072$ Uses of FundsPersonnel 239,678$ 156,372$ 141,303$ 141,759$ 209,236$ 160,657$ Operating 237,203 146,728 116,758 138,432 247,813 135,420 Cost Allocation and Transfer 48,012 48,732 48,732 47,124 52,913 52,913 Capital Improvement Program - 185,536 23,358 184,258 226,363 37,118 Total Uses of Funds524,892$ 537,367$ 330,151$ 511,572$ 736,325$ 386,108$ Ending Fund Balance Before Reserves1,036,361$ 998,254$ 3,773,884$ 3,685,211$ 3,321,150$ 3,749,176$ Ending Fund Balance After Reserves755,421$ 906,814$ 3,681,109$ 3,587,660$ 3,223,303$ 3,651,329$ $- $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,0002019 Actual 2020 Actual 2021 Actual 2022 Actual 2023 Budget 2023 YTD6500 UHGIDEnding Fund Balance Before ReservesTotal Uses of FundsTotal Sources of Funds12 Sales Tax by Location: UHGID "The Hill"2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023Sales Tax $1,444,396 $1,531,542 $1,560,362 $1,141,856 $1,354,331 $1,318,763 $1,380,202Year-Over-Year Change $87,146 $28,820($418,506)$212,475($35,568)$61,439Year-Over-Year Growth Rate 6.03% 1.88% -26.82% 18.61% -2.63% 4.66%Average Annual Growth Rate-1.80% -2.06%% Change 2017 to 2022-8.70% -9.88%Use Tax by Location: UHGID "The Hill"2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023Use Tax $8,453 $41,857 $11,148 $74,264 $13,401 $21,434 $43,310Year-over-Year Change $33,404($30,709)$63,116($60,863)$8,033 $21,876Year-over-Year Growth Rate 395.17% -73.37% 566.16% -81.95% 59.94% 102.06%Average Annual Growth Rate20.45% 0.68%% Change 2017 to 2022153.57% 3.47%13 Colorado TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL | JUNE 21 & 22, 2023 14 TH STREET LOT UNIVERSITY HILL GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (UHGID) CITY OF BOULDER 14 15 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 3 ABOUT About the Urban Land Institute (ULI) The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Established in 1936, ULI has more than 46,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. Since 2003, ULI Colorado has completed more than 60 TAPs, leading to positive policy changes and built projects across the state. What are Technical Advisory Panels (TAPs)? The Technical Advisory Panel program is an advisory service available to a community, nonprofit, public entity or private enterprise that is facing real estate or land-use issues. Typically, a two-day session, the TAP program brings together a cross-section of experts who do not have a vested interest in the project to examine the issues from multiple angles and produce recommendations and implementation strategies based on market conditions, sound information, community realities, and best practices. The District Council assembles a panel of ULI members chosen for their knowledge of the issues facing the client. The interdisciplinary team may include land planners, architects, market and financial analysts, developers, engineers, appraisers, attorneys and/or brokers who are well qualified to provide unbiased, pragmatic advice on complex real estate and land-use issues. To ensure objectivity, panel members cannot be involved in matters pending before the client, currently work for the client or solicit work from the client during the six months following the TAP program. In addition, they are not compensated for their time, but they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses, such as overnight lodging and transportation to attend the TAP. How Does the Program Work? TAP members are briefed on the issues facing the client and receive detailed information relevant to the assignment including project history, detailed maps of the study area, relevant demographics and other relevant data necessary for an understanding of the task at hand. During the two-day program, TAP members tour the study area, interview stakeholders (business owners, city council members, etc.), and work collaboratively to produce preliminary findings and recommendations which are presented at the end of Day 2 to the client. A complete report follows within about six to eight weeks with detailed recommendations. ULI Advisory Services identify creative, practical solutions for complex land use and development challenges. 16 4 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL CONTENTS CONTENTS TAP Scope 8 Panel Process 9 Executive Summary 12 Background 14 Recommendations 19 Conclusion 24 About the Panel 25 17 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 5 CONTENTS IMAGE: 14th Street Lot 18 6 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL SPONSOR AND ULI PANEL MEMBERS IMAGE: TAP Panelists touring University Hill 19 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 7 SPONSOR AND ULI PANEL MEMBERS Sponsor and ULI Participants Sponsors City of Boulder – Community Vitality Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) ULI Colorado Ferd Belz President, Fulenwider ULI District Council Chair Rodney M. Milton Executive Director ULI Colorado Hannah King Director ULI Colorado Kaylee Lino Senior Manager ULI Colorado Tangela Wilhite Senior Associate ULI Colorado Technical Assistance Panel Jariah Walker Executive Director Colorado Springs, Urban Renewal Authority ULI TAP Committee Chair Keith Borsheim Transportation Planner HDR Denver, CO CarloMaria Ciampoli, Assoc., AIA, LEED Studio Director, Experience Design RIOS Boulder, CO Matt Chiodini Principal OZ Architecture Denver, CO Amy McCann, LEED Architect, Associate SAR+ Denver, CO 20 8 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL TAP SCOPE TAP SCOPE The Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) was asked to examine the University Hill district (“The Hill”) and specifically the 14th Street lot, in an effort to create tools and strategies to enhance the sense of place, economic vibrancy, and cultural legacy the district historically celebrates. Leveraging new developments including The Hill Hotel and the Limelight Conference Center and Hotel, the 14th Street lot could serve as a catalyst for knitting the neighborhood back together with new amenities and a shared vision. Specifically, the TAP was asked to consider the following key issues: • In consideration of contextual challenges and regulatory barriers in the University Hill district, what is the current highest and best use of the 14th Street lot? • How are current regulatory barriers impacting the vitality of the University Hill district and the development potential of the 14th Street lot and which barriers should the city reconsider in its effort to empower positive transformation within the district as a whole? • For successful redevelopment to occur on the 14th Street lot, what funding sources and mechanisms should the city be considering? • What is the optimal partnership structure for successful redevelopment of the 14th Street lot? • How might a 14th Street lot development be configured to best mitigate some of the multimodal connectivity challenges to the site and throughout the University Hill district? • How can future use and design of a 14th Street lot development complement the anticipated anchor developments taking place on the Hill? • What is the most efficient path to implementation and redevelopment? IMAGE: TAP Panelists & Stakeholders touring 14th Street Lot21 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 9 PANEL PROCESS PANEL PROCESS ULI Colorado assembled a group of accomplished ULI members with expertise in urban design and landscape architecture, real estate development, land planning and zoning, and place-making for an intensive two-day workshop to address the challenges facing the city of Boulder. Prior to convening, TAP members received information on the University Hill district, including demographics, neighborhood characteristics, retail and market trends, area plans, and the most recent market report specifically for repositioning the 14th Street lot. Day 1 included a kick-off with The City of Boulder Community Vitality staff, led by their Director, Cris Jones and Senior Project Manager, Reegan Brown. The panel was provided greater context and background regarding the history of the Hill, its character, and the underlying causes of its decline and current state. The panelists spent the first day engaged in candid stakeholder interviews which comprised of perspectives from city officials including Andrew Shoemaker, UHCAMC Commissioner; Trent Bush, UHCAMC Commissioner; Tara Winer, Councilmember; Aaron Brockett, Mayor; business owners including Cheryl Liguori, CEO of Z2 Entertainment; Mark Heinritz, Owner of The Sink; residents of the University Hill neighborhood including Nancy Blackwood, President of University Hill Neighborhood Association; representatives from CU Boulder including Ted Rockwell, Representing as a UHCAMC Commissioner with connections to CU; Tom McGann, CU Director of Parking and Transportation Services; d’Andre Willis, CU Campus Architect and Director of Planning; and local developers including Jean Coulter, Limelight Hotels; Kevin Eronimous, Principal at SAR Architects. The interview process allowed for an in-depth discussion of the real challenges on the Hill, the origins of the neighborhood divide between the nature of the activities in the retail district and the desires of the surrounding residents. The panelists probed each stakeholder guided by the questions from the city while allowing each to share their own ideas, goals, and unique prospective. Most importantly, the panel sought consensus and ownership for implementation on any specific recommendations to ensure buy-in. The panelists regrouped after each interview to discuss what they heard. Recurring themes noted from the first cohort of stakeholders acknowledged the challenge of creating a year-round commercial basis of activity on the Hill that balanced the student- centric activities with the needs of the broader neighborhood. The sub-culture that made the Hill an attractive and unique destination had been lost. The principal cause, as told from this group, was the failure to effectively solve the balancing act. The regulatory barriers imposed on the district have proved to be too heavy-handed. Moreover, the center of gravity has shifted away from the Hill and to other areas of the city making opportunities for adaptation and growth even more challenging. The panelists also unveiled the irony that the Hill is the most studied area but least prioritized in terms of resources. Parking was also a central theme and one that was consistently brought up in each of the stakeholder interviews. IMAGE: TAP Panelists & Stakeholders touring 14th Street Lot 22 10 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL The second cohort consisted of business owners and property owners with long ties to the cultural and economic vitality of the Hill. Common themes arising from this cohort included parking both for customers and for staff, public safety, the lack of capacity for investment through the GID, and overall fatigue given the grind related to the issues on the Hill. While the group was generally optimistic, the panelists could sense a profound feeling of exhaustion. The remaining stakeholders included Hill residents, representatives from CU-Boulder, and the leadership of the Downtown Boulder Partnership and the Director of Policy Programs at Boulder’s Chamber of Commerce. By the end of Day 2, the ULI panel synthesized the background information provided, insights from the tour, stakeholder interviews, and intense internal deliberation to create a cohesive presentation of their recommendations. PANEL PROCESS What We Heard 1. Once the hotels are complete, people will choose to go right or left… 2. Funding for the district is limited and capacity for general improvements like lighting, cleanliness, and safety patrols impacts The Hill’s overall viability 3. The Hill’s challenges have been a political grinder and run good people out of the district 4. The Hill should be at the center of up-coming elections 5. Parking is a necessary evil 6. There’s a real desire for neighborhood-centric retail and commercial options 23 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 11 PANEL PROCESS 24 12 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL The University Hill commercial district has been a challenge for the city of Boulder for several decades. Despite its prime location and adjacency to the vibrance of the University of Colorado’s main campus, the area has not seemed able to balance the needs of the surrounding neighborhood with the dominant student-centric energy. Over time, this push-n-pull has prompted the surrounding neighbors to create barriers and regulations to curb the excesses of student night- life. The consequence has been to push that energy into the residential sections of the neighborhood and away from the commercial district. With new investments tailored to a broader audience, the Hill has an opportunity to restore the balance and provide a mix of activities and amenities that appeal to students, non-student residents, and regional visitors. This approach must be intentional and the recommendations from the ULI Colorado panel reflect several action steps that speak to immediate activation of the 14th Street Lot along with longer- term uses that restore the sense of place and unique character that is the Hill. In addressing the core questions posed by the city of Boulder, the panel distilled several desired outcomes that shape their proposed strategies and tools. These include: • Enhance connection to the broader community • Celebrate the Hill’s uniqueness and history • Bring a diverse range of people back to the Hill • Serve as a complementary use to the two new hotels and conference center • Generate new revenue for UHGID • Spark change Immediate Action Plan Priority areas identified by the ULI Panel: 1. Choose and implement short-term lot activation opportunity(s) • Micro-mobility Hub • Food Trucks • Pop-up Market • Music Festival 2. Deregulate moratorium and current liquor and cannabis license rules 3. Initiate neighborhood rebranding campaign 4. Explore TIF(URA/DDA) funding mechanism to improve district security, facade improvements, site specific public improvements 5. Initiate long-term lot redevelopment • Parking Facilities • Grocery/Bodega • Faculty Housing • Boutique Hotel • Artists in Residence/Music Studios • Food & Community Hub 6. Improve/enhance entrances & gateways; explore greater connectivity along 13th Street corridor EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 25 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 13 Urban Context EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 26 14 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL BACKGROUND Study Area General Description University Hill is a quintessential college adjacent district that combines the energy and activity of the CU student population with the richness of an established neighborhood and commercial corridor. The University Hill General Improvement District (UHGID) was established in 1970 at the request of property owners who wanted to tax themselves to purchase land that could provide customers with additional public parking spaces. The 14th Street lot (see map right) represents the last remaining parking asset of the GID and therefore serves as a prime opportunity to leverage the new Hill Hotel and conference center and revitalize the district through intentional programming and activation. BACKGROUND IMAGE: Street into the Hill commercial district 27 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 15 Study Area Demographics 2017 - 2021 BACKGROUND IMAGE: Street into the Hill commercial district “The Hill is the most studied area in the state of Colorado!” – Anonymous 28 16 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL IMAGE: View of Hill commercial district Summary of Previous Planning Efforts The Hill’s importance as a distinct place within the city of Boulder is not only evident in its legacy and lore but perhaps more in the intensity of focus on its improvement through the many studies, plans, and recommendations over the past several decades. The list below is not exhaustive but highlights several efforts that contributed to the current ULI TAP and ensured the panelist recommendations were informed and respected past efforts. Moreover, while the 2-day process included specific stakeholder interviews, it did not undertake a full community engagement effort. Full consideration of the recommendations and implementation will include community engagement lead by the City. The ULI TAP takes into consideration previous public engagement in the section to follow. ULI City of Boulder TAP, 2011 – Key Recommendation(s) Recommendations fell into three areas: Governance, Programming, and Bricks & Mortar. Generally the panel urged “Revitalize, Don’t Reinvent.” The Hill is not completely broken and does not need a sweeping fix. The panel also stated the concept of a Creative Innovation District is promising but needs more thought and clearer definition. “This needs to be a strategy, not just a name,” said one panelist. University Hill Alley Enhancements Plan, 2018 – Russell Mills Goals & Objectives: 1. Create a safe pedestrian/bike network of alleys that complements circulation between key destinations in University Hill 2. Develop concepts for activated, engaging alleys that help stimulate business activity 3. Integrate operational needs of alleys including service, waste disposal, parking/vehicular access and emergency vehicles 4. Build upon and continue to establish the unique “Hill” identity BACKGROUND IMAGE: University Hill GID 14th Street Lot Asset Strategies, 2022 - EPS29 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 17 BACKGROUND UHGID 14th Street Lot Asset Strategies, 2022 A detailed summary of previous planning efforts related to the 14th Street Lot can be found on page 9 of the Asset Strategies study. Summary of Findings: 1. Two components of any strategy that are most impactful on the primary goals for UHGID are being able to significantly increase the amount of parking spaces provided and being able to monetize the value of the land the 14th Street Lot is located on. 2. The Market Rate Housing P3 Strategy is only strategy that was both financially feasible and addresses the primary goals of UHGID. 3. The Office P3, Self Develop, and CU Partnership strategies are also potential options to considered further despite the fact they do not achieve multiple goals. Regulatory Background At the cutting edge of Boulder’s music and outdoor scene, the Hill was a critical place for innovation, spontaneity, and convergence. This legacy is embedded in the remaining businesses fighting to weather what has been a difficult economic environment. Like many commercial districts fueled primarily by university students, the Hill has experienced the fallout out from the excesses of nightlife activities and all of its accompanying outcomes. In response, the community placed several restrictions and regulations targeted at both the commercial and residential activities within the district that have severely impacted the overall economic vitality of the Hill. Per B.R.C. 9-6-5 (B): Within UHGID and applied to restaurants, brewpubs, and taverns, no less than fifty percent of the gross income from sales of food and drink of the establishment over any thirty-day period must be from sales of food. Additionally, restaurants, brewpubs, and taverns within the District shall close no later than 11:00pm. Per B.R.C. 9-6-3 (B): Use standards for residential uses, attached dwelling units located in the Business Main Street (BMS) zoning district within UHGID must be entirely permanently affordable units. For greater context and comparison, there are no requirements regarding minimum level of food sales outside of UHGID within Boulder. It has been stated by businesses and other community members in UHGID that the requirement specific to the district is difficult for businesses to achieve and ultimately impacts their sales and growth. See B.R.C. 9-6-5 (B). 30 18 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL BACKGROUND Note: Since the convening of the TAP, great progress has been made on The Hill. On the November 16, 2023, City Council held a Public Hearing related to the second reading and consideration of a motion to approve Ordinance 8590 amending Title 9, “Land Use Code”, B.R.C. 1981, to update the use table and use standards related to walkable neighborhood centers, including changes to the standards for restaurants, brewpubs, and taverns within the Business Main Street (BMS) district and UHGID. Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 8590. The adoption of Ordinance 8590 went into effect in December 2023 and will have impacts on The Hill commercial district. The code change eliminates the unique standards for restaurants, brewpubs, and taverns on The Hill and instead consolidates standards for the BMS district with other similar commercial or mixed-use districts that interface closely with residential areas. These uses will be allowed by right if they are under 4,000 square feet and close by 11pm; alternatively, larger sites and/or later operating hours could be considered and allowed through the Use Review process. Additionally, the requirement for restaurants that “no less than fifty percent of the gross income from sales of food and drink of the establishment over any thirty-day period must be from the sales of food” has been removed. Per liquor licensing rules and like other commercial districts in the city, the new requirement for restaurants on The Hill is that no less than twenty five percent of their sales come from food. 31 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 19 RECOMMENDATIONS OPPORTUNITIES The panel recommends engaging in short-term opportunities before committing to the long-term in order to generate community excitement and engagement and to create test cases for revenue streams. 1. Implement more from the Alley Plan • Create a safe pedestrian/bike network of alleys that complements circulation between key destinations in University Hill • Develop concepts for activated, engaging alleys that help stimulate business activity • Integrate operational needs of alleys including service, waste disposal, parking/vehicular access and emergency vehicles • Build upon and continue to establish the unique “Hill” identity 2. Pedestrianize or partially pedestrianize 13th Street Corridor RECOMMENDATIONS IMAGE: Olde Town Arvada The following recommendations reflect what the panelists heard, the history and culture of the Hill, and the market realities of revitalization given the barriers previously noted. Focusing holistically from a place-making and keeping perspective, the panelist address activation of the 14th Street Lot with the goal of leveraging both short and longer-term strategies that recapture the Hill’s significance as an active annual destination. The first recommendation is for the City to reconsider the regulatory barriers and therefore send a strong market signal that the district is in fact open for business. 14th Street Lot Activation Opportunities 32 20 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS Micro-Mobility Hub Short Term (1-3 years) 1. Utilize the parking lot as a mobility destination taking advantage of its connectivity to Chautauqua Park. Constructing light bike and other multi-modal infrastructure to create a place where people can connect to multiple modes of transportation. 2. Mobility hubs promote economic development, improve pedestrian experiences, and enhance public spaces. Pop-up Activation Short Term (1-3 years) 1. Utilize the lot for recurring pop-up activities to generate energy, place-making, and year-round revenue. 2. Activities could include weekly farmers markets, food trucks, retail and/or art markets, and music festivals. 3. Pop-up activities could create opportunities for small business exposure, incubator spaces, and a pipeline for entrepreneurs to occupy longer-term retail spaces on Hill. 14th Street Lot Redevelopment – Parking Facility Long Term (3-5 years) Parking remains a critical need and the panel heard several stakeholders emphasize the desire for more parking options. On the next page are illustrations of parking options that either maximize parking, incorporate retail opportunities within the parking structure, or explore combinations of residential, retail, and business incubator spaces. RECOMMENDATIONS 33 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 21 RECOMMENDATIONS 34 22 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL 14th Street Lot – Faculty Housing/Artist in Residence Long Term (3-5 years) Below are illustrations of parking options incorporate residential options, specifically, collaborations with the CU for faculty housing or housing for artists/ musicians, retail, and business incubator spaces. 14th Street Lot – Boutique Hotel Long Term (3-5 years) Given the footprint of the 14th Street Lot, the panel recommends exploring a boutique hotel with unique programming similar to other social clubs such as the Edison House, Catbird in Lower Downtown Denver, or Gravity Haus in Breckenridge and Aspen. RECOMMENDATIONS IMAGES: Boutique hotels and social clubs 35 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 23 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Long Term (5+ years) Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a financial tool primarily used to encourage development and address blight. TIF is a mechanism for capturing the future tax benefits of new development in order to pay for the present cost of that development. Tax increment financing can be requested for property tax, sales tax, or both. Each taxing entity (county, library, school district, etc.) must approve or deny the use of TIF. Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Urban Renewal is a tool that is designed to drive private sector investment to blighted areas and revitalize local economies. Through the use of tax increment finance (TIF) the UHGID could attract the private sector to the site while capturing net new tax generation to fund broad area improvements over 25 years. Additionally, the URA approach naturally has a broad community outreach component built in since all of the taxing entities would need to vote on if they would support the pledge of all (or a portion) of TIF to the area. Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Downtown Development Authorities are the only other entity that is allowed to use TIF as a tool. They also have the added ability of taxing themselves (up to 5 mils) for the funding of area public improvements. It should be noted that the current DDA expressed an interest in further exploring the possibility of extending boundaries to cover the Hill. Either of the options should be strongly considered as they have the ability to capture new development that otherwise wouldn’t occur to fund future improvements that can have needed catalytic affects. RECOMMENDATIONS Financing needed improvements and expanding opportunities for reinvestment were prominent themes emerging from the panelist’s engagement. Both impact public safety and the overall aesthetic of the Hill. The following provides some detail on existing tools that should be explored further and in tandem with the preceding activation strategies. 36 24 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL CONCLUSION CONCLUSION The city of Boulder has a unique opportunity to recapture the vibrancy and cultural importance of The Hill through thoughtful implementation of the aforementioned recommendations. Balancing student and neighborhood amenities requires acknowledging the impact of the regulatory barriers imposed on The Hill while respecting the original rationale. The 14th Street Lot’s ability to serve as a catalyst for an activation strategy for The Hill will depend in large part on the market signal the removal of the regulatory barriers will most certainly send. As the recommendations suggest, a phased and multi-pronged approach that involves all stakeholders will be critical to The Hill’s success. It is our hope that this process will advance an already focused and informed effort for revitalizing The Hill. The recommendations put forth by the panelists reflect a genuine desire to respect the needs of each stakeholder group while placing emphasis on implementation and the market realities that are present for the district. IMAGES: Character of the Hill Commercial District 37 CITY OF BOULDER 14TH STREET LOT | 25 Jariah Walker, Executive Director, Colorado Springs, Urban Renewal Authority, ULI TAP Committee Chair Jariah Walker is the CSURA Executive Director where he leads the Urban Renewal Authority focused on revitalizing communities and driving economic growth with the use of TIF and districts. Before serving as acting director of CSURA, Walker worked as senior economic development analyst for the city. Prior to going to work for the city, Walker was a senior partner with Walker Asset Management Realty Inc. He served in that position for seven years. Jariah stays involved in the community and sits on many boards and committees. He currently serves as co-chair of ULI Southern Colorado. Keith Borsheim, Transportation Planner, HDR Keith Borsheim, HDR, is a multimodal planner with two decades of broad-based experience. He is a life-long learner, striving to be current with the state of the practice in all aspects of transportation planning, from travel demand modeling where he started his career to complete street design, where he has recently helped the cities of Littleton and Denver update their guidelines and standards for designing streets. Keith has the ability to speak the language of planners, engineers, developers, and stakeholders and works on all phases of project development. As one of HDR’s Denver Office municipal complete streets practice leaders, Keith has helped many cities along the front range plan and design better streets for people of all backgrounds. CarloMaria Ciampoli, Assoc., AIA, LEED Studio Director, Experience Design, RIOS CarloMaria is an expert at creating unique and memorable environments. CarloMaria leads teams to elegant design solutions, working beyond boundaries to exceed the aspirations and expectations of clients globally. His ideas are driven by his passion to create meaningful human interactions and authentic experiences that span cultures, markets, and geographies. Trained in architecture, he’s adept at thinking across a spectrum of design disciplines and scales to devise solutions that inspire people to connect with their surroundings. His invaluable perspective and wisdom have been instrumental in a variety of mixed-use, retail, entertainment, and public spaces, as well as projects in China, India, and Mexico. CarloMaria has lectured at the Center for Architecture in New York, industry events, and at universities across the US, Europe, and Asia. He’s based in Boulder, Colorado, where he cultivates his passion for board sports and the great outdoors. Matt Chiodini, Associate Principal, OZ Architecture Matt is an Associate Principal at OZ Architecture, a 150-person firm based in Denver that serves clients around the globe. Matt is a leader in the firm’s Multi-family practice area. He has been with OZ and in the industry for over 23 years. Matt has found that pursuing advanced delivery, including volumetric modular and prefabricated panelized work, is his passion and where he can deliver the most significant impact. His work strives to balance social, environmental, and economic sustainability while creating beautiful, creative spaces that are lasting assets to their neighborhoods. He recognizes that housing development affects the entire community, providing affordable and attainable housing in dense urban environments. He also prioritizes sustainable design in his work and is helping to lead OZ in the 2030 Commitment. As Matt leads his projects, he facilitates a truly integrated design process by enabling an open exchange among designers, engineers, consultants, and clients. Amy McCann, LEED, Architect, Associate, SAR+ Amy McCann is a Denver native with a passion for cities and the urban environment. During her career, she has worked with large, multi-office architecture firms on diverse project types within both the private and public sector. Most recently, Amy has focused on hospitality, student housing, and higher-education projects, playing a key role in community outreach and entitlements. Amy is a licensed architect in Colorado, has a strong graphic design eye, and is an advocate for historic context and preservation within architecture. ABOUT THE PANEL ABOUT THE PANEL 38 The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide Colorado 39 City of Boulder University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Cultural Vibrancy • District Vitality • Access for All 1500 Pearl Street, Suite 302 • Boulder, Colorado 80302 Phone 303-413-7300 Date: February 29, 2024 To: Boulder City Council From: University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Subject: Top Three Community Priorities and Issues The University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission (UHCAMC) is thankful for the opportunity to outline our top three community priorities and issues with City Council in advance of their retreat. After careful consideration and discussion among our commissioners, we have identified the following as critical areas that require attention and action: 1. Cleanliness and Safety for an Inviting and Vibrant District: Ensuring that the University Hill commercial district remains clean and safe is paramount to maintaining its vibrancy and attractiveness to residents, visitors, and businesses alike. We urge the City Council to continue prioritizing resources for enhanced cleaning services, increased public safety measures, and proactive efforts to address vandalism, graffiti, and loitering. 2. Parking in the Redevelopment Plan for the 14th Street UHGID owned parking lot: As redevelopment plans for the 14th Street UHGID parking lot progress, it is essential to consider provisions for parking to accommodate the needs of businesses, employees, and visitors in the area. We request that the City Council work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that adequate parking and access solutions are integrated into the redevelopment plan to support the district's continued revitalization. 3. Preparing the University Hill District for Increased Attention/Foot Traffic: With expectations of increased attention and foot traffic in the University Hill district, proactive measures are needed to support business development, enhance beautification efforts, and address parking and access challenges including improved connections to downtown Boulder. We encourage the City Council to prioritize initiatives aimed at fostering economic vitality, improving streetscapes, and enhancing accessibility and wayfinding to and within the district to capitalize on its potential as a vibrant commercial and cultural hub. These priorities reflect our commitment to advancing the interests of the University Hill district and promoting its long-term success. We look forward to working closely with the City Council and other stakeholders to address these issues and achieve positive outcomes for our district. With great appreciation for your continued support and the work you do for our city, University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Ted Rockwell, Andrew Shoemaker, Trent Bush, Tell Jones, and Cheryl Liguori