{"id":13802,"date":"2014-03-10T14:26:13","date_gmt":"2014-03-10T20:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boulderblueline.org\/?p=13802"},"modified":"2014-05-27T12:29:22","modified_gmt":"2014-05-27T18:29:22","slug":"trying-to-create-a-well-loved-place-at-boulder-junction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boulderblueline.org\/?p=13802","title":{"rendered":"Trying to Create a Well Loved Place at Boulder Junction"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Boulder Junction existing (left) and envisioned (all images courtesy City of Boulder)<\/p><\/div>\n

At a PLAN-Boulder forum on Friday, February 28, three luminaries from the City of Boulder staff described painstaking efforts to create a welcoming place at Boulder Junction for people to congregate and enjoy themselves, while projecting an increase in jobs in that area that will approximate the anticipated increase in residential population.<\/p>\n

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Boulder Junction map and context<\/p><\/div>\n

The development of Boulder Junction is proceeding in two phases. Phase 1 is well underway; and one of the speakers, Sam Assefa, the city\u2019s senior urban designer, predicted that it will probably be completed in five years. Phase 2 development will then start.<\/p>\n

The area covered by Phase 1 is roughly a city block south of Pearl Parkway: extending from 30th<\/sup> Street on the west to the Burlington Northern railroad on the east and from Valmont Road on the north to the North Boulder Farmers Ditch (also known as the Boulder Slough) on the south.<\/p>\n

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Placemaking south of Pearl Parkway<\/p><\/div>\n

The entire Boulder Junction development\u2014Phases 1 and 2\u2014will include the area from Valmont Road on the north to the North Boulder Farmers Ditch and the Burlington Northern railroad on the south. The western boundary will be 30th<\/sup> Street from the North Boulder Farmers Ditch to Mapleton Avenue and then a line somewhat west of 30th<\/sup> from Mapleton to Valmont. The eastern boundary will be Foothills Parkway.<\/p>\n

Assefa and the other two distinguished speakers\u2014Alex May, senior transportation project manager, and Elaine McLaughlin, senior planner\u2014projected that Boulder Junction, when completed, will add 1,400 to 2,400 housing units to the city, 2,800 to 5,000 residents, and 2,900 to 4,300 jobs. They also presented estimates that in 2006, 44,250 housing units, 101,900 residents, and 97,000 jobs were located in the city (Area I of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan). They projected that when Boulder is entirely built-out, including both phases of Boulder Junction, 6,150-7,150 more housing units, 13,200 to 15,400 more residents, and 63,000 to 64,800 more jobs will exist in the city.<\/p>\n

The parts of Boulder Junction currently being constructed are located near Pearl Parkway between 30th<\/sup> Street and the railroad tracks, including Pearl Parkway itself. The new elements include:<\/p>\n