The document discusses three options for redesigning 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. Option 1 makes minor changes to maintain the current design. Option 2 transforms the mall into an asymmetrical design to address solar exposure issues and expand pedestrian space. Option 2.1 is a variant of Option 2 that transfers the expanded sidewalk. Option 3, which has been removed from consideration, proposed moving bus traffic to 15th Street to open up space on the mall.

1. membership search
life business about us quick links
The Downtown Denver
>> Par tner ship, Inc. is a non-
pr ofit business
or ganization that
Links Urban Design Plan cr eatively plans, manages
and develops Downtown
Denver as the unique,
diver se, vibr ant and
16th Street Plan Current Design Options economically healthy
ur ban cor e of the Rocky
Mountain r egion.
Overview
In all of the options below, we plan to improve accessibility and mobility for all,
The BID is a public or ganization
reorganize the Mall furnishings, rehabilitate the existing pavers, enhance the funded by pr ivate commer cial
16th Street Mall History pr oper ty owner s. It funds cleaning &
intersections at named streets and uphold the legacy of the original design. The Urban maintenance, safety initiatives and
tar geted mar keting for Downtown
Design Plan is framed by the Statement of Intent. Denver .
Urban Design Plan
Overview OPTION # 1: There are currently no details for
this record.
Steering Committee
Technical Assessment &
Rehabilitation Study
Meet the Consultants
Consultant Observations
and Analysis
Press Releases
Public Input Option # 1 minimizes overall intervention with the current design by maintaining
Opportunities existing transit operations and overall layout. This option keeps the bus lanes,
sidewalks and tree line as originally designed.
16th Street Plan in the Pros:
News Option #1 preserves the central median space
Option #1 allows shuttles to be accessed with equal ease on both sides of the street
Drawing Library Cons:
Option #1 does not solve the observed problems with vending and restaurant patio
space, fountain accessibility/safety or median flexibility.
Find us on Facebook
Option #1 does not respond to existing sun exposure
Option #1 offers less flexibility long-term as an isolated civic space can challenge
16th changes in program
Street Mall
Like OPTION # 2:
16
th
St
re
et
M
all
16
​
th
St
re
et
M
all
Re
cei Option # 2 responds to current solar exposure by transforming the entire mall into an
ve asymmetrical block setup. This setup moves the two lanes of traffic together around the
2,163 people like 16th
Street Mall.
existing south treeline (see above), making the former transit lane an extra-wide
walkway with extended patio and kiosk space. This provides more flexible pedestr ian space
with r oom for full-scale r etail kiosks. It also allows r etail access without cr ossing bus lanes and cr eates
an expanded walkway area as well as a possible third row of trees. It is feasible to make
C hev ie S anaa
this change while still preserving the ornate diamondback paver design and the
design does not disturb the existing Honey-Locust trees.
Pros:
F acebook social plugin
Option #2 responds carefully to specific sun exposure
Option #2 allows for significant expansion and improvement in vending
Option #2 creates easy and safe access to vendors
Cons:
Option #2 requires enhanced slab support beneath the center median to
support traffic along the current median area
Option #2 may risk a pedestrian sidewalk "preference" as Mall visitors may prefer the
expanded south sidewalk (more room to walk) or the current-sized north sidewalk
www.downtowndenver.com/CurrentUrbanDesignPlanDetails/tabid/400/Default.aspx 1/3

2. (better shuttle access).
Option #2.1:
Option # 2.1 maintains the same assymettrically coupled transit lanes as proposed in
Option 2. However, Option 2.1 transfers the expanded sidewalk from the south side to
the north side throughout the center blocks of the mall with a cross-over. The busses
would run along the south side for the three blocks at each end of the original Mall
(Court - Glenarm and Curtis - Market) and would run along the north side through the
middle blocks (Glenarm - Curtis).
Pros:
Option 2.1 has diversity of block styles which could allow for diversity of uses
Option 2.1 has increased pedestrian capacity
Option 2.1 has more options for use of sidewalk without the need to cross a transit
lane
Cons:
Crossovers at Glenarm and Curtis could complicate transit traffic
PLEASE NOTE: Option #3 has been removed from consideration by the Steering
Committee. It was determined that Mall expansion onto 15th Street is not feasible at
this time. The improvements to 15th Street that the scheme offered were supported
by the committee, along with the consideration for cyclists downtown, but these do
not fall within the scope of the 16th Street Plan and are instead better addressed
by the larger Downtown Area Plan .
Option #3 transfers westbound bus traffic to a proposed bus lane on 15th
Street, opening up the original westbound bus lane. This lane could serve as an
www.downtowndenver.com/CurrentUrbanDesignPlanDetails/tabid/400/Default.aspx 2/3

3. expansion of public space, an emergency lane, or possibly a 2-way bicycle lane. This
change would bring significant pedestrian traffic to 15th Street , improving activity parallel
to the Mall. This entails the same paver transformation as Option #2 in order to preserve
the diamondback pattern, but doesn't require expansion of the slab beneath the median.
Click Here to see detailed studies of how pedestrians would use the
Mall in both options...
Give us your feedback at 16thStreetPlan@downtowndenver.com , our Facebook page or
the next public meeting!
© 2009 Downtown Denver Partnership | 511 16th Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80202 | Phone: 303.534.6161 | info@downtowndenver.com
www.downtowndenver.com/CurrentUrbanDesignPlanDetails/tabid/400/Default.aspx 3/3