The proposed Armory Community Concept Plan scheduled to come before the Boulder Planning Board at 5 p.m. Thursday Aug. 21 would re-purpose the 8.5-acre parcel, currently home to the Colorado National Guard, into an innovative, mixed-use neighborhood and a landmark art and cultural destination spot in North Boulder.
The neighborhood would become an anchor for the long-desired North Boulder arts district and offer a valuable mixture of affordable housing for artists. Plus, North Boulder would gain a community performance and gathering space, and would establish a gateway into our city from the north.
How can the Armory neighborhood offer so many significant community benefits? A broad coalition of neighbors, artists, business people and a local developer working cooperatively on a very innovative plan, along with an appropriate degree of density.
Too often we see a knee-jerk reaction to new development as if density means the absence of open space. On the contrary, innovative urban infill neighborhoods like the Armory allow more open space and community gathering areas on the site.
Clustering homes in an urban infill project reduces sprawl and helps protect land in nature to stay pristine outside the built environment. In addition, because the homes are closer together, they have a smaller footprint and are more affordable than larger homes on larger lots.
Residents can easily walk to recreation, businesses, and places for food and drink. New Urbanist neighborhoods like the Armory, and the adjacent Holiday neighborhood, are close to public transit to help reduce individual car trips and lower climate change impacts.
It’s time to stop attacking density as if it were a four-letter word.
Density allows us to enjoy nature that is a short walk or bike ride away. Density discourages driving and helps protect our air from pollutants. Density facilitates biking and walking, as basic services are close by.
Density is socially and environmentally sustainable. It encourages people to talk with each other and forms closer connections among neighbors. Density encourages community – a core ingredient in a resilient neighborhood.
We are especially excited about the benefits the Armory redevelopment would bring to the artist community. The Armory Community Concept Plan offers affordable housing for artists based in North Boulder to live, work and display their work. A dedicated North Boulder arts district would help keep money circulating in our local neighborhood.
Currently, most North Boulder art galleries and work spaces are unseen, as they are tucked away either in an artist’s home or located on side streets away from Broadway. An art space at the Armory would make artist’s studios, art exhibits, and classes more accessible, and would facilitate collaborations among artists and other partners.
Many of us have been working for years to see a North Boulder arts district. The Armory would help fulfill this vision and the city’s Cultural Master Plan in which art is a more visible and important part of Boulder culture.
The community’s design places Armory parking underground, an expensive undertaking that is only economically viable because of density. As a result, North Boulder would gain both a desirable public outdoor plaza and an indoor performance space that could be used for concerts, festivals, special events and for a local farmer’s market.
In addition, the re-purposing of the Armory continues a national trend to preserve historic buildings. For example, the residents of Brighton transformed their Armory, built in 1922, into the Brighton Cultural Center, a modern and well-used arts center which hosts local arts organizations and offers a venue for regional events and performances.
Finally, we support the Armory Concept Plan because it brings a vision to North Boulder that is a result of a multi-year collaborative process. Armory Land Investors principal and longtime Boulder County resident Bruce Dierking began working on this project back in 2007. He continues to work collaboratively and reach out to members of the local community to solicit feedback and take into account the desires of people who live and work in North Boulder.
Thursday’s meeting will take place at the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway at Canyon, in the City Council Chambers on the second floor. Public comments (three-minute limit) will be taken.
You can download the Armory Community Concept Plan from the neighborhood’s website: BoulderArmory.com.
Margaret Porter, North Broadway Community Forum; Lawrence Anderson, Boulder County Arts Leadership Forum; Charlotte LaSasso, Boulder County Arts Alliance.
