Denver City Council voted Monday to advance $68 million in funding for a new police station serving District 6 in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The project replaces the current Denver Police Department building at Colfax Avenue and Washington Street, which has long needed renovations. Funding for the original bond was approved by voters through the 2017 Elevate Denver program.
Project details and timeline
The new facility will feature upgraded visitor parking, dedicated staff parking, and safety canopies to protect pedestrians and officers. The city plans to begin construction next month, with officials saying the schedule is tight because the Elevate Denver bond program is nearing its end.
“We are very excited to put a real shovel in the ground and start building this project that we have been working on for a while,” said Cara Sequino, director of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Sequino added that redesigns or delays would jeopardize the bond funding and could push back the start of construction.
Housing advocates voice concerns
While many neighborhood leaders support a modern police station, some local advocates argue the city missed a chance to create more housing. Frank Locantore, head of the Colfax Business Improvement District, has long urged that the project include space for affordable units. The demolition of the historic Pharmacy Building will create a quarter‑acre lot, but Locantore says the parcel is too small to attract developers for meaningful housing projects.
Architect Andy Baldyga, a former member of the Denver Planning Board, echoed those concerns. “Despite all that planning and guidance, currently the site serves only a single purpose, misses the opportunity to incorporate other uses, and does not generate any income,” Baldyga told council during a 15‑minute public comment period. He warned that the remaining land is insufficient to draw private investment needed for a mixed‑use development.
City officials respond
Sequino emphasized that the project’s design is locked in to meet the bond’s deadline and that any redesign would risk losing the allocated funds. “We are right up against the end of the Elevate Denver bond program with the funding that we have received,” she said.
Mayor Mike Johnston’s office defended the city’s outreach efforts. “I just think it’s fundamentally untrue that we haven’t been listening, that we haven’t been having that conversation,” spokesperson Jon Ewing said earlier this month.
Nevertheless, council members acknowledged the outreach shortfall. Councilmember Chris Hinds said, “I’m taking ownership that I was part of the problem. I’m frustrated that we didn’t have a community conversation. When we spend the people’s money, we should have a conversation.” Councilmember Shontel Lewis added, “I hope the lesson we take from this is that community engagement cannot come after the decisions have already been made. If we truly believe in co‑governance, then community has to be at the table early enough to actually shape the outcome.”
Looking ahead
The new Capitol Hill police station is expected to improve safety infrastructure for both officers and residents. At the same time, the city faces ongoing pressure to address the region’s housing shortage, a challenge that will likely surface in future planning discussions as Denver continues to grow.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
