Commerce City Approves Transit-Oriented Development

After two years of serving local commuters with train service but no other nearby amenities, the lone train station in Commerce City, north of Denver, could become a hub of activity as the city approves new housing and commercial uses in the area to support more transit-oriented development. John Aguilar of the Denver Post reports that the city has approved a 100-unit affordable housing development to kick off development at the site.

“According to RTD [Regional Transportation District], nearly 3,400 transit-oriented development, or TOD, housing units were built in 2021 near stations across multiple rail lines in Denver, Lakewood and Aurora, as well as along the Flatiron Flyer bus rapid transit line on U.S. 36 that takes commuters from Denver to Broomfield and Boulder.” This year, the agency expects that roughly 6,000 multifamily units will be built around transit stations.

A report from the Urban Land Institute Colorado outlines the challenges and opportunities in the area surrounding the Commerce City station. On the plus side, the station is close to downtown Denver, and the nearby South Platte River could provide opportunities to build more amenities and connections. On the other hand, the report found a “lack of connectivity, access, safety, integrated green space, and community amenities,” as well as “fractured property ownership, a history of industrial activity and a lack of water rights in the immediate area.” City officials are looking to other train stations in the region as models for how to approach future development.