Sun Valley Gateway

Denver, Colorado

Denver Housing Authority’s Sun Valley Gateway project is the first phase of the multi-year transformation of the Sun Valley Neighborhood. The 187 unit three-building development includes Gateway North, South and Rowhouses. The new housing, streetscape, and Grow Market will create a gateway and set the stage for the future redevelopment of the neighborhood. With the help of a $30 Million Housing and Urban Development Grant (HUD), the project will provide a preview of the new public realm, showcasing activated, safe and comfortable public realm, while preserving the sense of community that exists today. The improvements along 10th Avenue will eventually extend beyond the intersection, serving as the neighborhood’s social spine with direct access to the South Platte River. Decatur Street will provide a direct connection to the Decatur-Federal Station with bus and rail service to Downtown and the greater Denver metro area.

Livable Cities Studio has led the planning and conceptual design of all the streets of Sun Valley, and the streetscape design for 10th Avenue and Decatur Street as part of the Gateway Redevelopment project. Based on community input and the desire to create spaces for casual social interactions, the streets include small social spaces for gathering, sitting and informal play. Generous sidewalks and diverse landscape plantings provide a comfortable pedestrian-scaled experience for residents. A neighborhood mobility hub is integrated near the intersection, including local bus stops and a bike-share station, and in response to the regional ecology, street-side stormwater planters are integrated to capture, hold, and filter runoff, while providing colorful and seasonally interesting plants.