Community Profile

         The Denver Metro Area, in contrast to the rest of Colorado (Boulder excluded),
is considered to be quite liberal in political affiliation.  With this distinction there
should be some obvious differences compared with other areas of the country that would
 be considered more conservative.  However, the economic and social pains of segregation
are apparent and highly visible when studying the 2010 census data.

     First, here are some of the general population statistics.  Ethnicity, Population
Density, and Economic Data number are as follows:

Total Population (2010):

600,024

634,265 (2012)

5.7% increase

Ethnic Percentages in Denver (2010):

White 68.9%

Black 10.2%

Hispanic or Latino 31.8%

Asian 3.4%

American Indian Native 1.4%

Pacific/Alaskan Islander .1%

2 or more Races 4.1%

White Alone no Hispanic or Latino 52.2%

Persons per Household 2.24

Median Household Income (2007- 2010)

$47,499

Person Below Poverty 18.8%

Homeownership 51.7%

Persons Per Square Mile

3922.6

Below are some population and economic maps to depict overall population location due to ethnicity, density, and income levels.

Map of the Percentage of White population in Denver

    The white population is the largest  in Denver and does inhabit the greatest percentage of area in the Denver area.  The basic location for the white population is concentrated between Broadway to Quebec (West to East) and Colfax to Hampden (North to South).  There is also another section in the Lower and West Highland neighborhoods located between Sheridan and I-25 (West to East) and basically 38th to 29th St.(North to South).  These areas include downtown Denver, the Capital Hill area, Congress park, Park Hill, Cherry Creek, Washington park, Highlands, the Golden Triangle district, some pockets in the City Park. Bonnie Brae, and Cory Merrill.  Even though some areas were left out by name, the one thing that they all have in common is that they are by far the wealthiest areas, and benefit from the best upkeep in the city.  A quick comparison to the income level map will highlight the similarities between the white population and the highest income earners in the city.

Map of Black Population in Denver

           The area of land that is inhabited by Denver's black population does correspond to the population size percentage. The area is located between York St. and Quebec (West to East) and I-70 to 25th St. (North to South). There is also a smaller pocket east of the Northglenn and Stapleton areas that have a high density of the black population. These areas are also some of the lowest income earning areas in the Denver Area.

Map of Latino or Hispanic Population in Denver

     The Hispanic/Latino population percentage is over two times the black population, about two thirds the white population, and as with the first two inhabit a proportionate amount of the area. The largest area of the population is located between Sheridan and I-25 (West to East) and 14th St. to Jewel (North to South). There is also another substantial population center for the Hispanic/Latino community located from Pecos to Brighton (West to East) and 52nd to 38th St. (North to South). As with the black population, the Income levels for the Hispanic/Latino areas are also the lowest in the city.

Population Density

     The population density map at first did not seem to give any obvious clues to the overall demography of Denver.  It was just a basic patchwork of different neighborhoods some more populated than others.  Then off to the east a rather large area within the highest population density average created a glaring question, "Where is that?"  Then the comparisons of the other maps started to help paint a picture of an area that starts to give a slight gleam of hope in the segregated gloom that has been hovering over this community profile page.  The area is Stapleton.  The infill neighborhood project that redesigned the Stapleton Airport area and has transformed it into a successful mixed-use neighborhood.  The data that I have noticed about this area is that it is in the low-moderate to high percentages on most of the maps.  Yes it is still mostly a white area, however, its percentage make-up almost follows the actual percentages of Denver.  It is 60 to 80% white, 11.7 to 28% Hispanic/Latino, and 4 to 12% black, which compared to 52 %, 32%, 10% for the same ethnic groups, it is much closer than other areas of the city.  The other positive, is the income per capita is in a moderate range.  The awareness that Stapleton has low-income housing to high-income mini-mansions is a obvious reason for the median wage to be in the $35,000 to $50,000 area (Denver's median income from 2007-2010 was $47,499).  However, this is the overall outcome that the high-density, mixed-used neighborhoods of the past created.  An environment that people from many walks of life could mingle and learn from and about each other.  For this reason alone Stapleton could be called a success.  Combine that with the mix of residential, commercial, and business, which creates a more walk-able community, and Stapleton is a prime example of what smart-growth design can accomplish.

   

Income per Area in Denver

     The unfortunate reality of the income disparity, especially between race in Denver, is sobering.  Whether it is from intentional design from developers or planners, or just the result from personal prejudice.  It cannot be denied that Denver has a demographic and economic segregation epidemic.  These maps do not lie.  The numbers have been calculated by the most unbiased of instruments, a computer program.  The facts are here in front of us.  A force is keeping people apart, because of the color of their skin.  The one obvious suspect for the cause has to be the group that is benefiting from this disparity.

Poverty Income per Area

Part 2

Local Government

Denver was settled in 1958 and became a town in the Kansas Territory in 1860. It then became part of the Colorado territory in 1861. The state of Colorado made Denver its capital in 1877 and became a City and County in 1902. It adopted its new Charter with a mayor-council government in 1904. (denvergov.org). Currently its address is 1437 Bannock St. Denver. 

Some of the characteristics of Denver's local government are as follows. The Denver State Representatives are: District 2 Mark Ferrandino, District 8 Elizabeth McCann, District 6 Lois Court, and District 7 Angela Williams. The US Senator for Denver is Michael Bennet. In 2013 the mayor of Denver is Michael Hancock and the city council is made up of members: 

District 1 Susan K. Shepherd, District 2 Jeanne Faatz, District 3 Paul D. Lopez, District 4 Peggy Lehmann, District 5 (President) Mary Beth Susman, District 6 Charlie Brown, District 7 Chris Nevitt, District 8 Albus Brooks, District 9 Judy H. Montero, District 10 Jeanne Robb, District 11 Christopher Herndon (President Pro-Team), Council At-Large Robin Kneich, and Council At-Large Deborah “Debbie” Ortega.

The Denver Planning Board is established through the Denver Revised Municipal Code, Chapter 12, Article II, Division 2. The Planning Board advises the Mayor and the City Council about the implementation of Denver's Comprehensive Plan. The planning board has eleven members that are appointed by the mayor. The members have a term of three years. The members are staggered from year to year. Each year a Chair is appointed by the mayor to preside for the ensuing year. The manager of the Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) is not a member of the board, but acts as a secretary. The overall duties of the Planning Board is to assist the CPD in preparing the cities' comprehensive plan, follow the rules of the Revised Municipal Code especially the zoning regulations in Chapter 59, review, grant, and deny variances in the zoning code, conduct studies and research by request of the CPD, and perform other duties relating to the CPD. The planning board meets bi-weekly on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. the meetings take place in the Webb Municipal Office Building at 201 W. Colfax Ave. Room 4.F.6 and 4.G.2. The City of Denver does have a television channel to allow the public to watch programming that has live and recorded city council, planning board sub-committee, and community events available for general public viewing on channel 8. (denvergov.org/government)

Part 3

The Comprehensive Plan

The general feel the the 2000 Comprehensive Plan of Denver can be summed up in one of its opening phrases in its guiding principles, "Does the action improve the quality of life for people." There is a strong focus on the three E's of sustainability: Ecology, Economy, and Equity. Economically, the introduction speaks of an economy that enhances livability and that there is a strong bond between the two. Their is a strong focus on the environment in the plan. Because of all the activities that are available in the Denver area the environment seems to filter throughout all the topics discussed. The plan specifically mentions clean water, air quality, clean parks, clean streets, and the use and reuse of resources. I felt that the opening statement for equity should be quoted directly:

"Denver must be a city that means what it says when it comes to providing all its residents with equal opportunity to share in its livability. Whether the concern is safety, adequate housing, excellent education, convenient mobility, solid family life, public health and safety, neighborhood investment, or diverse recreation, Denver must be a city that cares and shares, with compassion and equity. Despite the prosperous economy of the 1990s, some Denver neighborhoods have not thrived, and their residents have not benefited proportionally."

I believe that the measure of a society is how it treats the least among them. I find it impressive that it is such a strong focus of the comprehensive plan.

Mostly the introduction to the plan is about the vision for the future, the challenges that we have had in the recent past, such as, population decrease in the 1980's, but also it looks back into the original history of Denver. It works to give those that read through it a sense of place and why Denver is here.

Once through the introduction the plan is organized into two Main sections, which then have essentially chapters describing the ideas of that section."Our Long Term Physical Environment," is the first one of those sections it has five sections: Environmental, Land Use, Mobility, Legacy, and Housing. The second of those main sections is called "Our Long Term Human Environment," which is divided into: Economic Activity, Neighborhoods, Education, Human Services, and Arts and Culture. The final section of the plan is the "Metropolitan Cooperation" section, which looks into the goals and strategies of the relationship structure around the region. I have decided to look at the Land Use portion of the Physical Environment section of the plan and analyse the ideas it presents.

The land use section starts with a bold idea of no longer changing land use code by increments but making a sweeping change to the system and making a conscious decision on the type of city Denver should be (This was accomplished in 2010 with the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC)).  The three ideas from this are:

❙ Retaining and attracting residents of all economic means.

❙ Enhancing the quality, diversity and stability of neighborhoods, business districts and other areas of Denver.

❙ Supporting strategies that provide multiple transportation modes, giving travelers more choices than simply using their cars

These ideas are generally speaking of connecting the city to its residents so everyone has better access and this will increase equity to every citizen.

The major theme for the first part of the Land Use section is all about rezoning and changing codes so they better work with the city and the buildings that are already in place. There is also a desire to make things easier for developers that are focusing on more mixed-use style communities. It states that in 1998 codes were changed to make that easier. It all seems to correspond with the emergence of the Stapleton, Lowry, DIA/Gateway, and Central Platte Valley areas opening up for development.

There are some ideas that are given as bench marks of success for the plan in the implementation of land use. They are under the area called "Visions of Success." In paraphrasing of these bench marks, there is still this idea that the zoning code must change to move forward in Denver development. Better communication between citizens, developers, and planners will help to use through the process, and here is where the website denvergov.org is introduced. Compact development will create centers of population around community and commerce and reduce urban sprawl. The need for a better transportation system in Denver and alternative modes of transportation other than cars. And finally there is a need to focus on preserving Denver's historical buildings and districts.

The aspirations of the land use section of the Comprehensive plan fall into the already mentioned categories. The ideas keep coming up in different areas, however, the message is the same; the zoning codes have to change, mixed-use communities, and better connecting and transportation between city and neighborhoods and businesses. Which, in turn, will help protect the environment and ecology of the area.

The one thing I will say about the 2000 Comprehensive Plan is that it is a large document. It is quite detailed and it has a message of what the city planners and government want to focus on for the next twenty years. I have to say that the one thing that really does impress me on a comprehensive plan is the length of time that it is to represent. That takes a lot of faith and vision to put together a document like that. 

I relate with the theme of the plan I think it is forward thinking. With the advantage of time to analyse what the plan has actually helped accomplish, it is interesting to see all the changes the city has gone through, and to realize that it is by no means accidental. This is what planning does. It is not a fast process and a good number of things have to go right for the plan to be enacted and produced.

    The main critique I have of Denver, and not the comprehensive plan, is that for all the good it does in focusing on the environment and ecology, I feel that the focus on equity in the comprehensive plan is window dressing.  There is that desire to bring our outdoors world to the forefront.  it is what the nation and the world for that matter think about when they think of Colorado.  That makes sense of course.  For all the focus that social equity was given in the comprehensive plan, it feels like that is the area that needs the most action and change in Denver.  Before this project I was aware of the segregation of this city, however, the data behind that segregation exposes the true inequality.  If Denver wants to truly be a successful city it needs to improve those that have the least access to what Denver has to offer.  It is time for Denver to live up to making the actions improve the lives of ALL people.