Denver Unveils Draft Plan for Burnham Yard, Future Home of Broncos Stadium
City Seeks Public Feedback on Housing, Economic Development and Neighborhood Preservation
Support for affordable housing and local residents, honoring the history of the neighborhood and the land and connecting neighbors to and through the site are among the key recommendations in the public review draft of the Burnham Yard Small Area Plan.
The small area plan is a community-informed policy document intended to guide city decisions on the area surrounding the inactive rail yard that has sat vacant and undeveloped since 2016.
In September 2015, the Denver Broncos identified Burnham Yard as the preferred site for their new stadium. Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) is sharing this first look at the plan to collect community feedback ahead of review by the Denver Planning Board later this year and City Council in early 2027.
A Community-Driven Vision for Burnham Yard
The draft Burnham Yard Small Area Plan is the culmination of a year’s work with community members in the neighborhoods surrounding the site, led by CPD planners, with support from the office of Mayor Mike Johnston, City Council, partner agencies and the Denver Broncos.
Thousands of residents from the La Alma Lincoln Park and Baker neighborhoods (where Burnham Yard is located), and across the city took part in public meetings, surveys and community conversations to share their vision for how this transformational project could bring new life to the long-dormant property and the surrounding area.
The draft plan addresses opportunities and concerns around land use, mobility, the local economy and quality of life, working to integrate the stadium-anchored mixed-use district into the community through seamless connections and neighborhood scale development.
Affordable Housing, Economic Opportunity and Connectivity
Among the more than 30 policy recommendations in the draft plan, key ideas include:
- Ensuring future development includes housing that is affordable and attainable, includes a variety of housing types and meets the needs of current neighborhood residents.
- Expanding economic opportunities through support of local businesses, job training, and affordable commercial space in the redevelopment.
- Celebrating the Chicano and American Indian communities’ historical ties to the area in the design of public spaces.
- Creating game-changing transit-oriented development by leveraging existing transit service, providing new transit options and connecting the site through a network of high-quality trails.
City Leaders Emphasize Community Priorities
“Neighbors have worked tirelessly for the last year dreaming with the city and the Broncos about what we can build and achieve together,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This vision reflects that dream – one of seamless connection, places where everyone can afford to live and grow their business and a sense of place that honors where we come from while inspiring the opportunity that comes next.”
“Residents and community have seen this area change along the river and across the highways without a concreate plan to guide it for over 50 years,” said Council Member Jamie Torres (District 3). “The Burnham Yard Small Area Plan now gives us the community’s vision for better connected neighborhoods, with an emphasis on our commitment to a better quality of life and a stronger commitment to the environment.”
“I commend CPD, the promotoras and Rooted Community Solution for the extensive community outreach, and my staff who also knocked on doors to hear directly from neighbors,” said Council Member Flor Alvidrez (District 7). “Their voices must guide what comes next: fighting displacement so families and local businesses can stay and thrive, addressing traffic impacts, and delivering safer streets and better transit. The people who already call this area home must be the ones who help shape its future and share in its benefits.”
“This has been a very extensive process, and I am incredibly thankful to the community members who dedicated their time to make sure the Burnham Yard Small Area plan reflects the neighborhood’s needs,” saidCouncil Member Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (At-large). “This area plan is a meaningful step to ensure that the community has a role in shaping the future of their neighborhoods.”
“Burnham Yard is a unique opportunity to create something special for the neighborhood, the city and the region,” said CPD Executive Director Brad Buchanan. “There’s a lot of work and collaboration still to come, but this draft plan is an important first step. I applaud the work CPD staff have done engaging the community and our partners to put together a vision for the area that we can all be proud of and look forward to.”
Five Guiding Principles for Future Development
The draft lays out a broad vision for the area, calling for Burnham Yard and surrounding neighborhoods to be “connected, inclusive, and rooted in history, culture and stewardship, creating shared benefits and wealth-building opportunities for people, families, and local businesses.”
Policy recommendations serve as the building blocks for the community vision, outlining long-term outcomes that the community wants as well as strategies to achieve those outcomes.
The recommendations address land use and urban design, housing and the local economy, how to get to and around Burnham Yard, and how to celebrate the area’s history and culture. The recommendations are organized into five guiding principles, based on public feedback.
- Honor History and Culture: Preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of the area. Honor the past through education and story-telling.
- Protect and Support Our Neighborhoods: Protect neighborhood residents and businesses from displacement. Develop strategies to mitigate risks from future development and infrastructure.
- Cultivate Environmental Resilience: Heal and restore land, river, and nature and support environmentally responsible development.
- Expand Economic Opportunities: Preserve and promote a wide variety of economic and employment opportunities for area residents and businesses.
- Seamlessly Connect Communities: Deliver a safe and accessible transportation network that seamlessly links surrounding neighborhoods.
How to Review the Plan and Submit Feedback
The public is invited to review the plan and provide feedback. It is available online at Denvergov.org/BurnhamYard.
Hard copies of the plan will be available at the La Alma Recreation Center and John “Thunderbird Man” Emhoolah, Jr. Branch Library.
Comments received by Wednesday, Oct. 28, will be reviewed and considered by city planners ahead of the legislative review process. After Oct. 28, comments will be directed to the Denver Planning Board and City Council, who will hold hearings and vote on the draft plan later this year and early in 2027, respectively.
Editor’s note: Learn more at denvergov.org/burnhamyard. View and comment on draft plan here.