Urban Land Conservancy (ULC) is building community in Denver.
Building stronger communities since 2003 by preserving and developing real estate assets in Denver, ULC has invested over $66M into 26 real estate projects, leveraging an additional $400M in economic development through public, private and nonprofit partners. ULC received a $50,000 Impact Fund grant from the Opus Foundation in November 2014 to support a community revitalization project, the Holly Square area in the Northeast Park Hill neighborhood. Holly Square once housed a vibrant retail center, but the area has been plagued with crime and heavy gang activity.
After purchasing the land, ULC used community visioning sessions to identify ideal uses for the area, including the new Vickers Boys and Girls Club. The Foundation’s funds will support the construction of a community overlook in an area above an existing storm water retention area. The retention pond impedes flow between the Square’s walkways and neighboring buildings and poses a safety concern.
After receiving funding from the Foundation, ULC realized the impact throughout the Greater Park Hill neighborhoods could be larger. With little to no connection to the new rail station or between the neighborhoods themselves and ULC’s own local projects, the organization saw an opportunity to create a greater community connection with a neighborhood trail. 303 ArtWay will be a cultural heritage trail that will feature art commissioned by the community and will work to celebrate the area’s past, present and future, all while providing a safe, educational, bike- and pedestrian-friendly way to move about the neighborhood and connect to the commuter rail line.
As the central part of the 303 ArtWay, the overlook project has expanded to include an outdoor learning space for community members and local organizations. Roots Elementary School, a planned addition to Holly Square, will design its curriculum around learning opportunities using the overlook, making the need and impact even greater.
Work on the overlook will begin in early 2016. Planning for 303 ArtWay is underway with a robust community visioning process beginning later this year. Proving that great things come from the Foundation’s support.
Learn more and support 303 ArtWay at 303artway.org and other ULC investments at urbanlandc.org.
The Opus Foundation is building community for a better tomorrow by supporting projects and programs that make our communities better places to live, work and raise families through grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of early childhood education, youth development, workforce development, community revitalization and pressing/emerging needs. Read more about the Foundation's work.