While the previous administration conducted studies to examine various design options and sites for a proposed jail, Hickenlooper is looking to ULI to evaluate the economic, land use and community impacts of the proposed Justice Center at both the proposed downtown and Smith Road locations.
ULI was involved in helping Denver site both the Colorado Convention Center and Coors Field.
The Denver ULI panel for the Justice Center includes a jail and courts siting and program expert; an architect who has worked on several justice center designs around the country; a developer who focuses on urban infill projects; a real estate appraisal, finance and economic development expert; and a public project management consultant who has worked on a number of large public facility development efforts around the country, including a $200-million justice center in Florida.
The Denver's County Jail, at Smith Road and Havana, operates on average at 141% of capacity, reaching peaks of 165%. It is rated for 1,350 inmates, but its average daily population is 1,900. Denver's City Jail at 14th and Decatur operates at 145% of capacity. It is rated for 158 individuals, but its average daily population is 230, with peaks over 300.
As a result of years of overcrowding, Denver lost its American Corrections Association accreditation in 2001 and is vulnerable to federal lawsuits. If the city does not take corrective action, the federal government may intervene.
The three options that will be evaluated by ULI include the Rocky Mountain News site; renovation of both the existing Smith Road site and the PADF in addition to new courts Downtown, or going back to the drawing board to look at site options.
The cost of the four-day ULI workshop is $50,000.
Depending on the outcome of the ULI analysis and the city's final determination, a jail proposal could be on the ballot by May 2005. The Denver Newspaper Agency, which handles the business operations for the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post, has bought a site a few blocks away. It will be leasing the site from the city at least through August 2006.
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