Rockies plan for plaza across from Coors Field heads to council

The story first ran on BusinessDen.com, a BizWest news partner.

DENVER — Two years after proposing a plaza-like space on a vacant lot across from Coors Field, the Rockies are finally hitting the rezoning process.

Denver’s Planning Board approved the team’s application for the lot at the corner of 21st and Blake streets last Wednesday.

The unanimous vote sends the measure to the Denver City Council, where a committee is slated to consider it Jan. 31 before an expected vote by the full body on March 13.

The Rockies initially detailed its vision for the site in a rendering-laden document submitted to the city in December 2020. 

The 26,000-square-feet space, which the Rockies leased in 2016, would have a small wiffle ball court, shaded weatherproof seating, family games like ring toss and the capacity to host community events — but also serve as a parking lot if needed. 

The team didn’t mention at last week’s meeting when improvements might be made. The Rockies didn’t respond to a request for comment Monday.

The renderings, drawn up by Stantec, show an “enclosed but welcoming” space decked in Rockies bright purple and silver that portrayed family movie nights and play spaces. 

“Our goal is to bring a safe, secure, clean, family fun plaza and event space to the front door of Coors Field that can be flexible and serve a number of different functions,” Rockies President Greg Feasel said at the Planning Board meeting. 

Planning Board Chair Joel Noble said the space must hold a minimum of 12 public events a year, six of which must be free of charge. Days without events, the space will remain publicly accessible. 

The Rockies received three letters of support from Downtown Denver Partnership, LoDo District and the Ballpark Collective. 

An adjacent parking lot, at the corner of 20th and Blake, was rezoned last year after the developer that owns it addressed concerns the Rockies raised.

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