Civic Area plan

Consideration of a motion to accept the August 13, 2026, Study Session Summary regarding Civic Area East Bookend Development Partnership Request For Proposal

hear a reference to it on the um request for proposals on the east book end of the of the uh civic area downtown

Boulder Creek Park phase 2, which was formerly the civic area phase 2 project. The title has changed.

as well as at the uh civic area or Boulder Creek Park.

as well as our civic area Boulder Creek um phase 2 and uh Michelle I uh happy to have you chime in

Um main offering for the request for proposal would be the east bookend. So we'll focus a little bit more on this bookend.

I'm excited to introduce an update on the redevelopment of the East Book End of the Civic area.

Civic Area East Bookend Development Partnership RFP Staff Time: 20 Min Council Time: 70 Min Total Time: 90 Min

Staff Presentation and TAB Feedback - Boulder Creek Park (Formerly Civic Area) Design Update

civic area. And if the hill is the brain of downtown and Pearl Street is the heart

It could also deepen efforts to develop the civic area, a major city priority

Presentation and TAB Feedback - Civic Area Phase 2 & Phase 3 Update

Staff (75 min.) i. Civic Area East Bookend P3 ii. DDA Formation Update

Civic Area East Bookend Public Private Partnership RFP

plan assumes the city will finance $74 million with a payback period of 10 years for the East Boulder Community Center, Civic Area, and Fire Station 2 projects

The CCS tax is currently programmed fully from 2026 through 2031 to support projects to include fire stations 2 and 4, the Civic area

And then we have the east book end of the civic area which is really about strategic reinvestment.

So I'm curious you showed that that Central Park is but like was a green dot going through there even when it was called civic area.

to make sure that um civic area has what people need in it

including the East Boulder Community Center, Fire Station 2, and Civic Area project.

By advancing work in the civic area, we should be able to generate some revenue from the sale of buildings

the civic area that the same round of CCRS projects in 2021 that included funding for East included the civic area

there's information on the website that's been there for a while as part of the Civic Area.

we had a civic area plan that has essentially been stalled

And this feels especially important right now, given the redevelopment of the civic area.

It might be feasible, in May, we have penciled in coming back to you on the civic area

the mall itself, and the civic area by the parks department.

projects like supporting major civic area reinvest redevelopment of the 14th street law on the hill

So, Cajid, UGID, the bid, it also includes the civic area, and importantly, the connection between downtown and the Hill.

before spending money to improve areas that are already functioning effectively today, i.e. the civic area.

it is shocking that other products pro projects like the civic area or park projects are higher priorities than keeping a pool in a community rec center

Projects such as the Flat Irons Golf Course restaurant, the Boulder Reservoir restaurant, and the civic area were funded without requiring community-led fundraising

for the civic area project that they're calling Boulder Beach

I am really excited about getting involved with, the renaming of the civic area

We actually heard from about 300 Boulder High students for part of the civic area work

What you see in this slide is focusing in kind of zooming in on the civic area itself.

how do we think about ways to bring people into the civic area other than by car

think about the renaming of the civic area similar to what we saw

That is in the context of what feedback we've heard from community throughout the Civic Area Project

instead of having, kind of, vacant spaces where we know there will be impact in the civic area

We are in the middle of phase two of our civic Area project.

who have offices in Boulder and have been doing the work on the civic area engagement

Third zone is the East End. As mentioned, this is the more activated, more urban, you could say, end of the civic area

So, like I mentioned, we're here to talk about the civic area.

In the current version of Civic Area Plan 2, I'm opposed to the obscuring, the covering up of the historic

Folks, we want vibrant park and urban spaces here.

If you walk through the civic area on a summer, especially the minute CU is out of school, this area is really popular

This is the planning context. We exclude Phase 1, because in 2012-2014, there's a Civic Area Park Plan.

I think we know we need to improve wayfinding throughout all of Civic

We're still moving through some cost analysis right now, so it's not final, not set yet

We tried to be really robust for Civic Area, and reaching a lot of folks from across the city

in case of the civic area, we know that we've had a maintenance issue for years

investments for civic area phase 2 project with 3.5 million in 2026 and 18 million in total in the total project budget

And then our third project is Civic Area, and that's received about $18 million.

because who knows what Central Park or the Civic Area are.

Is there also a way to just, like, rephrase civic Area Phase 2 update for people

Got the bandshell, they've got some acidity buildings down there

For the Civic area phase 2 project, there is $3.5 million in 2026 and $18 million in total project budget for park renovations

We will have a presentation from Parks and Recreation on the Civic Area Phase 2 Conceptual Design and Community Engagement Update.

the concept plan is looking to incorporate some of those, some of that feedback and balance with the iconic landmarks here today

And as there's $18 million infused into this area, in this phase, hopefully more in the future

all the features that are there are there to test their practicality and viability for potential renovation of Central Park?

The development of this area into Central Park and Boulder's Municipal Center was guided by Boulder Civic Improvement Association.

the research that we undertook to understand the area, particularly the area here marked as Block 11

We're going to have some civic area research updates.

The civic area Pearl Street Mall are kind of the heart of what's being considered

we do have 11 million in Ccrs, the community culture, resilience and safety tax for civic areas.

That civic area phase 2 is one of the main projects, as is the World Street Mall.

The civic area phase 2 engagement event was last night.

civic center is continuing to be redesigned, and and we are part of the stakeholder groups

and then also tour of the civic area. Mark and his team will be sharing information and presenting along the way

Was the civic area pop up explicit in the consent agenda we have.

the civic area refresh. We currently have about 19 million dollars for Pearl Street.

While also some broader considerations for other areas, such as the civic area, um, western city campus

If you factor in the East civic area and Pearl Street, we received about 50% of the overall budget.

We are doing a community open house to share the civic area concept plan, which is the amalgamation of all of the feedback

through voter approved additional funding civic area you've heard a lot about. This is a very large pot of money

So where we're thinking about, we're going to be intensifying uses in the civic area.

Every time we talk about the civic area, people are eager to build on what you have in the successful Boulder County Farmers market.

I think, during the civic area historic district there was discussion that if the historic district past.

Parks Department is once again wanting to discard the significant features of Boulder Civic Center Park, including the Berm and the Bandshell seating

civic area will be included in some of that study as well as Pearl Street

Especially something, major, for instance, the civic area.

Other upcoming projects include civic area enhancements such as arboritum path upgrades and broader improvements in lighting and connectivity

I do have a little bit of an issue with it running separately from the civic area plan

does council have any questions or feedback on the emerging design priorities for the civic area

to make sure that that crossing feels like a real gateway drawing people down from Pearl into the civic area

that would include the eastbook end RFI as well as the civic area and arboritum concepts

We are paying for civic area phase 2 Pearl Street Mall and is that another project?

things like major things like civic area rec centers like, they will probably warrant 2 members of the prep

The civic area redevelopment, which is is very topical.

thinking civic area, Alpine balsam, where the new city campus is being constructed, and 55th and Arapahoe

we, as staff, are core team members for various city projects, including civic area phase 2

So we are looking to have a nature play pop up in Central Park as well for engage engagement.

Creekside Social is one of the schemes that we showed the public.

Now, we would provide or propose amenities like playgrounds in this gray area of Central Park.

the civic area and the East bookend redevelopment is also going to be very impactful on the Caju district.

the updating of Pearl Street, the civic area Bookend project.

working closely with Parks and Recreation on the connection that's going to be facilitated by the Civic area in the planning process

in April we'll again be talking to City Council on the next phase of Civic area project

the civic area, and it was It was a more challenging session proposal to put together

for the civic area does create a tight window with City Council's conversation

The civic area goes to city council on April 17, th which means that the packet is due April 3, rd

the civic center is an interesting one to discuss for a moment

uh that came out of the Civic area uh research but about um challenging the dominant narratives

And then civic area planning and the comp planning process. Please give us your input.

is one of them in the civic area, and things like that

the civic area, which is, if you are thinking about Boulder. The area between Canyon Boulevard to Arapahoe

right now I'm also part of the phase two of the Civic area

Project civic area phase, 2 Pearl Street Mall refresh

for the civic area, our park Rangers working with our planning staff, didn't we did engage teens in the skate park under the library

And we did some work last year for the civic area.

the incredible work that's happening in the Civic area

allows for other City Planning projects in the Civic area to advance

Comprehensive plan. Update the civic area phase 2. A lot of the ideas about the vision for the districts

Traditionally, these have been referred to the civic as a civic area laws

they are rolling into the civic area park planning process

civic area phase 2, directly implementing the vision that was outlined in the 2,015 civic area plan

just reflecting back on the Civic area they I think did a a great job of giving us an example

the civic area parking management and Tdm programs. The neighborhood permit parking or Npp review.

And we do have the Park civic responsibility like the civic areas. You'll see that detail come out in the project

I just want to make sure you're raising such good questions where the governance piece and the partnerships that start to emerge here would be key activating the space

what do you envision doing in the civic area? What are your top values and priorities that will help inform civic area phase 2.

Got a lot coming up with the anniversary mall so it's going on right now with the civic area.

we're not planning to remill that because that's going to be part of civic area re envisioning plans

for instance, civic area phase 2. Is this project so like

Let me begin an update on the Civic Area project. The Civic Area Project does include Albany and path.

engaged with the team that's working on the redesign for Civic Park and Central Park

the update of the Bowl Valley. Comprehensive plan the Civic Area master plan as well our own affordable

through the civic area project that our team is leading. We expect there to be some more permanent signage that would align

That is a I mean, we've got more staff and more community engagement on that project than any other.

The person who is the point is the liaison for the phase. 2 project, which I think means the civic area phase 2. Project.

civic area phase 2 which I've mentioned in the past, and I know you are all all aware of

Renovations at the East Boulder Community Center um developments of the Civic area Phase 2

looking at how we do continue to support our downtown civic area, the historic kind of civic core, and that's going through its own kind of process

and we still have, you know, the civic area and our our historic municipal building downtown.

Civic area landmarks process that didn't pass. But anyway, I just found the whole thing fascinating.

Civic area phase one is completed in 2,018.

through Civic area Phase 2 you know I think we're going to see opportunities where like Street activation could really make sense

its potential inputs that could help uh Drive um findings for the Civic area plan

implementing key improvements in Violet Park and Civic area Phase 2 looking at our needs across our Recreation system

The civic area phase 2 project which is being led by the planning department

In the short term while we wait for the civic area refresh to really get underway.

civic area phase 2, which is, of course, being led by the planning department with sub support from Cv.

proposed by the applicants includes Central Park the 13th Street and sister city plazas five individually designated landmarks

designation of Central Park historic district will provide a greater opportunity to tell the story of Boulder's development

I just wanted to make sure that we don't we don't lose sight of the importance of this historic district

repurposing existing buildings in the Civic area could meet these cultural needs so let's leverage the Arts

I saw Boulder High mentioned once in the memorandum but also thinking about the boulder high students which are very um part of the Civic area

the project includes the Central Park area we will also study what's known in the Civic area plan as east and west book ends

When we look at the civic area as a whole and the phase one res renovations.

the multi use pad that is part of the civic area planning work that's going on

most of the buildings being vacated are in the Civic area

Parks and recreation is leading on the civic area. Master Plan.

we have the civic area phase 2 work that is kicking off or has kicked off

is a guiding principal in the Civic Area plan

let me know if I'm speaking about anything that is quasi judicial um so right now the Band Shell has uh that area has the most amount of drug

this is a little bit of orientation for you all in what project site we're talking about and um all the influence that it'll have throughout downtown so the Civic area and the planning background

large complicated project with a lot of moving Parts but we're excited for the opportunity and so I'll just kick us off with a little bit of project context and locate us for the Civic area

The civic area master plan this the update to the civic area master plan, and the redevelopment of civic area

the 14 I will call it was a Civic area study session to talk to them about the process and the timeline

They're doing stuff near the civic area by the library.

If you remember, when we did phase one of the civic area west of Broadway, there were significant closures.

One of the guiding principles from the 2015 master plan to Pacific area is that it is an arts and cultural hub

some of the other projects on the horizon are the civic area phase 2 which was mentioned earlier today

right now our Parks and Recreation Department typically manages most of the walkways within the Civic area

The reason the civic area project is in the design prey, phase is because the planning is complete

We are in contracting and negotiations currently with a design team for civic area reimagining

they also have the civic area reimagining, which is in design phase

just were there questions on the Civic area historic district uh I think just one can we get the information on the eight or nine buildings

expenditure by the city of Boulder to reimagine the the Civic area in that RFP the application wasn't noted

sharing and management of the city-owned property in the Civic area that is basically between 9th Street and the 11th Street extended bike path

the next project is schematic design scoping and construction for phase two of the Civic area project

but in any case they have oh, for the civic center. okay, they need 18 million.

We have a half an hour here in the civic area, and then East Boulder.

the project manager for the civic area they prepared not only these one pagers

the Civic area in West Pearl and 13th

in the Civic area um work that we are getting underway with a consultant here soon

the civic area is such a big central park of our our community

is it only on the 1,400 block? Is it inclusive of anywhere in civic areas?

We've now increased our area to the parking above phase, one north of phase, one off of Canyon

That was a plan that was voted on by the boulder community to reimagine the civic area right?

elements of the future of the civic area. So nothing certainly programmed

So there might be some opportunities to to have that conversation. I think, particularly around the civic Area master Plan.

I also wanted to put up my support for the downtown Civic Area Center district to go, although all the way up to even Fine Park

We're also going to be working very diligently on the civic area. in 3 different ways.

the civic area we're just going to keep at you. So I hope that you enjoy it because it should be a really fun process.

we can advance on that transformation that was envisioned in the Civic area master plan

I am potentially interested in that as well, although obviously I'm not gonna do.

in July we'll start talking about the civic area you all got a pre kick off overview of that earlier this year

Central Park is a small parcel and perhaps over recent decades the most studied and assessed piece of land in the city

I am disappointed in saddened with the unbalter-like process for the proposed Civic Center historic district

June of 2022 historic Boulder bought before this board a recommendation to expand the Bandshell

I have a schedule update on on section in in this civic area

I think the civic center area should extend up to even fine park and and down to the millennium.

Council direct staff to ensure that the landmarks, board, and parks, and recreation advisory board are both appropriately engaged in the Park design process

Council direct staff to ensure that the landmarks, board, and parts, and Wreck advisory board are both appropriately engaged in the Park design process

the exploration will be integrated into the reimagining civic area east Phase 2, which is starting this year

to help coordinate this historic district exploration with the phase 2 Parks planning effort

Certainly, as we both one in the civic area. Because we do face to that project we intend to include a more modern unit

The civic area design A lot of this thing about is a park design, but actually it's a huge resilience

key into the Civic area master plan where that section of 13th is already envisioned

so uh we have a couple of different cross-departmental teams that are going to be working on the Civic area in general

So the civic area is certainly a component to that.

if you think about activation of civic area

knowing that that ties into a lot of work that parks and wreck was doing right now in the civic area

refreshing the Pearl Street Mall and redeveloping the Civic area so that money is being planned for expenditure

But so we now both have this 1920 for landscape plan, and we've got the plant list that goes with it.

it's actually the parks and recreations Maintenance responsibility, so to speak, of that entire area.

including the expanded area in the context of the historic building or district would provide additional time for staff, the Landmarks Board

the expanded landmark boundary meets the criteria for evaluation. It considers that the area would be more logically included in a civic area historic district

Civic area Park designing construction the Arboretum design and construction the Pearl Street Mall refresh

2 design and planning work that Parks is anticipating for that area of civic area now starting this year as well

And then specific to the civic area distort district. That is where my focus has been over the last few weeks

We moved into a civic area plan in 2,015.

We wanted to acknowledge that Central Park is included in Phase one B

We had a lot of great planning work done for this whole area City Park, Central Park area, downtown included

downtown civic area planning coordination work is still being scoped and better understood across a number of different departments

For this strategic coordination oversight of those multiple downtown and civic area planning efforts

kicking the you know not spending planning resources on the Civic area and downtown makes little sense

how does the Civic area master plan phase two implementation differ from the Pearl Street 50-year refresh

Civic areas really hard to characterize because it's involving transportation and parks and others

How do we make that in the context of the East and civic area work.

there's a whole like civic area revitalization and all the work, you know, around the the the creek

on the communities radar as far as improvements to downtown and looking at like the civic area

future discussion as we consider the future of Civic area and other capital projects within the downtown area

intimate connections with the work that Parks and Recreation is imminently moving forward with on their phase two of the Civic area master plan

of planning and revitalization efforts planned for the downtown and Civic area that will largely take place in the street right of way

the Civic area master plan and Pearl Street revitalization each have upcoming implementation efforts

as well as capital planning studies for boulder creek civic area phase 2 east boulder community center as mentioned before

several ccrs planning investments where we will be investing in capital planning studies for east boulder community center the civic area phase 2

so all of those would be factored in what is developed but at the end they would be guided by the civic area master plan

the civic area master plan outlines the roles of the various boards the landmarking board will absolutely already have a role

the money and project that was anticipated with the 2021 renewal was for the civic area phase two

when you mention the civic area tdm you know this is something that we put in place uh years ago

like the the civic area and the tdm for the civic area i i wasn't clear if there's anything new there

we can vacate space in both the civic area and out around belmont park

there was a lot of discussion around the civic area we had just completed the park

the pearl street mall refresh and the civic area phase two's improvements

this project would not relocate the bandshell some of you may remember in previous discussions

civic area phase two uh project that's being discussed and specifically that area within central park

I might um drop my reservation to uh the Central Park or the uh the Central Park

could present what that Civic area phe 2 is

the um Civic area phase too that involves a serious amount of like Community input

enhancements we made between the civic area and the library and between arapaho and canyon

for the civic area i'll remind council that we have an incredible civic area master plan

several Arts producers and partners are interested in more programming in the Civic area

so our team is working on providing more positive activity in the Civic area so that all will feel welcome and safe

following the devastating 2013 flood the Civic area master plan presented a chance to leverage placemaking in the area's Redevelopment

Civic area has transformed into a major convening space which now hosts a variety of events

THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE SISTER CITIES PLAZA IMPROVE THE SIGNAGE OR DO WHATEVER

SINCE WE DID THE FIRST PHASE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CIVIC AREA WITH THE COMMUNITY CULTURE AND SAFETY TAX

we talked about the East bookend and originally we were working on doing East bookend planning parallel with alpine boson planning

even the pavilion doesn't accommodate everything we've talked about much earlier when we're looking at the civic area

the Civic area master plan identifies we had kind of three phases of that project

such as the atrium building on the east bookend in the Civic area we'd have to balance this

WAS THE GENESIS OF THE WHOLE CIVIC AREA PLANNING WITH WHAT SET THE WHOLE THING INTO MOTION

improved pedestrian access between the Civic area and the commercial district and advocating for effective parking policies

the council indicated the preference to that relocated facilities don't go in the East bookend of the Civic area

the Civic area study that we've done is understanding what value we do get back when we build these new buildings

on something that was brought out in the Civic area plan and also the recently adopted library master plan

ALL OF THOSE VARIOUS PLANS THE CIVIC AREA MASTER PLAN DISCUSSIONS OF THE CIVIC PAD

IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THE CIVIC AREA MASTER PLAN AND TWENTY FIFTEEN THERE WAS A VISION FOR THAT SPACE

I carried on the Civic area plan we got the kids involved we got CLC a business school come down

we are doing that on a smaller scale visas currently in the downtown and civic area but that could

the first guiding principle of the Civic area master plan

including the Civic areas bookend and the iris and Broadway site

Civic area East bookends this is the east side of the Civic area it includes portions of Central Park and the 13th and 14th Street blocks

the last thing that we have on the list really in terms of a cost center is the potential renovation of the North Building of the Civic area

a new Civic area master plan a 2014 transformation

in the one seventy-five thousand for the Civic area project is that happened yet

we're getting closer to being done with our beautiful Civic area to the west

the planning efforts in the Civic area East bookend and we have facilities planning happening on both

redevelopment projects of course include the Civic area with a specific focus in the near term on planning for the East bookend

the example that would be the Civic area plan

is a lovely rendering of the Civic area improvements I think that you're starting to see those come to life right now

THE CIVIC AREA AND PHASE TWO IS GOING TO INCLUDE MORE PERMANENT RESTROOMS IN THE CIVIC AREA

WE WANT TO PROVIDE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT EXISTING ORDINANCES IN THE CIVIC AREA ITSELF

WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THE WEST AND PLANNING FOR CIVIC AREA OR THE HOSPITAL THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH MEALS ON WHEELS

developing and supporting a multicultural community center in the civic area and should be part of the civic area plan

played a really wonderful role in the civic area plan and the visioning processes process around that