Stapleton, Denver

Stapleton is a neighborhood within the city limits of Denver, Colorado.[1] Located northeast of downtown Denver, the development is on the site of the decommissioned Stapleton International Airport, which closed in 1995. Now referred to as the Stapleton Community, it contains nine neighborhoods, nine schools public/private, 50 parks, several shopping and business districts, and a visitor center. Since April 2016, Stapleton has been connected to the Denver metro area by RTD's A line, a recently opened commuter rail service.[2][3] North Stapleton borders the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Preserve.

Stapleton, Denver, Colorado
Neighborhoods in Denver
Location in the state of Colorado
Location within the County/City of Denver, Colorado
Coordinates: 39.7583°N 104.9017°W / 39.7583; -104.9017
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyDenver
Time zoneUTC–7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC–6 (MDT)
ZIP code
80238, 80010
Area code(s)303, 720
Websitestapletondenver.com

The 80238 zip code, which encompasses almost all of Stapleton and is entirely within the Stapleton neighborhood, is known as one of the wealthiest or highest average household income zip codes in the Denver metro area.[4]

Stapleton's Founders Green during a community festival with apartments in background

On June 14, 2020, the Stapleton Master Community Association announced that they will vote in favor of changing the name.[5]

History

While Denver International Airport was being constructed, planners considered how the Stapleton site would be redeveloped. A private group of Denver civic leaders, the Stapleton Development Foundation, convened in 1990 and produced a master plan for the site in 1995, emphasizing a pedestrian-oriented design rather than the automobile-oriented designs found in many other planned developments. Nearly a third of the airport site was planned to be redeveloped as public park space.

One of many city of Denver parks within Stapleton

The community was visioned to be home to approximately 30,000 residents with around 12,000 homes, with more than 10 schools, an 80 acre city of Denver 'Central Park', a commuter-rail station, 10,000,000 sq ft (930,000 m2). of planned office space, 1,500,000 sq ft (140,000 m2). of retail space, and 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) for parks and open space.[6] Stapleton's 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of open space also borders the restored Sand Creek Regional Greenway and Bluff Lake Nature Center, one of the nation's largest urban wildlife refuges.

The former airport 4,700 acres (19 km2) site 10 minutes from Downtown Denver is now being redeveloped by Forest City Enterprises/Brookfield as a new urbanist project. Construction began in 2001, The new community is zoned for residential and commercial development, including office parks, mixed-use development, and "big box" shopping centers. Stapleton is by far the largest neighborhood in the city of Denver and a small southeastern portion of the redevelopment site lies in the neighboring city of Aurora.

In 2004, residents moved into Stapleton's first apartments, increasing its population to 2,500 residents. In 2006, Stapleton's population grew above 5,000 and the Denver School of Science and Technology opened along with The Shops at Northfield Stapleton.[7]

In 2007, the 80 acres (32 ha) Central Park opened along with three new office buildings. Additionally, Stapleton's population surpassed 7,500 people.

As of 2008, 3,200 single-family houses, row houses, condominiums and other for-sale housing, as well as 400 apartments, had been built.[8]

Three years later, more than 14,000 people lived in the Stapleton neighborhood, and the trail network reached 38 miles (61 km). In 2011, Stapleton received national recognition as the site of the 2011 HGTV Green Home. Additionally, a new interstate interchange opened, connecting Central Park Boulevard to I-70, I-270 and neighborhoods south of the interstate. The University of Colorado A-Line directly connecting Denver Union Station downtown to Denver International Airport started operating in 2016 and has one stop in Stapleton; the Central Park Station. Adjacent to the station, construction began in 2019 of the Central Park Station Transit-Oriented Development spanning five blocks; which will include apartments, offices, a hotel and retail.[9]

As of 2020, Stapleton has a population of around 25,000. The "North End" section of the development (far northern portion of Stapleton) still has significant residential development occurring. There are still a few vacant larger parcels throughout older parts of the neighborhood ready for specifically planned developments of mixed-use, transit-oriented, high-density residential, or commercial development.

Transportation
The A-line commuter rail Central Park station within Stapleton

Stapleton is served by the Central Park commuter rail and bus station, with direct connections to Union Station in downtown and the Denver International Airport via the A Line. The A Line travels up to 79 miles per hour, but rarely gets to that speed. Stapleton also offers direct access to the east and west I-70 corridor and the 270 interchange. Served by Denver metro's RTD, Stapleton has bus lines that intersect east/west and north/south. Dedicated bike lanes and bike paths are also prevalent.

Origins

The original airport was named for Benjamin Franklin Stapleton (November 12, 1869 – May 23, 1950) who served as a high-ranking member of the Ku Klux Klan, was the Mayor of Denver for two periods (comprising five terms), the first from 1923 to 1931 and the second from 1935 to 1947. He was also the Democratic Colorado State Auditor from 1933 to 1935. Beginning in 1925 Stapleton began distancing himself from the Klan, undermining their power in the police force and welcoming the NAACP convention that June.[10] Today, the Stapleton neighborhood continues to bear his name despite his complex history and some political pressure to rename it[11] due to Benjamin Stapleton's adherence to white supremacy and membership in the Ku Klux Klan for a time in his life.[12] Steps have been taken to remove the Stapleton name from neighborhood signs. Brookfield Properties, the owner and developer of the Stapleton neighborhood, will have the final say on a name change.[13]

In June 2020, community delegates voted unanimously to change the area's name.[14] A new name is expected to be approved in August.

References
  1. "The Story of Stapleton Denver". Stapleton Denver. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  2. BY THE NUMBERS Retrieved: July 17, 2014
  3. Stapleton Business Ready: Facts, Figures and Updates. Retrieved: July 17, 2014
  4. Rodriguez, James (May 3, 2019). "2019 Denver-Area Wealthiest ZIP Codes". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  5. "Denver's Stapleton neighborhood moves to change name: "We're doing the right thing"". The Denver Post. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  6. USA Today
  7. 8340 Northfield Boulevard, Denver, CO. 80238 :: 303-375-5475. Northfield Stapleton. Retrieved on 2013-07-14.
  8. Moore, Paula (August 17, 2008). "Stapleton redevelopment on course for 15-year plan". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  9. Central Park Station Coming to Life
  10. "Who was Benjamin Stapleton". Front Porch. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  11. "Stapleton". Black Lives Matter 5280. 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  12. "Renewed push to change Stapleton's name due to its KKK ties". KUSA. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  13. "Community association 'taking steps' to remove Stapleton name from neighborhood". KUSA.com. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  14. "Rally supports name change for Stapleton neighborhood". 9news.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
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