BMoCA's Final Architect Presentation Tomorrow

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If you’ve not been able to attend any of the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art’s (BMoCA) architect finalists’ presentations, tomorrow is your last chance!

Two of the three finalist teams — SO-IL+ Coburn + Dig Studio and Johnston Marklee + Independent Architecture + BVH Architecture — have publicly presented, vying for the opportunity to design the North Boulder Creative Campus, a 110,000-square-foot development that will include the future home of BMoCA.

The final in-person presentation is tomorrow, which is free and open to the public. Don’t forget to register (link below) if you’d like to attend:

  • Fernanda Canales x Tres Birds: Wednesday, Nov. 20 @5-7pm (register here)

For more information, see BMoCA’s website: https://www.bmoca.org/bmoca-future

Parker's Mainstreet is Growing

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The town of Parker has broken ground on a project that’s been a long time coming - My Mainstreet. The project had kicked off in 2018 with a public outreach campaign, and it is expected to bring a lot of development to Parker’s downtown, with roughly 155,285 square feet of commercial space, 530 residential units, 1,049 parking spaces, and seven restaurants. The phased development, led by Confluence Companies in partnership with the Parker Authority for Reinvestment (P3), prioritizes community input to maintain Parker’s charm while increasing walkability and business opportunities

Trestle has been integral in supporting the community engagement, market analysis, and downtown development planning for My Mainstreet. We’re excited to see this vision take shape and to witness the positive impact it will bring to Parker's downtown—enhancing both its livability and appeal for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Original article is from the Denver Business Journal.
The project’s Story Map can be found HERE.

BMoCA's Three Architecture Team Finalists to Present in November

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This rendering was submitted to the city as part of the project’s application for approval. The Final design Will be determined by the selected architecture team.

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) has once again narrowed its list of architecture team finalists from five to three after each team presented its proposals earlier this month. This follows an “overwhelming” response to the request for qualifications earlier this year, with Trestle Strategy providing consultation throughout the process.

The three finalists are now vying to design the North Boulder Creative Campus, a 110,000-square-foot development that will include the future home of BMoCA.

Each team will deliver in-person presentations next month, which are free and open to the public. Below are the scheduled presentation times, along with links to register if you’d like to attend:

  • SO-IL+ Coburn + Dig Studio: Wednesday, Nov. 13 @ 5-7pm (register here)

  • Johnston Marklee + Independent Architecture + BVH Architecture: Friday, Nov. 15 @ 5-7pm (register here)

  • Fernanda Canales x Tres Birds: Wednesday, Nov. 20 @5-7pm (register here)

Train Wrecks & Fyre Festivals: Avoiding Project Sinking Mistakes

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Danica recently joined a panel alongside Bill Holicky (Coburn Architecture), Laura Sheinbaum (Boulder Housing Partners), and Pete Weber (Coburn Architecture) at the Colorado Housing Conference to share valuable insights on best practices for creating successful affordable housing developments. Their session, titled Train Wrecks & Fyre Festivals: Avoiding Project Sinking Mistakes, offered a compelling look at how to navigate challenges and avoid pitfalls in the development process.

Although I couldn’t attend the presentation due to my class schedule, I’ve heard glowing reviews from conference attendees who praised their engaging, humorous, and insightful discussion. My classmates at CU Boulder, who recently heard Danica speak on campus, were equally impressed—so don’t mind if I brag a little on her behalf!

From what I gathered, the panel cleverly wove three overarching stories—one about the South Pole, another about a sinking ship, and a third on Heuristic Traps (don’t ask me to define those!)—into their presentation. These narratives set the tone for a compelling dialogue enriched with case studies and lessons learned from their collective decades of experience with building in Boulder and across Colorado.

Upon reviewing their slide deck, I found a series of key lessons and takeaways that are well worth sharing. However, for anyone truly interested in diving deeper, I highly recommend reaching out to these panelists directly for their invaluable expertise. Some of the key themes included:

  • Hope is Not a Strategy

  • Build a Team but Avoid Group Thinking

  • Trust Your Gut & Other Tips

  • You Gotta Know Your Territory

  • Local Politics

  • NIMBYs & NEEDYs

  • Codes & Process

  • Community Needs

  • Local Conditions, Design Matters

  • Developers Need Partners

  • Practice Essentialism — More Housing

Lastly, a huge shoutout to the Housing Colorado Conference team! Having attended technology conferences almost annually for a decade during my software career, I can confidently say this event surpassed all expectations. From the stellar organization and stunning mountain location to the delicious food (yes, I’d return for the catering alone), this conference truly set a new standard. The panel format of the presentations was especially impressive—well-structured, highly informative, and filled with actionable insights from key professionals that provided a wealth of valuable takeaways. And the closing keynote speaker, Theo Wilson, delivered a powerful presentation, “When It Hits Home: Why Injustice for Some is Injustice for All,” that left many of us in tears. This inspiring event brought together professionals from government, nonprofits, and the private sector to collaborate on creative solutions for housing Coloradans, and I look forward to attending again in the future.

If you’re considering attending in 2025, don’t wait to register—tickets go fast! Learn more on their website: https://www.housingcolorado.org/page/annualconference

Photos from the conference photo gallery:

BMoCA Leads the Way on North Boulder’s Creative Campus

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The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) is at the heart of one of the most exciting community architecture projects in Colorado: the North Boulder Creative Campus. Set to transform the NoBo Arts District into a vibrant cultural hub, this project will blend residential, retail, and office spaces with a new home for BMoCA. The project’s bold vision has put community and design at the forefront of its mission.

Trestle Strategy Group was thrilled to partner with BMoCA and Emerald Development on the selection process for the campus architect, lending our expertise to help shape this visionary project. With over 60 architectural firms submitting proposals, the shortlist of finalists is impressive, featuring both global and local talent, including firms like Tatiana Bilbao Studio, Johnston Marklee, and Denver-based Tres Birds.

What makes the Creative Campus particularly special is its commitment to public input. This design competition, open to the community, ensures that the campus will reflect Boulder’s values and collaborative spirit. The public presentations later this year will give residents a chance to witness these visionary ideas firsthand.

With construction expected to begin in 2027, the Creative Campus will serve as a catalyst for NoBo’s continued growth as an arts district. Trestle is excited to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact on Boulder’s cultural landscape.

For more information, visit bmoca.org or see The Denver Post’s writeup for the full list of finalists.

Pioneering Sustainable Urban Living in Downtown Boulder

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The proposed development at 2206 Pearl Street is set to redefine urban living in Boulder. This innovative project will introduce 45 efficiency-living apartments, each just 300 square feet, equipped with space-saving robotic furniture to maximize functionality. The design also emphasizes communal spaces, bike storage, and sustainable transportation options, with a strong focus on reducing the environmental footprint.

What sets this project apart is its ambition to become Boulder’s first “zero-carbon” housing development. Powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the building’s construction also considers the embodied carbon in its materials. This commitment to sustainability aligns with Boulder’s broader goals of increasing housing density while minimizing environmental impact.

The project, led by stok Investment Group, has navigated the complex regulatory landscape with guidance from Trestle Strategy Group. Danica Powell, founder of Trestle Strategy Group and consultant for the developers, emphasized the unique nature of this development, noting “This is providing a different type of housing than what has traditionally been seen down on Pearl Street and downtown on East Pearl.” The project places an emphasis on workforce housing and its innovative approach to transportation and mobility.

As Boulder continues to evolve, projects like the one at 2206 Pearl Street offer a glimpse into the future of sustainable urban living—where smart design meets environmental responsibility.

https://boulderreportinglab.org/2024/04/21/proposed-micro-unit-development-in-downtown-boulder-serves-as-test-case-for-new-housing-density-policies/

Danica Leads Discussions at Boulder’s Spring Town Hall

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Danica was a moderator at Boulder’s recent Spring Town Hall. The event, held at eTown, brought together local business leaders, property owners, developers, and city officials to discuss strategies for revitalizing downtown Boulder and addressing commercial vacancies.

Danica facilitated a panel discussion with prominent property owners and developers from Tebo Properties, Conscience Bay Company, and Unico Properties, and the city’s director of planning and development. She raised questions about supporting small businesses equitably and encouraged panelists to share bold ideas for revitalizing downtown, aiming to attract workers back and boost economic activity.

The Spring Town Hall also showcased the city’s efforts to expedite development processes and update building codes, fostering a more vibrant and accessible downtown.

City of Boulder Simplifies Development Approvals for Small Businesses

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The Boulder City Council has approved an ordinance to streamline development approvals for small businesses, changing the process from seven months to just a few weeks.

In an article by Boulder Reporting Lab on this significant decision, Danica praised the new ordinance, stating, “These are all great fixes. Hopefully, it will attract more businesses to do work here and it will be less daunting.”

This new development approval process aims to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic delays, making it easier for small businesses to thrive in Boulder. At Trestle Strategy Group, we are excited about the positive impact this will have on our community and our clients.

Stay tuned for more updates on how we continue to support and navigate these new opportunities for businesses in Boulder.

https://boulderreportinglab.org/2024/06/06/from-7-months-to-mere-weeks-boulder-city-council-simplifies-development-approvals-for-small-businesses/

Reve Nearing Completion

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Nothing is better than witnessing challenging projects come to fruition. After a multi-year planning and entitlement process, Southern Land Company’s Reve development project is in the final stages of construction. Last month, The Trestle team along with the City’s new Planning and Development Services director, was fortunate enough to walk the construction zone and view the amazing units and quality of development this project provides the Boulder community.

Trestle Strategy Group guided Southern Land Company and the project team through a rigorous entitlement process involving rezoning, conceptual planning, site review, and multiple other foreseen and unforeseen hurdles along the way. Strong relationships and communications channels were nurtured with key city staff employees and decision makers to ensure the project was a success for both the Tennessee based development company and the City of Boulder.

The 6-acre project features 244 units and over 130,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, while straddling the Left Hand Ditch. The ditch is a key focal point of the design, drawing people into the center of the development where they will be immersed into one of the City’s most activated places. Be sure to check it out soon!

Partner Feature - Marina LaGrave highlights the importance of language and cultural competence in community building

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Marina LaGrave, whom Trestle has been partnering with on many projects over the last several years, explains in a Daily Camera portrait why language access and cultural competence are critical aspects when working to build inclusive communities. 

As explained in the article, Marina wears different hats: she is an interventionist at Columbine Elementary School in Boulder - where Danica met her when her kids were students there; she is an interpreter and translator for the City of Boulder; and she is the founder of CLACE - the Latin American Center for Arts, Science and Education. As such, we have had the pleasure of collaborating with Marina on many projects, including: 

  • The Ponderosa Community Stabilization project: over the past 5 years, Marina has been instrumental in engaging the Latinx community of the Ponderosa Mobile Home park. She continues to serve as a cultural liaison between the City, the project team, and the Spanish-speaking residents, thanks to the fact that she has been able to gain all parties’ trust by patiently listening to and answering any and all questions. 

  • The Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Strategic Plan (CRISP) for the Boulder County Parks and Open Space (POS) department: over the last year, we have been working with Marina and her colleague Bob Russel on the CRISP for the BoCo POS department. Marina has been working relentlessly to connect the POS department with Latinx leaders in the region, and think creatively about how to co-create active and lasting partnerships between the Latinx community and the POS department.

  • The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Study: for this 2-month, fast-track project, we are partnering with Marina to recruit Latinx community leaders and activists to co-create a process to interview members of the Latinx community and gather stories on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting them. Thanks to Marina’s extensive network and community connections, we were able to hear from 115 community members and help identify barriers in accessing County services and gaps in those services.

From left to right: Marine, Marina, and Danica at a Ponderosa Community Block Party in June 2019

From left to right: Marine, Marina, and Danica at a Ponderosa Community Block Party in June 2019

As we practice adaptive leadership in all those projects, we keep learning from Marina on such important topics as co-creation, cultural competence, and inclusivity. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with her and are looking forward to many more opportunities to do so.  

University Hill Hotel - A Revitalizing Project

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Since 2014 the City of Boulder has been studying various opportunities for reinvestment and economic revitalization for the University Hill Commercial Area. After additional studies, Nichols Partnership has proposed to redevelop a key area of the hill and transform it into a mixed use development featuring a hotel, retail space, and various restaurant/cafe spaces. This key area was identified by the City as an ‘opportunity site’ and a catalyst site’ having the potential to stimulate the stagnant commercial neighborhood.

Over the past year, Trestle Strategy Group has been guiding the University Hill Hotel redevelopment project through the City of Boulder’s entitlement process. With concept review completed in Q1 2020, the project is in the middle of a site and use review with the goal of progressing to the next step in Q1 2021.

Situated on 1.43 acres, SAR Architecture and the project team has designed a 55 foot tall development including over 180 hotel rooms and nearly 10,000 SF of commercial space, while maintaining 30% open space. Two connected plazas flow into the project and are designed for day to day gatherings and for larger events. These plazas are intended to be the center of public-life for the Hill.

This vibrant mixed-use development will revitalize the University Hill Commercial Area by stabilizing a year-round economy through the creation of a destination focused on the visitor experience. Additional community benefit generated by the project includes energy efficient buildings, a tenant relocation program, transportation demand management practices, and partnerships with CU including student opportunities.

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Renderings provided by SAR Architecture.

Renderings provided by SAR Architecture.

Partner Feature - JVA

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JVA and Trestle guided the Reve project through multiple challenges.

JVA and Trestle guided the Reve project through multiple challenges.

For more than 7 years now, we have had the pleasure to work closely with JVA Consulting Engineers. The engineering firm consists of highly skilled professionals who understand civil, structural, and environmental complexities and can transform challenging problems into real life solutions. JVA is a smart and well connected company that can communicate complex scientific and technical issues in an intelligible, sensible, and accessible manner, which is always appreciated by project partners and communities. They remain committed to meeting design objectives while always smiling and laughing throughout the development process. More specifically, we enjoy working with Charlie Hager for his leadership, Sharon Procopio for her technical skills and responsiveness, and Cody Gratney for his commitment and knowledge. 

Trestle and JVA have partnered on a number of large scale projects in the Boulder area, creating value for our clients and the overall community. A few of these projects include  upgrading the Boulder and Left Hand Ditch into a community amenity for the Southern Land Company’s Reve project, creating a unique infrastructure replacement and robust community engagement program for the City of Boulder’s Ponderosa Community Stabilization project, and working within PUD and wetland requirements to construct a unique facility while expanding an existing facility for Emerson Micro Motion. Currently, the two firms are guiding Nichols Partnership through complex entitlements, varying topography, and challenging infrastructure constraints for the future University Hill Hotel. 

We look forward to continuing to work with JVA in the years to come. Congrats to Cody Gratney on his recent promotion!



Pipes and Pavement at the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park Community

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Last month the first streets in the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park were paved over the brand new water and sewer infrastructure! This is a huge milestone for the community, and for the community stabilization project Trestle Strategy Group has been working on since 2015. 

Ponderosa Mobile Home Park is located along Broadway in North Boulder. Trestle Strategy Group has been working with the City of Boulder and the Ponderosa community through many phases of the project:

  • Land acquisition: the City purchased the park in August 2017;

  • Annexation: the park was annexed into the City in October 2019; 

  • Infrastructure and housing plans development: the site plan and technical documents were approved by City Council in October 2019;

  • Infrastructure replacement - sewer, water, gas, electric, stormwater detention, water quality, roads and sidewalks.

Throughout this very complex process, Trestle Strategy Group focused on innovative, equitable, and customized community involvement, the primary goal being to minimize resident displacement and disruption to the community. Through the end of last year, this substantial community outreach and engagement process was centered around the Resident Leadership Committee, a group of 7 nominated community leaders living within the Ponderosa community, who were sharing information, ideas, and concerns between the City and the residents. 

The RLC was set up so Ponderosa residents could co-create the vision and infrastructure and housing plan for the community, work on issues that are important to residents’ daily lives, and empower residents to develop a lasting leadership group in the community. Numerous community meetings, in various formats, all bilingual, were held throughout the process to ensure residents were informed, could get all their questions answered, and could weigh in on important decisions: 

  • 10 Community Workshops 

  • 2 Neighborhood Block Parties

  • 22 RLC Meetings

  • 15+ City Q&A Meetings

  • 40+ One-on-One meetings

  • 1 Good neighbor meeting

  • 4 Habitat for Humanity home tours

  • 2 Habitat for Humanity workshop on homeownership and financing

  • Training opportunities for residents

In addition, we kept communication channels open, and ensured residents had access to up-to-date information, both in English and Spanish, through a variety of tools to fit their needs: 

More recently, residents formed a more formal Homeowners Association (HOA) so they can stay organized as the construction work progresses and the first Habitat homes are built, starting in 2021.

While the planning process hasn’t been simple, we have been able to come up with a highly innovative site plan that enables current residents to stay in the park - whether in their mobile homes or in a new Habitat for Humanity home, substantially improves infrastructure, services, and quality of life, provides flood protection, and maintains permanent affordability for future generations. We are extremely proud to continue to be part of this project along with many partners including JVA, Caddis, Marathon Construction Management, G2 Consulting, KCI.

City of Boulder Development Review Process Still Possible

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Photo by Nathan Dumlao

Photo by Nathan Dumlao

Even during these uncertain times, the ability to work through the City of Boulder’s development entitlement processes has not stopped. While City offices remain closed, the municipal engine hasn’t stopped. The City of Boulder’s Planning and Development Services department (among other departments) remains operational and continues to review development and redevelopment projects. Additionally, the City is now (and finally) accepting 100% electronic applications; no more paying hundreds to thousands of dollars in professional printing fees and wasting countless reams of paper. With new City process come new stepping-stones and requirements that Trestle has been navigating on a number of projects.

The ability to work remotely has enabled City employees and our dedicated project team to maintain virtual communications. All of our projects are steadily progressing to full entitlement and/or technical documents approval. While new application and resubmittal processes exist for projects in the early to middle entitlement phases, projects nearing final approval will face Planning Board and City Council meeting changes. Under these uncertain times, all City Board and Council meetings are now being held remotely with all persons participating via zoom; no in-person gatherings are permitted. The public still has the opportunity to weigh in and contribute to these key discussions.

The City’s standard 3-week submittal timeline breaks from its standard routine as we near the holidays. There are only two concept, use, and site review application opportunities remaining in 2020. These key dates come at the end of October and November and may burden the City with multiple new applications from various project teams striving to submit before the end of the year. The City’s 2021 submittal dates have not yet been published. We will keep you posted on upcoming dates as we find out. As always, if you are exploring a project on Boulder, please reach out to us. We love to be involved in early stage due diligence, design, and strategy.



Nature Conservancy’s Early Real Estate Planning Results in Wonderful Office

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Last year, the Nature Conservancy in Boulder was forced to take immediate action while questioning their office space. Their staff was becoming increasingly sick due to an unknown mold issue within their building. Once aware of the situation, the entire staff grabbed their belongings and bolted for a temporary office location in South Boulder. With an unsafe office and no clear path forward, hypothetical questions started arising about the future.

Trestle Strategy Group was hired to conduct a space needs assessment where we analyzed the situation, provided preliminary costs estimates, reviewed suitable relocation markets, and analyzed various buy, sell, lease, and renovate scenarios in order to provide the Nature Conservancy a clear path forward. While analyzing complex inter-company finances, entertaining the idea of a move to Denver, and touring state-of-the-art offices in Golden, it wasn’t until realizing the Nature Conservancy owned their office out-right that a decision was made. Within a very short time-frame and by navigating a very complex decision making body, Trestle encouraged the Nature Conservancy to reinvest in their loved location. 

One year later, the Nature Conservancy has successfully transformed their dark and dreary office filled with very tall cubicles into an employee’s dream office that truly represents the organization’s mission. Not only did Trestle’s preliminary scenario analysis result in the office renovation, but it prevented potential employee turnover and illustrated leadership’s commitment to its existing staff, their emotional and physical well-being, and their real estate asset.

Marine Graduates from ULI's Real Estate Diversity Initiative Program

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On Monday I graduated from the Urban Land Institute Real Estate Diversity Initiative! REDI provides women and people of color the opportunity to attend a comprehensive training in real estate development.

As a complement to classes covering the spectrum of the real estate development process, we worked in small teams to create a development plan and pro forma for a 110,000 sq. ft. site in the Westwood neighborhood in Denver. In an effort to provide Westwood residents with the opportunity to start building generational wealth, our team came up with a site plan where all housing units were affordable and for sale. We also integrated a large plaza and a childcare center for the benefit of the community. You can watch our team's presentation by clicking on the image on the right.

I am very proud of our team's vision, and very grateful I was able to participate in the 2020 REDI program. Huge thanks to the Urban Land Institute, my team members, mentors Rich Wilson, Richard Epstein, and Ken Hoagland, and coordinator Kimberly Ford (Ming), and my colleague, mentor, and friend Danica Powell.

Presenting at ULI - Is Boulder Living Up to its Values? A Solution-Driven Discussion on Smart Growth, Affordable Housing, and Measuring up to our Community’s Values.

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ULI tackled an important question in Boulder on Tuesday night. Is Boulder Living Up To Its Values? We focused on how Boulder is aligned or not aligned with the stated community goals in our Comp Plan and debated some controversial topics like middle income housing, good design, neighborhood planning, economics versus land use, building heights, parking caps, and the all elusive “community benefit”. I joined John Tayer, Chris Meschuk, Laura Sheinbaum, Jeff Hohensee, Masyn Moyer and Jarvie Worcester on the stage to debate this topic from several angles as it relates to affordable housing, smart growth, placemaking and mobility.

We debated Form Based Code (PROS: predictable, quick, less risk - CONS: prescriptive, inflexible and no room for innovation) versus traditional development review (PROS: negotiation opportunity, flexibility CONS: unpredictable, risky, and lukewarm results).

I focused on the community benefit debate to give examples of how we are providing benefit in the wide range of projects Trestle has worked on in Boulder. Along the way, I agreed with Jeff’s comment that it often feels like a game of “whack a mole” and the results can often be death by a thousand cuts. And the consensus was the results may not be reflecting the ambitious, progressive, innovative community we all are proud of.

Most importantly, we all tried to provide solutions to the question “Can we do better?”. While there is no silver bullet, there were lots of great ideas discussed, including bold leadership, predictable processes, Form Based Code, equitable community participation, and innovative housing shifts. I suggested that we harness the millennial energy to bring new ideas to the table and connect the innovation with the doers and implementers and decision makers to create a path forward.

Click here to see the Facebook Livestream or review the full panel’s presentation deck here.