University Hill Hotel - A Revitalizing Project

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.

Renderings provided by SAR Architecture.

City of Boulder Development Review Process Still Possible

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.