Aerotropolis – A Game Changer for Aurora
The infrastructure is going into place for the 21,000-acre Aerotropolis, located south of Denver International Airport, and the work is beginning to pave the way for new development and important new interchanges and arterial roadways for the communities that surround the airport.
ARTA is now working with a team of expert consultants and companies that include Terra Forma Solutions Inc. (performing the program management of the design/build aspects of the initial ARTA projects and the associated Metropolitan District), HR Green (one of the lead engineering consultants on the project), Summit Strategies and Fairfield and Woods. The expert team is initiating important plans and work that will provide much needed public infrastructure and help to spur economic growth and development for the existing communities – and communities yet to come – to the south and east of DIA.
Some of the infrastructure work that is currently underway or already completed includes:
- E470 Interchange with The Aurora Highlands Parkway (FHU)
- I-70 Interchange with Powhaton (BLN)
- The Aurora Highlands Parkway/38th Avenue (HRG)
- Design of the horizontal, vertical and intersection geometry, along with utility design for the Aurora Highlands Parkway
- Storm drainage has been completed and road work is underway for 26th Avenue
“The work being done has already engaged and encouraged residential, commercial and industrial development by providing important interchange connections to DIA,” said Todd Johnson, the Program Manager for ARTA and The Aerotropolis Area Coordinating Metropolitan District (AACMD).
“Beyond the positive economic impact, the work will also provide the surrounding communities with easier access to DIA and E470, while alleviating traffic on Pena Boulevard and tolls on C-470. Without ARTA, none of this would be happening as rapidly as it is. ARTA alleviates the financial burden on the surrounding communities and will also ensure that housing prices during future residential development will stay low for homebuyers.”
In addition to the infrastructure that is being built, active housing development is also underway. Marked by a 110-foot clock tower, The Aurora Highlands master planned community is projected to be built out over the next 15 – 20 years and include 12,000 residential units with the first coming on-line in May of this year. Similar to Highlands Ranch and Stapleton, homebuyers will be lured by a range of single-family and multifamily designs, offered in eight residential villages. There will be a mix of homes for families wanting affordability, as well as move-up homes and semi-custom designs, providing an amenity-filled community for all homebuyers.
The Aurora Highlands will also include 400 acres of parkland and over 500 acres of open space, miles of trails, dozens of parks and a recreation center complete with a climbing wall, basketball court and ice rink. A Water Theme Park is also planned, with indoor pools, play structures and a sun deck. Four school sites are also planned for the community.
As many as 700 units a year will be built as the project ramps-up, and three to four million square feet of commercial and retail development will occur within its core area along E470. That work is projected to begin in 2021 with absorption happening over the following ten years. Additionally, the Aurora Highlands area will provide for 10 to 12 million square feet of industrial space, with work scheduled to begin as early as next year, and absorption taking place during the following 10 to 15 years.
Read the full article original published in Colorado Construction & Design magazine. Aerotropolis – A Game Changer for Aurora
