May 2022

Hello Superior – here’s my monthly update for May 2022.  What’s the status with Downtown Superior?  Read on for an overview of the Downtown Superior development and where things stand with the Main Street commercial core, new parks & playgrounds, and more…

Downtown Superior

It’s been a while since I last gave an update on Downtown Superior.  I last wrote about the development in May 2020 and specifically about the new parks in the Downtown Superior project in August 2021.  A lot has happened since then… here’s an update on what’s going on.

Project History & Overview

The Downtown Superior project was approved back in October 2012 as a 156-acre mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented urban downtown development with up to 1,400 homes; 450,000 square feet of commercial/retail space; 375,000 square feet of office space; and 500 hotel rooms.  This project was always expected to take 15-20 years to complete depending upon market conditions and the economy.  We are now 10 years into the project. 

The project is split into three planning areas:

Planning Area 1: (the northern ⅓ of the development)

This area contains a multi-tenant retail building located on the corner of McCaslin Blvd. and Marshall Road, with a Starbucks, Firehouse Subs, and T-Mobile store.  This planning area also includes the Marshall Bridge (which crosses Coal Creek) and Parks 1 & 2 — which are currently under construction with a targeted completion date of Fall 2022.  Before the Marshall Fire, this area also contained the Element by Westin Hotel (an extended stay hotel with 121 rooms) and a Tesla dealership.  The remains of the Element Hotel are in the process of being cleared right now and the Tesla dealership is under re-construction. 

Although not expressly contained within this planning area, one exciting development to be on the lookout for over the coming months is a new brewpub that has leased the former Old Chicago restaurant space (on the opposite side of the building where Superior Liquor is located).  Remodeling work is underway with an expected opening later this year. Stay tuned for more news in the coming months!   

Planning Area 2:

The central section of the Downtown Superior development contains a 165,000 square foot building that houses the Sport Stable, Impact Sports, Angry Horse Eatery restaurant, Hangry Horse Cafe (formerly Sticks Coffee Shop), Floyd’s Barbershop, Fairways Golf, and a number of offices.  This area also contains the 62,000 square foot Superior Medical Center and parking garage and will soon be home to the mixed-use downtown commercial core on Blocks 6, 7, 9-11 along Main Street.  

The final development plan for Main Street was approved by the Town Board on December 9, 2019.  A link to the Board’s packet for that meeting is available here.  A copy of the developer’s presentation to the Town Board (which gives a helpful visual presentation of building renderings and other details) is available here.  After receiving approval in late 2019, the commercial core development stalled as Morgan-Ranch struggled to finance the project as COVID hit.  About a year later, Carmel Partners acquired this section of Downtown Superior from Morgan-Ranch.  Carmel Partners has indicated that it can self-finance the entire project and will not seek changes to the plans that have already been approved by the Town Board.  To that end, on January 25, 2021, the master developer (Ranch Capital) and Carmel (the new developer) presented an update of the Downtown Superior development to the Town Board.  A slide deck of their presentation is available here.  

Carmel’s Commercial Core work underway

Carmel’s Commercial Core work underway

The commercial core is currently under construction and is expected to include retail shops, bars, and restaurants.  Infrastructure work and vertical construction are underway.  You can see one of the commercial buildings and its interior parking lot currently under construction on Block 6 as you look east from McCaslin.  This building will also include some additional town-owned community space and will be located adjacent to the central plaza along Main Street.  The Town Board will be discussing uses for this additional community space at an upcoming Board meeting, but we’d love to hear from you if you have any specific suggestions on potential uses.  Send us an email at townboard@superiorcolorado.gov. 

Carmel expects to complete the Downtown Superior commercial core sometime in late 2023.  I’m very much looking forward to seeing what tenants the developer is able to attract to occupy the various spaces throughout Downtown Superior.  

Separate from the commercial core, the next major component of Planning Area 2 that the Town Board will be considering is a Final Development Plan for Blocks 2, 5, & 8 for a Life Sciences Campus, which will be for a major office user who will establish a headquarters located in Downtown Superior.  Consideration of this application is expected in June.  

Lastly, Planning Area 2 is also approved to contain up to 750 residential units.  Just under 450 residential units were approved with the Morgan-Ranch (now Carmel) downtown commercial core development application.  

There’s certainly going to be a lot of activity in Planning Area 2 this year as Main Street really starts to come together.

Planning Area 3: (the southern ⅓ of the development)  

Village Green Park (in Planning Area 3 in Downtown Superior)

Village Green Park (in Planning Area 3 in Downtown Superior)

Approximately 600 residential units have been approved within Downtown Superior on Blocks 13-25, and the northeast half of Block 26.  This area includes townhomes currently being built by Remington (Block 25) and Thrive Homes (Blocks 14, 15, and 26); single family row houses already built by Remington and Wonderland Homes (Block 13); Village Green Park (completed August 2019); and townhomes and single-family detached homes that will be built by Toll Brothers. (Blocks 16-24).  This area also includes the southern access point to Downtown Superior via Promenade Drive which will run adjacent to US-36 and connect to 88th Street.

Downtown Superior Parks

In addition to the residential and commercial components of Downtown Superior, the development also includes four parks: Village Green Park (already completed), Parks 1 & 2, Central Park, and the Tract H Park. 

Parks 1 and 2 will run along both sides of Coal Creek between McCaslin and US-36.  Grading has been completed and sidewalks and paths have been installed.  Top soil has been spread on the athletic field and irrigation lines are in the process of being installed.  The new playground with the adorable bear play structure has also been installed next to the Marshall Bridge.  Lighting for the athletic fields are complete, as are the park’s restroom facilities.  Benches are being placed in the plaza overlooking the amphitheater lawn and a new water feature will soon be installed as well.  We should see some major changes over the next few months as these new parks near completion later this year. 

Seating next to athletic fields in Parks 1 & 2 and Restrooms

Seating next to athletic fields in Parks 1 & 2 and Restrooms

Lighting and irrigation being installed in athletic fields in Parks 1 and 2

I can bear-ly contain my excitement over this play structure

Central Park – At the August 9, 2021 Town Board Meeting, we heard a presentation on a concept plan from the developer for the new Central Park in Downtown Superior.  I’m excited to see more green space, a dog park, and places to gather for our downtown residents.  Plans are still being finalized and a formal development plan is expected to be considered by the Board later this month or in early June. 

Tract H Park – Construction is underway for the new Tract H Park near Lanterns Lane.  Grading of the site is complete and installation of play tunnels and drainage continues.

There’s a lot to be excited about as Downtown Superior continues to make progress.  Stay tuned for more information in the coming months…

Drinking Water Update

Work continues at the Terminal Reservoir to address the ash that was deposited in the reservoir during the Marshall Fire.  To date, the Town has dropped the levels of the reservoir and has had its contractor remove approximately 100 cubic yards of ash from the reservoir.  In addition, work is currently underway on a Granular Activated Carbon filtration system that will be installed at the Town’s Water Treatment Plant, which should address any remaining concerns about smoky tasting/smelling drinking water.  That project is expected to be completed by the first week of June.  We appreciate your patience in addressing this complex challenge.

Marshall Fire Debris Removal

The FEMA-funded and County-led Private Property Debris Removal program (PPDR) is currently underway.   You can view a real-time map that shows the progress of the debris removal program through this link.  

To date, 97 parcels in Superior are currently being cleared and 8 parcels have been completed and are awaiting final walks/soils testing.  The County’s contractor DRC has 13 crews working in Superior, which are currently focused on Sagamore and Original Town.  If you have any issues or concerns with how DRC is performing its cleanup work, please call 303-499-3675 x138.  

Underinsurance & SB-206

The Colorado Division of Insurance recently issued data on the levels of under-insurance for those who lost their homes in the Marshall Home.  According to the DOI: 

• If rebuild costs come in at $250 per square foot – over 1/3 of those who lost their homes are underinsured, with the average underinsurance amount of $98,000 
• If rebuild costs come in at $300 per square foot – over ½ of those who lost their homes are underinsured – the average amount would be $164,000 
• If rebuild costs come in at $350 per square foot – 2/3 of those who lost their homes are underinsured – the average amount would be $242,000 

Estimates we have heard from builders range anywhere from $250 per square foot to over $500 per square foot and as a result, underinsurance is going to remain a huge problem for fire victims.  

In response, I along with my fellow Board Members (Tim Howard & Neal Shah) testified in support of Senate Bill 22-206, which creates a disaster resilience rebuilding program to provide loans and grants to homeowners, owners of residential rental property, businesses, governmental entities, and other organizations working to rebuild after a disaster emergency. 

If signed into law, this bill will help subsidize costs to repair or rebuild a homeowner’s primary residence that are insufficiently covered by the homeowner’s insurance or by federal assistance programs, including costs to rebuild to advanced fire resistance standards and to replant climate ready trees and vegetation, among other things.  To do so, the bill creates the disaster resilience rebuilding program fund which will be continuously appropriated to the division for the rebuilding program.  

Many thanks to our friends in the Colorado Legislature (including Senate President Steve Fenberg and State Rep. Judy Amabile for sponsoring this bill).  

Solarize Superior

The Town recently launched a new program called Solarize Superior to incentivize more homeowners to go solar. This program will run from April 8 through December 31, 2022 and provides a simple process and packaged solutions for those who would like to go solar, but were unable to afford it in the past, were overwhelmed by technical details, or otherwise confused by having to choose between contractors.  More information is available at www.SolarizeSuperior.com. 

First Fridays

Please join me for First Fridays on Friday, May 6 from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. This provides an informal and casual meeting between Town Board members and residents to discuss current topics relating to the Town.  Meeting information is available here. 

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PS – Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!  We wouldn’t be here without you…