Denver Unveils Burnham Yard Plan for Dense Mixed-Income Housing as RTD Advances Park-n-Ride Redevelopment Study

Community Planning Department Releases Burnham Yard Small Area Plan

DENVER, Colorado — Reimagining one of the largest undeveloped urban rail parcels in the Mountain West, the Denver Department of Community Planning and Development released the official public review draft of the Burnham Yard Small Area Plan in October 2026. Situated adjacent to the preferred site for a potential future Denver Broncos stadium, the visionary master plan establishes guidelines to transform the 58-acre former railyard into a vibrant, high-density mixed-use neighborhood featuring thousands of mixed-income residences, public open spaces, and pedestrian bridges.

City planners and neighborhood stakeholders highlighted that the framework prioritizes multimodal connections, seamlessly linking West Denver communities to the 10th & Osage Light Rail Station and South Platte River greenway trails while preserving dedicated affordable housing allocations.

RTD Advances Study Converting Underutilized Park-N-Ride Lots into Housing

Simultaneously, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) reported significant progress on a federally backed technical study examining underutilized Park-N-Ride lots across the Denver metropolitan area. With post-pandemic commuter habits reducing suburban commuter parking demand by more than 40%, RTD is evaluating prime parcels for transit-oriented affordable housing redevelopments in partnership with local municipalities and community land trusts.

Transit leadership noted that transforming asphalt parking lots into bustling residential communities increases transit ridership, generates recurring lease revenues for RTD, and helps alleviate the Front Range’s persistent housing affordability crunch.

City Council and State Implement Transit-Oriented Communities Legislation

In legislative updates, the Denver City Council Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee finalized administrative alignments complying with Colorado’s landmark Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Act (HB 24-1313). The regulatory updates expand as-of-right zoning allowances and remove accessory dwelling unit (ADU) barriers within a half-mile radius of frequent RTD bus and rail corridors, fostering compact, sustainable urban development across Denver.