RidgeGate is planned as a mixed use development with 12,000 homes and 23 million square feet of office/retail space development on the south edge of the Denver metropolitan area. Located on the fringe of the urban area, a patient developer, unique planning principles, and innovative funding concepts are responsible for plans for high density development where suburban, low density development is the norm. Annexed to the City of Lone Tree in 2000, RidgeGate will incorporate many smart growth concepts including: transit-oriented design focused on three light rail stations, a circulator bus system, several roundabouts, high-rise high density mixed use development, and flexible street standards. Access to the development is a key issue and to attract high density development, a new interchange on I-25 as well as a light-rail extension will be necessary. The planning of light-rail stations will be a first in Denver as an integral part of the development rather than retrofitted into an existing urban environment. This paper will present the progress to date on implementation of these concepts as well as lessons learned in planning of this ambitious development.
Abstract