38th Avenue Planning

Overview

38^th Avenue, between Sheridan and Wadsworth, is one of the primary areas envisioned for mixed use redevelopment in Wheat Ridge. Many residents view 38^th Avenue as the “main street” of our community. Its history, central location, and unique mix of businesses and services make it a special destination.

The original form of 38^th Avenue, as it developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, included mixed use buildings oriented to the street. These structures often contained retail at the ground floor, with offices or apartments above. As the automobile became more prominent after World War II, the character of the street began to change. Older buildings were replaced with single-story structures that are setback from the street with large amounts of parking in front – including gas stations and fast food restaurants.

38^th Avenue Planning

The City’s recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, Envision Wheat Ridge, calls for a Subarea Plan to be created for the 38^th Avenue corridor. In December of 2009, Wheat Ridge 2020 sponsored a Community Revitalization Partnership study for 38th Avenue, through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. The resulting report with recommendations for revitalizing 38th Ave can be found at Wheat Ridge 2020's website. Building off of these previous planning efforts, the city's Community Development Department will lead a planning effort for the corridor, starting early this summer. This process will inform the mixed use zoning currently being formed, but also contribute to a larger subarea plan, including market and urban design components – for 38^th Ave.

Get Involved

The city hosted a forum to discuss potential mixed use zoning for 38^th Avenue on April 8th at City Hall. Over 50 people attended. You can download a PDF of the presentation from the forum at the bottome of this page. Please return to this page, or the calendar to see the schedule for 38^th Avenue planning meetings as they progress throughout the late spring and early summer.