The seeds of Stapleton, a mixed-use community of homes, restaurants, and commercial and industrial space, were planted in 1989 when Denver voted to build a new airport to replace Stapleton International Airport. The first residents moved in during May 2002. The earliest neighborhoods have matured, providing 4,800 homes to 12,000
residents, and new neighborhoods are burgeoning. The community is presently made up of seven neighborhoods, eight schools, a library, and a recreation
center, along with 150 shops, service businesses, and restaurants. Every home is within a ten-minute walk of open space. Eighty percent of Stapleton children
walk to school and 93 percent of homes participate in Denver’s recycling program. More than 27,000 trees have been planted and 6 million tons of concrete that once formed the airport’s runways have been recycled. The development generates $22 million in annual property taxes and $13 million in sales tax revenue.
In 1990, the Stapleton Development Foundation was established and partnered with the city to create the Green Book, the framework that has guided all redevelopment of the 4,700-acre (1,900 ha) former airport site. In 1995, the city created the Stapleton Development Corporation (SDC), a private sector, nonprofit entity, to oversee the disposition of the former airport. SDC worked with Forest City Enterprises, now Brookfield, which won a 1998 competition to be master developer, in redevelopment of 4,200 acres (1,700 ha) of the site.
Fireside Chat Event
5:00-5:30 PM Cocktail Reception
5:30-5:45 PM Introductions
5:45-6:30 PM Dinner
6:30-7:00 PM Presentations
7:00-7:45 PM Fireside Chat
7:45-8:00 PM Closing