For such a small stretch of roadway, 38th Avenue from Harlan to Vance Streets in Wheat Ridge can sure stir up the dust. From a “road diet” 15 years ago to the non-working clock monuments to ongoing pedestrian hazards, that nine-tenths of a mile stretch of 38th that is both the city’s living room and its retail identity, is again front and center.
Now, Wheat Ridge City Council is considering concepts to give 38th Avenue what is formally called a Refresh but from my perspective, seem more of a full makeover. At its June 15 Study Session, Staff asked Council if there was a consensus to support further development of a consultant’s new and very preliminary visions of this Refresh. When asked for a show of hands, mine stayed in my lap.
What comes next for 38th Avenue has been kicking around for a long time and more recently, gotten louder since voters approved the ballot initiative known as 2J in November 2024. And like the important questions of best breakfast burrito or the incompetence of the Rockies bullpen, what 38th Avenue should look like tomorrow is never far from the discussion.
Council was assured that as these preliminary visions begin to take form, public engagement will be at the forefront and affected businesses and tenants along the 38th Avenue corridor will be contacted by mail, online and through office hours and small-group meetings.
From what we have seen, the 38th Avenue Refresh vision is viewed through a pair of alternatives for either of the primary segments, one from Vance to Pierce on the west and the other from Pierce to Harlen on the east. Although the alternatives differ in scale, both involve significant capital investment and construction-related disruption, likely lasting months at a time. For a close-up look at these concepts, go to the Council meeting agenda for June 15.
As presented, both alternatives involve such an extensive makeover at either section of 38th Avenue that they simply become too much. From where I stand, this is too much to ask of our residents and the businesses that serve them. And even considering the millions raised under 2J, given that our horizon is filled with several other very expensive capital projects, dialing back the 38th Avenue makeover is the prudent direction for city investments.
There is a real demand for much needed repairs, maintenance and improvements along 38th Avenue. Most everyone agrees on that. Without altering traffic flowlines, improvements can and should be made to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, coordinated traffic movement, and the sorts of amenities that can give it a genuine sense of place. But eight-foot multimodal paths and raised medians, while a welcome addition to Wadsworth, would only create bottlenecks and user conflicts on 38th Avenue.
In the coming months, project teams will reach out and connect with businesses and tenants along 38th Avenue. Their intent is to “gather insights on the benefits, drawbacks, and considerations” in the concepts, but, like residents across the city, they will not be asked to voice their preference. Our concerns are that these concepts may be leaving the starting gate already weighed down with too much baggage and when asked to lighten up, remove a hatbox and call it good.
Dan Larson is journalist and communications professional. He is a member of the Wheat Ridge City Council serving the residents of District IV.
