On Friday, January 31, 2020, Confluence Companies broke ground on the Encore Project in Downtown Castle Rock, Colorado at 20 Wilcox Street.
The Encore Project is a welcomed addition to Downtown for a myriad of reasons. But if you ask "Why? Why would a project like the Encore be celebrated?"
It is because vibrant downtowns all over the world have common ingredients. Here are just a few common ingredients of exciting and vibrant downtowns:
PEOPLE
Downtowns that have people in them during the day, evening and weekend, are the ones that thrive!
The “daytime population” is perhaps the most important and hardest to come by. Downtowns that have people in them during the day (typically workers) not just in the evening and on the weekend, are the healthiest and strongest.
PARKING
You have to have a place for visitors, residents and employees to park in your downtown.
Vibrant communities often approach parking management with a multi-pronged approach. To maximize parking options and efficiency, this means efforts to re-sign, re-design, re-stripe and where possible build additional parking spaces.
PUBLIC GATHERING PLACES
Find a great historic downtown or newly created “faux” downtown, and there will be an interesting and attractive public gathering space within it.
Many of the guiding documents for Downtown Castle Rock, describe a need for public gathering spaces. The recent investment in Festival Park from the Town and Downtown Alliance provides a great option for the community to gather in Downtown. A civic plaza at Encore will add another great gathering space.
To answer the question of “Why celebrate a project like Encore?” it is because it will contribute to all of the things listed above and more in Downtown Castle Rock.
Not familiar with the Encore Project? This exciting redevelopment project is located at 20 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado just south of Town Hall between Wilcox and Perry Street. Here is a list of the Encore project’s specific attributes:
The first for-sale residential condos in Downtown in a long time. People that live in Downtown will likely get their goods and services in Downtown; a great thing for small businesses. In addition, there is a pride that comes with residential ownership. That pride in ownership is something that you very much want in your Downtown.
Much needed office space, which will bring workers to downtown, and increase the daytime population in Downtown Castle Rock.
Retail and specifically dining space to Downtown Castle Rock. Retail studies show that people choose where to spend disposable income based on the presence of dining options, then they shop, find entertainment and explore.
Six hundred (600) parking spaces, with 300+ of those spaces being public parking. Constructing a large public parking garage in Downtown would not be financially possible but for a partnership like this one.
A civic plaza next to Town Hall and public dog park.
The project will pay for improvements in Downtown that will allow the Town to apply for a train horn quiet zone at all 3 stops in Downtown. This is something that the community has wanted for a very long time.
The Encore Project is expected to be completed in 18-24 months. Interested in space at Encore? Get on the growing waiting list at www.encorecastlerock.com.
The inclusion of a civic plaza at phrazle Encore will provide an additional excellent venue for gatherings.
This exciting project is set to bring new opportunities, enhance the local landscape, and contribute to the growth and vitality of the area fireboy and watergirl. The event celebrates the beginning of construction on what promises to be a transformative addition to our community.