FOR PROMISED JOY!(RUNDLES WRAPUP)

AuthorRundles, Jeff

Denver officials recently outlined a series of new city plans covering the next 20 years to address such challenges as transit, development, parks and recreation, and a host of other more minute details to help keep Denver a vibrant American city. Broadly called "Denveright," the plans encompass a host of ambitious--and expensive --measures that may or may not help keep Denver on track for future success. After 45 years of living here, the only thing I can say for sure is that no matter what we plan and do, every five years or so, there will be another plan with another catchy name, and expectations will change.

Leaders and planners are right to do this, of course, as we simply can't let the future unfold without some sort of plan, despite the clear evidence that what actually happens often has little to do with such planning. As the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry, and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy!"

But I was much more interested in the population statistics and projections released as part of the report and what it means not only for Denver but also for many other places in America. The City and County of Denver recently surpassed the 700,000 residents threshold, and that number is expected to near 900,000 by the year 2040. When I first came here in 1973, fewer than 500,000 called Denver home, and all these numbers don't take into account that the metropolitan statistical area (MSA), including Denver, has doubled in the last 45 years to some 3 million people, and who knows how many by 2040.

The problem is that 700,000 residents is already too many for Denver, and 900,000 is unfathomable. The congestion around here is awful, and no matter what the powers that be do on transit, it will only get worse. And congestion has led to high cost, particularly for housing and soon on taxes, and the country at large is witnessing the "grief and pain" over such high costs on both coasts and in many major cities. You can't "scheme" your way out of frustration and unaffordability.

Frankly, I don't think Denver and many other areas in the country will sustain the kind of growth and a version of the status quo for much longer. People, I predict, are going to start voting with their feet by moving away from such...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT