Loveland Housing Authority
Loveland, Colorado
Summer 2022
13.67 acres
Grace Gardens at Derby Hill is a mixed-use development located at the northwest corner of 19th Street SE and Highway 287/South Lincoln Avenue in Loveland, Colorado. The property is zoned as a Mixed-Use Activity Center (MAC) and the final plat and site civil improvement plans were approved by the Planning Commission and City Council in June 2021.
The project spans 13.67 acres, with nearly 10 acres allocated for 47 single-family lots in partnership with Loveland Habitat for Humanity. The remaining four acres are being developed for the Songbird Heights Apartment buildings, in collaboration with the Loveland Housing Authority. The design for both sections included utility infrastructure, streets, stormwater detention facilities, and overlot grading for terraced pad sites.
The site presented significant challenges due to a considerable grade change from south to north. It required careful planning for street connections from 19th Street SE to the northwest corner at Primrose Drive. The project also had to accommodate stormwater management restrictions imposed by an adjacent irrigation ditch. Specifically, stormwater outfall had to be delayed until after storm events, as permitted by the City, which required innovative detention solutions. Additionally, the City mandated the project to manage historic drainage from offsite areas south of 19th Street.
To address these challenges, Songbird Way was designed with a maximum grade, incorporating meandering sidewalks to maintain sidewalk grades below street grades. The project required retaining walls exceeding 15 feet in height along the south and north boundaries, along with tiered walls for proper lot grading. Multiple detention ponds were constructed along the north boundary to manage stormwater from both onsite and offsite areas. These ponds are designed to store 100-year storm volumes and include manual slide gates for controlled release post-storm events. The ponds utilized retaining walls to minimize the impact on developable site areas, allowing for adequate detention volume within the limited space.
More about this project can be learned at: milehighcre.com
Sr. Civil Engineering Project Manager & Northern Colorado Regional Manager
Principal
PE, CPESC, CRX, CRRP, LEED AP
Director of Land Development
Principal