“The Bottoms,” “Prospect,” or “Prospect Park”. Did you know that these were former names of what we now know as Union Station North?
Welcome to Union Station North. This area has undergone an amazing transformation. Once avoided, it is now a thriving residential hub.
Union Station North sits on land that originally belonged to the Arapaho Tribe. They called the South Platte River Niinéniiniicíihéhe. Gold brought white settlers in 1858. The native population was pushed out.
From Denver’s start through the 1970s, the South Platte River was an open sewer. By the 1960s, Union Station North was filled with immigrant housing. Vacant lots and industrial plants lined the river. Landfills and discarded cars were common. It was not a desirable place to live.
Redevelopment began in the 1990s. Coors Field and Cuernavaca Park were built. This revitalization spread to Union Station North. Residential buildings started appearing.
In 2006, a Denver developer called Union Station North “a very industrial area.” An architect agreed that it was “the true-grit part of town.”
The G Line commuter rail added tracks in 2019. A bridge now crosses the South Platte River and BNSF rail lines. Union Station North is now a clean, residential community. Locomotives still pass through daily.
Union Station North is north of Downtown Denver. It lies within the Five Points neighborhood. The South Platte River bounds it to the north. Cuernavaca Park is to the northwest. 20th Street is to the southwest. Wewatta Street is to the southeast. The Park Avenue West viaduct is to the east.
Some streets follow Denver’s old city grid from the 1850s. Others follow the north/south system of 1864. This was to comply with federal mandates.
The South Platte River forms the northern border. It had a history of flooding. Today, embankments protect against high water. The South Platte River Trail runs along the river.
In 2010, Union Station North had 3,077 residents. The average age was 41. Homeowners made up 47% of the population.
Cuernavaca Park is divided by the South Platte River. The southern part is in Union Station North. The Flour Mill Lofts are also located there. The park was completed in 2000. It reclaimed industrial wasteland.
Flour mills once polluted the air. Denver had the most flour mills in the western US. By 1975, the area was a muddy stretch of the river. Weeds and diesel smoke filled the air.
The Platte River Development Committee formed in 1974. Its goals included creating parks. They wanted to link the river area with trails. Today, Cuernavaca Park has grass, trees, and picnic pavilions. There is also a baseball diamond. Paved trails run on both sides of the river.
The park’s oval path has two bridges. They resemble 19th-century railroad trestles. This matches the area’s industrial-chic style.
The Mexican city of Cuernavaca is one of Denver’s sister cities.
Union Station North has diverse fauna. Barn swallows and green heron live along the South Platte River. You can often see them from the trail.
Union Station North has transformed from an industrial wasteland. It is now a thriving residential area with parks and trails.