Burnham Yards

About This Project

Burnham Yard is a 58-acre former railroad yard located just southwest of downtown Denver, near the La Alma-Lincoln Park neighborhood. The site was used for rail operations for decades before becoming inactive in 2016, leaving one of the largest underutilized parcels near the city center. The property is now the focus of a major long-term redevelopment effort led by the City of Denver, with plans to transform the rail yard into a dense, mixed-use urban district. The vision centers on reconnecting surrounding neighborhoods, improving mobility, and introducing new housing, jobs, entertainment, and public open space on land that historically functioned as a physical and psychological barrier. Burnham Yard gained national attention after the Denver Broncos announced plans to pursue a new, privately funded NFL stadium on the site. The proposed stadium would include a retractable roof and be surrounded by a broader mixed-use development featuring retail, hospitality, residential, office space, and public gathering areas. The stadium is envisioned as an anchor for a year-round destination district rather than a standalone venue. At the same time, the city is advancing a Burnham Yard Small Area Plan to guide development through community input, with a focus on infrastructure, housing affordability, environmental remediation, and minimizing displacement. If built out as envisioned, Burnham Yard would represent one of the most significant urban redevelopment projects in Denver’s history.