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Denver council approves new District 6 police station

Denver council approves new District 6 police station

Built World Denver, CO local

Council green-lights $68.2 million construction contract and design amendment for replacement facility on North Washington Street

September 28th, 2026: Denver City Council approves construction and design contracts

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Denver City Council approved the construction and design contracts for the new District 6 police station on September 28, 2026. The $68.2 million construction contract goes to Fransen-Pittman Construction Co., and a separate $684,685 design amendment goes to Roth Sheppard Architects.

The project includes demolishing the existing pharmacy building on the site and building a new facility and garage at 1566 North Washington Street. Opponents, including the Colfax Business Improvement District, say the plan leaves a vacant lot on Colfax Avenue and want more community input.

Why it matters

The new station replaces an aging, cramped facility that council members say is unfit for staff and visitors, and the project could reshape the Colfax corridor.

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Key Indicators

$68,156,065
Construction contract amount
Guaranteed maximum price for the District 6 police facility and garage.
$684,685
Design services amendment
Additional funding for Roth Sheppard Architects.
October 2026
Notice-to-proceed target
Construction expected to begin after demolition.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

2 events Latest: September 28th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
  1. Denver City Council approves construction and design contracts

    Latest Council vote

    Council passes Resolution 26-1342 for $68,156,065 construction with Fransen-Pittman and Resolution 26-1341 for $684,685 design amendment with Roth Sheppard.

  2. Committee advances District 6 police station contracts

    Committee vote

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approves design amendment and $68.2M construction contract, despite calls for more community engagement.

Scenarios

1

Construction starts on schedule as planned

Likely Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: City officials and Fransen-Pittman

Notice-to-proceed issues in October 2026 as targeted. Demolition of the pharmacy building begins, and construction moves forward without major legal or community disruption.

2

City brings the Colfax BID into the pharmacy-site plan

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Colfax BID

At the Sept. 28 hearing the Colfax BID asked council to enlarge the pharmacy parcel and make the BID a full partner in planning and vetting developers for the site, so it does not become another vacant lot on Colfax. The city's presentation says the pharmacy building will go through its own RFQ process.

3

Cost overruns trigger additional city funding

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Budget watchdogs

Construction costs exceed the guaranteed maximum price due to unforeseen site conditions or design changes, requiring the council to approve a supplementary appropriation to keep the project on track.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2020s

Denver Police District 5 Replacement (completed 2020s)

The city replaced the aging District 5 police station with a new facility that included a sallyport addition, holding cells, and community space. Construction firm W.E. O'Neil managed the project, prioritizing early subcontractor buys to mitigate cost escalation.

Then

The new District 5 station opened with LEED Gold certification and modern amenities.

Now

Demonstrated the city's pattern of replacing outdated police facilities with energy-efficient, community-facing buildings.

Why this matters now

District 5 served as a successful template for District 6's replacement, showing a prior solution to similar facility shortcomings and construction cost management.

Sources

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