Meet Renee Martinez-Stone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Martinez-Stone.

Hi Renee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am trained in architecture and urban geography, so an urban designer though most call me a planner. I am committed to working in communities of color and 2000 began focusing on community revitalization and infill development.

Projects include working with property owners on the Welton Corridor, planning & engagement for future development for Mariposa and the Sun Valley neighborhood. In 2016, I left the private sector to lead an initiative that focused on advocacy, partnership, and community-responsive solutions for 9 West Denver neighborhoods (the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative). The people, leaders, and drastic changes impacting West Denver residents were compelling to me and so a minimum 3-year assignment has grown to almost 8 years.

A recent community leader from Sun Valley said that I was the one who brought advocates from the 9-neighborhoods together to work for West Denver across many projects, with the most recent being the West Denver Area Neighborhood Plan. Together, we have accomplished much collective community work, increased leader visibility, advocated together on many issues, and raised millions for community investment and projects.

A few community-responsive projects I still work on or lead today include the West Denver ADU Pilot Program, West Denver Community Connectors (co-led with BuCu West), work with the Ball Arena Community Benefits Agreement Committee, and work on the community engagement strategy for the state of CO team master planning the future of the Burnham Yard site.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road but there is good company in aligned partners. The biggest obstacles in advocating for projects, outcomes, and access to opportunity on behalf of under-represented, BIPOC, or low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities is the lack of prior investment, technical assistance, access to capital, and policy that supports their issues and interests.

 

For example, rents and housing values tripled in West Denver between 2010 and 2020. Many homeowners (49%) took in an individual or family leading to one of the highest residential ‘doubled-up’ rates in the state and city. In addition, 13,000 mostly renter households left the area following a real estate transaction where up to 60% of the buyers were LLC investors. Leaders asked for help building ADUs-accessory dwelling units to help stabilize homeowners and provide additional housing on large lots with small primary homes. Despite the adoption of a 2017 Blueprint Denver plan calling for ADUs on all single-family lots, the policy has not been implemented (the first costly step in building an ADU). Nor has the city addressed requirements that make building an ADU more expensive to build in under-invested neighborhoods because homeowners are required to upgrade sidewalks, alleys, and utilities when permitting their ADU.

Our ADU Pilot Program team provides resources to connect homeowners to technical expertise and has worked with Denver-based lenders to create accessible ADU financing products. On other issues, our team connects renters to utility assistance and legal support, and we with local partners have created the first West Denver small business database, website, and spending card to market and draw customers to the majority BIPOC owned small businesses –https://westdenvermarketplaces.com/.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is that I have dedicated my career to bringing quality urban design and planning to: under-invested neighborhoods, to infill projects, and to engaged community and leaders. I work within neighborhoods and projects, and with leaders to ensure quality planning and urban design aren’t just a part of large expensive urban projects, but works its way into streets and public spaces at the neighborhood, block, and small project scale.

I have led many community engagement processes where input is grounded in the design process and shapes the outcome in meaningful ways; this process feels different than just showing up to solicit input. I also mentor BIPOC (and LGBTQ+) professionals who can be far and few between in urban design and planning.

Beauty, joy, comfort, and belonging can and should be a part of our built environment in all neighborhoods of our city–it is a pursuit I hope to share far and wide through my work.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Denver. I love the physical presence along the South Platte River, the grid, the people, and the proximity of the mountains. The neighborhoods tell the stories and rich history of white, black, and brown families and immigrants and a rich range of historical architecture.

I value Denver’s parks, and streets, along with the fact that many community places, higher education, and large venues are centrally located to be accessible and avoid unsustainable sprawl that would further challenge our resources, sense of community, and air quality. I dislike that working-class families and younger generations are being priced out of Denver.

Contact Info:

• Website: myWDRC.org, denverhousing.org

Image Credits
Colorado Sun for ADU