Lowry Vista: Renewing Dormant Property

The property upon which Lowry Vista is proposed was used as a landfill by the Air Force from 1948 to 1989. It contains waste typical to an average construction landfill, including mostly construction debris, although some residential waste is present. This property should not be confused with a similarly named landfill in Arapahoe County, CO, which is called “The Lowry Landfill.”

In 2002, the Air Force privatized the cleanup of the landfill at the former base. The privatized cleanup was structured so that it would adhere to federal and state cleanup standards, and would be overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). The cleanup remedy approved for this landfill consists of an engineered cap. The cap is created to shed water and prevent contact with the waste. The proposed Lowry Vista community will actually reinforce that cap by adding soil and hardscape surfaces above it. The design also includes advanced landscaping systems to divert water from the surface, thus further protecting the underlying groundwater from possible infiltration.

These types of re-developments are commonplace across the country. In fact, the world-class Cherry Creek Mall was developed on a municipal landfill. (For a complete history of the Lowry Vista property, click here.)

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