Candidate Proposes Parking Lots Become Housing for Transit
Denver City Council candidate June Churchill wants RTD station lots redeveloped to fund more frequent trains.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Apartments
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Should Denver build housing on transit parking lots to fund more frequent trains?
Denver City Council candidate June Churchill has proposed converting RTD transit parking lots into housing to fund more frequent train service. Churchill outlined a potential Denver-RTD agreement guaranteeing frequent service in exchange for infrastructure support and density bonuses.
Why it matters
RTD station parking lots have vacancy rates of around 80%, and the agency's flat 1% sales tax has not kept pace with operating costs. Denver needs roughly 70,000 more homes within 25 years, and the proposal would tie that housing need to transit funding.
Around 80% of RTD station parking spaces are vacant, and a flat 1% sales tax provides most of the agency's budget. Churchill's proposal would support trains every 15 minutes, but the agreement terms and lease revenue remain unspecified.
The players
June Churchill
June Churchill is a Denver City Council candidate who has proposed linking transit station parking lot redevelopment to more frequent RTD service.
Regional Transportation District (RTD)
The Regional Transportation District is the transit agency serving the Denver metropolitan area, funded primarily by a flat 1% sales tax.
The details
Churchill has argued that housing on station parking lots would place residents within walking distance of trains, increasing ridership while giving RTD recurring lease income. She also outlined a potential agreement in which Denver would provide infrastructure support and density bonuses in exchange for a contractual guarantee of frequent service. Churchill cited her own experience giving up a car in 2018 and later facing unemployment and homelessness in South Denver without transit access.
Timeline
2018: Churchill gave up her car because of its expense.
Early 1980s: The bus network last underwent a comprehensive redesign.
Within 25 years: Denver needs roughly 70,000 more homes.
Market Dynamics
Senate Bill 24-230 is currently funding new RTD service and protecting some high-ridership routes from cuts, and Churchill's proposal would add a land-based revenue source to sustain that expansion. The idea builds on the same pressure that has pushed Denver toward denser development to meet its housing need.
For Denver renters and buyers, the proposal could eventually mean more apartments near train stations, but no changes are in place yet. Anyone weighing housing near transit should track the RTD agreement terms before making decisions based on the idea.
The takeaway
Transit funding and housing supply are increasingly linked, so proposals that tie station land to service levels may shape where Denver builds next. Readers tracking local apartment development should watch how RTD responds to this approach.
Further reading
Explore more Denver apartments coverage to see how transit access shapes local housing options.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
Live Poll
Should Denver build housing on transit parking lots to fund more frequent trains?
