Nucla Main Street Beautification

The town of Nucla requested design concepts for specific parts of downtown. Nucla is a Statutory Town with a population around 700 residents in Montrose County situated in the high desert of the counties west end and south of Grand Junction. Its history is rooted in ranching and mining. While coal mining is still operational, the outdoor recreation industry is on the rise. 

This downtown improvement project included the following work: Define the use and circulation of main street and identify needs/gaps, propose programs for improvements, create a plan for a unified downtown main street design, determine the opportunity for community and pedestrian gathering space, present sustainability concepts for main street, explore architectural ideas for façade improvements, deliver preliminary assessment and programmatic documents to strengthen grant applications and other funding opportunities. 

The project benefited greatly from the input and guidance provided by community members, local businesses and interested citizens through a series of public meetings. The community of Nucla wanted design concepts for a downtown that celebrate its character and history, is inviting to travelers and functional for residents. The final designs were influenced by the public's desire for unique details such as repurposed planters, brick with stucco front façades and structured awnings as well as street art.

Field Supervisor: Chris Endreson
CCCD Team: Brittany Bona,  Thomas Cooke, Alex Martin, Julia Dullien, Kortney Harris, Tatum Moorer, Gaelen Means, Kevin Small, Nick Patin
DOLA Regional Manager: Kimberly Bulla
Local Collaborators: Sherri Farmer, Town Clerk; Paula Brown, Parks & Recreation Department