Facility Overview

The Fir Lot is an open-air surface parking facility situated at 625 Curtis Street on the vibrant Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) campus, immediately adjacent to downtown Denver. As a designated ground-level lot, Fir Lot provides straightforward drive-in access without the tight ramp turns or overhead restrictions typical of multi-level garages. Because there are no vertical clearance barriers, the facility easily accommodates standard sedans, light commercial trucks, oversized SUVs, high-roof vans, and vehicles equipped with roof racks or ski boxes.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Fir Lot boasts one of the most strategic, dual-purpose locations in central Denver, serving both the higher-education academic community and downtown eventgoers. Located within comfortable walking distance of premier sports, culture, and entertainment venues, key destinations include:

• Ball Arena: Located just a 7 to 10-minute walk northwest across Auraria Parkway, making this lot a top-tier alternative for Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and concert parking.
• Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC): Roughly an 8-minute walk across Speer Boulevard to the Buell Theatre, Boettcher Concert Hall, and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
• Historic Larimer Square & Lower Downtown (LoDo): A 10-minute walk to world-class dining, craft cocktail lounges, and boutique shopping.
• Colorado Convention Center: Approximately 12 to 15 minutes on foot, ideal for attendees looking to avoid crowded downtown garages.
• Auraria Campus Hubs: Steps away from the Tivoli Student Union, King Center for the Performing Arts, and academic facilities of CU Denver, MSU Denver, and Community College of Denver (CCD).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular ingress and egress are positioned directly along Curtis Street with quick routing from 7th Street, Champa Street, and Auraria Parkway. Drivers traveling from greater Denver can easily connect to Interstate 25 via Auraria Parkway or Colfax Avenue, avoiding dense central business district gridlock when departing after games or concerts. For multimodal transit users, the Auraria West and Colfax at Auraria RTD Light Rail stations (serving lines C, D, E, F, H, and W) are a short walk away, providing seamless connections across the Denver metro area.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Spacious, open-air surface parking with clearly delineated stalls.
• Zero vertical height restrictions, accommodating oversized trucks and tall utility vehicles.
• ADA accessible parking spaces conveniently positioned near pedestrian walkways.
• Convenient electronic payment kiosks accepting major credit/debit cards.
• Mobile payment integration supported through campus-compatible apps like ParkMobile.
• Well-lit parking grounds regularly patrolled by Auraria Campus Police.

Ideal For

• Sports enthusiasts and concert attendees visiting Ball Arena seeking quick post-event freeway access.
• Patrons attending evening musicals, operas, and symphonies at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
• Students, faculty, and campus visitors at CU Denver, MSU Denver, and Community College of Denver.
• Convention delegates and business travelers seeking budget-friendly daily rates near downtown Denver.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During major events at Ball Arena or sold-out productions at the DPAC, campus parking lots can experience higher traffic volumes and special event flat-rate parking rules. Drivers are encouraged to arrive 45 to 60 minutes prior to event start times to ensure easy spot selection. Always confirm your stall number or license plate at the payment kiosk or via the ParkMobile app immediately upon parking to ensure compliance and avoid campus parking citations.