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FAYETTEVILLE -- Gerald Wayne Martin had the kind of professional football career that many players can only dream about.

Martin, a Cherry Valley native and All-Southwest Conference standout defensive lineman at the University of Arkansas from 1985-89, played his entire pro career with the New Orleans Saints, and he stayed mostly injury free.

He put together a monster run for the Saints in the early to mid-1990s that helped him land in the No. 6 spot on the 's list of top Razorbacks in the pros.

Martin remains the Arkansas record holder in career sacks (25.5) and single-game sacks (5), and he kept up his production during his years in the NFL.

Martin, who went by his middle name Wayne, became a mainstay at defensive end for a New Orleans franchise that enjoyed its first sustained run of moderate success under Coach Jim Mora during Martin's 11-year career.

He was a first-round NFL Draft selection in 1989, going to New Orleans with the 19th pick.

With ace linebackers like Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Swilling joining standouts like Martin, Robert Goff and Frank Warren up front, the Saints won their first division title in 1991 in their 25th season in the NFL and Martin's third in the league.

"I didn't go to the Senior Bowl," Martin said in describing his draft story on a Saints Legends video released by the team in 2018. "They had a combine, but it wasn't as extensive as it is now. I mean, it didn't go so much on how physical [you were], how fast you ran. They did all that, but it was what could you do on the field."

Martin rattled off the names of the Saints greats he had joined in the video and how they helped shape his career.

"Those guys were in their prime," Martin said. "When I got here, they were like 8, 9 years in [the league]. They were in their prime. ... I've never seen anything like it. I mean, we swarmed teams. We could shut down anybody. ... They meant so much to my career. I just learned so much from them."

Martin's durability and consistency were hallmarks for those Saints teams, who racked up four second-place finishes in the NFC West, often behind the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers, during his career.

Martin missed just one game, played in 171 games and started the last 144 consecutive games of his career in the NFL.

"The 144 consecutive starts I made is a club record for the Saints," Martin said in his induction speech to the UA Hall of Honor in 2004. "That's what I'm most proud of, that when it was time to play, I always was ready to line up."

The 6-5, 275-pounder racked up a career-high 15.5 sacks among his 70 tackles in 1992. After falling off to five sacks the following year, Martin put together four consecutive seasons of 10-plus sacks -- 10, 13, 11 and 10.5 -- from 1994-1997. He led the NFC with his 13 sacks in 1995.

Martin was recognized with a Pro Bowl selection in 1994 and collected a career-high 88 tackles in 1996. He led the Saints in sacks four times.

Martin was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2003 in his first year of eligibility four years after his retirement.

"I almost dropped the phone when I got the call," Martin told Jim Bailey of the .

He finished his NFL career with 82.5 sacks, second on the Saints' career list behind only Jackson (115).

According to the Pro Football Reference web site, Martin is rated as the 10th best Saints player of all time in "approximate value." The only defenders ahead of him are No. 2 Jackson, No. 5 Cameron Jordan, No. 7 Swilling and No. 9 Mills.

The Saints nearly lost Martin in 1993 when the Washington Redskins approached him with a four-year offer for $10.1 million. The Saints elected to match the offer at the 11th hour, sending a contract to Martin's agent, former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon of Stephens Sports Management just before the deadline.

"After working with him the last four years, he's right where we want him right now as a player," Mora said at the time. "A defensive lineman like Wayne is a premium in this business."

His bio on the Saints Hall of Fame web site described Martin as "low key, even quiet, reserved as a person. On the field he was anything but."

Also in the bio, "To date, Wayne Martin is the best defensive lineman in New Orleans Saints history."

Martin, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1992, posted 596 tackles, 13 fumble recoveries, 12 forced fumbles and 1 interception in his pro career.

At Arkansas, Martin had an epic game as a senior against Ole Miss in the Hogs' Southwest Conference championship season of 1988. He collected a school-record five sacks in the Razorbacks' 21-13 nonconference victory at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

He led the Razorbacks in sacks three seasons, including 13 in his senior year 1988.

Martin also ranks tied for fourth at Arkansas with Jimmie Walker with 37 career tackles for loss.

Martin holds a place on the UA's All-Century Team and its 1980s All-Decade team. He was inducted into both the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the UA Sports Hall of Honor in 2004.

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Jay Powell, executive chef/owner of Twisted Fork Bistro in Cherry Valley, has fond food memories as far back as when he was 4.

“I can remember with certainty at 4 my mother picking me up next to the stove and having me scramble eggs for breakfast for the very first time. I also remember my dad trying to pry me away from the TV to mow the lawn as I watched Julia Child debone a duck and flipping channels to watch Chief Jay Strongbow put on the sleeper hold to win another match on Pro World Wrestling.

“I remember the first meal I cooked for my family, right out of the Justin Wilson cookbook,” said Powell. “I can recall all of my cooking events as if they were yesterday.”

Summers in the '70s were spent at Powell’s grandfather’s cottages on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, where guests would always bring something to the welcome potluck dinners. His grandfather’s dish was chop suey, which the chef now serves at his restaurant, in addition to his Pepere’s recipe for grilled kielbasa and rye bread.

Food aromas stir memories, according to Powell, who said, “I have sautéed garlic, onions and oil countless times, but it always bring me back to watching my grandfather cut onions in one hand, and oh, that smell.”

Powell’s first job was at York Steak House in the Auburn Mall, during his junior and senior years at Worcester Academy. Although his mother wanted him to attend Johnson & Wales University in Providence when he graduated, Powell wanted to become a pilot. “I knew how hot those kitchens were,” he said.

He pursued his plans at Nathaniel Hawthorne College in New Hampshire, where he “hated the food.” His dorm had a full kitchen, he said, and he convinced his dad to give him money for the food program. “I bought pizza pans and equipment and started selling pizza and sandwiches from my dorm,” said Powell. “Even people in the administration office bought lunch from me.” He noted that in the '70s permits and licenses were not as much of an issue as they are today.

Powell later earned a degree in industrial engineering, “all the while cooking at the former Howard Johnson’s located near College of the Holy Cross.”

While working at Digital Equipment in Hudson, Powell entered a chili contest and won. “Next thing I knew I was asked to cater an event for 25 people,” said Powell. “I laugh when I look back on that event because I actually made enough food for 125.” Cooking truly became Powell’s passion and obsession when he owned his catering company, Uncle Jay’s Homemade Chili. He said he gathered information from other chefs who worked in Boston, Providence and New York. He also read cookbooks. Today, he has more than 4,000 cookbooks in his collection. “Great learning tools,” he said about the books.

A moment in his life he said he would never forget is when he told his mother he would attend Johnson & Wales University. Her response, “Well, it’s about time.”

The chef has owned Twisted Fork Bistro since 2009, with a goal and mission to serve locally sourced ingredients and food made from scratch and cooked to order.

Powell and his wife, Nancy, have gardens at the restaurant and their home. The produce from the gardens is used at the Twisted Fork during the summer.

The ice cream he serves at his restaurant is made at Crystal Caves in Auburn, owned and operated by Powell’s parents, Guy and Connie Powell, and his sister, Deb. The Auburn business is all about family, according to Powell, who said his nephews and brother-in-law also help out. “Our family is not a stranger to hard work and dedication,” said Powell.

The chef has won many awards, including being named Worcester’s Best Chef in Worcester Magazine (2015, 2016) and Central Mass. Best Chef (2016), Telegram & Gazette. He is a member of the local chapter of Les Amis d’Escoffier Society and has appeared numerous times on TV’s "Phantom Gourmet."

Powell also has won awards for his soups and chowders. His restaurant has been named #2 Best Mom and Pop Restaurant in Massachusetts and one of the top five bistros in New England.

The chef was a contestant on the Food Network’s "Cooks vs. Cons" and also was invited to the World Food Championship in Orange Beach, Alabama, where his dish was rated the second highest in category. He has been invited to participate in the 2017 competition.

“My life revolves around food, and I completely understand that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for all the people who have crossed my path on this incredible culinary journey,” said Powell. “Most importantly is family and my wife, who have been my foundation to allow me to do what I love.”

Twisted Fork Bistro is located at 509 Stafford St., Cherry Valley; telephone (508) 892-5437 for hours and catering. Connect on Facebook.

1. What’s your favorite cheap eat?

George’s Coney Island – great people and even a better chili dog.

2. Who were your biggest influences?

My mother (rock star of comfort food), both of my grandmothers, one from Canada and the other, Bermuda (she was the Julia Child of the island), '70s Saturday morning PBS Julia Child, and chefs Justin Wilson, Jacques Pepin, Graham Kerr and Martin Yan. Also, the families that vacationed at my grandparents' cottages on Lake Winnipesaukee, where I spent every summer vacation during the '70s. I especially recall my grandfather’s potluck dinners. All the kids would be swimming and having fun while I was helping in the kitchen.

Many of the chefs and past employees I have crossed paths with during my 30-plus years of cooking all influenced my career. My dad has influenced me the most, with his perseverance, kindness, tolerance and his wanting to help everyone.

3. What was your all-time memorable meal?

At my marriage to my wife, Nancy. I catered the wedding and wanted it to be a culinary experience. I did two stations, one with lobster salad sliders and lamb lollipops with candied mustard seed and mint sage foam. We had 17 passed appetizers, including Confit Pork Belly Corn Dogs with an Angry Orchard glaze; Exotic Mushroom Bisque Shooters with Truffle Foam; Devil on Horseback, using my own cured duck bacon: Pigs in a Blanket with a honey mustard drizzle (my wife’s favorite – happy wife, happy life). I finished the evening with chili dogs because if I had not won my first chili contest in 1985, I would never had taken the path I did and end up meeting my best friend, the love of my life and my soulmate.

4. What ingredient are you obsessed with?

Butter, bacon fat, duck fat, saffron and all the "nasty bits."

5. What is your guilty food pleasure?

Foie gras, sea urchin, my wife’s Oreo cheesecake.

6. What’s the kitchen tool you can’t do without?

My knife, tasting spoons and great communication.

7. What food trend has outlived its welcome and any idea what’s the next trend in the food world?

The trend of having 10 pounds of food on a plate for a cheap price needs to go. First off, if it’s cheap when ordering, it’s cheap on the plate. No restaurant serves food to lose money and if they did they would go out of business. Great quality with great ingredients with a modest price is the trend.

Also, there are so many new trends coming, but what I see as the new trend is the embracing of cooking with the whole animal and bringing back peasant/rustic countryside food, utilizing all the nasty bits that are so damn delicious.

8. What would you be doing if you weren’t a chef?

Farmer, butcher and raising foods to sell to chefs. Love having my hands in the dirt.

9. What’s your favorite meal to cook at home?

Roasted chicken or lobster and steamers.

10. What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at home?

Pickled fiddleheads and ramps, wild game and our doggie risotto.

The National Weather Service is tracking the amount of snow that fell across Massachusetts Friday. Here are the latest snowfall reports from the NWS, which will be updated as new measurements come in.

Totals from reports submitted to NWS as of 11:30 a.m. Saturday:

MASSACHUSETTS

Barnstable County

Mashpee 5.0

East Falmouth 4.9

Marstons Mills 4.5

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West Yarmouth 2.5

Berkshire County (10:30 a.m.)

Savoy 4.2

Becket 3.0

Lanesborough 2.5

Pittsfield 2.0

Great Barrington 1.8

Williamstown 1.8

Stockbridge 1.3

Bristol County

Norton 8.5

Easton 7.0

Attleboro 7.0

Mansfield 6.5

Dighton 6.4

Rehoboth 6.0

Fairhaven 5.0

Swansea 5.0

New Bedford 3.5

Essex County

Salem 12.0

Manchester 11.5

Swampscott 10.5

Marblehead 9.9

Peabody 9.0

Topsfield 8.0

West Peabody 7.5

Ipswich 7.0

Lawrence 6.5

Haverhill 6.0

Bradford 6.0

North Andover 6.0

Andover 6.0

Franklin County

New Salem 4.8

Rowe 4.0

East Hawley 3.2

Hampden County

Wilbraham 4.9

Hampshire County

South Hadley 3.8

Amherst Center 3.0

Middlesex County

Framingham 8.8

West Newton 8.7

Lexington 8.4

Burlington 8.3

Wakefield 8.0

Sudbury 8.0

Natick 7.5

Concord 7.1

Reading 7.0

North Reading 7.0

Somerville 7.0

Acton 7.0

Bedford 7.0

East Acton 6.9

Carlisle 6.8

Tewksbury 6.6

Woburn 6.5

Tyngsborough 6.3

Littleton 6.1

Maynard 5.9

Pepperell 5.6

Westford 5.5

West Townsend 3.5

Norfolk County

Blue Hill Coop 15.2

Westwood 14.4

Walpole 14.2

Quincy 14.0

Norwood 13.5

North Weymouth 13.0

Randolph 12.2

Weymouth 12.0

Dedham 11.8

Franklin 11.5

Braintree 11.0

Sharon 11.0

Foxborough 10.5

Wrentham 10.3

South Weymouth 9.7

Brookline 9.5

Plymouth County

Hingham 12.0

Whitman 8.8

Rockland 8.6

East Bridgewater 7.0

Pembroke 6.8

Marion 6.8

Carver 6.5

Lakeville 6.0

Duxbury 5.5

Cedarville 3.0

Suffolk County

Jamaica Plain 13.2

Winthrop 12.0

Logan Airport (Boston) 11.7

Chelsea 9.8

Worcester County

Northbridge 12.0

Douglas 12.0

Milford 11.0

Grafton 10.3

Westborough 9.2

Spencer 9.0

Holden 7.1

Boylston 7.0

Paxton 7.0

Cherry Valley 6.7

Worcester Airport 6.2

Leominster 5.9

Lancaster 5.3

West Warren 5.0

Petersham 4.0

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MARLBOROUGH – Superintendent Ernest F. Houle and Principal Mark Hollick are pleased to share the Honor Roll for the third term at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School.

Grade 12 Highest Honors

Berlin: Elliot Robinson

Boylston: Marcus Frem

Clinton: Maxwell Sivert

Hudson: Saige Roach, Kelsey True

Marlborough: Luiz Felipe Correia, Omavuaye Ighovoyivwi, Alexa Stuka

Northborough: Paul Alfonso, Rose Heller

Shrewsbury: Malorie Baldinger, Matthew Brinkmann, Joel Carey, Makaila Patenaude

Grade 12 High Honors

Marlborough: Kevyn Jorge

Northborough: Manuel Colon, Claire Helwig

Shrewsbury: Brian Pinho

Sudbury: Maynor Ruiz

Grade 12 Honors

Boylston: Amber MacConnell, William Schiavone

Clinton: Abigail Callinan, Emanuel Cardenas, Nina Eaton, Dakota Hart, Jackson Kolodgy, Abigail McFarland, Jackson Raith

Hudson: Erin Bourque, Arian Fernald, Reannah Foster, Julia Hache, Agnes Kelly, Rachel Leibowitz, Felicia Rodrigues, Benjamin Sherman

Leicester: Emily Connolly, JaNya Johnson

Marlborough: Gabriel Arroyo, Bailee Benevelli, Ashley Carbajal Monroy, Milena Castaneda Lopez, Citlali Ceja Carrero, Nicholas Chappelle, Marisa Clayton, Michael Ray Davenport, Fatima Diaz, Blake Lindgren, Chyanne Malik, Ingrid Reyes, Alexande Rodriguez Turell, Michael Sanchez

Maynard: Andrew Borey, Emmet Powers

Shrewsbury: Cristopher Cordero

Southborough: Justin Thompson

Grade 11 Highest Honors

Boylston: Ryan Bounville

Clinton: Samantha Lamb, Alicia Lundgren, K O’Connor, Samantha Phillips

Hudson: Keegan Antelman, Krista Avila, Madison Beane, Keegan Cabral,

Lucas Cerqueira, Rachele Connor, Zachary Gogan, Camille Graffeo,

Jennifer Martinez Paz, Fernando Rivera, Kayley Shea

Marlborough: Jayden Chiasson, Ryan Culkin, Naiyalize Feliciano, Alec Gentile-Magoon, Zachary Gentile-Magoon, Thais Lopes, Alandra Pettigrew, Nicolena Russo, Kanata Tanaka, Jhefte Vieira

Maynard: Emma Boucher, Madison Brown, Sophia Fiandaca, Madisen Hobbs,

Northborough: Viktoriya Kebartas, Muhammad Sall

Shrewsbury: Ryan Griffin, Lilliana Gulbicki, Madison Taubinger

Southborough: Colin Kessinger

Sudbury: Austin Guzzetti-Ouellette

Westborough: Kathryn Carew, Andrew Monaco

Grade 11 High Honors

Berlin: Sarah Gostanian, Nathan Rider

Hudson: Tyler Abbondanzio, Kaidence Canty, Samella Goncalves, Selena Melo, Isaac Rykbost

Marlborough: Rachel Chetwynd, Erin Dwinells, Chloe Osgood, Joann Rodriguez Garcia, Leandro Zakaitis

Northborough: Mark Stamoulis

Shrewsbury: Anthony Nolle

Southborough: Megan Little, Jacob Prior

Sudbury: Hannah Snow

Westborough: Sofia Ramirez-Granick, Rachel Sommerville, Zachary Webster

Grade 11 Honors

Berlin: Felipe Alencar

Boylston: Matthew Chalifoux, Michael Savoie, Cole Swackhammer

Clinton: George Falette, Owen Keenan, Roberto Leiva, Myles Pitts, Beckner Pu-Calderon

Hudson: Ethan Bushey, Thomas Collins, Jake Figueiredo, Brian McGrath, Thomas Peckham, Brett Peterson, Tatiana Resendes, JaShawn Santos, Liam Weagle

Leicester: Lianna Jennings, Kathleen O’Brien

Lunenburg: Alexander Sowa

Marlborough: Caio Blanc, Darien Burke, Eduardo Carey, Joselin Carrillo Rivera, Eric Edwards, Emanuel Gentile-Magoon, Jordan Lewis, Vitoria Marcolino Vieira, Yacairy Mercedes Familia, Isaiah Munoz, Kaylie Noronha, Haylee Parker, Zachary Petty, Ashley Regalado, Angelica Rivera, Eduardo Sapata, Thomas Silva, Anthony Sousa, Kyle Stewart

Maynard: Jewell Croushore, Sophia Manganaro, Matteo Mitchell

Northborough: Madison Vadenais

Shrewsbury: Shayne Goldsmith

Southborough: Ryan Ponte

Westborough: Henry Christensen

Grade 10 Highest Honors

Berlin: Julien Melanson

Boylston: Samantha Savoie

Clinton: Aidan Chiaravalloti, Maria Lacerda Tavares

Hudson: Camren Cooper, Leo Garcia-Soberanis, Larissa Granger, Michelle Krieg, Aiden Ly, Keira Madden, Emma Nelson, Tristan Parsons, Dylan Rebeiro, Jayna Tang, Ariana Tavares, Krystal Walsh

Leicester: Kathleen McManus, Destiny Rivas, Vincent Zito

Marlborough: Darelin Aguilar-Mayen, Rania Lara Andrade, Melody Ashman, Kathleen Azevedo, Abigail Barter, Jack Brzenk, Shanery Burgos Velez, Ashly Franco Zayas, Gabriel Goncalves Lopes, Blake Lupien, Sarah Meyer, Cody Pare, Heydi Velasquez Garcia, Jully Anne Viana, Mary Zouharis

Maynard: John Ntaganda, Andrew Talcoff, Zachary Zmijak

Northborough: Lara El-Amme Pingitore, Rafael Marroquin Soc, Danika McLaughlin,

Rochdale: Jackson Ricarte

Shrewsbury: Eva Berganza, Isla Marija Bukow, Jack Casillo, Jaden Daniels, Haley Erickson, Jenna Grenier, Allison Hatcher, Edriel Paulino Fernandez

Westborough: Parker Medeiros, Marcos Zengotita-Archila

Worcester: Jonathan Morales

Grade 10 High Honors

Berlin: Chloe Wians

Clinton: Torin Christie, Alonzo Cornelius, Haley DeVeau

Hudson: Maria Araujo de Aquino, Emily Brennion, Raquel Gomes, Adrian Lugo, Anthony Luongo, Victoria Maldonado

Marlborough: Lincoln Araujo, Diogo Brito, Evan Dube, Alexis Hughes, Nicole Keher, Nick Oliveira, Janthony Rivera Santiago, Melissa Sanchez, Izaiah Velazquez De Jesus

Maynard: Emma Lataille, Jose Sousa Bandeira

Shrewsbury: Janie Labbe, Liam O’Brien

Westborough: Joel Zengotita-Archila

Grade 10 Honors

Berlin: Elliott Duquette-Holmes, Hayden Freitas

Boylston: Alexander Buron, Jacob Weir

Cherry Valley: Chloe LaPierre

Clinton: Jordan Child, Rose DiMeco, Juliana Grussi, Tabitha Maurice, Viclishtar Nerrette

Grafton: Madison Taylor

Hudson: Evan Bushey, Jhohan Cano Raigoza, Jack Clifford, Alessandra Desa, Lucas DeSouza, Jocelyn Dunnells, Gianna Foster, Stephan Harlow, Sarina Prather, Matthias Tucker

Leicester: Owen Collette, Thomas Moore

Marlborough: Kaitlyn Alarie, Ian Almeida Brandao, Erin Blanchard, Christian Brown, Emily Cambara-Agreda, Andrea Cardenas, Therese Cosco, Luiz Fellipe DaSilva,David DePaula, Lily DeSimone, Aiden Desrosiers, Alexandria Dupont, Luke Feddersohn, Joseph Florendo, Mia Gonzalez, Edward Hatch, Shania Hill, Jack Lopez Salazar, Kaylen Lyons, Tyler Mackey, Jaleeza Monteiro, Giancarlo Navarro, Marcelo Oliveira, Gabriela Pereira, Ashley Sanchez, Yuridia Sandoval, Thiago Somaio, Owen St. Angelo, Anthony Tupper, Ned Zimmerman

Maynard: Collin Cormier

Northborough: Ryan Guitard, John Pirozzi

Shrewsbury: Deven Champy, Jussiah Falcon, Mavrick Falkins, Kealany Sanchez, Matthew Watson

Southborough: Shelby Aker

Westborough: Kyle Glennon, Sean Kronenberg, Sarah Silva

Grade 9 Highest Honors

Berlin: Alexis Marshall, Alexander Vincequere

Boylston: Emily Spencer

Clinton: Darren Colangelo, Tyler Cordeiro

Hudson: Aidan Miller, Carla Miranda, Cianna Piso, Kallia Piso

Olivia Russell, Luca Silver, Joseph Slater, Isabella Sutherland, Amanda Trudel

Leicester: Collin Harrington, Connor Harrington

Marlborough: Declan Allen, Bianca Brito, Sarah Ciavattone, Leticia Da Silva Araujo, Lavinia De Araujo, Kasey Espino, Andrew Hart, Niran Kilpatrick, Ashley Pu Calderon, Kylie Rabelo, Ethan Reed, Milla Santos Nunes, Zoey Savitzky, Victoria Villar

Maynard: Natalie Carlson, Riley Carven, Phillip Fiandaca, Meghan Grundstrom, Dean Sawyer

Northborough: Allen Camara

Shrewsbury: Meredith Agneta, Landon Herard, Erin Kaye, Chelsea Mayone, Vance Pehl

Southborough: Alexis Ellis, Jesse Tokaya

Sudbury: Gianna Leanza

Westborough: Ma Ferreira Brum Da Silva, Pamela Goncalves, Kaua Rissato Nobrega

Grade 9 High Honors

Clinton: Alyssa Curley, Sophia Oliveira

Hudson: Arianna Bryce, Brady Friend, Briana Melo

Leicester: Jacob Dolimount

Marlborough: Jalissa Araniz Khweis, Andrew Benway, Millena De Oliveira, Brian Decruz, Katerine Godoy Gonzalez, Kiran Lorch, Amanda Pereira, Cole Ponte, Gabriel Souza, Katherine Taylor, Luiz Valdir Da Silva, Pedro Lucas Vidal

Shrewsbury: Geoffrey Mann

Westborough: Katherine Tovar

Grade 9 Honors

Berlin: Jacob Getman, Tadiwanashe Motsi Nemhara, Molly St. Jean

Boxborough: Sammy Laighton

Clinton: Evelyn Bater, Alysse Christie, Mollie Keenan, Henri Sonsin

Hopkinton: Robert Loos

Hudson: Kiera Avila, Vincent Carlino, Olivia Contreras, Wyatt Foley, Forrest Lortie, Andrew Melo, Mia Resendes, Eliza Tardif, Sydney Yorston

Marlborough: Sofia Alvarez Munera, Samara Alves Santos, Fernanda Araujo, Keily Arroyo Garrido, Karina Atocha, Nelson Aviles, Alex Bentley, Skye Bresnahan, Wendy Cupil Sacalxot, Giulia De Luca Andrade, Thiago De Sousa, Brenda Elias, Lillian Everett, Emilia Johnston, Avery Kelley, Lara Lima, Michaela Menear, Caio Moraes, Megan O’Leary, Gabriell Ribeiro Do Prado, Julio Ribeiro Gomes, Colton Ross

Maynard: Luka Cameron, Elliot Chetwynd, Ayden Fales, Colt Jackson, Ava Palizzolo, Emma Ryan, Derrin Sawyer

Northborough: Branden Speranza

Rochdale: Edward Rose

Shrewsbury: Landon McKeon, Joshua Moody, Calvin Ortega, Juneau Tetreault

Southborough: Rause Dina

Westborough: Vitoria Borges, Maxie Cabrera Tkaczuk, Cam Hebert

Denver developers East West Partners on Wednesday laid out preliminary development plans for Cherry Creek West, a 12.5-acre mixed used development west of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

“We’re putting the creek back in Cherry Creek,” Managing Partner Amy Cara told the 200-plus attendees of the development’s first public meeting via Zoom.

“There’s not a lot of publicly accessible green space in Cherry Creek, and we have an opportunity to create some of that and a great connection,” she said. “In doing so, we’re creating the neighborhood’s new front yard.”

The public meeting was the first of several as part of Denver's Community Planning and Development’s “large development review application” process, which Denver requires for developments larger than five acres.

Business

The land, on the southeast corner of University Boulevard and East First Avenue, is owned by the Buell Foundation, which also owns the land under the shopping center. It’s the site of the former Bed, Bath and Beyond and where John Elway’s restaurant is located.

Plans call for several buildings there, with an average height of 10 stories. The development, which is expected to take a decade to complete, will include office, retail and housing — some of which will be considered affordable housing.

One of the more striking features unveiled Wednesday is a plan to sink Cherry Creek North Drive — the main traffic thoroughfare from University to the shopping center south of the property — allowing pedestrian traffic to flow directly to Cherry Creek and the bike/pedestrian path there. It’s a similar design to what the Colorado Department of Transportation did for the stretch of Interstate 70 that runs through the Elyria, Swansea and Globeville neighborhoods — but on a much smaller scale.

“We’re proposing to lower this private drive (it’s not a city street) below a flat, almost 200-foot wide landscaped connection from the green to the edge of our property along the Cherry Creek Trail,” said Robb Berg, president of Design Workshop. “Cars can travel below this connection to either enter our garage, or continue through to the parking lot at the shopping center.

“This really allows pedestrians to flow freely and safely without the worry of vehicles.”

Panel offers sneak peek at new Denver developments

Plans call for two floors of below-grade parking garages, a “public plaza” with green space for concerts and events, a Market Square that could host farmers markets and streets built for pedestrians first.

“The magic of this site is the ability to provide something that currently doesn’t exist in accessible open space for the community,” said Berg. “And when I say accessible, I’m talking about a true, barrier-free connection to Cherry Creek and the Cherry Creek Trail.”

East West is working with Buell — it will ground lease the land — and mall owner Taubman Realty Group Limited Partnership. The company owns luxury malls and shopping centers throughout the U.S.

Other companies on the development team include architect, design and planning firm Gensler and BuildMark of Denver.

East West was the lead developer for the Union Station Neighborhood. Its last project there, The Coloradan condominium building, opened in 2018 and is fully occupied, Cara said. It was the master developer for Denver’s Riverfront Park, a 25-acre mixed-use development in the Central Platte Valley.

“There’s a series of sub districts within the development,” Berg said. “Each of these districts has its own identity and character, but contribute to this great pedestrian-prioritized place.”

The “shared streets” concept means they are meant for pedestrians first, but can be used for emergency vehicle access if needed, or occasional loading and unloading.

The land is likely going to have to be rezoned, so there are many meetings to come in front of the city’s Planning and Zoning commission and City Council.

“We have the opportunity for Cherry Creek to actually be a place where people can live and work and where there’s enough density that can happen,” Cara said of the “15-minute community” plan.

Cara estimated there would be about three residential buildings, with up to 600 units total. The development is expected to be built in three phases, with the east side to be built first. The earliest they can break ground will be the third quarter of 2024, Cara said, to clear the entitlement and rezoning process.

“I think the first buildings will be occupied five years from today,” she said. “We would hope that within about 10 years, we would have all of this complete and fully realized.”

Officials fielded questions for more than 30 minutes of the 90-minute meeting. Many had to do with the impacts to traffic, noise concerns during construction, cost of the housing units and the height of the buildings along the creek side of the property. They vowed to answer as many of the 65+ questions as possible later on cherrycreekwest.com, which will also have the recording of the meeting.

“This isn’t just another infill development, adding a few residential units or office square footage,” said Cara. “We really have an opportunity here to add generational value to this community.”