Denver News Online May 2019

Page 1

NATIONALLY RANKED ARTS FESTIVAL IN COLORADO www.denvernews.com.co

PUBLISHING SINCE 1994

MAY 15, 2019 - JUNE 15, 2019

Nationally Ranked Arts Festival in Colorado

O V E R 1 5 O C O L O R A D O A N D N AT I O N A L F I N E A R T I S T S

MAY 25-26

MEMORIAL WEEKEND

CO N SERVATO RY G REEN AT S TA PL E TO N

D E N V E R A R T S F E S T I VA L .C O M

WINE & BEER GARDEN | KIDS ART ZONE

S AT U R DAY S TAG E: C A S S C L AY T O N B A N D 3 - 6 PM S AT U R DAY S TAG E: S P I N P H O N Y 12:3 0 -4 PM LO G O USAG E A N D ST Y L E GU I D E

CO LO R STA N DA R DS

The marketing and sponsorship logo represents 5280 Home’s brand beyond the scope of the magazine and website. Please follow the guidelines below when

When not using the four-color process, logo reds must be printed in PMS 375 and blacks must be printed using PMS Black.

D E N V E R A R T S F E S T I VA L .C O M

CUMMINGS Use the full color (4C) logo on printed materials and web.

PMS 375 CMYK: 74/0/100/0 RGB: 20/200/20 Web Hex: #00c700

PMS Black CMYK: 0/0/0/100 RGB: 0/0/0 Web Hex: #000000

H O ST SPO N SO R

Use the black logo only when printing on light backgrounds.

Whenever possible the 5280 Home logo should be reproduced in four-color process on a white background. However, a two-color version, a red one-color version, and a one-color black version are also available.

E PTA B L E “SPREADING THE WORD” FORACCCOMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

The logo can be tinted to greyscale only when on a white background in b&w surroundings.

RETURN TO WEBSITE

50% background

Reversed logo is used on dark

MAY 2019


FYI/Happenings Denver Arts Festival May 25-26 at Stapleton The Denver Arts Festival has announced plans for this year’s event, which will take place during Memorial Day Weekend, on Saturday, May 25 (from 10AM to 6PM) and Sunday, May 26 (from 10AM to 5PM) at the Stapleton Master Planned Community in East Denver at the Conservatory Green neighborhood (8304 East 49th Place). The festival, which is ranked as one of the Top 50 Best Art Shows in the country by the ArtFair Sourcebook (www.artfairsourcebook.com), an online tracking system helping artists target the best shows in the nation, will have fine art and find crafts from over 150 Colorado and national artists. In addition, patrons will be able to enjoy the following: • Food trucks • Wine, beer and margaritas (including Tivoli Beer, Decadent Saint

Sangria Spritzers, Cointreau margaritas and Exotico Tequila) • Free live music (Cass Clayton Band from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Saturday and the Spinphony on Sunday from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm) • To commemorate Memorial Day weekend, the Barkeley Avenue Jazz Band from the Fourth Infantry Division will perform on Sunday morning from 10:00 am to noon • A Kids Art Zone where children of all ages can create their own paintings “The festival continues to grow and thrive at our Stapleton location, and we’re looking forward to continuing our celebration as one of the premier arts festivals in the region,” said Jim DeLutes, the festival’s director. “We have great plans for this year’s show and are continuing to show our loyalty to the people who have helped us to grow and succeed.” More than 2 million people have attended the highly-popular festival during the past 20 years, and that

The Denver Arts Festival will be held Memorial weekend at Stapleton number is expected to grow as the DAF continues to receive favorable attention from artists and industry leaders throughout the nation. During the past 20 years, the DAF has: • Welcomed over 3,000 of Colorado’s and the nation’s most outstanding artists, showing and selling their artwork to a diverse clientele.

• Included artwork of many genres, including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, clay and other art media. • Provided a wide range of pricing, ranging from under $100 to tens of thousands of dollars (enhancing the diversity and eclectic energy of the event). www.DenverArtsFestival.com

Refining the Art of Living in Metropolitan Denver... We Are Local Experts with Global Reach.

Jon Bastone 303.875.7361

Jeff Bernard 303.564.7630

Garrett Beserra 720.560.9312

Kacey Bingham 720.245.0356

Managing Broker

Donna Chrysler 303.887.4066

Stacey Donaldson 303.870.9938

Kerry Endsley 303.570.0267

Helen French 303.246.8704

Karen Frisone 303.902.3162

Carly Olson 303.726.0544

Bobby Reginelli 720.233.9096

Stacy Resop 303.506.3128

Steve Blank 303.520.5558

Karin Rosarne 303.881.3789

1512 Larimer Street #46R, Writer Square

2

Jared Blank 303.521.5025

Kay Bohan 303.915.1563

Brad Brallier 303.396.8987

Caitlin Brennan 303.898.1473

Mckinze Casey 480.220.8597

Leslie Hazan 720.530.3371

Leslie Howard 303.882.5968

John Ludwig 303.601.1792

Xenia Matteson 303.725.7570

Adam Moore 303.956.8069

Jon Snyder 303.704.9447

|

Kathy Staiano 303.333.9489

Brody Stinson 720.989.5895

livsothebysrealty.com

Caroline Wagner 303.877.4572

|

303.893.3200

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

Debbie Zucker 720.530.5580

MAY 2019


Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor: Ending Gun Violence Dear Friends, There is a time to talk about gun safety and mental health and all of the work that the AG's office is doing to try to save the lives of Colorado students. But today is the time to talk about Kendrick Castillo, the young man who lost his life to protect his classmates. Today is the time to talk about Brendan Bialy and Joshua Jones, who tackled one of the shooters in the school as they saved lives. Today is the time to think of the little ones leaving classrooms with their hands above their heads in surrender. Their crying faces haunt us. We see our own children in them, and we experience fear and mourning that has, to our terror, become commonplace. Today is the time to think of teachers, who go to work knowing that their classrooms could become a scene of tragedy. Today is the time to think of our eighth graders, seniors, kindergartners, third graders, and every other grade and year from preschool to college and know that they finish their cereal, put on their backpacks, and step into that same reality every single day. Today is the time to think of them because they asked us to. They want us think of the victims and to mourn with them.

So we mourn for Kendrick. We mourn for those injured. We mourn for the fear and trauma that will never completely heal. Please know that we are working on policy and fighting for better legislation. We came prepared to fight that battle. But we were not ready, and we never will be, to lose more young lives to this violence. They asked us to think of them. So today, carry their fears with you. Carry their hopes and dreams that will be forever shaken and altered. And know that 20 years from Columbine we have let down an entire generation. Think of them today and carry some of the burden in whatever way you can, so that, maybe, they don't have to bear it alone. We can and must do better. Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General Samantha, Yet again, Colorado is mourning a school shooting. The truth is, our state has experienced far, far too many tragedies like this. I'm thankful yet again for the bravery of our law enforcement officers, educators and students who have confronted these horrific shootings. Today we learned that an 18-yearold student named Kendrick Castillo

died in Highlands Ranch trying to save the lives of his classmates. Just last week, a young man named Riley Howell gave his life by charging an active shooter at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. Faced with evil and hatred, our students respond over and over again with unimaginable bravery. It's far past time for our national political leaders to act with at least a fraction of that bravery in return. We owe that much to all of the students, parents and educators impacted by gun violence. We need to stand up to the cynics who say we are powerless to address school shootings. We are not powerless. This has gone on for too long. John Walsh Candidate for U.S. Senate Samantha, This week in Colorado, yet another life—a young, promising life—was lost to our epidemic of gun violence. Enough. On day 1 of his presidency, John Hickenlooper is ready to take bold, progressive steps on gun control. That includes going toe to toe with organizations that promote destructive agendas while turning a deliberate blind eye to our epidemic of violence—organizations like the NRA.

Stand with John to tell the gun lobby: This is not the world we want to live in. We demand a safer, more sensible world, and we won’t back down till we get it. In 2016, the NRA poured over $30 million into Donald Trump's election. They’re counting on his reelection to support their extremist goals, whether it’s arming teachers in schools or letting the most dangerous weapons fall into the wrong hands. And you can count on this: They’re terrified that someone like John will be elected president. That’s because as Colorado’s Governor, John stood up to the NRA and won, making Colorado the first purple state to pass universal background checks and a ban on highcapacity magazines. And as president, he’ll work to take those rules nationwide, as well as extending waiting periods for gun purchases, funding gun violence research, passing red flag laws, and more—no matter how hard the gun lobby tries to block it. That’s the track record—and the vision—we need in our next president. Sign our petition now to send the NRA a message: We’ve had enough of their extremist agenda. We’re standing tall. And we’re fighting back. Thank you, Team Hickenlooper

#thelifeyoulove

Visit us in Writer Square or livsothebysrealty.com

DOWNTOWN

HILLTOP

CHERRY CREEK

LODO

2001 Lincoln Street #1924 $750,000 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1,410 sq ft.

75 South Cherry Street $1,650,000 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 5,241 sq ft.

2400 E Cherry Creek So Drive #105 $1,195,000 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2,289 sq ft.

1499 Blake Street Unit 3L $899,000 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,740 sq ft.

JOHN LUDWIG 303.601.1792 jludwig@livsothebysrealty.com

JARED BLANK 303.521.5025 jblank@livsothebysrealty.com

KACEY BINGHAM 720.245.0356 kbingham@livsothebysrealty.com

DONNA CHRYSLER 303.887.4066 dchrysler@livsothebysrealty.com

LODO

EVERGREEN

DOWNTOWN

ENGLEWOOD

1801 Wynkoop Street #413 $850,000 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,496 sq ft.

6199 South Skyline Drive $1,690,000 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 7,071 sq ft.

1512 Larimer Street #27 $710,000 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1,801 sq ft.

4792 South Acoma Street $575,000 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2,460 sq ft.

LESLIE HOWARD 303.882.5968 lhoward@livsothebysrealty.com

KERRY ENDSLEY 303.570.0267 kendsley@livsothebysrealty.com

HELEN FRENCH 303.246.8704 hfrench@livsothebysrealty.com

KATHY STAIANO 303.333.9489 kstaiano@livsothebysrealty.com

Download our “SIR Mobile” app for free from any smart phone app store to search all MLS listings.

“SPREADINGTHE THEWORD” WORD”FOR FORCOMMUNIT COMMUNITYYBUSINESSES BUSINESSES&&NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORHOODSIN INDENVER DENVER –– “SPREADING

RETURN TO WEBSITE

303.893.3200

MAY 2019 2019 MAY

3


FYI/Happenings Mayor Hancock on Highlands Ranch STEM School Shooting

lost, safety has been compromised and we cannot allow this to happen again. I promise you, we will offer whatever support we can to help our neighbors heal.”.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock issued the following statement regarding the school shooting that took the life of one student and injured eight others at the STEM school just south of Denver in Highlands Ranch yesterday afternoon: “On behalf of the entire city I want to say to Highlands Ranch and greater Douglas County, we are with you,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said, “and to the first responders, courageous students, staff and other unseen heroes who rushed into harm’s way to help, your community and your state are forever grateful.” “There is still a lot we are learning about this unthinkable tragedy, but we do know that hundreds of children at the STEM School and the adults entrusted with their care will never be the same again. Innocence has been

Rep. DeGette Remarks in Wake of School Shooting U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette Remarks on the House Floor May 8, 2019 Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. Another week, another school shooting. This time, right outside my district at the STEM Highlands Ranch School. My heart aches for everybody there. But you know something? That is so far from enough. People say: It’s too soon, we can’t talk about gun safety. But you know what? Tell that to the survivors of Columbine, only seven miles away from this school, who have been waiting for 20 years for it to be time.

Tell that to the Sandy Hook parents. Tell that to the thousands of parents around this country who have lost their children in school shootings, and just simply shootings on street corners. The time has come. We need commonsense gun safety legislation, and we need it now. And until then, the blood of these children, and all of the other children, are on all of our hands. I yield back.

Mayor Runoff June 4th Voter & Election Info Incumbent Michael Hancock and urban development consultant Jamie Giellis are running in Denver's nonpartisan mayoral runoff election on June 4, 2019. The two were the top finishers in the May 7 general election, with Hancock receiving 38.7% of the vote and Giellis 24.9%. Growth is the central issue, according to Denverite, which described the election as "a referendum on growth and its far-reaching effects, from transportation options and economic prowess to neighborhood aesthetics and displacement". Although the election is officially nonpartisan, both Hancock and Giellis are members of the Democratic Party. Hancock was first elected in 2011

and won re-election with just over 80 percent of the vote in 2015. The city of Denver uses a strong mayor-council system, with the mayor's powers including proposing a budget, signing legislation into law, appointing departmental directors and overseeing the city's day-to-day operations. Denver elects mayors to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections. No mayor may serve more than three consecutive terms.

Hancock Issues Debate Challenges On June 4, Denver residents will decide if they want to continue our city’s progress, or turn our backs on the future. Mayor Hancock is calling for a robust public conversation about the issues facing our city in the form of at least 12 town-hall-style debates between May 14 and May 31. Denver voters have a clear choice in this election. With less than four weeks until June 4, these debates will be an opportunity for community members to get more information about where the candidates stand on each issue. Denver residents deserve a vibrant discussion of the issues that are most important in this election and that’s what the Mayor is challenging Jamie Giellis to do.

People around the country are coming together with a simple message: there's more we can do to end gun violence. Join the movement by signing up to attend an event during Wear Orange Weekend, June 7-9. For more information: info@momsdemandaction.org.

READ US ONLINE! www.denvernews.com.co

Check Out Our Website for Media Kit with Display and Online Rates

4

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


FYI/Happenings RTD Kicks Off 50 Years of Making Transit History The Regional Transportation District (RTD) launched its golden anniversary year with a special event at Union Station, kicking off a year of celebration to mark the transit agency’s 50th anniversary, officially July 1. For the rest of this calendar year, RTD will tell the stories of its impactful past and some of the people who have contributed to the many ways RTD has made transit history. The transit agency also unveiled its official anniversary look, showing RTD’s new brand mark of the mountains and the number 50. “I am honored to lead at this momentous time,” General Manager and CEO Dave Genova said. I’m proud to say that I’ve worked for RTD for 25 fantastic years – half the life of the agency. “It’s been remarkable to see RTD transform from a bus-only operation to a regional mobility integrator as RTD leads the transportation transformation actively working to meet the needs of a population that continues to grow. Our agency is leading the regional mobility needs and strategies conversation, and I am very proud of the fine work of our dedicated public servants.” Genova and RTD Board Chair Doug Tisdale spoke at the event about RTD’s history of making transit history and where it is going as the transit integrator, innovator and influencer for the region. They also introduced RTD’s longest-serving employees,

Terry Vicek and Bob Brewster, who were working at two Denver metro area transit agencies that merged in 1969, when RTD was created. “RTD is the largest political jurisdiction in the state of Colorado, other than the state itself,” Tisdale said. “That is an awesome responsibility, and we enthusiastically embrace our role as leaders in influencing transportation policies that move the region and that inspire the rest of the country. To my fellow RTD board members, I salute all who serve now and each who came before us. Your thoughtfulness and collaboration set the stage for the achievement we celebrate this year.” RTD will mark key milestones in the life of the transit agency with events throughout the year. It will feature compelling, resonant stories of the people who move people on its social media accounts. RTD has also redesigned the homepage of its website to showcase the commemorative logo and photos from the last 50 years. The agency developed an interactive timeline that highlights how RTD has been an innovator in transit over the last 50 years and where we are headed to redefine mobility for the next 50 years. The timeline will continue to evolve over the course of the year as we add more photos from the past, photos from events yet to occur, and more functionality. www.rtd-denver.com

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019

5


FYI/Happenings Former Mayors Stand with Hancock

Denver’s former mayors know firsthand what it takes to lead a city that supports every resident and neighborhood. That’s why they’re joining with tens of thousands of residents from across the city in supporting Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s re-election. “I’ve been fortunate to follow in the footsteps of the phenomenal mayors who came before me,” Mayor Hancock said. “I’ve been proud to build on their foundation as we fight every day to improve the lives of our residents and the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I’m proud to have their support because voters have a clear choice now: tackle our challenges together with bold solutions, or bring everything we’ve accomplished together to a screeching halt.” Former Mayors Wellington E. Webb, John Hickenlooper and Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, who led the city from 1991 to 2011, know what it takes to manage a city budget, grow the economy from the ground up and provide everything our neighborhoods need to be great places to raise a family. "This job interview is between two people, and now it’s time for you Denver to make a choice. Who would be the best able to rally the city behind one single subject? Who would be the best one that has the oration skills and sensitivity to speak to neighborhoods throughout this city – black, white, Latino and other – regardless of sexual orientation? Who is that one person

that can connect with every neighborhood and is personable enough and has the political skills and the analytical skills to carry this city forward? The best person to keep Denver moving is the incumbent, Michael B. Hancock," said Mayor Webb. “I know from years of working with Michael what drives him to public service – he loves this city and he is a true servant leader. I don’t know of anyone who has worked harder to drive success in this city.” Gov. Hickenlooper said. “The success Denver, our residents and our neighborhoods have experienced over the past eight years doesn’t happen by accident – it doesn’t happen without leadership and it doesn’t happen without intentional effort. We need a mayor who has the experience making sure Denver’s prosperity is shared by everyone, and I can think of anyone else better positioned to deliver on that need than Michael Hancock.” “Having worked closely with Michael during my eight-year tenure with the city when he was a councilman and later, president of the city council, I saw the great measure of the man: his integrity, dedication to doing the right thing and his love for Denver,” Vidal said in a written statement. “This love isn’t happenstance. Denver is in his blood, and he knows the neighborhoods and the people because he grew up among them.” Mayor Hancock is excited to continue making his case to the voters of Denver. He's delivering a more equitable, welcoming, modern and progressive city by improving our parks, protecting our climate, fighting for the civil rights and social justice of all people, and working to ensure everyone has a place in the future of Denver.

Endorsements for YES on 302 on June ballot The YES on 302 campaign got ringing endorsements from three major players in Denver politics. Our Revolution Metro Denver, Denver Democratic Socialists of America, and Colorado Working Families Party all voted unanimously in

their respective endorsement committees to support a YES vote on Measure 302, The Let Denver Vote Initiative, to ensure no taxpayer dollars are spent bidding for or hosting the Olympics without prior voter approval.

Family Owned & Operated Since 1944

Honest Dependable Mobile Sales and Service ALL TYPES OF LOCKS OVER 200 BRANDS RETAIL & WHOLESALE • We Will Special Order • Safes • Locks • Padlocks • Digital • All Types • Door Closers • Electric Strikes • Locksmith Tools & Equipment Key Machines • Builders Hardware • High Security & Master Keying Systems

303-294-0179 2201 BROADWAY Five blocks East of Coors Field @ Broadway & Curtis - Free Parking

DENVER'S LOCKSMITH FOR 75 YEARS!

6

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


FYI/Happenings Colorado Wilderness Protection Plan Proposed by DeGette U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced legislation to designate more than 740,000 acres in 33 areas of Colorado as federally-protected wilderness. The legislation – known as the Colorado Wilderness Act – would officially designate 33 new areas across the state as federally-protected wilderness, giving those areas – which have been managed as wilderness for decades – the highest level of permanent protection available and ensuring they remain untouched for years to come. “Colorado’s public lands are what set us apart from the rest of the country,” DeGette said at a news conference in downtown Denver Monday to unveil the plan. “They are the reason why so many of us are so proud to call Colorado home, and they are the reason why so many people from across the country flock here to visit each year.” If approved, DeGette’s legislation would be the largest land-protection package for Colorado in the past 25 years. It would also increase the total amount of protected wilderness in the state by more than 20%. DeGette says that permanently protecting Colorado’s public lands is not only important for Colorado’s residents to continue to enjoy these unique spaces, it’s also vital to the state’s overall economy. According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development, Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry generates $28 billion in consumer spending annually, supports 229,000 jobs and pays $9.7 billion in salaries and wages to Colorado workers. While Colorado already has more than 3,500,000 acres of federally-protected wilderness, most of that land is at higher elevations – such as the alpine landscapes for which Colorado is so famous. DeGette’s legislation, on the other hand, seeks to protect more mid-elevation ecosystems that are not only used for outdoor recreational activities, but also serve as critical habitats for a variety of plants and wildlife. Protecting Colorado’s public lands has been one of DeGette’s top legislative priorities since she was first elected to Congress. Despite several previous attempts to get similar legislation approved by Congress, DeGette says this year is different. “For more than 20 years, I have been working to protect Colorado’s wilderness,” DeGette said Monday. “And, I am excited to announce that this may finally be the year that we get this done.” DeGette said that, unlike some of her most recent attempts to get similar legislation approved, she has once again been appointed to serve

on the House Natural Resources Committee – the committee responsible for first reviewing the legislation she introduced today. As such, DeGette said that she has received assurances from key Congressional leaders that the legislation she introduced today will – for the first time – get the hearing it needs to move forward.

Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Help Renters Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Brianna Titone and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez to protect renters from unnecessarily high rental application fees. “Unchecked rental application fees that are too high for families and seniors struggling with the rising cost of living have exacerbated our affordable housing crisis,” said Rep. Brianna

Titone, D-Arvada. “This new law will increase transparency and protect renters in the rental application process to ensure bad actors aren’t harming Coloradans seeking a home for themselves and their families.” Under current state law, there are no limits on what landlords can charge for a rental application fee, and there are no safeguards to ensure the fee aligns with the actual costs of screening a prospective tenant. “Rental application fees should be used to conduct a consumer credit or reference check – not line a landlords pockets,” said Rep. Serena GonzalesGutierrez, D-Denver. “This new law will provide relief to individuals or families searching for housing across our state by putting in place a strong consumer protection safeguard in the rental application process.” HB19-1106 puts in place commonsense limits on the application fees that renters face as they search for their next

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

rental home. The bill limits application fees to the price of what is necessary to screen residents—such as credit reports, reference checks or tenant screening reports—and ensures the fee is refunded if the applicant is never screened. More than a dozen states have enacted policies that set reasonable terms for the collection and retention of rental application fees. For hardworking individuals or families struggling to find housing, the high cost of non-refundable application fees can easily exhaust their limited financial resources, sometimes making it impossible for them to pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent. The bill was approved by a vote of 40-23 in the House and 20-10 in the Senate. http://www.cohousedems. com/2019/04/gov-polis-signstitone-and-gonzales-gutierrezsbill-to-help-renters/

MAY 2019

7


City Supporting Small Businesses in Neighborhoods that Are Changing

The City and County of Denver is lending a hand to small businesses that might be struggling to make ends meet due to changing neighborhood conditions. In partnership with Mile High United Way, Denver is testing a pilot program, offering financial grants and technical assistance to businesses in north central and northeast neighborhoods that may be impacted by either major infrastructure construction and/ or socioeconomic changes occurring within these areas. “Denver is the city it is today thanks to the incredible work at the neighborhood level of our residents and small businesses to keep our communities strong and vibrant,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This pilot is one more way that we as a city can support the long-term success of our local, neighborhood businesses, as well as elevate the people and places that make our neighborhoods so special.” The pilot Business Impact Opportunity (BIO) Fund offers technical assistance and grants of up to $5,000 to eligible businesses in Globeville, Elyria, Swansea and Northeast Park Hill. The program, launched in January, aims to stabilize impacted businesses and help them toward long-term sustainability. Grant funds can be used to substitute for lost revenue, to invest in business promotion, and to add capacity to a business’s current operations. The pilot program is funded with $105,000 from Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) and the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative (NDCC). Mile High United Way was contracted to administer the program and provide technical assistance by their United Business Advisory team, drawing on their history of community work and partnerships in the targeted neighborhoods. “Mile High United Way is proud to serve our communities and small local businesses through these grants. Through this partnership, we can ensure that individuals and families in our community are thriving and moving toward economic self-sufficiency. It’s really exciting to be part of this innovative process,” said Vanessa Huerta, Business Advisor with Mile High United Way’s United Business Advisory program. The program has just awarded its first grants, totaling $13,000, to three small businesses. The Panaderia Juanitas bakery, located at 46th and Josephine, is one of the early program participants, and has struggled with a lower customer volume during recent months of construction which limited

8

access to the business. Owner Antonio Uribe says, “This fund is a great help to continue to move us forward for a longer period of time. It truly has been very difficult after the construction started more than a year ago. Here in this area we have friends, acquaintances, and clients become friends. I like it here because we feel comfortable with all people.” The pilot program is being targeted to businesses that generate less than $500,000 in annual gross revenue and with 25 or fewer employees. Priority is being given to businesses directly adjacent to active construction sites, and to minority/woman/veteran-owned businesses. “We recognize that destabilizing factors can result in significant decline of business revenue, displacement or closure of the business,” said DEDO Executive Director Eric Hiraga. “The BIO Fund is the result of us taking a close look at other programs across the country to see how we can best mitigate the impacts of construction. We will study the outcomes of this pilot closely, and we hope to expand this program to serve a broader area, pending future budget approval.” Businesses interested in accessing more information on the program are encouraged to contact Mile High United Way at UBA@unitedwaydenver. org or 303-561-2301 to make an appointment with a business advisor.

National Preservation Month Denver Events

ages birth through 12th grade. Prizes are awarded for registering and completing 12 activities; prizes include books, journals and more. National Preservation Month is Youth can also win family passes to various cultural institutions through back, and once again Denver Landmark Preservation is inviting all of Denver weekly drawings. to celebrate our city's unique history, architecture and geography as well as Important dates: the preservation efforts that help keep Program: May 31– Aug. 10 them a vital part of our landscape. Last Day to Register: Saturday, July 27 Every Wednesday in May Last Day for Prizes: Webb Building Saturday, Aug. 10 (201 W. Colfax Ave.), Room 4.G.2 Bring your lunch and join us for Cost: All programs of the Denver Public weekly presentations by landmark planLibrary including Summer of Adven- ners starting May 1: May 15 - Preservation Trivia ture are free and open to the public. May 22 - Amazing A-Frames While the library encourages everyone May 29 - Landmark Design Review to sign up for a library card, one is not from Initial Design to Approval: Two required to participate. Infill Case Studies www.denverlibrary.org www.denvergov.org

Library Summer of Adventure Program The Denver Public Library (DPL) this month kicks off its annual Summer of Adventure program, helping improve children’s literacy and learning skills through activities, entertainment and incentives all summer long. The free program runs May 31–Aug. 10 at all 26 Denver Public Library locations. The library’s Summer of Adventure program gives youth and their families fun ways to incorporate reading and learning activities into summer family time to help avoid summer learning loss, a problem that affects kids of all ages and income levels. “Summer is the perfect time for adventure and we’re excited to help Denver kids read, learn and grow all summer long,” said Program Coordinator Yanira Durarte. “The Summer of Adventure program offers a flexible environment for youth to personalize their own learning during the summer months. We’ve lined up fantastic opportunities, including reading programs, music programs, a maker challenge and social activities that help children birth through 12th grade make the most of their summer.” Registration begins May 31 at all Denver Public Library locations. For additional information, visit www.denverlibraryadventures.org. About Summer of Adventure The Summer of Adventure program provides free activities, suggestions for summer reading, technology camps and a maker challenge for kids

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


Denver Day of Service on Friday, June 7th, 2019 Union Station in LoDo Farmer's Market Saturdays, 9am – 2pm on the Denver Union Station plaza 1701 Wynkoop St. - May 11, 2019 – October 26, 2019

Please join us for our 2019 Denver Day of Service! Denver Day of Service, hosted by the Denver Broncos and Mile High United Way, is one day when nonprofit organizations throughout Metro Denver will host simultaneous community projects.

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

These projects will all kickoff at 9:00 AM and last for a minimum of 100 minutes each. The goal is to encourage and host one day dedicated to volunteerism throughout the entire city! www.volunteer.unitedwaydenver.org

MAY 2019

9


Arts LoDown Cherry Creek North in Bloom May Saturdays It's springtime and the patios are open, flowers are blooming and summer styles are filling the racks. This season, something else is blooming in your favorite walkable community: creative art in surprising spaces!

Every Saturday in May, come discover temporary creations by local Denver artists. Watch as they bring their spring-themed masterpieces to life on unique spaces throughout the District. Share your photos of the event with us! @CherryCreekNorth & #CCNinBloom

SYNC10 celebrates the staying power of art with a juried exhibition at Sync Gallery! Stop by during the artists’ reception on Third Friday Art Night, May 17 www.syncgallery.com

Kirk Norlin: UpClose 720.244.8034 www.KirkNorlin.com

Elegant, sensuous, one of a kinds. Designed for YOUR Luxury Styling for YOUR Taste.

Model: Eden - Photographer: Michael W. Idm

Fun unique hats, earrings,scarves also.

Opening 3rd Friday Artwalk - May 17th 5 - 7pm

Reception 6-8 pm Thursday

754 Santa Fe Dr. | 303.446.0117

May 16, 2019

www.carolmierfashion.com

Regular Hours 1-5pm Thur-Sat ~Visit me soon

10

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


Arts& LDoining Down Wining

CRUSH PIZZA + TAP New Appetizers, Vegan Offerings CRUSH PIZZA+ TAP has expanded its menu to include new appetizers and a slate of unique vegan and vegetarian offerings, including baked Seitan wings. Unveiled today, the new menu also features new meat alternative pizza toppings, including smoked savory watermelon and roasted Sriracha broccoli. “Denver’s growing vegan population made me realize that I needed to be more creative about how to satisfy the needs of these guests,” said Crush Pizza Owner Jason McGovern. “I think our new additions offer something fresh and new to vegans who might be growing bored with their current options.” Rather than frying Seitan, as is often the case with many meat substitutes, the new Seitan wings are baked then grilled and come in four flavors – vegan buffalo, vegan green chili, sweet heat dry rub and Nashville hot. The wings are accompanied by vegan ranch dressing. Vegan diners can also build their own wing pizza with Seitan or choose from more than a dozen vegetable toppings, including dairy-

free cheese. CRUSH'S house-made dough and red sauce is also vegan. To diversify its bread-focused appetizer menu, McGovern has added roasted nuts, marinated olives and a sausage and cheese plate featuring Colorado Craft Butchers kielbasa and cheddar jalapeno bratwurst, sharp white cheddar cheese, house-made whole grain honey mustard, sweet and zesty pickles, pickled red onions and marinated olives. A new dessert – house chocolate brownie with ice cream – also debuts. And in keeping with its focus on using locally-sourced ingredients, the restaurant has switched the spirits in its Mile High Collins to Mile High Spirits Fireside Bourbon and Denver Dry Gin. CRUSH PIZZA+ TAP. The restaurant is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight. Happy Hour runs all day Monday and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information visit www.CRUSHPIZZATAP.com

1745 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202 Reservations: www.mortons.com Phone: (303) 825-3353

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019

11


Health is Wealth National Blood Donor Day, Dairy Block June 14

In honor of National Blood Donor Day on June 14, we’ve teamed up with Vitalant to host a blood drive outside Denver Milk Market from 11am-4pm (buses will be parked outside at 18th and Wazee). We invite you to sign up, it only takes an hour to save a life! Contact the Appointment Center at (303) 363-2300 or visit www.vitalant. org to schedule on-line, Site Code 00615. Walk ins are welcome but reservations are definitely the way to go! We have the potential of making this the largest blood drive in Colorado with the help of the neighborhood and all of the staff and Dairy Block tenants!

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month Skin cancer is the world’s most common cancer; here in the U.S. more people are diagnosed with the disease each year than all other cancers combined. When caught and treated early, skin cancer is highly curable. When allowed to progress, however, it can cause disfigurement and even death. That’s why The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that adults see a dermatologist at least once a year for a skin exam and perform monthly selfexams at home. Anything on your skin that is new, changing or unusual could be cause for concern. Skin Cancer By the Numbers The three most common forms of

skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. An estimated 4.3 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Only in exceedingly rare cases can it spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening. It shouldn’t be taken lightly, though: it can be just as disfiguring as other forms of skin cancer if not treated promptly. More than 1 million cases of SCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, resulting in more than 15,000 deaths annually. Melanoma, one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, is now being diagnosed more frequently than in the past. In 2019, an estimated 192,310 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S.— almost 8 percent more than in 2018. “Skin cancer is an epidemic in this country and we anticipate that incidence will continue to rise,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “There is some good news: One of the reasons we’re finding more skin cancers is because more people are getting screened than ever before, and doctors are diagnosing tumors that would have gone undetected in the past.” While melanoma incidence is on the rise, the mortality rate is expected to decrease by 22 percent this year. Significant advances in treatment, better public education and early detection are all contributing to this positive trend. It's impossible to overstate the importance of getting regular skin exams with a dermatologist. Finding a melanoma early can make all the difference in your prognosis — the estimated five-year survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 98 percent. The survival rate falls to 64 percent when the disease reaches the lymph nodes and 23 percent when the disease metastasizes to distant organs. www.SkinCancer.org

Suicide Prevention A Struggle to Keep Up Suicide prevention hotlines and websites are critical resources to help curb the rate of suicides nationally, but they may lack the resources needed to meet the increase in demand after a celebrity dies by suicide, such as with entertainer Robin Williams. That’s according to a recent study by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, and others. The study highlights the need for crisis mental health services to develop contingency plans to accommodate the immediate increase in demand, particularly in the two days following a celebrity suicide. TThe study was led by Rajeev Ramchand Ph.D., who is now senior vice president of research for Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a not-for-profit organization working to help prevent veteran suicide through its national network of mental health clinics. “Unfortunately, we know that celebrity suicides, like that of Mr. Williams, can lead to increases in suicides in the general population,” said Ramchand, who is currently responsible for designing and guiding CVN’s research strategy. “This study reveals that helpseeking also increases dramatically after these high-profile events, but that available crisis services may be insufficiently resourced to meet this demand.” Researchers examined daily suicide data, call volume to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) and

visits to two suicide prevention websites before and after Williams’ death on August 11, 2014. Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics’ Compressed Mortality File, they found that in the 30 days after Williams’ death the average rate of suicide deaths increased to 142 per day, from an average of 113 to 117 suicide deaths per day in 2012 to 2014. Approximately two-thirds of the suicides that occurred immediately following August 11, 2014 were the same method of suicide as Williams. Additionally, they discovered that calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increased by 300% on the day after Williams’ suicide. In the week prior to Williams’ death the NSPL received 4,000 to 6,000 calls per day. That number jumped to 12,972 calls the day after Williams’ death. Only 57% of those calls were answered, indicating an inability for the NSPL to respond to the increase in demand. With regard to informationseeking, the researchers found that visits to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) websites increased dramatically following Williams’ death. The SPRC website averaged 2,315 visits per day from August 3 to 11, 2014. On Tuesday, August 12, there were 5,981 visits to the site. While the SAVE website averaged 4,239 visits per day from August 3 to 11, 2014, jumping to 24,819 visits on August 12. More info: communications@ cohenveteransnetwork.org

www.pprm.org www.lodoangels.org

12

lodoangels@gmail.com

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

720-455-LODO

MAY 2019


Animal Matters A Senior Pet Should Be Your Next Pet and Why The Dumb Friends League has a number of older feline and canine companions anxiously waiting to meet their new families. Don’t let their gray muzzles and sometimes slower strides deter you; adopting older pets comes with many advantages over their younger counterparts. Simply put: With age comes experience. Now, let’s not forget about our older feline companions. The Dumb

Friends League has amazing cats like Meow, who at 14 years old, has good litter box manners and gets along well with other cats. She would probably do best in a quiet home with plenty of cozy napping spots where she can live out her retirement years in bliss. In addition to simply knowing more about our older companions’ personality traits, you can rest assured that what you see is what you get. With an older pet, there aren’t any questions about how big they’ll get or how often they’ll need grooming. They are typically a great match for first-time pet owners and are “move-in ready,”

coming equipped with some basic training under their belts. And contrary to popular belief, old dogs (and cats) can learn new tricks! It’s never too late to start behavior training; in fact, it will help enhance your bond with your new companion. The truth is, older pets are more difficult to adopt out. While they come with all these incredible benefits, many people are just more interested in kittens and puppies and aren’t aware of the advantages of welcoming an older animal into their home. So next time you visit the Dumb Friends League, consider meeting with a more experienced animal, because just like a fine wine, some things are simply better with age! Learn more about pets available for adoption by visiting ddfl.org or call at 303.751.5772. All adoptions at the Dumb Friends League include spay or neuter surgery, age appropriate vaccinations, including rabies, a microchip ID and a wellness exam at a participating veterinarian.

What it means to be a no-kill community A no-kill community acts on the belief that every dog and cat deserves to live — and focuses on saving lives through pet adoption, spay/neuter, trap-neuter-return and other community support programs. While a percentage is not the goal, a quantitative benchmark can help guide lifesaving efforts. Saving 90 percent or more of the animals who enter shelters is the current benchmark for no-kill.

https://bestfriends.org/2025-goal

Friends Support Each Other

Adopt -AManatee® 1-800-432-5646 savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte

Lucky Mutt Strut

Thursday, June 13th, 2019 Addenbrooke Park Lakewood Checkin Starts at 6:00pm 2k Walk/Run at 7:00pm

www.maxfund.org

www.denveranimalshelter.org “SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019

13


R e a l E state

With regard to the Urban Neighborhood map below, the main takeaway would be that the number of sales were down 7% (so was available inventory), but the average value held strong, 1590 Little Street time. #904 1143 Auraria Street #204 increasing 10% over last yearRaven at this 1 Bed • 2 Baths • 1,260 SF • $650,000 1 Bed • 1 Bath • 1,046 SF • $350,000 Contact Steve Blank, Managing Broker at 303-520-5558

38th Ave

Sold data gathered per MLS RES and COND databases

# of sales

avg price

avg psf

median DOM

avg % sold price to list

214 200 -7%

$512.574 $563,881 +10%

$415 $424 +2%

7 17 +143%

100% 99% -1%

Courtesy of John Ludwig, Broker, LIV Sotheby’s International in Writer’s Square 303-601-1792

14

Colfax Ave

RETURN TO WEBSITE

Whittier

Five Points

Golden Triangle

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

Cole

Curtis Park

N

Riverfront LoDo Downtown er Spe

Month Apr 2018 Apr 2019 % change

RiNo

Highlands LoHi

Uptown

Capitol Hill

York St.

Sold Price Analysis Stats for April 2018 vs April 2019

Broadway

Our spring real estate market, both locally and nationally, has developed into a steady, healthy and rather predictable housing climate, According to Case-Shiller’s US Home price index, prices have climbed over 4% (YTD) nationally. The two top cities west of the Mississippi were Las Vegas at 9.7% (year-over-year) and Phoenix at 6.7%; keeping in mind both cities were hit the hardest during 2008-11 recession. Regional patterns are shifting even in the California markets. Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego still have higher values over the last year, however those increases are taking place at much slower rates. In early May, Care Logics home price index projected that the average home price is likely to rise 4.8% in 2019 nationally. In the Denver area, there is a foundation built that will allow the economy to continue improving while the housing market will benefit, potentially seeing 5.5-7% annual price appreciation. In the past two-to-three years, these appreciation values have been “price range” sensitive. The lower-to-mid price levels (primarily under $600k) have increased at, or above, the average. In the mid-toupper price ranges ($600k to +/- $1 million), annual appreciation would be at the annual average, and then trend below the average as the properties become more expensive. The luxury market (over $1.5 million) experiences anywhere from .5 to 3% annual increases, however the number of sales was up a surprising 30% over the prior year in luxury homes. According to Megan Aller of First American Title, there were a few interesting statistics for the month of April. • Inventory of detached single-family (DSF) homes in the Denver area dropped below 4,000 units, leading to a 4.8% drop in sales from April 2018 • April’s average price came in at a (record) high of $540,857 for DSF homes. • For that average home price, Sellers were getting 98.8% of their original ask price. In the higher priced (luxury) levels, the Sellers were receiving 91%-96% of the original asking price, and of course will generally take longer to sell.

I - 25

By Steve Blank, Managing Broker Liv Sotheby’s International Realty in Writer Square

• Over the last several years (since 2013), June has reported the highest sales price for each annual cycle. UNITING The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just reported that extraordinary pending home sales (under contract but not closed) were up 3.8% properties coming into late Spring. That index was still downWITH 1.2% (year-overyear), which is a reflection of lower interest rates and an uptick extraordinary lives of inventory nationwide. Mortgage applications have steadily increased as mortgage rates are temporarily quite favorable. CONSIDERED ONE OF DENVER'S TOP PRODUCERS, When interest rates are rising,KNOW current homeowners FEW PEOPLE DOWNTOWN DENVERwho REALhave ESTATE THAN DENA low rates may be reluctant toBETTER sell and give up PASTORINI. their good rates. Now that the Federal Reserve pulled back on ratePark, increases, those As a long time resident of Riverfront Dena serves as a broker at LIV Sotheby's International Realty, working with homeowners are now ableSellers to become Sellers and not sacrifice on and Buyers throughout all of central Denver. the cost of borrowing money. • dena.pastorini@sothebysrealty.com The real estate and720.233.9096 construction industries are recognizing an emerging multi-generation housing trend that can better accommodate homes for extended families. Data from Pew Research shows that in 1950, 20% of America lived in a multi-generational home. Over the next 30 years, that figure bottomed out to 12% in 1980. Since then, the number of Americans wanting or needing to accommodate family members has been rising (hitting 20% in 2016) with more families adding on space,1401converting current 1590 Little Raven Street #507 Wewatta Street #PH4 4 Beds • 5 Baths • 4,071 SF • $3,250,000 2 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,678 SF • $2,000,000 spaces, redesigning basements for aging parents, and accommodating children a little longer. With inventory beginning to increase, homes are staying on the market a little longer and there are more homes ultimately selling for under the original ask price; don’t expect to see any drastic drops in price in the1590 coming years. “While things shift in favor of Little Raven Street #302 1720 Wynkoop Street #212 3 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,484 SF • $1,400,000 2 Beds • 2 Baths • 2,456 SF • $1,189,000 Buyers, Denver is still a hot housing market,” said Cheryl Young, senior economist at Trulia. Young said, “Sellers aren’t commanding prices”. This is a healthy market where if the Seller is rationally priced, the Buyer will pay that price. Regarding our Mile-High City, US News and World Reports (after analyzing 125 Metro Areas, along with data from the Census 1022 Pearl Street #101 2210 Blake Street #402 Bureau and the KBI) moved Denver to #2 in the list •of 2019 top 3 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,771 SF • up $950,000 2 Beds • 2 Baths 1,793 SF • $869,000 places to live. :)

Federal Blvd.

Cocktail Chattables 5.15.2019

Cheesman Park

MAY 2019


Real Estate Whole City Block at Union Station Sells for $304 Million The sale of a 579-unit luxury apartment complex above the Whole Foods Market in Denver’s Union Station neighborhood ranks as the second-largest multifamily deal in state history, but there's a catch. Daydream Apartments, a new Denver-based residential investment and management company, closed on Holland Partner Group’s Union Denver, a three-tower, 13-story apartment complex, on Friday, May 3, for $304 million. The nine-figure price, according to Denver public records, includes a Whole Foods Market, CVS Pharmacy and Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ across 62,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor of 1770 Chestnut Place. From purely a multifamily perspective, Friday's sale is the secondhighest in Colorado history, behind the 2016 sale of The Breakers Resort, a 1523-unit complex at 9099 E. Mississippi Ave., which sold for $350 million. It jumped ahead of a $250 million sale that took place in 2015 for the 1,206-unit Horizons at Rock Creek apartment community in Superior. In terms of a price-per-unit, it’s not as easy as dividing the number of units by the sale price because of the building’s retail component. Breakers Resort sold for $229,809 per unit; Bell Partners’ purchase of Horizons at Rock Creek was $207,296 per unit. At $304 million, Union Denver sold for more than $525,000 per unit. Terrance Hunt, vice chairman of Newmark Knight Frank Multifamily, who has brokered some of the biggest multifamily deals in metro Denver, valued the retail space at about $40 million and the apartment units at about $300 million, based on average price per square foot in the neighborhood — about $38 million more than the sale. Those values, he said, are dependent on where rents are currently set. "I had the valuation much higher," he said. "That's a top retail location in Denver and a flagship location for Whole Foods." Before the sale, a portfolio of apartment complexes in South Denver that traded for $177 million back in March was the largest multifamily deal of the year. Hunt, along with his partner Shane Ozment, brokered that deal. Officials at the Denver City/ County Assessor’s office said there were no records of parcels being bifurcated at 1770 Chestnut Place, meaning the deed that was filed on Friday included all of the real estate,

Whole city block and 579 unit apartment anchored by Whole Foods sells for record breaking $304 million including the retail component. Daydream secured a $200 million loan for the purchase from Deutsch Bank, according to records filed with the city. Daniel Cohen, chief executive officer and founder of Daydream, declined to comment on his company’s purchase. With Daydream's purchase, the apartment complex in the landmark Union Station neighborhood moves forward with a different type of business plan that's popping up at other multifamily properties across Denver: turning apartment units into short-term, Airbnb-like properties. The switch to using multifamily units for more of a hospitality-type business — charging nightly fees instead of a monthly rent — is becoming more prevalent in Denver, with a number of firms already leasing blocks of units across the city. A handful of new projects are expected to follow that business model. Cohen, with Daydream, said in an email that his company is "fundamentally different" because it takes "zero homes out of the housing stock." According to its website, Daydream residents are the hosts and the company professionally manages the homesharing component for them. Residents can opt out of the homesharing program, according to the company's website, and rent under a more traditional model. One of the fears with similar homesharing models is that more rental units will come off the market in favor of renting them out as Airbnb-type units. In return, there would be less supply and apartments elsewhere in the city could see rent increases with the higher demand. "This might be the first step in figuring out what this type of business actually means for multifamily," Hunt said. "Not only here in Denver, but around the country."

Companies that are pursuing that model are seeking a significantly higher yield. A unit that

coming in and out of it. Lenders are also more skeptical in issuing loans for these types of projects, Hunt said. Denver is a great market for hotels, which could bode well for those companies, Hunt added. Hotel rates, however, have been on the decline as more facilities open. Average daily rates at Denver hotels fell from $157.36 in October 2017 to $156.65 in October 2018, according to a recent Rocky Mountain Lodging report. Occupancy fell from 79.9% to 77.6% during that same 12-month period, and revenue per available room dropped from $125.71 to $121.60 — a 3.3% drop in a statistic that many in the industry view as the most important measuring stick for the sector.

rents for $150 a night, for instance, can bring in $3,750 in revenue for 25 nights out of the month. The lowest monthly rent at Union Denver, according to its website, was $1,635 per month. But there's also more risk in obtaining that higher yield, including an increase in damages to the building with more people

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019

15


Real Estate Plans to Improve 16th Street Mall Start

The City and County of Denver, the Federal Transit Administration, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Downtown Denver Partnership, and Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID) are excited to announce the next step toward improving the 16th Street Mall, one of the city’s most critical economic engines and vital public spaces. The project team today released a draft environment assessment of the proposed project, which describes the need for the project, the alternatives considered, the environmental impacts of each alternative and how impacts would be mitigated. The 16th Street Mall Improvement Project requires an environmental clearance per the National Environmental Policy Act to utilize federal funding. Public input is an important component of this environmental assessment that

will help shape the future of the 16th Street Mall. Over the past 37 years, the Mall’s infrastructure has deteriorated. A flexible and sustainable plan is needed to address deteriorating infrastructure, provide equitable and sufficient space for high-quality public gathering opportunities, improve pedestrian and vehicle safety, and continue reliable two-way Free MallRide transit service while honoring the Mall’s use and iconic design. Previous studies have helped identify the need for long-term changes to the Mall as the premier pedestrian environment in the Rocky Mountain Region, and the proposed design in this assessment would improve infrastructure, mobility, safety and increase public use. The project partners propose to replace the failing pavement system and better design public space within the Mall blocks. The project will install a new granite paver system with improved surface friction and proper drainage. The spatial reconfiguration will create wider pedestrian areas with trees on both sides of each block and consolidate the transit lanes in the middle of the blocks. If approved, the project will be funded through a combination of Denver Urban Renewal Authority Tax Increment Financing, federal grants, and local funds, including the Elevate Denver bond program..

DEE | KEVIN | MATT

16

Denver’s Official Growth Blueprint - Next 20 Years

Denver's Average Home Sale Hits Record High

Denver is growing, and the next 20 years will be crucial in determining how well (or how poorly) the city manages that growth. To that end, Denver City Council passed Blueprint Denver, a plan three years in the making that outlines policies for shaping and directing the city’s future, with particular consideration given to transit and housing goals. Council members approved the plan 10 to 2, with Council members Kevin Flynn and Rafael Espinoza dissenting. Council member Debbie Ortega was absent. Blueprint Denver is a supplement to Denver’s Comprehensive Plan 2040. Key details of the Comprehensive Plan focus on historic preservation of neighborhoods as the city continues to grow, and include an emphasis on planning for climate change in terms of water conservation, emergency planning, and more. Sarah Showalter, citywide planning supervisor with the City and County of Denver, told City Council that the most important aspect of Denver’s Comprehensive Plan 2040, and the part on which they received the most community feedback, was the “equitable, affordable, and inclusive” aspect.Blueprint Denver, which was put together under Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration as an update to a 2002 version of the same plan, makes policy recommendations related to land use, transportation, design, and growth. It is important to note that Blueprint Denver is not regulatory in nature; it is meant as a guide for community members and the local government to use in making decisions during the next 20 years. The most notable policy updates from the sizable document (it totals 300 pages) include recommendations that allow for more density—in the form of affordable housing options such as Accessory Dwelling Units (such as converted garages and tiny homes) and duplexes—which are meant to reduce gentrification by increasing the housing options in neighborhoods that are currently dominated by single family homes, which are cost-prohibitive to many Denverites. Blueprint Denver also includes recommendations for concentrating growth around transit centers, and developing a “multimodal” transportation system that prioritizes bicyclists and pedestrians over solo drivers. Historic preservation was another big aspect of the plan. It addressed redeveloping historic buildings and incorporating new development into neighborhoods with an eye toward “reflecting what makes [the neighborhoods] so unique,” said Showalter. Additionally, it recommends requiring developers to include affordable housing options in new buildings.

It now takes twice as long to sell a home in Denver than it did a year ago. But property is still switching hands pretty quickly. There’s also way more inventory to choose from. But still not enough to skew the market in favor of buyers. Metro Denver’s housing market is hot as ever and still very much a seller’s market, say officials from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. The organization released its monthly trends report Friday that outlines highlights from April sales, and it might just give anxious homebuyers bouts of frustration as the average sale price for singlefamily home hit a record high and the number of homes closing over $1 million keep going up. It’s all good for real estate agents who, according to the report, have plenty of more listings. There were 7,518 new listings for April, up 21% from March, which is a typical increase after a cold winter. But in the past four years, active listings at the end of April averaged in the low 5,000s. New listings were up 35% from a year ago. Realtors cannot exactly pinpoint the reason for the drastic increase, but talks about some kind of economic downturn could be a factor, said Jill Schafer, chairwoman of DMAR’s market trends committee. One of the biggest indicators of a strong seller’s market in April was the record-high average sale price of a single family home. According to the report, that price hit $553,371 for the month. That record increased the average home sale year-to-date to $527,244. (The average condo price in April was $368,565, which is up 2.62% from March and 2.17% year to date.) New construction not only likely fueled the record average sale price, but also the number of $1 million-plus properties. There were 243 of those homes sold in April, which is up 32% from March and up 4 percent for the year. The closed-dollar volume in the luxury segment is already more than $1 billion — up 41.47 percent from a year ago. Despite a strong month, homes are now staying on the market twice as long. According to the report, median days on market went from six days in April 2018 to 12 days in April 2019. That, mixed with the increased inventory, are key indicators for a market shifting toward buyers, Cheryl Young, a senior economist with Trulia told Denver Business Journal last month. More buyers are also balking at asking prices, with the close-to-list price ratio at 99.04% — the lowest in four years.

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


Real Estate

Put Down Roots Where everything feels like home.

KENTWOOD REAL ESTATE CITY PROPERTIES

Celebrating 20 Years in Downtown Denver Thank you to our amazing team of agents and staff who make every day a great one, and thank you to all of our clients who have supported us along the way.

Visit us across from Union Station • Open during remodel & construction

Kentwood Real Estate Cherry Creek 215 Saint Paul St #200 Denver, CO 80206

Kentwood Real Estate City Properties 1660 17th St #100 Denver, CO 80202

Kentwood Real Estate Denver Tech Center 4949 S Niagara St #400 Denver, CO 80237

Kentwood Commercial Real Estate 1660 17th Street #100 Denver, CO 80202

Kentwood Real Estate Northern Properties 2510 E Harmony Rd #202 Fort Collins, CO 80528

Kentwood.com

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019

17


the julian

Luxury Condos in Sloan’s Lake

1515 Julian Street • • • •

8 stories, 54 units $250,000 - $2.2 Million for sale mid-summer 2019 delivery fall 2019

brent jones broker associate / kentwood real estate city properties 720-732-1525 brent@kentwoodcity.com resident of the The Coloradan across from Union Station at 17th & Wynkoop specializing in Downtown Denver and Union Station

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Kentwood Real Estate, shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless.

18

“SPREADING THE WORD” FOR COMMUNIT Y BUSINESSES & NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER

RETURN TO WEBSITE

MAY 2019


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.