CONCERNS

high-income areas necessarily causes nearby property values to decline,” the 2022 Urban Institute study says.

The study adds: “We find that affordable units in the city of Alexandria are associated with a small but statistically significant increase in property values of 0.09 percent within 1/16 of a mile of a development, on average — a distance comparable to a typical urban block.”

Locally, in 2010, the median single-family home price in metro Denver was about $200,000. It was roughly triple that as of 2022, according to Colorado Association of Realtors data.

Worries of crime

Many comments submitted to the county mentioned crime as a concern with the proposed apartment complex.

The Stanford study also looked at the impact of affordable housing development on local crime rates in certain cities.

Some of the main features of the new library include a kids and family space on the rst oor with a ranch-themed play area, a double sided replace at the front entrance, over a dozen individual study rooms, large conference spaces and an archives room.

ere will also be outdoor amenities like an amphitheater-style seating area for storytime events, a drive-thru book drop and patio space.

Marr said the current library building will begin demolition in June to make space for the new parking lot, which will include 218 spaces. e parking lot is expected to be completed in November.

e current library will remain open until the May to June timeframe, when Marr said the process of moving all of the library collections, materials and the book sorter from one building to another will begin.

e library is planning to host a grand opening ceremony in August.

“We find both violent and property crime decline in low income areas, regardless of minority share. However, in higher income areas we do not see any increase in crime, rather property crime may even fall slightly,” the study says.

Lawsuit filed

More than 100 area residents recently filed a lawsuit against Douglas County’s elected leaders for allowing the development to move forward.

Residents of The Pinery brought the lawsuit, arguing the proposed development does not meet the county’s approval requirements and that it is “incompatible with the existing character” of the area.

The Douglas County commissioners voted 2-1 on Jan. 10 to allow the development to move forward. The lawsuit, filed in February, asked a court to reverse the county’s decision and stop the development.

For a look at the lawsuit and the county’s approval requirements, see Colorado Community Media’s previous story at tinyurl.com/ PineryApartmentLawsuit.

Find Your Next Job or New Career Path

Searching for a job, changing career paths, or discovering new skills to advance your career can be stressful and challenging. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is your one-stop-shop for employment assistance to land your next job, learn new skills or explore a new career path. For more information and to get started, visit adworks.org

Funds available to veterans

Emergency assistance is available for veterans struggling with housing (mortgage/rent), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veteran assistance funds, visit douglasveterans.org or 303-663-6200

Do you want to positively impact your community in 2023?

Consider giving an hour or more each week to make a difference in the lives of older adults through Aging Resources of Douglas County. There is currently a need for volunteer drivers to help with errands, appointments and meal delivery. Find out more at agingresourcesdougco.org

What’s happening with your County government?

Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in person or remotely, or watch select meetings via live stream, visit douglas.co.us and search for Business Meetings / Public Hearings.