Week of August 11, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 36
Colorado supply of homes rises, prices still climb Ripple effects of inflation bring changes BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From June 2021 to June this year, the number of active listings for single-family homes in the Denver
metro area jumped up by about 52%. Statewide, the number saw about a 43% uptick. But despite the larger pool of options, home prices continue to climb. The median sales price rose 11% statewide in that same time, and it increased by about 11% in the Denver metro area, where the median sales price sat at a staggering $647,500 as of June.
The good news? The 11% price bump represents a notably smaller year-over-year increase than Colorado had endured each month over the past year, according to a Colorado Association of Realtors report. The jump in the supply of available homes means buyers now have a better chance of purchasing a house, but prices in metro Denver and Colorado at large remain notori-
ously expensive. “The story here, just to be frank, is not that all the sudden the market has drastically changed — it’s that it mellowed out compared to 2021 and 2020,” said Matthew Leprino, a Realtor based in metro Denver. “The current state of Colorado’s housing market is not that different from 2019.” SEE HOUSING, P10
Commissioners Teal, Laydon vote to investigate Thomas again First report cost $17,000 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
helped her create a nice team. “Don’t hire out of desperation,” she said she told herself during the process. “Hire the right fit for our culture.” Her squad in Highlands Ranch is now over 200 people strong. At team meetings before the opening, Snoeck used cornhole, ring toss and other carnival-style games — plus lots of food — to get the front and back of the house familiar with each other and pulling together. “They want to do a great job, and they’re so excited,” Snoeck said of her employees. “That’s what’s gonna set us apart here.”
Two of Douglas County’s commissioners are conducting another investigation into their fellow commissioner just a few days after their previous investigation concluded. This time, Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal asked their staff to look into whether Commissioner Lora Thomas publicly released results from their previous investigation to a media outlet. The county paid $17,000 over the past few months to outside legal counsel to research allegations Teal and Laydon made against Thomas. Last week, they announced the investigation was complete but said they wouldn’t make the full results public. The county’s public records office responded to a request from Colorado Community Media for the document by saying it was considered “confidential attorney client privilege.” On July 29, CBS Colorado aired a story in which they showed the opening page of the report and referenced specific lines from it. Thomas was interviewed in the story. Teal made a motion Tuesday morning to conduct another
SEE LAZY DOG, P15
SEE COUNTY, P4
Executive chef Hector Meneses and General Manager Naomi Snoeck, center, at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar’s ribbon-cutting Aug. 2 PHOTO COURTESY OF LAZY DOG RESTAURANT & BAR in Highlands Ranch.
Energetic start for Lazy Dog Highlands Ranch eatery opens with team ready to perform BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
It wasn’t easy. But Naomi Snoeck, general manager of the newest Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar location, thinks she’s prepared a team that’s ready to go above and beyond for customers in Denver’s south metro region. The California-based chain opened its 44th restaurant, just
south of C-470 and just west of Broadway, on Aug. 3. The casual dining eatery prides itself on serving hearty American comfort food with innovative twists and mountain town hospitality. Its latest outpost occupies the spot once held by C.B. & Potts in Highlands Ranch. It’s the fourth Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar to come to Colorado. Hiring began six weeks ago, Snoeck told Colorado Community Media. Lazy Dog offered sign-on and referral bonuses in an effort to find good workers in a tough labor market. The referral bonuses encouraged employees to bring in the friends and family they’d want to work with, which Snoeck said
