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April 30, 2015
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A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Surf ’s up in Littleton
A new view: Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office using body cameras. See Page 6
Preserving history: Weston Masonic Temple fundraises to maintain building. See Page 13
John and Nancy Bridenbaugh enjoying the new and improved South Platte River. Courtesy photo Setting the pace: Liberty Bell Invitational gathers 1,000 track and field athletes. See Page 19
Paddleboard business, river improvements go hand in hand By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@colorado communitymedia.com
POSTAL ADDRESS
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Littleton Independent 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCI AL WITH US
P LE A S E R ECYC L E T H I S C O PY
In 2012, opening a paddleboard shop in the heart of landlocked Littleton might have seemed like a completely outlandish idea to most, but not to John and Nancy Bridenbaugh. “Stand-up paddleboarding was booming on the West Coast, but in Colorado, it was still very scratchy,” said John Bridenbaugh. For those still unfamiliar, the store sells paddleboards you stand up on like a surfboard, while using a paddle like a kayak. It can be done in still or moving water, and Altitude Paddleboards, the Bridenbaughs’ business, conducts classes for both. The Bridenbaughs are elated
about the recent improvements made to the river, which resulted in a narrower and deeper channel. It’s now possible to paddle upriver from Reynolds Landing, just west of where Breckenridge Brewery is set to open in June, all the way to Aspen Grove. “We knew the river was going to be more accessible,” said John Bridenbaugh. “We were a couple years ahead of that, but now it’s here, and now we can expand our business.” Nancy Bridenbaugh adds that theirs was the first shop in the Denver metro area to exclusively sell paddleboards, so the timing of the improvements was great. “Now people are more ready,” she said. “They think, ‘I could do it on a lake, so maybe I could do it on the river.’” The couple, who met as river guides in California and got engaged Paddleboard continues on Page 10
John and Nancy Bridenbaugh, owners of Altitude Paddleboards in downtown Littleton, say recent improvements to the South Platte River are great not just for their own business, but for the city’s economy overall. Photo by Jennifer Smith
Displays drive wedge downtown Outdoor merchandise leads to widely different views By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@colorado communitymedia.com What started out as a snit over sidewalks has turned into a yearlong battle among some of the downtown Littleton merchants, and city council just extended it even further. “Downtown is the stage for the city,” said Mayor Phil Cernanec during the council’s April 21 meeting. “My preference is to have very constructive conversations around this.” At issue is a controversial ordinance limiting outdoor displays of merchandise to three days a month per store, passed last year in the wake of complaints that some stores were getting carried away. Proposals to amend the law have
A disagreement between the owners of these neighboring businesses on Curtice Street encapsulates a larger conversation about different visions among merchants for downtown. Photo by Jennifer Smith been all over the place since then, from no limitation to just two days a month. On April 7, it looked like council was poised to lift it entirely. But on April 21, Councilmember Bruce Stahlman introduced the ordinance with a limit of eight days a month, saying there are legitimate
concerns about safety in the public right of way and there needs to be a reasonable balance. “Some people were abusing it, and some people weren’t using it,” he said. That fact is encapsulated in the story of Kim Glidden of The Pottery
Studio Gallery and Russ Robinson of Grandpa’s Attic, who are neighbors on Curtice Street, a block south of Main Street. Clearly, however, they are less than neighborly. “Some sidewalk displays are attractive, but many are not,” Glidden told council. “What my customers see from Main Street are card tables and baskets of cheap stuffed animals. … I’ve been down here 10 years, and I’ve never felt the need to take merchandise from my business and put it out on the sidewalk. Some businesses are maybe not a good fit for Littleton.” She was referencing Robinson’s display of sports and sci-fi collectibles, jewelry and other small items he sells. At least 3,942 people think he’s a good fit; that’s the number of “likes” his store has on Facebook. Robinson estimates he’s lost $8,000 in sales since the ordinance went into effect. He doesn’t think city council should have that much sway over his livelihood, and favors Downtown continues on Page 10