August 19, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
Families being priced out of local housing market ‘California problem’ is impacting inventory and prices BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It is no surprise that local families are feeling frustrated and burned out in the current housing market, as national economist Elliot Eisenberg says Colorado is going through a “California problem.” In January, Eisenberg, of econ70. com, compared the Colorado housing market to a car cruising down the interstate. Before the pandemic in 2019, all signs were stable and cruise control was set at 65 mph. In 2020, it slowed down to about 25 mph. In 2021, the market spun out of control, hitting 95 mph. There are several factors contributing to the current market conditions, but mostly, it is the “California problem,” Eisenberg said. “For a long time, the California problem stayed in California,” Eisenberg said. “But now it is coming to Colorado as people in California are saying ‘hell with it.’ The housing prices are too high,
Douglas County housing prices continue to soar Median home value +20.1% since 2020 • Median sales price 2021: $656,281
Source: Zillow
Graphic by Kayla Cornett/Colorado Community Media
taxes are too high, the cost of living is ridiculous. They are jumping ship and heading to Denver.” The problem, Eisenberg said, is that Colorado was already falling behind in building enough homes. Add in a continually growing population and the market becomes a problem, he said. According to the Denver Metro Real Estate Market Trends Report
for July, Colorado’s population increased by about 50,000 people between July 2019 and July 2020. From 2010 to 2020, the state grew by about 760,000 people, the eighthhighest growth rate in the U.S. Jill Schafer, a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) and agent for SEE HOUSING, P18
Lone Tree approves more apartments near Lincoln Station Project could have units ready by 2023, start construction in 2021 BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The last undeveloped patch of land next to RTD’s Lincoln Station is officially set to become new
apartments. The RidgeGate Station Apartments building will reach five stories and bring 425 units to a roughly 5-acre site next to Lincoln Station in Lone Tree. The building will feature 3,000 square feet of retail space and expand on an existing parking garage now serving the light rail station. “That particular parking garage structure was actually designed to accommodate seven stories, so
GROWING COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Lone Tree garden is a hub for plant enthusiasts, charity P4
it’s of adequate strength,” Lone Tree Planning Manager Jennifer Drybread said. Other amenities will include a dog park, pool, a coworking space, gym and courtyards. Residential access to the site and its parking will be on Park Meadows Drive. The Lone Tree City Council approved the site development plan at its Aug. 3 meeting with six SEE APARTMENTS, P9
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 26
County chooses public health advisory board Commissioners name 11 appointees to help find path forward BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Among the people chosen by Douglas County commissioners to help them find their next public health solution are a local town council member, a former mayor, a health department attorney and a one-time leader of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Seven of the 11 appointees have had greater or lesser professional ties to a health-related field, with almost all of that experience coming from the business and administration side. None of the appointees has a hands-on medical background. The board, formally created in an Aug. 10 meeting, will provide input to the commissioners regarding their future public health services. The board plans to have an initial recommendation by the end of the year. The committee will “assist in evaluating the feasibility of transitioning to an independent, local public health agency for Douglas County,” according to the group’s bylaws. The commissioners have been considering leaving their current SEE COUNTY, P31
FINDING NEW OLD PLACES
Lesser-known historical sites abound across area
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