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County donates building

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Damon Bunch remembers hearing people at his schools say: “ ere isn’t going to be a place for him.”

“I never thought I would be able to be independent, to really be able to understand that life,” said Bunch, who is excited about an upcoming apartment complex for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “My family, we didn’t have a lot of money growing up.”

He thinks of Wellspring Community, the nonpro t that helped him nd his place, as a second family that has supported him.

Bunch, 23, wants to “show the world that we may have IDD,” but “God put us on this earth for a purpose.” e county purchased a former La Quinta hotel on Park Street in Castle e nonpro t also has o ered other programs, like Wellspring

Bunch spoke to Douglas County’s elected leaders as a crowd of other folks with disabilities sat behind him, gathered in Castle Rock for the meeting where the county transferred ownership of a former hotel property to Wellspring to serve as an a ordable housing complex for people with IDD, along with other residents.

It’s about more than a building — it’s about “reclaiming hope,” said Nicole DeVries, executive director of Wellspring.

“Just like most of us, many adults with IDD grow up and think, ‘I don’t want to live with my parents anymore.’ ey watch their friends, they watch their siblings move out and reach a level of independence that (for them) seems out of reach,” DeVries said.

But now, folks with IDD are dreaming of what they want their rooms to look like if they move into Wellspring’s upcoming housing, she said.

“Our community is now seeing people with IDD are not people to be served — they are people to live with,” DeVries said.

Rock for $6.4 million in October using funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and had planned to transfer the property to Wellspring, which intends to remodel it into 42 income-restricted apartments.

Wellspring’s mission is to provide “educational, enrichment and business enterprise opportunities” to adults with IDD and empower them to live “full, productive and satisfying lives,” the nonpro t’s website says.

Wellspring began in 2008 with four young women with developmental disabilities learning how to bake cookies in a private kitchen. Soon, their cookies were selling at local churches and Wellspring’s rst business enterprise, Wellspring Bakery, the website says.

Wonders Choir. In 2013, thanks to a partnership with Castle Oaks Covenant Church, Wellspring moved into a new facility with o ce space, classroom space, a 900-square-foot commercial kitchen and the opportunity to operate all of its programs under one roof, the website says.

Wellspring’s housing will include 24/7 on-site sta to o er residents assistance, though they will not be medical providers. After the remodeling, the property will o er integrated housing, meaning both residents with and without disabilities can rent the units. ( e units will not be exclusive to adults in Wellspring programs.)

Several people who have participated in Wellspring’s programs walked up to the lectern at the county commissioners’ March 28 meeting to speak in praise of the nonpro t, with the audience applauding after each speaker.

Commissioner George Teal noted that when people in broader society talk about disabilities, it’s often a conversation about “an inhibited life, a life constrained.”

“And I look out today, and I look out at all the (people in the crowd) today — I don’t see lives inhibited, I don’t see lives constrained. I see spirits unleashed,” Teal said. “It makes me proud to live here that we have such a great community.” e commissioners unanimously voted in favor of transferring the former hotel property to Wellspring.

One of the attendees, speaking about Wellspring, said: “Years later, I hope this ne establishment is still around so I could go and celebrate the 30th-year anniversary.”

Another speaker simply said: “I think it’s always good for people to not judge you for who you are.”

Woodrow said while some communities have done an “exemplary” job at addressing a ordability, others have not and state intervention is required to stop the growing crisis where housing costs are at an all-time high and availability is at an all-time low.

“ is bill really does increase individual property rights,” Woodrow said. “If you are a property owner, you have the right to build an accessory dwelling unit and the government will not be able to prevent that. Some feel like we are taking away rights. We are adding to them. is bill will have some exibility, but it does set forth some minimum standards.”

Since the bill’s introduction, several Denver metro communities have passed resolutions to oppose the bill, including Westminster, Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Centennial. Other communities have said they may take similar votes.

At the center of the opposition is the plan for the state intervening in local development decisions, removing home rule authority. Home rule is a form or structure of governing dened by the citizens of a municipality or county that allows for more control over matters of local signi cance.

According to the proposed bill, municipalities will be required to submit land-use codes to the state. e state will review the proposed codes and if they are deemed insu cient, the state will impose its own codes.

Arapahoe County Commissioner

Carrie Warren-Gully said the bill takes a one-size- ts-all approach and it will not work for all Colorado communities.

Woodrow said he disagrees, that the bill allows communities to develop and plan growth, but they have to meet minimum standards to avoid state intervention. He stressed the bill has tiers to address all populations, including suburban, urban and mountain towns.

“It is not a one-size- ts all,” he said. “ is only goes into e ect if a community refuses to adopt the (minimum) required standards. e only time you are a ected is if you decided to ignore it.” e reason the state is taking steps to intervene in local control is because of the excessive use of “exclusionary zoning,” by some Colorado communities, Woodrow said. Exclusionary zoning laws place restrictions on the types of homes that can be built in a neighborhood. Oftentimes, these laws prohibit multifamily homes and set limits on building heights.

Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, said SB23-213 is a misguided piece of legislation that does nothing more than declare war on single family home construction.

“It’s built on a faulty premise that everyone wants to live in high density housing,” she said.

Frizell said if the Democratic-led legislation wanted to adequately address the housing crisis, it would focus on the impact fees and permit fees that cities and towns are charging developers.

Pointing to Castle Rock as an example, Frizell said home prices have skyrocketed due to the costs home builders are having to pay local entities to build. e construction of a multifamily building is more than $17,000 per unit, according to the fee schedule.

According to the fee sheet on the Town of Castle Rock website, a developer building a 2,000 square foot home can pay over $21,000 in impact fees, which includes a line item for parks and recreation, re protection, municipal facilities, police and transportation. at total does not include other required permit fees.

In drafting the legislation, Moreno said the authors looked at what other states have done, speci cally naming California and Oregon, which have also implemented land-use codes.

Moreno said the steps taken by both the Democratic-led states would not t Colorado’s current and future needs.

“(SB23-213) is drafted to provided local options for municipalities to choose from,” he said. “ is sets goals and gives choices on how to meet those goals. It’s easy. If (municipalities) don’t then the state will step in. ere is a bit more choice than other states.”

In its early stages, Moreno said lawmakers have agreed not to immediately take votes on the proposed legislation, instead opting on April 6 to listening to debate, concerns and ideas.

Moreno said he has heard complaints that the bill does not address a ordability enough. e Adams County senator said amendments are likely as the bill moves through the process.

Moreno said the bill does address a ordability in the area of availability. Moreno said it increases stock, which means added supply will drive down home prices. e median price for a condo was around $400,000 in February.

According to a monthly report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, the median price for a singlefamily home in February was around $600,000, a more than 5% decline from the month before.

As amendments for better language, and clarifying information on water and infeasibility are already on the table, Rep. Mark Baisley, a District 4 Republican, which covers parts of Douglas County, Fremont County and Je erson County said he is “pleasantly surprised” that both Democrats and Republicans have expressed opposition to the bill’s current language.

Even with possible amendments coming to the bill, Baisley said it still wouldn’t work because the entire bill lacks “humility” and the only way to x it is to redo it completely.

No matter what concessions are made in areas of a ordability and language, Baisley said at the core of the bill is taking away home rule, which likely will not be eliminated. e state intervening just means more government, more state oversight and less local control, Baisley said. at aspect alone makes the bill unlikely to ever be successful.

Woodrow said it is sweeping legislation and can take time, noting that success will be gauged in 10 or 12 months. Instead, he said this bill addresses current needs while allowing Colorado to grow in a more strategic way.

All-American USFL nose tackle by the Pro Football Review in 1984, Tim said. Je then su ered a major knee injury, bringing his football career to a close. But as an athlete, he was only getting started.

At a gym in San Antonio, Je was o ered the opportunity to train to be a wrestler.

“Je , with his impressive physique, had done some bodybuilding competitions,” Tim said. “He trained for four months for his debut in professional wrestling in 1985.”

He carried the nickname “ e Missouri Tiger” into the new sport, competing for the Universal Wrestling Federation, World Class Champion Wrestling, United States Wrestling Association and American Wrestling Federation.

Among many accomplishments, he won the USWA World Tag Team Championship twice with Je Jarrett.

From stardom to the streets

After 12 years as a professional wrestler, Je decided to start a career that would take less of a toll on his body. He worked successfully in the automobile eld, but after a few years, he began to face some personal and nancial struggles.

“In 1999, Je left Gaylord Sales and Leasing and went to work for another dealer,” Tim said. “ ings didn’t work out well for Je and he blamed his personal nancial conditions and turned to becoming a bank robber.”

Je committed a couple bank robberies and served about 12 years in prison, Tim said at the service. While Je was in prison, his wife passed away.

“ at was a crushing blow to my brother,” Tim said. “After his release from prison, with no hope, Je went to live on the streets while selfmedicating with whatever he could nd.”

Treasure House of Hope

For about two decades, Tim said, he prayed for his brother. In 2020, Je said he was ready for a change. is is when he started participating in the Christian-based recovery program, Treasure House of Hope.

“It’s a house and it’s a safe place where broken, hurt … people come, voluntarily come here, and we saturate them with love, compassion, and give them hope for a better future, a better tomorrow,” said Anderson, the executive director.

At the home, Je joined other men who were struggling with addiction, mental health, homelessness and other challenges in a journey to improve themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

During the year-long program, Je developed an identity in Christianity and was baptized. For his family and many in his church community, these decisions were monumental.

“ e best parts of the Je Gaylord story have been the last two years,” his nephew TJ Gaylord said at the memorial. “Je Gaylord nally coming to the Lord ... makes the story complete, makes it a story of joy instead of one of tragedy.”

After graduating from Treasure House of Hope in Aurora, Je stayed at the house to support the men by providing nutrition guidance and physical training.

“Everybody just loved Je , you know?” Anderson said. “He was just that kind of guy. He just always tried to help somebody else… that’s just who he was.”

Living at Treasure House came with its challenges for Je , however. He was older than most of the other program participants and he tended to bottle up his frustration and pain, said housing director Rick Alston.

As time went on, Je began drinking again, Alston said, turning to alcohol as a remedy for signi cant pain from his athletic career. is resurfaced behavior was against house rules and began to impact others who also struggled with alcoholism.

“ e biggest problem that we began to have is that it started to a ect others in the home,” Alston said. “It did get to the point where we just could not have him in the home.” e Treasure House team found several alternative treatment facility options for Je , but he decided to return to the streets, Alston said.

Champion of love

On the day Je died, Tina Hayhurst, executive director of the Englewood organization Movement

5280, informed his family of his passing.

Movement 5280 acts as a support system for many who are unhoused, o ering shelter, food, clothing, showers, mental health support, housing navigation, health and dental services, addiction recovery services, Christian Bible studies and more.

Hayhurst said she wishes more people would recognize that those who struggle with homelessness are human.

“When you get to know them, they’re a person and they’re somebody’s son and daughter and uncle — and they’re not that much different from us,” she said. “We have a fear of what people on the streets are like. And when you sit with them and you have a cup of co ee with them, you realize that they’re just the same (as) us.”

During the last year of his life, Je re-started using several services that he relied on before Treasure House, including Movement 5280. Not only was he a part of the community, but he constantly brought others to help connect them with services.

“You can talk about a lot about his days in football … e champion I saw in him was, while he was on the street, he was helping others on the street to get services,” said Jim Hayhurst, a board member for the organization. “I don’t know that, if I was living on the streets, I could be as sel essly generous as he was in trying to help others.”

Je leaves behind the legacy of a gentle giant who, despite his challenges and mistakes, lived hard and loved even harder.

For Anderson, who has experienced homelessness herself, people like Je are worth getting to know.

“People are so beautiful,” she said. “Before you judge, before you be critical and stereotype, take a moment. It takes just as much energy to be negative and to be judgmental as it does to go and say ‘Hey, what’s your name? How did you get here? What could we do to get you out of here?’ ... Just share some compassion. Just share some love. at’s all it takes.”