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October 20, 2016 VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 51 | 75¢
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$60 million Riverwalk project approved Development will bring new residences, office and retail space to downtown Castle Rock
By Jessica Gibbs jgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com Downtown Castle Rock has found its answer to the town’s Promenade development built on the northern outskirts of town.
The Riverwalk project is a $60 million mixed-used development that will feature 228 apartment units, 30,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of ground-level retail and restaurant space, according to a news release by project owner Confluence Companies. The project’s two buildings will be constructed on both sides of Sellers Gulch at 111-113 Wilcox St. and 215 Wilcox St., and border Festival Park. Parking will be provided one level be-
low each building and at the street level. More than 300 spaces will be reserved for residents, office users and visitors. The project will break ground in January and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Town council approved the proposal 5-0 at the Oct. 4 meeting. Downtown business owners and representatives from the Downtown Development Authority and the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce gave it glowing reports.
FALL FUN
Councilmembers Renee Valentine, District 5, and Brett Fort, District 7, were absent. The town’s next step is to draft an official Tax Increment Financing agreement with the company. That must be approved by the council at a later date. “I do appreciate the project,” said District 4 Councilmember Chip Wilson, although he described himself initially as a “not-in-my-backyard” opponent.
Riverwalk continues on Page 14
Regional crime lab moves closer to reality Arapahoe, Douglas and Aurora work together to build DNA facility By Jessica Gibbs jgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Ezra, 3½ months old, visits Castle Rock’s Harvest Festival from Denver. A couple feet away are parents Elijah and Terry, keeping a watchful eye while he lounges against some pumpkins. Castle Rock’s Harvest Festival swept through Festival Park on Oct. 15. Attendees hunted for the best pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, carved their finds on-site and enjoyed a number of other fall-themed activities. Photo by Jessica Gibbs
In July 2015, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office sent a sexual assault case to the state crime lab for DNA testing. Almost a year later, the sheriff’s office still had not received results. In Arapahoe County, the sheriff’s office submitted two sexual assault cases for analysis in February 2015, two more the following May, another two that June, and numerous others on a consistent basis since then. None has yet received results from the CBI. The wait for DNA analysis — which data shows can take from four months to more than 1½ years in some cases — has spurred the Douglas and Arapahoe county sheriff’s offices and the Aurora Police Department to pool their resources to build a regional crime lab. “There are not a lot of opportunities to Lab continues on Page 4
Administrative exits mount in school district LEAVING THE DISTRICT Donna JohnsonStrother, chief academic officer Hired: July 15, 2012 Left: June 17, 2016 Ending salary: $129,860 Tom Tsai, chief operating officer Hired: May 19, 2014 Left: July 22, 2016
Ending salary: $154,500 Jason Germain, chief student advocacy officer Hired: July 1, 2010 Left: July 29, 2016 Ending salary: $129,335
Robert Ross, attorney Hired: Oct. 1, 2010 Left: Aug. 3, 2016 Ending salary: $178,289 Brian Cesare, director of human resources Hired: July 1, 2011 Leaving: Nov. 2, 2016 Ending salary: $180,553
Several top-level officials have left since Elizabeth Fagen’s departure By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Since former Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen announced in June she would leave for a similar position in Texas, five members of the district’s upper-administration team have also left or announced impending departures. Chief Academic Officer Dana Johnson-Strother left District continues on Page 14
ELECTION DAY IS ON THE WAY And we’ve got the rundown on all the races you need to know about as part of our election guide on PAGES 21-28.
DOUGLAS COUNTY NEWS-PRESS (ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Douglas County, Colorado, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 4 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.