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April 11, 2019
DENVER Since 1926
NATURAL HEALING Studies show being outdoors reduces stress, depression and anxiety P10
DENVER, COLORADO
A publication of
Larimer Square’s history looms large Developers seek community’s feedback before moving forward with repairs in city’s first historic district BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CASEYVANDIVIER@YAHOO.COM
Sandwiched between two retail shops, 1411 Larimer St. is a skinny building, hardly 10 feet wide, a single room. Within this tight space, real estate developers have crammed the entire history of Denver’s renowned Larimer Square — from a detailed timeline across the wall to bricks that have fallen off of the square’s 150-year-old buildings. The miniature museum, known as the Community Engagement Center, was created in February by Urban Villages. For two years, the company has handled the pending Larimer Square developments in partnership with the square’s longtime owner, Jeff Hermanson. Hermanson aims to address the infrastructural, electrical and plumbing issues present in every building on Larimer Square. In 2018, developers presented the community with an initial proposal to repair damages and build new spaces that could finance these repairs. That proposal required partial demolition of some buildings and the creation of two buildings hundreds of feet high. Currently, the tallest building in Larimer Square stands at 64 feet. But in June 2018, Urban Villages announced it would be rethinking its plans after groups and individuals voiced disapproval. The company confirmed in early January that it would not go forward with the original proposal. “For many decades, the city has made a really concerted commitment to saying that this will be the low, SEE LARIMER, P15
An afternoon in Larimer Square, known as one of the most beloved and authentic districts in Denver. Residents have been pushing back against development here. CASEY VAN DIVIER
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“We can’t work on reducing costs (of health care) if we don’t see how these costs are determined in the first place, or what they are.” Gov. Jared Polis | Page 6 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10 | CALENDAR: PAGE 4 VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 23