DATING IN DENVER Phone apps aren’t the only way to find that special someone. P12
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November 8, 2018
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Some want to halt Loretto Heights plan Councilman cites history of votes, says focus on donor is red herring BY DAVID SACHS DENVERITE.COM
in the River North Neighborhood. His restaurants can be found across the city. He also has a Sushi-Rama in Lone Tree, with a new location set to open in Aurora by the end of the year. Off of Broadway in the Baker neighborhood, Joseph Kim is also working toward building a restaurant empire. The Denver native opened his first Dae Gee Korean BBQ restaurant in Westminster in 2010. Since then, he has opened two locations in Denver, and a location in Aurora. He has two other locations lined up that are under construction: a second spot in Aurora, and one in Ft. Collins.
The green fields and stoic buildings of a shuttered college campus in Denver’s Harvey Park neighborhood are on track to become part of a walkable district of homes, businesses and gathering spaces, but some neighbors want to stall redevelopment, claiming the process is marred by conflicts of interest. Members of the Loretto Heights Community Initiative (LHCI) want the city planning department to hit the brakes on a local blueprint for the area expected to shape the site’s future. The “small area plan” recently got underway with a public meeting. In a letter to City Councilman Kevin Flynn, the group of around 30 residents demanded “comprehensive cultural, historical, topographical, environmental and aesthetic assessment reports” before the process commences. In a year-old document, the neighborhood group says it wants any redevelopment to maintain views and curb traffic impacts. Still, Jim Gibson, a spokesperson for the LHCI, told Denverite the group isn’t “trying to jump to any conclusions right now” about the developer’s intentions. “We want to make sure that the process is open, fair and transparent … and that there’s no taint in the process,” he said.
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Joseph Kim, founder of Dae Gee Korean BBQ, grew up in Denver and opened his first restaurant in Westminster in 2010. He is hoping to bring Korean food into the mainstream. COURTESY OF DAE GEE KOREAN BBQ
Bringing the world closer to home As Denver continues to grow, so does its vibrant restaurant scene BY KAILYN LAMB KLAMB@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On a Wednesday afternoon, the staff are getting ready to open at 12@ Madison in Congress Park. Music plays while Chef Jeff Osaka rolls out dough for a lemon dessert. Osaka opened his first 12 restaurant in the Ballpark neighborhood on Election Day in 2008. Back then, the city was still a steak and potatoes kind of town, with few options for adventurous diners, he said. The
location closed in 2014, and he opened the new one in Congress Park in 2016. Over the years the city has grown, and that growth has brought in a more diverse group of people that are looking for a wider range in their cuisine. As a Japanese American growing up in Los Angeles, Osaka was one of those people. Back in California, Osaka tried food from around the world, including the ramen dishes his family would eat at home. “People are starting to venture out,” he said. Since he opened the first 12 location, Osaka has been building a miniature empire. He is now the chef at Osaka Ramen, three Sushi-Ramas -- with two more set to open, 12@ Madison, as well as Tammen’s Fish Market in the Denver Central Market
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The Denver area typically gets 7.5 inches of snow during November, making it the fifth snowiest month. Source: National Weather Service
VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 8 VOLUME 92| ISSUE 1