HOMETOWN
November 26, 2015 VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 44
Special Section Inside!
LoneTreeVoice.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Major moves drive city forward LONE TREE AT 20
Small beginnings led to bigger, brighter things
As Lone Tree marks the 20th anniversary of its incorporation, the Voice brings you a three-part series on the past, present and future of the city.
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com
Part 1, last week: Planting the seeds Part 2, this week: Coming of age Part 3, Dec. 3: What’s ahead?
Lone Tree began as a small community of about a square mile when it was incorporated in 1995. It wouldn’t stay that small for long. In August 2000, Lone Tree voters approved annexation of the 3,500acre RidgeGate property. “It came to our attention that Highlands Ranch wanted it,” said
Jack Hidahl, city manager at the time. “We saw a map that had (Highlands Ranch) going all the way east to I-25.” The property was already zoned for development under county jurisdiction and would likely be developed. So, the city felt it should do what it could to help shape the area for the public good. Lone Tree plans to use the land for public facilities, including a new recreation center, police and fire stations, a city hall, library, trails, parks and open space, plus land for a future city center that will be located on the City continues on Page 7
Lone Tree annexed Park Meadows mall in 2007, leading to a big boost in sales-tax revenue. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
Larsen signs off, says, ‘It’s their turn’ School board president is one of three incumbents who were voted out Nov. 3 By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com
Santa Claus has arrived at Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree. He will be available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Park Meadows gears up for holiday rush Seasonal employment, decor require early planning By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com The management team at Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree starts planning for the holiday season nearly a year in advance. Almost as quick as the garland and lights go up, the designs for the following year are being considered — starting Dec. 27 to be exact. This year, Park Meadows started hiring and getting geared up for the holidays in July, and they’re still hiring. According to Park Meadows General Manager Pam Schenck-Kelly, between 2,000 and 2,500 additional full- and part-time employees have been brought on this season,
across all the stores in the mall. “It speaks to the fact that retail itself has really come back up,” Kelly said. Park Meadows has millions of visitors during the holiday season and the mall estimates that it has hosted 15 percent to 20 percent more shoppers this November compared to last. The decorations start to go up the day after Halloween on the property, which covers 2 million square feet. Most of the live greenery used to decorate the mall is put in near the end of November so that it will live through Christmas. Park Meadows also gears up for the holiday rush with additional security, housekeeping and maintenance as well as Santa Claus and a seasonal hospitality crew. Kelly said the hospitality crew is there to assist shoppers, but it tries to take a low-key approach.
“We try to do it on a more casual basis, like a ski lodge, rather than something more formal,” Kelly said. Park Meadows is doing something new for Thanksgiving this year. The retailer will only be open from 6-11 p.m. There will be 56 stores open on Thanksgiving, less than a third of the total stores in the mall. “The Thanksgiving Day customer is a little younger, a little more contemporary, a little more hip,” Kelly said. “It’s Victoria’s Secret and Hollister and many retailers may just have their junior or their younger active wear stores open, but not the one that caters to the more mature upscale customer.” The mall will reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday with 70 percent of its stores opening early. By 8 a.m., nearly 100 percent of the stores will be open. Holidays continues on Page 7
Kevin Larsen took time to reflect on several occasions at his final Douglas County School Board meeting. He said it has been a privilege to serve on the board, calling it “the greatest honor of my life.” Larsen — a board member since 2011 and president since 2013 — lost his District C seat to former teacher Anne-Marie Lemieux in the Nov. 3 election. It was also the last meeting for Richard Robbins, who was defeated by former principal David Ray in District F. Craig Richardson, who lost his District A seat to parent and volunteer Wendy Vogel, did not attend the meeting. The Larsen continues on Page 7
Douglas County Board of Education President Kevin Larsen served at his final meeting Nov. 18. He was defeated in the recent election by former teacher Anne-Marie Lemieux. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando