ARVADA 1.17.12
January 17, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 8, Issue 34
Governor outlines challenges State of State covers gun control, civil unions, marijuana, economy By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper acknowledged that “there are no easy solutions” to issues involving guns, but said a debate on how best to deal with firearm-related violence is something “our democracy demands.” The Democratic governor, addressing the General Assembly during his annual State of the State speech Jan. 10, also proffered his opinion on one area of gun control that is certain to be one of the most passionately debated topics lawmakers will take up this legislative session. “Let me prime the pump,” Hickenlooper said. “Why not have universal background checks for all gun sales?” That suggestion certainly caught the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. “It is just completely unenforceable,” House Minority Leader Mark Waller, RColorado Springs, said of Hickenlooper’s call for all sales of guns — including those involving person-to-person transactions — be contingent on background checks. But Democrats applauded the governor’s stance. “He made some risky points,” said Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “He wasn’t afraid to jump into that.” Gun control, one of many issues that legislators are expected to take up over the next five months of the session, was just one area that Hickenlooper addressed. Economic matters, civil unions and, of course,
Sen. Evie Hudak, right, hugs Sen. Linda Newell Jan. 9 in the Senate chambers on the opening day of the legislative session. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen regulating the marijuana industry were also touched on during his 40-minute remarks.
Common ground sought
Taking on the issue of gun violence is a
top agenda item for this Democratic-controlled General Assembly, especially on the heels of last year’s Aurora theater killings and the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. But just
talking about guns has always been a dicey political issue, as the governor acknowledged. “Some point to guns, others to a violent State continues on Page 18
Candelas construction under way with housing options Dozens of homes being built in new sustainable development By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com New homes — and much more in the coming years — are starting to pop up in west Arvada. The homes are part of the Candelas residential and commercial development. Candelas is at Indiana Street and Candelas Parkway, just north of Coal Creek Canyon Road. The proposed Jefferson Parkway would run generally southeast of the residential area. The residential portion of Candelas is being developed by Terra Causa Capital and GF Properties Group. The neighborhood offers something for everyone, said Creig Veldhuizen, a managing director with Terra Causa Capital. “All of our builders so far, we have five of them all in the same community, are offering different products and at different price points,” Veldhuizen said. “They all have different features and architectural flairs. There’s a product for everyone.” Builders include Century Communities, which offers homes starting in the $300,000 range, and Richmond American, which offers homes starting in the $500,000 range and higher. The other two confirmed builders are Standard Pacific, with homes starting in the low $300,000s and Ryland Homes, starting in the low $300,000s. Both made solar panels standard on the roofs of their houses. The fifth builder has not been confirmed. While the homes are all different, the entire neighborhood is committed to being sustainable and using renewable energy, Veldhuizen said. “When we went through the zoning process, Arvada had some very high hopes for the property in terms of making it a sustain-
The new Candelas neighborhood is taking shape with houses in the low $300,000s off Highway 72 and Candelas Parkway in west Arvada. Photo by Andy Carpenean able community,” Veldhuizen said. “They held us to those standards and we shared that vision.” Sustainability can be seen throughout the community, Veldhuizen said, from solar-powered street lights and tiles to solar panels on the roofs of homes. The biggest sustainability feature of the community, though, is its recreation center. “The recreation center is a $3 million facility,” Veldhuizen said. “It’s that expensive because we’re committed to sustainability. It’s going to be LEED silver certified, and it may reach LEED gold.” LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification means the building meets green standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The recreation center will be heated and cooled by a geothermal heat pump system and will feature 15 kilowatt solar panels on the rooftop to offset most of the electricity used, as well as many other sustainable features, Veldhuizen said. The most significant sustainability fea-
ture Candelas has though is its sustainability trust, he said. “It’s the first of its kind in the state of Colorado,” he said. Each builder who buys lots in Candelas pays a fee of $3,000 per lot into the trust before building. If they build the homes with qualified renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, geothermal heat pumps and other technology, they get a rebate of the majority of the fee. If the builder chooses not to build the homes with sustainable qualities, the fee sits in the trust and is available to the homeowner to use to retrofit their home with sustainable improvements, Veldhuizen said. More than just sustainable living is drawing residents out to Candelas though. “One thing is the natural beauty of the sites and the view,” he said. “Residents have a 360-degree view from any home site. They can see Standley Lake, the Flat Irons, downtown Denver and Pikes Peak on the Front Range. The natural beauty of the site is one of the most defining characteristics of it.”
The coming development over the next few years is another draw, Veldhuizen said. Candelas, including residential, commercial and open space will include 1,500 acres. The development, once completed, will feature 1,500 single family, detached homes, 1,000 or more higher-density units and several million square feet of retail and commercial space. “It’s kind of a city within a city of Arvada,” Veldhuizen said. “They’ll integrate and complement each other. There’s a tremendous amount of open space in the plan. Between parks, open space and trails systems, we’ll have nearly 200 acres of open space. There’s a significant commitment to open space and building area where residents can enjoy the views and outdoor recreational aspect of the community.” Its proximity to Boulder, Golden, the mountains and other locations where people “work, dine and play” is another selling point, Veldhuizen said. So far, about 30 homes are under construction and nine homes are already built and occupied. Charlie McKay with Church Ranch Companies, the commercial developer, said development hasn’t started yet for the commercial part of the community, but there has been interest from convenience stores and grocery stores to build there, as well as some other potential clients. “We’ve been at it for many years and we’ll continue to work on it for many years,” McKay said. For more information about Candelas, visit www.liveforward.com.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.