January 22, 2015 VOLU M E 1 0 | I S SUE 34
ArvadaPress.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Hickenlooper hones in on economy Says workforce development, funding education key to supporting middle class By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Gov. John Hickenlooper delivered his annual State of the State address Jan. 15 during a joint session of the General Assembly, commending the state’s booming business sector and encouraging bipartisanship. “The state of our state is strong,” Hickenlooper said. “According to almost every national ranking, Colorado is now one of the top states for business climate and job growth.” Hickenlooper credits the state’s economic success to collaboration between state and local economic development developers. Pointing to the state’s economic development strategy to recruit talents and lure companies to Colorado from across the nation, Hickenlooper highlighted compa-
nies such as Panasonic, Cool Planet Energy Systems and Arrow Electronics as prime contributors to the state’s economic successes through job creation. Helping companies like Lockheed Martin, Charles Schwab and Woodward to grow has also added to the state’s growing job market, Hickenlooper said. Supporting the middle class and Colorado’s rural areas, where unemployment remains high, through workforce development will be met with an effort to jumpstart Hickenlooper’s economic plan in what he called Colorado Blueprint 2.0 from the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “The team will again be visiting all 14 regions of the state soliciting a vision for economic development starting with the counties where employment is most lagging. Counties like Otero, Costilla, San Miguel, and Huerfano,” Hickenlooper said. “Our challenge is to make sure economic prosperity reaches every household in all 64 counties.” The governor spoke briefly about his frustrations with TABOR but gave little
Gov. John Hickenlooper delivers the annual State of the State address Jan. 15. Photo by Amy Woodward guidance as to how the Legislature should navigate taxing and spending conflicts. “Amendment 23 demands more new money than we can possibly expect to have two years from now,” Hickenlooper said. “If we do nothing, if we pretend the fu-
ture will take care of itself, and we’re back here in two years facing what was clearly an avoidable crisis, history will show that we Economy continues on Page 5
Enrollment numbers raise expansion pressure Jeffco school board debating new construction By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Inside the school house, a now transformed upscale whiskey bar, are hundreds of makeshift card catalogs, a bar top crafted from No. 2 pencils, wooden chair and desk combination light fixtures and more school-themed items. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Grade A dining
New school-themed restaurant opens in Olde Town Arvada By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com In 1882, Benjamin F. Wadsworth donated money to build a brick schoolhouse — one of the first in Arvada — in the heart of the emerging city’s downtown. Today, after several changes of hand the Olde Town schoolhouse has a new owner, Scott Spears, who’s going back to the building’s roots roots in an innovative way. Opening the first week of February, School House Kitchen and Libations, 5660 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., will be the latest addition to the array of Olde Town Arvada dining options. Located in the former DiCicco’s building, the comfort-style American restaurant will offer family din-
ing, a lounge area with a bar and an expanded rooftop deck. “Our goal is to give something that’s more of a Denver style that’s not downtown,” he said. “Olde Town Arvada as a whole is fun and vibrant, and we want to continue to do that.” A casual restaurant, School House Kitchen and Libations features a classroom-like atmosphere with No. 2 pencils lining the bar top, wooden desks transformed into light fixtures, bus seats turned into seating and basketball courts as tables. “We always had it in the back of our heads,” Spears said about buying the schoolhouse. “It’s an old schoolhouse, built in 1882 and that’s what it was supposed to be — so we just kinda rolled with it.” The restaurant, which also includes a whiskey bar, boasts a selection of 25 craft beers on tap and more than 250 varieties
of whiskey for customers to imbibe. “They’ll come in (customers) and see something from school and, hopefully, it’s a good memory,” Spears said. “If it’s a bad memory, don’t worry, we’ve got drinks to help you forget it.” Inspired by Denver establishments, Spears said he hopes the restaurant draws visitors from across the metro area, something his fellow merchant, Karen Miller, owner of Paws and Play, 7403 Grandview Ave., appreciates. “We’re thrilled that Scott is not only preserving the old schoolhouse, but accentuating it with his decor. This is a place that everyone will want to come see,” said Miller, also president of the Historic Olde Town Arvada merchants association. “We’ll see that corner come to life the same way Arvada Beer enlivened the corner to the south.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Schoolhousearvada.
During a heated discussion, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted for a third time, 3-2, to table a decision about financing future facilities amid growing enrollment concerns. “Let’s not overrun our $99 million dollar budget, let’s honor the budget, operate within it and make the hard choices just like every parent does with their checkbook every month,” said Board President Ken Witt. The discussion, centering around the district’s pressing needs to accommodate an influx of students, began at the beginning of the school year. Since that time, Steve Bell, Jeffco’s chief facilities operator and his team have asked the board to examine the district’s growth and possibly finance the creation of two schools and completion of an existing expansion project. This growth, stemming from the increased amount of community and housing developments, is spiking area enrollments in north Arvada and Lakewood, prompting the need for an additional 4,500 seats. “What I’m trying to do is figure out how we’re going to educate 5,000 children ... In two years, we may be in a different spot and you guys are going to be sitting there again, and we’re going to have the same conversation,” said board member Jill Fellman. “We need to look long term.” To solve the growing issue, Bell suggested applying for $80 million in Certificates of Participation (COPs), a way to fund the projects immediately and repay the amount over the next 20 to 25 years. “We think the best option that we have is to issue what as known of Certificates of Participation, that works best right now,” Bell said. “It’s a good opportunity for us as a borrower.” According to Bell, this option would not place a burden on taxpayers and allows the district more time to pay off the amount
Expansion continues on Page 5