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WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 2024
VOLUME 158 | ISSUE 50
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Goldenites split on city’s financing plans for proposed municipal center City Council to vote on issuing $52.5 million in COPs at Dec. 17 meeting BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Several holiday-themed wood pieces are on display Dec. 3 at the Foothills Art Center’s annual Holiday Art Market at its Astor House campus. The PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN show features more than 3,000 art pieces of various media by local artists.
Foothills Art Center’s annual market features gifts galore BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Whether looking for holiday cards, stocking-stuffers, cute jewelry to wear to upcoming holiday parties, or that perfect piece of art to fill that empty space on the wall before company arrives, Foothills Art Center has it all. This year, the organization is hosting its 49th annual Holiday Art Market in a new location — its Astor House
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campus at 1133 Arapahoe St. This year’s market features more than 3,000 unique items by 90-plus Colorado artists, including many based in the Denver area. Shoppers can browse a variety of jewelry, textiles, photographs, paintings and ceramics, as well as holiday cards, ornaments and other wintertime items. Paid FAC members get 10% off any purchase. While the Astor House and
market will be closed Dec. 24-25, last-minute shoppers can still stop by through Dec. 29. The market will be hosting a sale Dec. 26-29, when all customers can buy items 30% off. FAC representatives said the new location and space is working out well for the annual market. It previously hosted the annual event at its former headquarters at 809 15th St, which is now serves as the Creative Campus with
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classes and artist workspaces. The Astor House campus is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free. In addition to the Holiday Art Market, the “Decomposing/Recomposing” art exhibition is ongoing in the Astor House’s south gallery space. For more information, visit foothillsartcenter.org.
For Golden’s new municipal center to come to fruition, Dec. 17 will be a makeit-or-break-it point. The city plans to build a new threelevel City Hall and police headquarters at the former Molson Coors property at 311 10th St. Construction is slated to start this summer with move-in scheduled for 2027. This would be the first phase of the larger Heart of Golden project. City officials estimate it will cost $60 million to build the new municipal center, and staff members have recommended financing the project by issuing Certificates of Participation — a form of debt financing akin to a lease-to-purchase agreement. There’s no request to increase taxes, city officials have clarified, as Golden would repay its debt through existing revenues. On Dec. 17, City Council will consider a financing plan that includes a $7.5 million down payment and issuing up to $52.5 million in COPs, not to exceed a 5% interest rate or a 21-year term. During the Dec. 3 City Council meeting, Goldenites were split on the issue. A group called Golden Residents Count is organizing a petition to require a citizen vote to issue more than $20 million in COPs. Members asked city officials to reconsider the project timeline and allow Goldenites to vote on the financing plan.
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