Drew Hill Culvert project is completed

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Je erson County Transportation and Engineering Department recently announced that the Drew Hill Road Culvert project has been completed. Drew Hill Road is described as an access point to parks and open spaces in Je erson County. Destinations include Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

e project was completed with special government funding and actually came in under budget.

e budgeted $437, 434 project is one of many funded by a $113 million dollar ARPA, or American Rescue Plan Act, grant to Je erson County. e Drew Hill Culvert was one of the more dire projects, according to Je erson County Public A airs.

e issue was described as a deteriorated corrugated pipe that would have failed if left uncorrected. A sinkhole had already begun to form, forcing the county to close half the road. Crews installed steel plates as a temporary safety measure.

“ e swift work of our Je co Team and lead contractor literally saved this road and bridge’s collapse into a creek, and potentially saved severe structural damage and possible harm to residents and visitors who use this area every day,” said Je erson County Development and Transportation Director Abel Montoya.

the neighborhood near 6th and Jay, Samantha has met people who remember her mother.

“I’ve come into town, I’ve only been here a week. ere are so many people who say ‘Oh, I knew your mom. I think I knew your mom. I’m so sorry.’ So many people knew her and knew that she was such a positive, uplifting person and so into, her faith,” Samantha said. “She just a ected everyone in a positive way.”

Angela was unhoused and going through a di cult time in her life, but she was still a good person and a good mom, Samantha said.

“She was still a mom of ve children. She was a loving person. She was a person, a human being, and she did not deserve this,” Samantha said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re homeless. e point is, is that somebody took a human being’s life in a disgusting manner, and then left her there to die. To get run over again. Nobody deserves that. And that shouldn’t happen to anybody.”

So far, Samantha has a time window to go on and not much else.

“We’re looking for a timespan that night, May 28. It was the night before Memorial Day Monday,” she said.

For anyone who may still have a Ring camera or other footage, Samantha would like them to check between 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

She and her father are still in Lakewood and will be knocking on doors asking anyone for any information, including camera footage.

“We’re still going to be canvassing the area,” Samantha said. “We’re looking for any footage that we can nd of a vehicle either coming into the area or going onto 6th Avenue around the time Angela was hit, and then exiting. We believe that the person who did it did enter and exit through the neighborhood. So, we’ll see. But that’s what we’re looking for right now. Mainly is footage, camera footage.”

She clari ed that she is looking for, “just any vehicle that goes, including bikes. e police haven’t pinpointed the exact vehicle yet. But we’re just trying to put together the pieces and see what we can nd.”

She will be in that area near 6th and Jay. If you don’t see her, expect to see the signs she and the family made, scattered throughout the area. e family made 30 signs using their own materials, including the trafc cones, which Samantha brought with her from her construction job in Arizona. e project took two months and ultimately cost $401, 625. Where did the $35,799 savings come from?

Samantha doesn’t plan to go home until the person who hit her mother is found.

“I feel like I can’t leave the state of Colorado and go back to my life without doing this without bringing that closure to my family and getting my mom justice,” she said.

She urges anyone with any information to contact the Lakewood Police.

Metro Denver Crimestoppers is o ering a $2,000 reward for information. You can ll out an online form at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform. aspx?ID=249 or call 720-913-7867. You can remain anonymous. Please refer to Lakewood PD case LK23015406.

According to Evan Brown, Civil Engineer Supervisor for Je co Transportation and Engineering, the savings came from having “minimal change orders or bid overruns during construction.”

He added that the roadway resurfacing portion of the project was completed “inhouse” by Je co Road and Bridge.

“Road and Bridge sta wanted to resurface other damaged portions of Drew Hill Road nearby to the project site. is results in cost savings since Road and Bridge had material on hand and could complete the resurfacing for a cheaper unit price than the contractor.”

According to Je co Public

A airs, the repairs include:

• replacing the existing metal pipe with a reinforced concrete box culvert;

• adding Redi-Rock wing walls that increase the safety of the road’s shoulders; and

• installing riprap (loose stone foundation) areas on the upstream and downstream sides for erosion protection.

For more information on other ARPA projects in Jeffco, check out the Je erson County ARPA webpage.

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At Golden Real Estate, Our Brokers Focus on What Is Important to Homebuyers

We are a listing brokerage, but, like any successful brokerage, we also represent buyers. While we have particular competence in the listing and marketing of homes for sale, we are also successful in helping buyers find and get under contract for homes, then shepherd those buyers through to closing and move-in, all the while bringing our years of experience and acquired competence to each stage of the process.

First of all, buyers’ agents need to be good listeners — find out what’s important to the buyer. That can and will vary from buyer to buyer. What follows is some of what I’ve found is typically important beyond those very personal needs and wants.

Buyers want to know what the market is and what their money can buy. The best way to learn that, I’ve found, is to set up an MLS email alert early on, matching their search criteria.

While buyers can do their own searching on consumer-facing websites, not all MLS fields are searchable unless you’re a member of that MLS. A good example of that is searching for a main-floor primary suite. That is not a searchable field on any consumer website that I’m aware of. On Zillow you can search for single-story homes, but many 2-story homes also have main-floor bedrooms.

Think of other features important to you. Almost every MLS field can be a search criterion, but only for an MLS member agent, who can include them in an MLS alert that he or she sets up for you.

Do you want a fenced yard? RV parking? Mountain and/or city views? Solar panels? A particular elementary school?

You can receive an alert about homes matching your search criteria within 15 minutes of them going on the market. Daily or monthly emails are also an option.

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Such MLS alerts can give the buyer a sense of the market, whether or not he/she is ready to start looking at homes and/or make an offer on one they like.

Financing is critical, of course, and a buyer’s agent needs to know the financial capabilities and limitations of his buyer and have an excellent loan officer who can let the buyer and his/her agent know the price range for which the buyer is qualified. Some loan officers, such as ours, are more creative than others at solving qualification problems.

Knowing whether a particular home is priced correctly and what a proper offering price would be is important to the buyer. When you find a home you want to buy, we have three valuation tools, not just Zillow, that can provide guidance on what a proper offer should be. What did comparable homes sell for, how long were they on the market, and did they sell above or below the listing price? That’s easy for us to research and show you.

If you have lost bidding wars and don’t want that to be in another one, you can ask your agent to include in your MLS alert only listings that have been on the market over a week. That increases your chance of being the only buyer to submit an offer.

Homes in newer subdivisions may have significantly higher property taxes because they are in a metropolitan tax district. Although the MLS includes what the property tax is for each house, it doesn’t include the all-important mill levy. The tax rate for a home in a metro tax district can be up to double that of a home outside that tax district, and we can make sure you know that.

Some buyers, especially those with RVs, want to avoid listings that are in an HOA. That’s another search criterion that can be specified in email alerts, as is the presence of on-site RV parking.

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These are just some of the things which we have found are important to homebuyers. What’s important to you? Knowing the value of an experienced agent in helping you find homes which meet your needs is a good reason to work with a Realtor, such as one of us at Golden Real Estate. When I was new in the business 20 years ago, I didn’t appreciate the value of experience when it came to helping buyers, but I’m clear now that experience does matter. Let us put it to work for you!

Cost-Effective Improvements to Help Your Home Sell Better

When it comes to improving your home to sell it for more money, there are several costeffective options that can make a significant impact. Here are some suggestions:

1. Enhance curb appeal: First impressions matter, so focus on improving the exterior of your home. Trim the lawn, prune bushes, plant flowers, and add fresh mulch. (I have a vendor to recommend for yard cleanup.) Our handyman can repaint the front door, clean windows, and handle other cosmetic repairs.

2. Declutter and deep clean: A clean and clutter-free home appears more spacious and appealing. We can recommend a professional house cleaner, and we provide a free staging consultation to guide you on the rest. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Repaint and touch up: A fresh coat of paint can give your home a renewed look. Stick to neutral colors that have broad appeal. Our handyman can patch any holes and deal with peeling paint. Ensure that all surfaces are clean and well-maintained.

4. Upgrade lighting: Good lighting makes your home brighter and more inviting. Replace incandescent and CFL bulbs with LEDs. Focus on key areas such as the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. (Batteries + Bulbs has great deals on LEDs.)

5. Improve your home’s energy efficiency: Buyers want energy-efficient homes. Consider installing weatherstripping, sealing air leaks, and adding insulation if needed. Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, such as refrigerators and water heaters, can also be appealing. We can guide you on this and recommend honest vendors

6. Update kitchen and bathrooms: If a major renovation is not feasible, focus on small updates such as replacing cabinet hardware, upgrading faucets, and installing new light fixtures. Consider painting or refinishing cabinets. Flooring is important, too!

7. Enhance storage: Ample storage space is so important! Increase the functionality of closets and cabinets by adding organizers or shelves. Our free stager can provide guidance on this topic, too.

8. Improve your landscaping: Clean up flower beds, and consider some strategic landscaping improvements such as a patio.

9. Address minor repairs: Our handyman (only available to clients) can fix any visible issues like leaky faucets, broken tiles, or squeaky doors. It’s important to fix what I call “eyesores” — anything that draws negative attention during a showing.

10. Stage strategically: Our free stager can help you rearrange furniture to maximize space, remove personal items, and add tasteful decorations.

Hiring Golden Real Estate is a good firststep. Like our handyman, our free stager is a perk from hiring us, but even before hiring us — in other words, during a listing appointment, my broker associates and I are happy to provide our own advice based on our years of experience listing and selling home. Call us! Our contact information is below.

Don’t Accept an Unsolicited Cash Offer on Your OffMarket Home Without Asking Us If the Price Is Right

This condo in the very center of downtown Winter Park offers great views and easy access to all the activities Winter Park has to offer. The 2-bedroom unit with 1,063 square feet is within walking distance to restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, the Idlewild Park Amphitheater, the Fraser River, and numerous bike/pedestrian trails. Recent updates include a new water heater, bathroom, and washer/dryer. All bus lines pass the Village Center, allowing convenient access to the Winter Park area and beyond. This condo presents an excellent multi-use investment opportunity, whether for personal use or for rental purposes. More pictures and a video of this listing are at www.WinterParkCondo.info, or call agent/owner Austin Pottorff at 970-281-9071 to arrange an in-person showing.

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We aren’t seeking to be involved in the transaction, but we know that unsolicited offers are almost never at a fair price. You have nothing to lose by asking us to do a quick value check on your home so you’re not taken advantage of. Our contact information is below. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to flippers who know what your home is worth but count on you NOT knowing! Give us a chance to save you from being cheated!

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428