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Theater shooting case costs $2.2 million before trial
Highland West prepares for growth
Cost in the Holmes case includes hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime
Highland West Senior Citizens Apartments and Highland South Apartments have been working together to provide affordable living for seniors for decades, and now they’re working together under one name. The two properties, located at 6340 W. 38th Ave., are now part of a single entity called Highland West Community. Along with the properties being refinanced comes a major renovation of the property that will continue until late fall. Highland West consists of the 12-story “tower” and three three-story apartment buildings — all for seniors 62 and older. There are financial requirements for all residents since the property uses the affordable housing model. The buildings are for the Denver office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Section 8 housing. “The tower has been here for 50 years and we had the choice to renovate it or have to sell it,” said Julia Spigarelli, resident services at the provider. “It took a couple good years’ work with funders to
By Dan Elliott
Associated Press Public spending to investigate and prosecute Aurora theater shooting defendant James Holmes has surpassed $2.2 million, weeks before opening statements in his trial, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. That figure does not include how much it has cost to defend Holmes, who is represented by the Office of the State Public Defender because he cannot afford private attorneys. The number is neither complete nor exorbitant, said Hollis Whitson, a Denver defense attorney who specializes in appellate law and who has studied the costs of a Colorado death penalty case in terms of
days spent in court. But, she added, tallying the total cost of a death penalty case in dollars is difficult if not impossible. “In order to have a death penalty trial, even if you’re never going to execute a single person, there’s an enormous cost to maintaining the machinery of death,” which includes expert witnesses, specialists, private attorneys and others involved. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people and injuring 70 on July 20, 2012. Jury selection began in January, and opening statements are set for April 27. Holmes’ lawyers acknowledge he was the gunman, but they say he was in the grips of a psychotic episode. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Officials in Aurora say they have spent more than $928,500 on the case. That includes more than $517,000 in overtime pay for police and other city employees. John Schneebeck, business manager for Shooting continues on Page 12
Affordable housing for seniors high priority By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com
QUICK FACTS The tower on the property has been a seniors residence since 1964, and the apartment buildings have been in service since 1984. There are 237 apartments on the property for residents. Due to high demand, a waiting list is forming for potential residents. The nondenominational property was founded by United Presbyterian Association, a Colorado nonprofit corporation. The corporation is governed by a Board of ten Trustees sponsored by Westminster and Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Churches.
finally get the funding we need for the project.” Renovations in the tower include remodeling all 120 apartments in the building and require temporary relocation of residents. Exterior work will also be completed on the tower. In the HUD buildings, plans include adding fire sprinklers to all apartments and improving access to the buildings. The parking lot will be repaved and both buildings will tap into energy efficiency practices. Funding for the project comes from a Growth continues on Page 12
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Students answer questions from community members about the hydrogen fuel cell car during the April 4 unveiling.
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Wheat Ridge Transcript 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCI AL WITH US
P LE A S E R ECYC L E T H I S C O PY
The student team from Wheat Ridge High School that completed a hydrogen fuel cell car for the Shell Eco Marathon. The students are in Detroit this week to participate with their car in the competition At right, Students in the Wheat Ridge High School STEM program spent April 4 sharing their hydrogen fuel cell car with community and family members and put the car through last minute tests. Photos by Clarke Reader