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July 31, 2014 VOLU M E 5 0 | I S S UE 50 | 5 0 ¢
Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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More businesses for The Grove Redevelopment efforts improve for Thornton By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Cabela’s is exceeding expectations and “doing extremely well” according to Thornton Economic Development Director John Cody. Cody gave highlights of the second quarter economic development during City Council’s July 22 regular meeting. “The second quarter was a good quarter for the city of Thornton,” he said. “We continue to see development, we continue to see activity and we continue to have hope that the economy continues to improve.” Cabela’s, the international outdoor outfitter and retailer, opened the doors to its 90,000-square-foot store last August. It serves as the anchor to the 63-acre retail development, The Grove, which is at the southeast corner 144th Avenue and Interstate 25. The Grove is projected to have 290,000 square feet of hospitality and retail space when its built out. “There are a number of sites that are either opened or under development or about to be begin development, including a couple hotels that we are excited to see,” Cody said. Those hotels are Candlewood Suites
This 28,000-square-foot building at The Grove will house Boot Barn and Firehouse Subs, which are slated to open this summer. Photo by Tammy Kranz
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and Hilton Garden Inn. A 28,000-square-foot multi-store building will house 11 retail shops including Boot Barn and Firehouse Subs, both set to open this summer. La-Z-Boy and Hobby Lobby stores are slated to open in time for the holiday shopping this year. In redevelopment news, Global Pacific Properties brought 80 percent of the land and buildings at North Valley Tech Center, Grant Street and 84th Avenue. “We have a lot of high hopes they’ll be able to make some improvements to that site and bring in additional employers,” Cody said.
The building that used to house Jumpstreet, 8225 N. Valley Highway, is under contract to become a warehouse and is expected to close in mid-August, Cody said. “We’re looking forward to that happening — getting a new tenant in there that wants to do some neat things,” he said. More activity in south Thornton includes T-Mobile building a site in the shopping center south of 88th Avenue and Washington Street. Cody said the city is working with the owner of Thornton Shopping Center on the north side of 88th and Washington to explore
remediation and potential redevelopment strategies. Mayor Heidi Williams and Ward 3 Councilwoman Beth Martinez Humenik praised the positive news. “We got a lot of other communities watching our development as well, and I think part of that is because a lot of folks travel through our community to get to DIA to their jobs or to other areas to get to their jobs,” Humenik said. “I find this report to be very, very refreshing and pretty exciting actually.”
‘E-470 Eagle’ dies two days after first flight NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL (ISSN 1044-4254) (USPS 854-980) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates DR., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
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Eagle could not be saved after it got stuck in a muddy ditch By Tammy Kranz tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com A young bald eagle born just a few yards near E-470 and 120th Avenue interchange in Adams County died July 23 after becoming trapped in a ditch. The death came despite efforts of the Raptor Education Foundation (REF), E-470 Public Highway Authority and several dozens of volunteers who did their best to ensure the fledging’s survival. “It is no small matter, the death of an eagle,” said Anne Price, curator of raptors with REF on its Facebook page. “And this eagle was very special to many, many people. All of us, from the men on the ground at the nest, to myself, and I know many of you, are shedding many tears. It does not matter that she was never truly ‘ours.’” Price said that an REF member and the district wildlife manager with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife discovered the eagle stuck in a ditch near the log she had been sitting on. She was weak, unable to stand and vomited quite a bit of muddy water and other stomach contents. Before she could be rushed to the veterinarian, she died at approximately 2:50 p.m.
The “E-470 Eagle” was hatched in mid-April just a few yards from the E-470 and 120th Avenue exchange. It died just a couple days after it took its first flight. Photo courtesy of the Raptor Education Foundation Facebook page “We who watch and work with eagles knew that the odds were against her from the start; around 70 percent of all bald eagles never live to see their first birthday,” Price said. The E-470 Eagle hatched in mid-April and had just taken its first flight two days before she died. She had been monitored by REF, the E-470 Highway Authority and about 50 volunteers, called the Eagle Brigade, for several days.
There was concern that it would land in traffic. The volunteers served as monitors to help steer her out of harm’s way. E-470 Public Highway Authority posted warning signs along the tollway to alert motorists of the eagle and provided safety vehicles and safety vests for the volunteers. “Lots of the staff members at E-470 are feeling very protective of this bird,” said Brighton Mayor Dick McLean, who serves as the E-470’s board chair, in a June 20 statement. “They’re putting a lot of effort into shielding it from harm, and a number of them are volunteering their free time.” Price said a necropsy is planned and the foundation would make those results available. The foundation posted daily updates, photos and videos of the eagle on its Facebook page. Posts included information on her movements, what she ate and some scary close calls, such as on July 22 when the eagle was acting erratic near a barbed wire fence. While the volunteers and foundation took the eagle’s safety seriously, there were signs of humor as they waited for her to take her first flight. On its July 9 post, it stated the eagle held a press conference saying she was tired of her parents pushing independence on her and was not ready to give up a fine view and free food.