1
July 18, 2014 VOLU M E 1 2 | I SS UE 37
ParkerChronicle.net
Page 23
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Town OKs higher density for condos Some residents still concerned about potential parking issues at proposed Victorian Flats By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Following a special review, Parker Town Council approved an increase in density for a housing project proposed in downtown. Council voted 3-1 during a July 14 meeting in favor of a use-by-special-review application submitted by Klingbeil Capital Management, which wants to build Victorian Flats, a 146-unit condominium complex, on 2.6 acres southeast of Pikes Peak Drive and Pikes Peak Court.
The density amounts to 56.8 dwelling units per acre. Existing guidelines for the Greater Downtown District/Pikes Peak Center Design District — which contains the site — allow for a density of 10 dwelling units per acre unless council grants an exemption. The next step in the process will be a site plan review, which includes construction plans, traffic studies, drainage reports and the physical layout of the site, said Patrick Mulready, senior planner for the Town of Parker. Several Parker residents and business owners spoke during the public comment portion of the July 14 meeting, with the majority expressing support for Victorian Flats. However, a few opposed the project because of concerns about inadequate parking, including John Diak, the only councilmember to vote against the
request. A total of 134 parking spaces, including 19 garage units, will be constructed for the 146-unit building. A town staff report, which recommended approval of the application, said additional parking is located on both Pikes Peak Drive and Pikes Peak Court. The report noted that there are no minimum parking requirements within the Greater Downtown District/Pikes Peak Center Design District. Users of the Mainstreet Center, the site of theater productions and community classes, are worried that future residents of Victorian Flats will occupy its nearly-100 parking spaces directly across the street, potentially driving away audiences. Anne Grove, a frequent visitor at the Mainstreet Center, questioned the logic of ignoring the possible parking issue, given that the town is investing $1 million to upgrade the
facility. The town is also in the process of extending Pikes Peak Court — currently a dead end — through from Pikes Peak Drive to Pine Drive. A handful of those who addressed council complained about the higher density and visual impact to the area, but business leaders and real estate developers from Parker touted the potential economic benefits of a built-in population in the downtown district. A few residents who attended the meeting said they would consider living in such a building because of its prime location. A tentative construction timeline was not available, but Mulready said he expects a site plan application to be turned in this fall. Mark Mullen, chief operating officer for Klingbeil Capital Management, was not available for comment.
GOP seeks new HD44 candidate Seven party leaders to select replacement for Jack Hilbert Serenity Ridge, a 43,000 square-foot estate owned by the grandson of the man who created Dollar General, is on the market for $18.37 million. If it does not sell by Sept. 27, it will be put up at a no-reserve auction. Photos by Chris Michlewicz
Sprawling estate going up for auction Serenity Ridge sits on 70 acres near Douglas-Elbert line By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com A glimmering pearl tucked in the unspoiled expanses southeast of Parker is suddenly getting a lot of attention. At the beginning of July, most Douglas County residents had never heard of Serenity Ridge, a sprawling estate on 70 pristine acres near Flintwood and Democrat roads. That quickly changed when Carl and Christine Battista, a husband and wife real estate team for Keller Williams DTC Luxury International, began to spread the word that the property would become the largest private U.S. residence to go up at a no-reserve auction Sept. 27. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people to buy at their price,” Christine Battista said. “The owner doesn’t have any set price and there are no hidden costs.” The three-story home and surrounding land was put on the market in 2007 with a price tag of $22 million, but didn’t attract serious attention from buyers because of the housing crisis. It was put up for sale again July 1 for $18.37 million. With the disclaimer that the “property is available for and subject to sale prior to auction,” the tantalizing announcement of the no-reserve auction promptly attracted the notice of news agencies and bloggers. The Battistas, along with Joshua & Co., an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, and Supreme Auctions, have honored countless requests for more information in the hopes of finding the ideal buyer. Christine Battista led Colorado Community Media on an exclusive tour of Serenity Ridge July 14.
`The whole nine yards’
The estate contains the wonderments
The indoor pool at Serenity Ridge.
ABOUT SERENITY RIDGE Features of Serenity Ridge: 24 bathrooms, 11 bedrooms, five full kitchens, bowling alley, indoor swimming pool, fishing ponds (two), movie theatre, 9,300 square-feet of outdoor covered living space, conference rooms (two), meditation house, garage space for 30 vehicles, elevators (two), silk carpets, secret doors, performance stage, safe room, ice cream parlor, temperature-controlled wine cellar, permission for equestrian uses and waterfalls.
for which one might hope: hidden rooms, silk carpeting, a bowling alley, a pair of full-time caretakers, and private tunnels to posh, self-contained guest quarters. Those invited to enter the grounds must pass through a massive security gate, after which they are greeted with the sight of fishing ponds, a meditation house and, of course, the 47,114 squarefoot home with peninsular wings. The Estate continues on Page 15
By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Douglas County’s GOP brass is working quickly to select a replacement candidate in the race for House District 44. Three members of the HD44 Republican Committee and three voting members of the Douglas County GOP executive team were scheduled to interview interested parties July 19 at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center in Castle Rock. Jack Hilbert, who most recently served as Douglas County commissioner and won the Republican primary in June to represent House District 44 in the general election, withdrew his name as the sole candidate July 13 after accepting a position as Child Welfare Hotline System manager with the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare Protection Division. Five people — Debbie Lewis, Donald Parrot, Kim Ransom, Debbie Cohen and Kim Monson — have expressed interest in the position and will each have three minutes to deliver an introduction speech to the selection committee July 19. Committee members will then ask questions, and the answers must be no longer than two minutes each, according to the Douglas County GOP’s website. A replacement candidate will be picked immediately following the interviews, said Terry Dodd, vice chairman of the HD44 Republican Committee, a panel that doubles as the vacancy committee. “Until we get four votes (for one candidate), we’ll just have to keep voting,” Dodd said. GOP continues on Page 15
MAYOR NOT IN THE RUNNING
An ornate rotunda greets visitors who come in through the main entrance.
Parker Mayor Mike Waid was among the first to enter his name into the pool of candidates, but removed himself from the list after a few weeks of consideration. Waid said he felt privileged to be elected mayor and made the decision to fulfill his four-year commitment to Parker voters instead of running for House District 44.