June 25, 2015 VOLUM E 70 | IS S UE 33 | 50 ¢
2015 WINNERS
INSIDE! 2015 WINNERS GUIDE A DA M S C OU N T Y & J E F F E R S ON COU N T Y, COLOR A D O
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
72nd Avenue road closure affects business City wants to hear from concerned residents
PROJECT DETAILS
By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com Since construction closed parts of 72nd Avenue in front of his Westminster business a few months ago, owner Bill Steele said sales have dropped 30 percent. Customers have difficulty finding his store, B & M’s Motorheadz at 7102 Raleigh St., and he’s dealing with a lot of dirt and flooding. “I can’t get deliveries and people can’t get in and out of here,” Steele said. “It is what it is. Hopefully, they get it done with soon.” The first of two full closures of 72nd Avenue between Bradburn Boulevard and Stuart Street extends until Friday, July 3. The second closure will be Aug. 10-23. The city is installing utilities as part of the 72nd Avenue and Raleigh Bride Replacement project. Construction began in January, and since then at least one lane had been kept open on 72nd Avenue. Businesses located in the construction area continue to be open. “The city has put up message board signs to remind people that local business access is still available,” said Ryan Johnson, economic development specialist for the city of Westminster. “We’re also reminding people to shop local on Facebook, Twitter
The year-long 72nd Avenue and Raleigh Bridge replacement project is replacing the bridge and multiple utilities in the area. The concrete box culvert that carries 72nd Avenue and Raleigh Street over Little Dry Creek is being replaced, along with 2,100 feet of larger diameter sanitary sewer pipe and 3,200 feet of water line. The project cost is $5.9 million, plus an estimated $1.7 million of water and sewer system replacement work.
DETOUR INFORMATION Heading west on 72nd Avenue, traffic will be routed north at Lowell Boulevard to 80th Avenue, then west to Sheridan Boulevard, then back south to 72nd Avenue. and our weekly electronic newsletter.” Originally, the city had planned a fivemonth closure of 72nd Avenue. But after businesses raised concerns, the city decided to pursue an alternative construction schedule. Nila Pareja, a receptionist at Westminster Dental Associates at Raleigh Street and 72nd Avenue, said she’s received complaints from patients about finding the office. But, overall, construction and road closure haven’t had a major effect on business. “There are days when we’re full and peo-
A two-week closure of 72nd Avenue between Bradburn Boulevard and Stuart Street in Westminster is underway until Friday July 3. The closure is necessary to install utilities as part of the 72nd Avenue and Raleigh Bridge replacement project. A second two-week closure will happen Aug. 10 through Aug. 23. Photo by Ashley Reimers ple just don’t show up,” she said. “But I don’t know if it’s necessarily because of the construction. And then there are days that are totally normal.” Pareja said she’s been mailing out detour maps provided by the city to patients, which has helped some navigate the construction. “Sometimes, the project is a pain,” she said. “But overall the city has been good to us.”
Johnson said residents can voice concerns to him directly by calling 303-6582110 or emailing rjohnson@cityofwestminster.us. “Bottom line, we want people to let us know if they have concerns,” he said. “If there is something we can change, we will entertain those thoughts.” For more information on the project, visit www.ci.westminster.co.us.
POSTAL ADDRESS
BELLY FIRST Erica Wuenschel, a student from Colorado State UniversityPueblo, plunges into the pool at Thunder Bay during the Belly Flop Splashdown at Water World. She earned second place. See story, Page 12. Photo by Ashley Reimers
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
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PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
Solar power will provide energy for schools Adams 12 will save money with energy project By Ashley Reimers areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com Adams 12 Five Star School District recently contracted with Denver-based SunShare to provide solar energy to its buildings beginning this summer. In just one year of utilizing solar energy, the district could save $250,000 in utility costs. The solar energy will be provided from NRG Energy’s and SunShare’s Adams County Community Solar Gardens, which are now under construction. Adams 12 is subscribing to a solar garden at East 48th Avenue and Imboden Road in Adams County, southeast of Denver Interna-
tional Airport. Community solar gardens allow customers to benefit from solar power, even if the customer can’t or doesn’t want to invest in solar panels at their home or property. Adams County School District 14 also contracted with SunShare for solar power. “We are very excited to partner with these school districts,” said Marc Bencivenni, senior vice president of SunShare. “By joining NRG’s and SunShare’s community solar gardens, they are showing outstanding leadership to the public education community and are demonstrating to students across Colorado the value of renewable energy.” Keeping in mind energy costs, the district also has a number of Energy Star-certified buildings with LED lights and low-flow water fixtures. The district is a member of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, a nation-
al movement to improve student performance and the entire educational experience by building the best possible schools. The district also has established community gardens at various schools and implemented school recycling and composting programs, said Melissa Hoelting in the Adams 12 communications department. The district’s conservation and renewable energy efforts saved more than $1.2 million in 2013-2014, she added. Adams 12 Superintendent Chris Gdowski said the district also will use the solar gardens as a hands-on learning experience about renewable energy and solar power. “Participation in the solar garden will reduce the district’s carbon footprint by 1,700 metric tons each year, which is the equivalent of taking 350 passenger vehicles off the road,” he said. “We expect to experience ongoing savings on our utility bills through our subscription.”