The Denver North Star October 15 2021 Online Edition

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Your Guide to Community, Politics, Ar ts and Culture in Nor th Denver DenverNorthStar.com

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Volume 3, Issue 1

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October 15, 2021-November 14, 2021

School Board, Group Housing, Bonds, and More on Ballot

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ALWAYS FREE!

Understanding Pros and Cons of Historic Designations By Bill Menezes

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ELECTION 2021 National Western Bond Question PAGE 4

COMMUNITY Hair on Earth PAGE 10

CANDIDATE PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CAMPAIGNS. STOCK SHOW PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW. DENVER VOTES LOGO COURTESY OF DENVER ELECTIONS DIVISION

The DPS Board of Education at-large race and National Western Arena Bond are just two of questions on this year's crowded ballot.

COMMUNITY Halloween Events! PAGE 12

COMMUNITY Holiday Theater to Become Space for Artists PAGE 14

KIDS & EDUCATION Sandoval School Turns 20 PAGE 15

CORRECTION PAGE 20

By David Sabados

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ith five candidates vying for an open at-large school board seat, three statewide ballot measures, and a whopping 13 Denver-specific ballot measures, Denver ballots are larger than normal, especially for an off-year election. You must return ballots by November 2nd. Drop boxes will stay open from October 8th until 7pm on election day. If you are mailing your ballot, give it a week to arrive by election day. Ballots in this area will include five candidates to replace at-large member Barbara O’Brien who is term limited. Rev. Brad Laurvick, District Five representative, will be up again in 2023. DPS races in the past few election cycles have often been seen as ideological duopolies with neighborhood school advocates along with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) on one side versus reform groups like Stand for Children and Democrats for Education Reform on the other. Some current candidates see those lines fading while other candidates see the divides deepening. A few say they are avoiding the major advocacy organizations all-together. School choice, student performance, community input, and teacher retention dominate election conversations along with the Board’s recent 6-1 vote to censure Director At-Large Tay Anderson, who worked at Manual and then North High Schools before joining the Board. An independent investigation revealed that Anderson made “flirtatious” advances towards at least two female high school students. The firm also found Anderson and his supporters engaged in intimidation tactics towards

witnesses. Nineteen witnesses said they “expect, or fear, retaliation from Director Anderson for their participation in the investigation.” The firm said they were unable to interview potential witnesses and corroborate some allegations and they listed the most serious sexual assault allegations as “not substantiated.” Anderson was the sole vote against censure. We talked with all five at-large candidates, asking them about their background, policies that impact our community, their thoughts on Director Anderson, and more. For this month’s issue, we also talked with proponents and opponents of several of the most interesting (and at times confusing) ballot measures as well, including group living, city bonds, the dueling Park Hill Golf Course measures, and others. Interviews with school board candidates begin on page 6. Our writeups of the ballot measures begin on page 2. We’re also excited to invite you to an educational election event we’re hosting with Regis University and North Denver neighborhood organizations. We’ve invited all of the at-large school board candidates and representatives from campaigns in favor of and opposing the ballot measures. All campaigns are being offered tabling space so you can talk with them directly and we’ll have speakers for some of the more prominent measures addressing the entire crowd. In order to help keep everyone safe, the event will be outside. We hope you can join us on October 23 from 1-3pm. For more information, check out page 14.

long with fireworks, dog excrement, and parking, the topic of Historic designations for Northside neighborhoods and buildings can be one of the most divisive among local residents. Typically at issue is the value of preserving the character of storied Denver neighborhoods in the face of development-driven property speculation, versus the flexibility property owners generally want in developing their land or improving residences and other buildings. It’s an evergreen topic and not just for the Northside, which is home currently to six historic districts (Packard’s Hill; Wolff Place; Allen M. Ghost; Witter-Coffield; Potter Highlands and Tilden School for Teaching Health). The city of Denver’s 54-year-old Preservation Ordinance has led to the creation so far of 52 local historic districts and more than 300 individually landmarked properties. (See the interactive map at https://www.denvergov.org/maps/ map/historiclandmarks). What is Historic designation and why is it often contentious? The process for creating Historic neighborhoods and sites and for reviewing changes to buildings covered by a designation is handled by the Landmark Preservation Commission of Denver Community Planning and Development. City Council then has final say on creation of any districts or historic landmarking of i ndividual buildings.

“Historic designation is one method of ensuring that changes to a neighborhood occur thoughtfully, preserving the fabric of a neighborhood that people love — homes with history, vital dwellings that preserve the past, while acknowledging modern lifestyles.” It’s an evolving process, too: on Sept. 29, the Commission’s staff kicked off an update to the historic design guidelines enacted in 2014 and last updated in 2016. The update will include community meetings and input and public review of draft updates, with a concluding public hearing and vote by the Commission. Historic designation is intended to preserve a neighborhood’s essential character, while enabling improvements or additions that can contribute to that character rather than modifying it beyond recognition. According to the non-profit Historic Denver Inc.: “Historic designation is one method of ensuring that changes to a neighborhood

See DESIGNATIONS, Page 23


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