All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1961 • Volume 56, Issue No. 2 • February 2017
Message From New GPHC Director Sierra Fleenor
PAGE 7
Health Care Repeal Threat Spurs Protests, Rallies
PAGE 8
MLK, Jr. Marade: Thousands March For Justice
PAGE 13
Park Hill resident Rebecca Zimmerman at the Denver Women’s March on Jan. 21. See pages 10-11 for more photos and coverage. Photo by Laurie Callahan/ Rendition Studios
PAGE 2
Women’s March on Denver
Inside This Issue
Residents Seek Good Neighbor Agreement With Owner of Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery
PAGE 16
Summer Camps Guide 2017 Special Section
Next GPHC Meeting is on Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m., 2823 Fairfax St., Denver All are welcome to attend
News in brief Developers to Update Plan For 28th And Fairfax Street The developers who quietly purchased much of the business block of Fairfax between 28th and 29th Avenues will present their plans during on Feb. 2 at 2823 Fairfax St, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The plans include demolishing the buildings on the east side of the street and building two-story townhomes, residential micro-units, restaurant and retail space. The developer, HM Capital, also purchased the building on the west side of the street that currently houses the CrossFit 1098 gym. HM Capital is also pursuing a land swap with the city to obtain the former Xcel power substation property next to the CrossFit gym. Denver Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Scott Gilmore previously told the Park Hill neighborhood that the city intended to install a park there. However, HM Capital wants to develop that land. In exchange, they would incorporate an open area into their development project on the east side of the street. As of press time, the status of that proposed land swap is unclear. The Greater Park Hill News broke the story about the development in October. HM Capital officers met at least twice last year with Denver City Councilman Chris Herndon, who represents Park Hill, about the project. But so far, neither the elected official nor the developers have sought community input, drawing criticism from community leaders and neighbors. (The news story can be read online at greaterparkhill.org/2016/10/massive-redevelopmentplanned-28th-fairfax-business-block/.) If you are unable to attend the Feb. 2 meeting but would like to weigh in on the project, contact editor@greaterparkhill. org. News briefs continued on page 7
Schools Update | Lynn Kalinauskas
The Roots Run Deep At Montview Community
Preschool And Kindergarten Founded Over 50 Years Ago By Former First Lady Bea Romer Once you pass through the doors of so many places in Park Hill, you also step into history. That is the feeling I got during a recent visit to Montview Community Preschool and Kindergarten. As I passed through the classrooms, I ran into people I knew from my days at Park Hill Elementary and Smiley Middle School. One could definitely feel the pull of the larger Park Hill neighborhood family. Montview Community extends much further into history, however, as it started its operations more than 50 years ago. It has educated generations of little ones in its bright and colorful classrooms. Lynn Currently headed by Kalinauskas Linda Marrs, it is located at 1980 Dahlia St., on the grounds of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Many have passed by, either on foot, on bike or in cars and seen the little ones playing outside on the playground that faces Montview Boulevard.
A school founded for all Montview Community was founded by Bea Romer, Colorado’s former First Lady, in 1964. A mother of seven, she had a bachcontinued on page 5
Preschool teacher Caroll Kaniaru, dancing while balancing bean bags with Ridley Grunkemeyer, JJ Humphrey, Charlotte Romer, Dylan Stahl, Andrew Staff, Wesley Roper and Lucille Korb. Photo by Lynn Kalinauskas