All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1960 • Volume 60, Issue No. 9 • September 2021
Celebrating The ‘Hood
Park Hill Home Tour & Street Fair Set For Sunday, Sept. 12 Staff Report
Park Hill, with roots dating back to the end of the 19th century, is known for its diverse style of homes — ranging from historic Victorian and the classic Denver Square, to modest mid-century. Residents and visitors alike love the tree-lined streets and parkways, the meticulously maintained gardens, charming strips of retail shops and restaurants interspersed within the residential areas, and the neighborhood’s central and convenient location. The Park Hill Home Tour began in 1978, the brainchild of a local realtor designed to showcase the rich history and diverse architecture of the neighborhood. Over the years, the ticketed event has evolved into an important community fundraiser and tradition. Running concurrently the day of the Home Tour is a free Street Fair, which features local vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, children’s activities, and a wine and beer garden. This year’s Home Tour & Street Fair, set for Sunday, Sept. 12, once again celebrates our neighborhood, our greater community and all that brings us together. The past 18 months have been tough, but we are slowly emerging from our COVID-19-induced cocoons. Thus the theme this year is Metamorphosis. In the interest of health and safety, this year’s event will take place entirely outdoors. Check out page 6 for a sneak preview of the six homes on the tour that exemplify the variety of architecture and the creativity of the homeowners. Tickets are available at parkhillhometour.org. And be sure to head over to the free street fair at Montview and Forest Parkway to enjoy a day of fun and community.
There’s Gold In The Hills. And Yellows, And Reds
September is here, meaning the colors of Autumn are not far behind. Depending on weather conditions, the aspen start to change mid-month. Check out page 10 for several excellent mountain drives where you can soak in Colorado’s fall beauty. Photo by Reid Neureiter
News Briefs
Compiled by Cara DeGette, Editor, GPHN
Community Happenings: Lots Of Good Stuff Going On
Do You Have The Courage To Make A Difference?
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The McAuliffe International Safe Routes to School project, designed to improve the safety routes for Park Hill students on their way to and from school, has been delayed for up to a year. The $1.2 million Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), project was announced earlier this year, with an anticipated completion date as soon as this October, as reported in the March issue of the Greater Park Hill News. DOTI representative Dana Hoffman says while the design of the improvements is complete, “current conditions in the construction industry” prompted the city to bundle the McAuliffe project with another similar project to improve safety routes to Cole Elementary School, in the Cole neighborhood at 32nd Avenue and Humboldt Street. “We now anticipate we will have a
Six Places With Stories. What’s On Your Preservation List?
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Safe Routes To School Project Delayed
Inside This Issue PAGE 4
Continuing efforts to shut down the site have drawn increasing criticism from other neighbors, including in social media forums. Many neighbors are volunteering and providing meals to the residents of the camp, which opened in June and is scheduled to shut down at the end of December. “The overwhelming majority of Park Hill has been welcoming— ma k ing welcome signs, volunteering, dropping off donations … getting our Andrew DiCarlo, lead coordinator of the Park Hill Safe Outdoor Space, kids involved in helpwith assistant coordinator Oscar Hernandez. Photo by Cara DeGette ing,” noted one resident in a post, whose Safe Outdoor Space views were echoed by others. “The area is quiet, fenced off, and almost unnoticeable; I Targeted Again walk by it daily and never saw a person unOpponents of the Safe Outdoor Space til actively seeking out meeting some. These providing shelter and resources to 38 unplaintiffs are a black eye on our neighborhoused people in the fenced-in church hood.” parking lot at Park Hill United Methodist Cole Chandler, executive director of the Church are continuing their efforts to shut Colorado Village Collaborative, which opdown the site. erates the site, said there have been no inIn August, Park Hill residents Kevin Recidents requiring police response since it idy, Leah Capritta and Dave and Ella Rodopened in mid-June. One episode occurred man sued the City and County of Denver nearby involving car tires being slashed for allowing the authorized camps in Park along Glencoe Street near the camp, but in Hill and elsewhere. It was the second lawthat case, staff observed the group of people suit filed by neighbors in three months, and (who were not affiliated with the camp) and follows rulings from city zoning officials alerted the police, he said. upholding the decision to allow authoThe site is staffed 24/7. Residents live in rized campsites in Denver. The first legal heavy-duty camping tents with electricchallenge against the SOS, in the church’s ity, onsite port-o-potties, showers, regular parking lot on Glencoe Street and Montmeals and a range of services designed to view Boulevard, was dismissed in May. get them into permanent housing. It is the
third authorized campsite designed to help address Denver’s homeless crisis. A fourth safe-camping site is currently in operation on the Regis University campus in northwest Denver. Chandler says he’s disheartened by the latest lawsuit. “In spite of an overwhelming outpouring of support from Park Hill neighbors, a handful of neighbors want to put this important service model to an end,” he said. “Their suit likely won’t even impact the SOS in their own neighborhood since that is set to close by the end of December. Instead, their actions could impact future Safe Outdoor Space residents who will be stuck outside without the critical services and resources these spaces offer. “It’s a sad reality to me that people living safely and comfortably in their own homes would go so far to prevent others from having just a small ounce of stability.”
The Time Is Now: Make A Plan To Cool The Planet
Cat Got Your Tongue?
Upcoming GPHC Meetings Community meetings are conducted virtually on the first Thursday of each month. The next meeting is Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. The Oct. 7 begins at 6 p.m. Link to attend at greaterparkhill.org/ join-us/community-meetings/