News in Brief – Aug 2012
GPHC Food Pantry Remains Temporarily Closed for August
As of June 26, the Greater Park Hill Community organization temporarily suspended food pantry services, an integral part of GPHC and the neighborhood, to strategically assess the direction of the food pantry. News will be forthcoming.
Walmart Redevelopment at Eighth & Colorado Boulevard
By Bernadette Kelly, GPHC Property Use Co-Chair
The redevelopment of the 28-acres on 8th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard at the former University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has changed hands from Shea Properties to the Sembler Co., and is presently under contract with Fuqua Development.
The approved General Development Plan documents, dated November 11, 2008, as prepared by Davis Partnership Architects, states that the anticipated development program would create a mixed-use project to include residential, retail, entertainment, hotel, office, parking and public amenity open space. Fuqua proposes the redevelopment to include several main retail anchors – with Walmart, potentially, as one of them.
The GDP was approved under Denver’s old zoning code, which is why the zoning map shows the parcels as C-MU-10WRVS, a designation that does not correlate to any of the zone districts in the Urban Center (C-) chapter of the new code. MU stands for Mixed Use, which is now MX under the new code. From the former Chapter 59, Section 301, Division 15, Mixed-Use Districts:
C-MU-10 Commercial Mixed-Use District. The C-MU-10 district is the most restrictive of the commercial mixed-use districts, with the shortest list of allowed uses. It includes commercial uses appropriate for high-visibility locations such as employment centers and the intersections of arterial streets. The purpose of the district is to concentrate higher intensity commercial uses, spatially define streets, encourage higher site and building design standards, and create a more attractive pedestrian environment. Uses incompatible with this purpose, such as auto-related uses, industrial uses, and single-unit dwellings, are not allowed. All uses and structures will be sited and designed to be compatible with one another.
The table of uses allowed in C-MU-10 Mixed-Use Districts lists large-scale retail as an allowed use with limitations and after special review.
The next step for the current proposed project and any future development at this site is the Planning Board Hearing for the Design Guidelines. This is part of the Planning Board Hearing agenda for Wednesday, August 1.
Fuqua is considering pursuing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) through Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA). Essentially, TIF is a loan for the sales taxes that the project improvements are projected to generate. If they do pursue TIF, then this would come up for a vote for approval by Denver City Council.
Please contact your City Council representatives, DURA, Fuqua and Walmart with your questions, comments and concerns.
City Council President Mary Beth Susman on the Budget Fix
Mayor Michael Hancock joined members of City Council and the Structural Financial Task Force to announce a balanced budget package that incorporates the recommendations of the SFTF and from community meetings. The package calls for:
• Implementation of cost-reduction procedures to streamline services ($10m savings).
• Reduction of costs in employee salaries, healthcare and pensions ($5m savings).
• Placement of a ballot measure to permanently lift revenue and spending restrictions imposed by TABOR. ($44m initial savings, $68m over time).
Among other benefits, these recommendations mean the city could restore library hours back to 48 hours/week without creating a district or imposing a mill levy; the police department could offer an academy for the first time in three years; and the city would not have to charge for trash pick up or add to our sales tax. To contact Councilwoman Susman, email marybeth.susman@denvergov.org or call 720-337-5555.
Pipeline Replacement
XCEL Energy continues its partnership with Q3 Contracting to replace nearly 100 natural gas linear miles of pipeline in the metro area. In August, the project will continue in areas of Park Hill. Q3 has a representative available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 303-996-3544 to discuss concerns or to answer any questions.
Councilwoman-at-Large Robin Kneich on a More Transparent City Council
For the first time, the Denver City Council will publish public comment instructions on all weekly meeting calendars. Language will be finalized and published beginning on August 1, and will be based on the following concept: For committee meetings where changes to the municipal code or policy are proposed, a public comment period of 15 minutes shall be provided on the proposed change to the municipal code or policy, with 2 minutes per speaker, and equal opportunity for opposing perspectives. Public comment will happen after presentations and before discussion at each committee meeting. For all other items scheduled for committee (i.e. contracts, briefings, and presentations), public comment is at the discretion of the chair and members of the public wishing to speak should contact the Committee Staff in advance to request an opportunity with which will be communicated to the chair for final decision. To contact Councilwoman Kneich, email kniechatlarge@denvergov.org or call 720-337-7712.
Denver Parks and Recreation Open Houses
On August 2 and 3 from 4 to 7 p.m., and on August 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Denver Parks and Recreation will host open houses at the northeast region recreation centers (including Central Park, Hiawatha Davis Jr. and Martin Luther King Jr.). Recreation staff will be available for tours, questions and activity demonstrations. Free visit passes will be available for the pool and/or gym. For more information, visit denvergov.org/parksandrec.
Greater Park Hill Neighborhood Watch Campaign
Denver Police District Two is campaigning to increase the number of active Neighborhood Watch blocks in the Greater Park Hill neighborhood. A recent department review of property crime incidents in Northeast Park Hill and North Park Hill for the first six months of 2012 showed that of the dozens of property crime incidents in this area, only one property crime was actually committed on an active Neighborhood Watch block. For more information, contact Technician Amy Esten at amy.esten@denvergov.org or 720-913-1095.
State Rep. Williams Pushing for Stapleton Location of New Patent Office
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Denver will be the site of one of four new U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices opening by 2014, a designation that is perceived as a boon to the state’s thriving techology sector and job market. State Representative Angela Williams is asking Colorado’s congressional delegation to support locating the new federal patent office in the Stapleton community. To contact State Rep. Williams, email rep.angelawilliams@gmail.com or call 303-866-2909.
RTD FasTracks East Rail Line Construction Updates
Construction is underway on the East Rail Line, the commuter train to DIA. In July, Denver Transit Partners continued work on bridge construction over Quebec between Sandown and Smith roads. Construction is ongoing along Smith, Quebec and the frontage road. For lane and road closure information, visit rtd-fastracks.com/ep3_26.
Denver Appoints First-Ever Chief Sustainability Officer, Tinianow
Effective July 30, Jerome “Jerry” Tinianow will serve as Denver’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer. Building on the achievements of Greenprint Denver, Tinianow and a new Office of Sustainability will continue the City’s environmental programs, with a broadened mission to also include economic and social sustainability. Tinianow comes from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s Center for Energy and Environment where, as director, he created the country’s first agrarian urbanist overlay project to develop a local food system within a low-income Columbus neighborhood and for which he received the National Association of Development Organizations’ Trailblazer Award for innovation in 2010. For more information, visit greenprintdenver.org.