Message from the President Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you for visiting Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' March 2018 Urban Dweller. As the seasons change and the days become warmer, let us enjoy many of the treasures that make Capitol Hill spectacular--the budding trees and blossoming flowers, leisurely strolls through Congress Park, conversations and laughter at the local coffee shop or restaurant, and Colorado's abundant fresh air and sunshine. Tolstoy writes, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” Here are a few highlights about our own projects and planning:
Warmly, Travis Leiker President, Board of Delegates Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Hop on Over to CHUN for the Easter Egg Hunt  Saturday, March 31 marks the 25th anniversary for the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Easter Egg Hunt, and we're inviting the community to join us. This year's event will be a little different than in previous years. The egg hunt will begin promptly at noon and there will be signage directing families to specific areas.
Great Turnout for "Council in the Community" Townhall Community members check in for the "Council in the Community" event. A standing-room only crowd attended the first "Council in the Community" event at the Tears-McFarlane House and Community Hall on March 13. A wide range of topics were covered from issues having to do with Cheesman Park, grocery stores, public safety and the controversy surrounding Mayor Hancock's text exchanges with a female DPD officer on his security detail. District 10 City Councilman Wayne New and Councilors-at-Large Debbie Ortega and Robin Knietch responded to questions generated by members of the community. Because the event was so successful, we undoubtedly will do it again. This forum came about as a result of calls to the CHUN office about the closure of two local markets. Do you have an issue in your neighborhood that you think needs action? CHUN is here to help. To contact City Council or sign up for their newsletters, please click HERE. Time to Start Thinking About The Capitol Hill People's Fair!  It's 47 years and counting for the annual People's Fair Art & Music Festival. The fair will be June 1-3 in Civic Center. Denver's longest-running and best-known street fair is produced by Team Player Productions, the event benefits Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods. Did we mention that it's FREE and a great family entertainment? This year's fair promises to bring together an amazing array of entertainment, food, fine arts and artisan-made crafts, and more. Some special highlights include:
Weigh in on Community Issues Affecting Your NeighborhoodHas 13th Avenue Become too Much of a Raceway? CHUN is excited to partner with WalkDenver to plan a pop-up traffic calming demonstration in the Capitol Hill/Cheesman Park area. Using tactical urbanism ideas from around the country, a pop-up traffic calming demonstration can be a quick and fun way to demonstrate how to make our streets more livable by slowing vehicle speeds and improving safety for people walking and biking. WalkDenver has worked on similar events in the past, such as our Project Shift neighborhood demonstrations. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved with the planning process please contact Mark Cossin, VP of Neighborhood Engagement at [email protected] for more information and to be added to our mailing list for updates.  Now is your chance to give feedback to Denver Parks & Rec : Take the survey and enter to win a free class (up to a $90 value) or a $50 Amazon gift card! This survey will help Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) identify the types of Arts and Culture programming that residents would like to see offered throughout our 28 recreation centers. Whether you are a frequent user of these programs, or have never been to a DPR recreation center, we can use your help! The survey will take 10-20 minutes to complete. If you have children at home, there will be a section to provide input on the types of classes they prefer. The survey closes April 30, 2018. Share the survey by using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPRArts or by referring people to denvergov.org/recreation. For more information on all of DPR’s recreational programming, visit www.denvergov.org/recreation  Traffic and Parking UpdatesStreet Sweeping Begins First Week in April Last year, Denver Public Works swept enough pollutants off the streets to fill Coors Field with a pile of dirt and debris stacked almost 12 feet high. Denver’s residential street sweeping season begins Tuesday, April 3. Denver Public Works wants to remind residents that moving their vehicle on street sweeping day is an important step in helping keep debris out of our air and water. When residents move their vehicles, crews can sweep all the way to the curb line and provide the best service possible. Follow the red and white signs posted on the block for street sweeping parking restrictions to avoid getting a $50 ticket. Even if it appears a sweeper has cleaned the street, it’s still important to not park during the restricted times posted, as the sweeper may need to return to the area to make another pass.
For more information go to denvergov.org/streetsweeping. Street Paving and Lane Conversion on 19th & 20th Avenues in Uptown Denver Public Works crews finally have begun milling stretches of 19th and 20th Avenues just east of Broadway and repaving them prior to fully converting the streets from one way to two-way traffic from Broadway to Park Avenue West. The conversion will improve connectivity in the area, increase safety with improved bike and pedestrian facilities, and provide traffic calming in an increasingly residential area. Lane closures on York Street – 23th to 26th Avenues On Wednesday, March 28, crews closed and detoured southbound traffic on York Street between 26th and 23rd Avenues, while maintaining one lane of northbound traffic along this stretch as the city continues water line relocation work in support of the City Park Golf Course Redesign Project. The water line relocation work is expected to continue for about two weeks, with work hours from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. All work is weather dependent and subject to change.  Street Closures for Mile High 420 Festival Mile High 420 Festival will take place on April 2o at Civic Center. The presenter, Euflora Recreational Dispensaries, says the event "is being reimagined." It will have three stages for entertainment, yoga, educational seminars and more. Streets around Civic Center will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, April 21 at 12 p.m. They include Bannock from Colfax Ave. to 13th Ave. and 14th Ave. from Cherokee St. to Broadway. More information at www.milehigh420festival.com.  This year's Sneak takes place a week earlier than usual. The course will be disruptive for streets in the Cheesman Park, 7th Ave. Historic District, Cherry Creek Drive and part of University Blvd. between 1st Ave. and Alameda. Get the full course map here. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Steele St. & Ellsworth Ave. No Window Stickers Needed for Cherry Creek North and Denver Botanic Gardens Concert Parking The City is going to a "Virtual Permit" system for parking in restricted areas of Cherry Creek North and for the areas around the Denver Botanic Gardens on Summer Concert Series evenings. The system is based on license plates and vehicle information on file in Parking Management's permitting system. That means that residents will not be issued a physical windshield permit. Right of Way Enforcement teams monitoring the areas will check vehicles' license plates against their information to verify they match what's on file. The virtual permits will still have to be renewed annually and will exempt the permitted vehicles from the posted parking time limit restrictions in the permitted areas. Do You Know an Outstanding Volunteer? Nominate Them Keep Denver Beautiful and Denver Partners Against Graffiti have put out a call for nominations for an Outstanding Community Volunteer Award. Deadline for nominations is April 13. There are three categories being considered: Litter prevention or beautification, Graffiti removal/education/outreach/project, and Community Involvement. For more information contact [email protected].  The 5280 Loop Rolls On Planning continues for the 5280 Loop Bicycle/Pedestrian trail that would snake through Capitol Hill, La Alma/Lincoln Park, Golden Triangle, LoDo and Uptown. The second Community Meeting to highlight progress will be held at the First Baptist Church, corner of 14th Ave. and Grant St. at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 24. Around Our Neighborhoods Support Dora Moore School's Silent Auction What: Live music, appetizers, and great items to bid on from local businesses and community members Why: To support the students and teachers of Denver's oldest continuously-operating neighborhood public school! When: April 13, from 6:30-8:30 pm (6:00 sneak peek for VIPs) Where: Mercury Cafe @ 2199 California Street, Denver Ticket Prices: $30 ($50 for VIP- drink ticket, front-row table seating, and 6:00 sneak peek) https://spring-evening-out-a-silent-auction-benefiting-dora-moore-sc.cheddarup.com Marijuana Spa Opening in Capitol Hill The first marijuana spa in Denver will open soon in Capitol Hill's Creswell Mansion at 1244 Grant St. Cindy Sovine, the proprietor, worked extensively with CHUN and other neighborhood organizations to ensure that the business would be an asset to the neighborhood. There's more information about one of the first marijuana social consumption businesses in this 9News report. More Changes in Cherry Creek Big changes are underway on the east side of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center as the Safeway and RiteAid have closed. Construction is underway to accommodate the relocation of the Macy's furniture store and The Container Store. More information here. New Life for the former Tony's Market There's activity in the location at 950 Broadway where Tony's Market closed this winter. News is that it's being redeveloped as a food hall by the folks who developed others around town. More information available here. The Old Kirkland Museum Site Is Being Made Over Artist Vance Kirkland's home at 13th Ave. and Pearl St. used to be a museum. Now the site is being redeveloped as a home for the Kirkland Museum's Executive Director. Read all about it here. Tiny Homes Moving Ahead at St. Andrew's A village of tiny homes is proposed to spring up on the parking lot at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2015 Glenarm in Uptown. There's been resistance from the neighborhood who are worried about issues with drugs and alcohol. Read more here. Alcohol in the Parks? Watch for a survey from Denver Parks and Recreation on attitudes toward full-strength beer and other alcoholic beverage consumption and sale in the city's parks. Is it an idea whose time has come? Currently only canned 3.2 beer is allowed. Get the story here and watch for the survey beginning next week. CHUN Committee Meetings Neither the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Historic Preservation or Zoning/Land Use/Transportation/Licensing Committee met in March. Both will meet in April. Zoning Committee will meet Wednesday, April 4, 7 p.m. at 1201 Williams St. Agenda includes:
Historic Preservation Committee meets April 30, 7 p.m. at Castle Marne. Proposed topics include reuse of the Sports Castle at 10th and Broadway and construction plans for Route 40/Smiley's on Colfax and Downing. Public Meetings April 4, 2018, 3:00 p.m. City & County Building, 1437 Bannock St., Room 389 (Parr-Widener Room) – Denver Planning Board Hearing regarding #2017-CSP-0000011, sign at 3033 E. 1st Ave.
April 9, 2018, 9:00 a.m. Wellington Webb Bldg., 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. of Excise & Licenses – Application for a new Lodging and Entertainment Facility Liquor License and Dance Cabaret at the Parkside Event Center, 1859 York St. April 10, 2018, 10:30 a.m., City & County Building, 1437 Bannock St., Room 391, City Council Land Use, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee public meeting regarding proposed 2018 Text Amendment Bundle. Written comments accepted until April 2 at 3:00 p.m. April 13, 2018, Deadline for comments to Denver Dept. of Community Planning and Development on a Zoning Permit for The Center at Bosworth, the auditorium at 1400 Josephine, (formerly the Assistance League of Denver). Written comments are preferred so they can be included in the record for this application. Please reference Record ID Number 2017-ZONE-0008021. |
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