Letter from ChristopherDear Friends and Neighbors Over the past year, this letter has come to you from the pen of our wonderful CHUN Executive Director, John Deffenbaugh. But as John mentioned in his April letter, he has accepted the position of president and CEO of Historic Denver starting this month. During his tenure as CHUN Executive Director, John provided thoughtful and professional leadership for CHUN, and was a steady hand ensuring that the day-to-day operations of CHUN successfully continued. We look forward to working with him in his new leadership position with Historic Denver. Qualified candidates interested in applying for CHUN’s Executive Director position can click here for more information. One of John’s last official acts with CHUN was to represent our organization before the Denver City Council by testifying in support of the historic landmark designation for 1741 North Gaylord Street. This is the first time in recent memory that CHUN has supported a landmark designation that was opposed by the property owner. Our preference has always been to seek and to help negotiate a reasonable compromise with the owner/developer. That wasn’t possible in this instance. With a strong push from CHUN and a broad coalition of other community organizations and individuals, the Denver City Council agreed with our position and voted unanimously to designate the house as a historic landmark. As a CHUN member, get involved in CHUN’s History Matters Committee and/or our Urban Planning Committee and you can have a say in the positions CHUN takes and be part of a strong unified voice helping to shape our city. Contact history@chundenver.org. On May 13, you can also join CHUN members and other concerned neighbors in taking action to clean up and to beautify Cheeseman Park. Working with the Denver Park Trust, CHUN is hosting and leading the efforts in the Cheeseman Park cleanup. Meets us at the Pavilion on Saturday May 13, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Click here to sign up for the park cleanup. And immediately following the cleanup, join us and your neighbors from across the city who will be coming from other parks for Denver Park Trust’s celebration at City Park. Get active in CHUN ‘s Community Engagement Committee to help plan and participate in future volunteer opportunities. Contact community@chundenver.org. As your registered neighborhood organization, CHUN provides you with a great way to make your voice heard at City Hall and to get engaged with your neighbors to help make our city a great place in which to live and work. Join us! Christopher Mansour President of CHUN Board of Directors Business Member of the MonthSullivan Scrap Kitchen
CHUN News and Updates May 13: CHUN Hosting Cheesman Park Cleanup
May 14: CHUN Joins the First ¡Viva! Streets Denver Celebration
CHUN Committee ReportsHistory MattersOver the past several months CHUN History Matters mobilized to help preserve a special historic home at 1741 Gaylord St. This home has been in the news as three individuals pushed the process of establishing it as a landmark, even as that was opposed by the owner/developer who had plans to demolish this beautiful home. The landmark was unanimously upheld by Denver City Council in an extraordinary manner; an owner-opposed landmarking has only been upheld once in Denver. This is great news for Denver and for CHUN. Here are some of the main actions CHUN History Matters and the full CHUN RNO took to support the landmarking: ● Brought this matter to the History Matters Committee for discussion and debate. Discussions with Historic Denver about the application that would be presented to the Landmark Commission. The committee formally agreed that we support the landmarking of this home, and it should be brought to the full CHUN Board ● CHUN Board votes to support a strategy to communicate about our support of landmark status for 1741 Gaylord St. ● Letter sent to Councilwoman CdeBaca and the rest of the City Council as well as the Landmark Commission ● Bruce Caughey provided testimony to the Landmark Commission on behalf of CHUN. The Commission votes unanimously for Landmark status. ● We reported that there was earth moving work up against the home to Council members HInes and CdeBaca ● We remained in contact with Scott Holder, who took out the landmark application as there were many media reports and discussions with other stakeholders. ● John Deffenbaugh, CHUN Executive Director, testified on behalf of CHUN at the City Council Meeting and there was a vote to unanimously keep landmark status for this special home. This result is fantastic news for preserving a special home in a special neighborhood and CHUN played a role in the final decision. Urban PlanningLegislative: The Urban Planning (UP) committee was pleased to host a presentation by Representative Steven Woodrow (House District 2) in April bout Senate Bill 23-213, the large land use bill currently under debate at the Capitol. The proposed bill was first heard in committee the day of our meeting and hundreds of people were testifying. The ultimate goal of the bill is to prevent further suburban sprawl by encouraging density, particularly around transit corridors, reducing traffic and the pollution associated with long commutes to and from city centers, and promote affordability in response to the housing crisis. The bill has received significant opposition from municipalities who argue that it usurps local control over zoning; advocates argue that the housing crisis demands a regional approach. At any rate, it has been significantly amended, with many plan elements removed within the last week. As of Wednesday morning, Rep. Woodrow sounded pessimistic about the bill's chance to survive largely intact. Other items the UP committee is monitoring: House Bill 23-1115, to allow cities to enact rent control measures, was killed in committee Tuesday. There is some speculation that a bill designed to address what are anticipated to be large property tax increases will be introduced within the closing weeks of the session. Neither CHUN nor the UP committee has taken any position on any of these bills. Full Street Closure Pilot: The city has created a program by which applicants may request a full street closure. There is some interest in pursuing this pilot program for the section of 7th Avenue between Sherman and Grant that has been partially closed since the pandemic hit. Business and property owners in the area, as well as CHUN and other interested parties attended a meeting at Luca this month to review the program guidelines and discuss possible steps forward. An initial issue is the applicant is required to commission a mobility study. The mobility study must address: 1. Vehicles. Specific impacts on immediate and nearby intersection level of service, queuing and other similar factors that will need signal adjustments. 2. Transit. Impacts of street closure on transit service routes and timing, if any. 3. Bicycles and pedestrians. Impacts of the street closure on bicycle and pedestrian circulation, if any. 4. Freight/deliveries. Impacts of the street closure on bicycle circulation, if any. The Urban Planning committee will remain involved with the process, including scheduling an ad hoc meeting this coming month to plan our response and potential role in the process Denver and Colorado News and UpdatesMay 17: Civic Center EATS Kicks Off its 2023 Summer Season
May 20: Althea Center's Metaphysical Fair Althea Center's Festival for the Soul Metaphysical Fair on will have Denver's psychic readers, mediums, healers, and metaphysical vendors all day! Festival Practitioners will be offering a special fair rate of $25 for 20 minutes! You get to experience readings and services, such as tarot cards, Aura Photography, Reiki, Mediumship, Channellers, Intuitive Guidance, Past Life Readings, Acupuncture, and more! This holistic event is focused on combining metaphysics, alternative and natural health for your well being! 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Althea Center in Denver $5 Entry at the door $7 more for Lunch Learn more: https://www.altheacenter.org/festivalforthesoul June 2: Celebrate the Start of Summer at City Park Day
June 10 and 11 : Denver Chalk Art Festival
Honor Your Grad in Life on Capitol Hill or Washington Park ProfileAnyone with a loved one who is graduating knows it’s about the culmination of years of hard work. There’s a way, as a community, that we can honor those students. You only have to know a student who is graduating this year to participate. In the past, parents, grandparents, neighbors, family friends, neighborhood organizations, teachers and student peers have sent me information about graduates they’re proud of. Here is what they need from you: • The full name of the graduate. • A headshot photo. Think senior picture or a selfie of the grad in their cap and gown. • The high school the student is graduating from. The school must be located in Denver (or the graduate must live in Denver if attending a school outside of the city). Students who are homeschooled or attending an online/virtual school are welcome to participate. • Their after high school plans, which can include college, the military, entering the workforce, gap years, etc. • Quotes (please have the graduate answer one or both of these questions in a full sentence): 1) In your opinion, what makes the class of 2023 special and why? 2) What did you learn during your high school experience that you will take with you in your future endeavors? Responses and photos can be emailed to: csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com or callat 303-566-4107 if you need help. Our honoring grads feature will run in the June editions of Life on Capitol Hill and the Washington Park Profile. The deadline is May 18. Beyond the Bag Consortium's Bring Your Own Bag Pilot
Denver Street Sweeping Up and RunningDenver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is reminding residents that the posted street sweeping runs April through November. DOTI is encouraging people to check the red and white signs on their block for parking restrictions and to move their car on their street sweeping day to avoid a $50 citation. Denver’s annual street sweeping program removes dirt and debris off city streets, keeping it out of our air and water and making our environment cleaner and healthier. Denver asks residents to move their cars on their street sweeping day so the sweepers can reach all the way to the curb line where dirt accumulates. The removal of debris also prevents storm sewer inlets from getting clogged. DOTI also reminds people not to sweep leaves into the street. Denver Parks & Recreations Summer Activities Open for Registration |
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