Urban Dweller

VOLUME 38, EDITION 7

7/27/2020

Message From the President

Greetings Neighbors and Supporters,

The latest edition of the Urban Dweller, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' (CHUN) monthly e-newsletter, is posted online. Here is a brief update from your registered neighborhood organization and community advocate:

Our friends and fellow urban dwellers in Northeast Denver tossed aside a neighborhood name rooted in historic racism and oppression. After an exhaustive community engagement process, the Central Park brand and identity represents a new chapter for the neighborhood. While not in CHUN's geographic boundaries, we applaud the activism and neighborhood's work to be more inclusive. The work continues.
The Denver Turnverein, a 2019-2020 CHUN SEED Award recipient, completed their xeriscaping project along 16th Avenue between Clarkson and Emerson Streets. When neighbors come together to beautify our blocks, Denver wins.
Racines Restaurant announced it will close after more than three decades of operations. Racines has been a fixture in CHUN's geographic boundaries, and they have been generous supporters and members for many years. We extend our gratitude to the entire staff for demonstrating an exceptional level of customer service and making the restaurant a welcoming, inclusive dining experience for locals and visitors alike. A heartfelt thanks goes out to Lee Goodfriend and David Racine for their commitment to Denver.
District 10 Denver City Council Member Chris Hinds organized a virtual town hall meeting to discuss homelessness and the encampments that have developed in many spots throughout Capitol Hill. The forum was an opportunity for neighborhood advocates like CHUN to weigh in on this critical issue. Direct service providers, city leaders, and neighbors also shared their perspectives. CHUN calls on all stakeholders to break down silos and to be solutions oriented in these unprecedented times. If you have thoughts on homelessness or other city issues, contact us at chun@chundenver.org. We want to hear your ideas! You can also contact Councilman Hinds directly at district10@denvergov.org.
Congratulations to our friends Mark Whistler and Charles Woolley for reconceptualizing the restaurant located at Colfax Avenue and Elizabeth Street. Now the Route 40 Café, the restaurant is a “cultural hub” on Colfax, paying homage to the history of hotels, bars, restaurants, theaters and shops that gave the historic thoroughfare its fame.
CHUN announced its support for the East Central Area Plan. In a letter to Denver Community Planning and Development. Our statement reads in part, "...the proposed East Central Area Plan brings a fresh, forward looking perspective to vexing City issues while maintaining the qualities and characteristics that make Denver unique. Moreover, RNOs including CHUN, will be fully engaged in the Plan’s implementation and future development within our boundaries."
When The Tears McFarlane House and Community Center (formerly known as the Capitol Hill Community Center) underwent a remodel and expansion c. 1979, locals attended a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate a new era of activities, services, programs, and amenities offered at 1290 Williams St. The next era for the property is about to begin. Our rezoning application will be considered by the Denver Planning Board on September 2. Once this process is completed, CHUN will bring much needed restoration to the historic mansion, rebuild the annex for a café (as it was in the early 1980s), and create a vibrant community center for the immediate, surrounding neighborhood to enjoy. Submit your support HERE. Our organization is engaged in ongoing conversations with neighbors to formulate a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) that will guide how the Tears-McFarlane will operate in the years to come.
On behalf of the CHUN board and staff, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones close to Rhonda Adams Knop. As past-president of CHUN during the 1970s and 1980s, Rhonda worked tirelessly to enhance our community through historic preservation and neighborhood activism throughout Capitol Hill. In addition, she was involved in a number of other local nonprofits including Judi's House, Redi Corporation, The Gathering Place, and Dress For Success. We thank her for her commitment to Denver and the indelible mark she made in our city.

During these uncertain times, let Denverites heed the words of the late Congressman John Lewis. In his final OpEd published in the New York Times, Lewis writes, "When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself." As we face a global pandemic, while engaging in vigorous [virtual] discussions about the future of our city, let us not lose sight of empathy for others and the capacity to shape a city that is fairer and more equitable for all.

For Denver ...

Travis Leiker, MPA
President | Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc.

Member of the Month

Progressive Urban Management

Progressive Urban Management Associates (P.U.M.A.) is a leader in guiding downtowns, neighborhoods, and communities to prepare for the future. Their approach blends community aspirations with an understanding of local market conditions and national trends to create tactical plans designed to be implemented. We are grateful for their work in the Mile High City and for their commitment to helping CHUN thrive.

Tears-McFarlane House: A Place for Capitol Hill to Gather

For decades, neighbors and community stakeholders have looked to the Tears-McFarlane House & Community Center as a focal point for community building, neighborhood vitality, diversity and inclusion, and a place to engage in local programs and celebrations. The house has hosted everything from concerts in Cheesman Park to talent shows in the annex room. As Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods works to revitalize and restore the property, we want this architectural and historical gem to be the community asset the original owners always envisioned.

Conversation on Race and Zoning in Denver: Past and Present

Denver City Council member Robin Kneich invites you to a Conversation on Race and Zoning in Denver: Past and Present. This virtual panel discussion will focus on the history and present racial disparities involved in limits on how many adults can live together in a Denver home, and on where congregate residential care can be built — including racial disparities in who needs these services and the impacts when they cannot be built in our City. The virtual conversation will be held on Thursday August 6, 2020 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

The virtual event is free and open to everyone. Please register to attend this discussion via Zoom: https://bit.ly/RaceZoningPanel. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Your Car is Not A Dog Sitter

Hot cars are dangerous for our furry friends, and an animal can die from heat stroke in just 15 minutes when subjected to extreme temperatures. Leaving an animal in a hot vehicle constitutes animal cruelty and could result in a fine of up to $999 and/or jail time.

If you spot a dog locked in a hot vehicle, please call Denver Animal Protection's dispatch at 720-913-2080 immediately. If you live outside of Denver, call 911 to be directed to the right place.

Should you find yourself in a situation that may warrant breaking a car window to save a dog, it’s important to clearly understand the law and what steps must first be taken before freeing the animal.

City Offers No Cost Anti-Discrimination Resource in Four Languages

The Denver Anti-Discrimination Office launched a video in four languages – English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin – to remind Denver residents that discrimination is illegal and that if they believe they’ve been a victim within the city’s boundaries, no cost assistance is available.

Greenverein Garden at the Denver Turnverein

Congratulations to the Denver Turnverein and volunteers from Uptown on the Hill and the Front Range Wild Ones! They have put hard work in to building the Greenverein garden on their block. The Denver Turnverein received an inaugural S.E.E.D. Award to use for enhancing their block through added greenery and environmentally appropriate landscaping. To find out more information about this project, please watch the attached video of their progress on the garden.

CHUN Supports the East Central Area Plan

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods ("CHUN"), Denver’s largest, oldest registered organization (RNO), is pleased to announce its support for the East Central Area Plan. CHUN’s mission is Preserving the Past, Improving the Present, and Planning for the Future of Greater Capitol Hill through historic preservation, affordable housing and tackling homelessness, promoting smart land use and zoning, advancing public safety, and encouraging community enhancements. The letter to Denver Community Planning reads in part, "... We acknowledge some may have concerns about this Plan and its implementation. However, it’s important to examine this initiative in a thoughtful, comprehensive way. In doing so, the proposed East Central Area Plan brings a fresh, forward looking perspective to vexing City issues while maintaining the qualities and characteristics that make Denver unique. Moreover, RNOs including CHUN, will be fully engaged in the Plan’s implementation and future development within our boundaries."

The full letter is attached below.