Urban Dweller

Volume 37, Edition 8

8/5/2019

Message From the President

Greetings Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Members and Friends,

Welcome to the August 2019 edition of the Urban Dweller--Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' monthly e-newsletter. Here is the latest from YOUR neighborhood organization and community advocate:

TICKETS TO THE CHUN 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ARE SELLING QUICKLY. Have you registered? Event sponsors include the Colfax Business Improvement District (BID), Denver Health, Denver City Councilwoman Robin Kniech, Margie Valdez and Jim Gehres, Rhonda Knop, Verizon Wireless, Presbyterian-St.Luke's Hospital, Good Chemistry, Denver Botanic Gardens, Verizon Wireless, CRL Associates, Sewald-Hanfling Public Affairs, Ivy on 7th, Travis Leiker & David Proper, the Sawaya Law Firm, The Goods on Colfax, Visit Denver, Carboy Winery, 1st Bank, Colorado Wine Board, and many others!
NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES REGISTER FOR 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. The support for the 50th Anniversary has been truly remarkable. The guest list already includes elected officials like Councilwoman Robin Kniech, Councilman Chris Hinds, Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, and State Representative Chris Hansen. A handful of past CHUN presidents, board members, and staff will be on hand to celebrate our recent successes too. If you want to learn more about the event or would like to register, contact our office at 303.830.1651 or email chun@chundenver.org.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHUN'S URBAN PLANNING COMMITTEE co-chairs Sarah Wells, Dmitrii Zavorotny, and Frank Locantore for leading a successful, robust dialogue at July's committee meeting. Topics included cooperative housing, affordable housing projects and funding opportunities throughout the city, and other salient issues. Sarah, Dmitrii, and Frank continue to bring a fresh perspective to CHUN's work, and we are thankful for their leadership.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN DENVER. Congratulations to Stephen Polk and Jim Slotta for organizing a terrific, inaugural Climate Crisis Committee meeting in July. The formation of the committee recognizes the need for local neighborhoods to think globally and act locally. Jolon Clark, President, Denver City Council, spoke about City Council efforts to tackle climate change through public policy, increased funding, and other local measures. Barbara Donachy, MPH, a board member of 350 Colorado, a Leadership Council member of 350 Denver and a board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado, also joined us for the dialogue. More than 30 attendees joined the group for a conversation and are eager to take action in their community. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Thursday August 22, 2019 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Congrats Jim and Stephen for the great work!
THE REVITALIZATION OF THE TEARS-MCFARLANE PROPERTY CONTINUES WITH RELEASE OF COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY. In 2017, CHUN engaged City Street Investors—responsible for transforming historically significant jewels, like Denver’s Union Station—to determine neighborhood perspectives and identify potential uses for the Tears-McFarlane Property. For nearly two years now, both groups have initiated the necessary due diligence required for a project like restoring and preserving a 120-year-old property. Beginning with focus groups in late 2017, we have recently completed additional outreach including surveys and open houses. Currently the property consists of the historic Tears-McFarlane house which is primarily utilized as commercial office space and a non-historic annex building which is used for community meetings and events. Based on community input, the current uses are expected to continue, and additional uses and amenities will be added. Survey respondents indicated the most desirable uses for the property are local coffee house, a small, intimate wine bar, and opportunities for neighborhood cultural enrichment. In June, CHUN held two open houses and met with Cheesman Park advocates (Friends of Cheesman Park and the Cheesman Park Advocacy Group) to gather their thoughts and perspectives before moving forward with an eventual rezoning effort. Community feedback continues to be CHUN’s number one priority.
MEMBERSHIP REVENUE NOW EXCEEDS $17,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEAR HISTORY. Thank you to Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, Denver Health, Helen Shreves, Mike Losier, Kathryn Duncan, and many others for their generosity!
The CHUN board provides regular updates about CHUN's financial, operational, and programmatic turnaround. The August edition of Life on Capitol Hill has more updates for you. Stay tuned for more, recurring updates. In other media news, I have appointed Karen Pellegrin as the editor and content manager for CHUN's Urban Dweller. Karen is a resident of the West Capitol Hill Neighborhood and a member of our board of directors.
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods was delighted to partner with the Colfax BID to organize a Colfax Cleanup. Scores of neighborhood volunteers--including a number of Thump Coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts employees, joined us for a morning of giving back! Many thanks to all who dropped by the Tears-McFarlane House and Capitol Hill Community Center to lend their support! CHUN creates community through volunteerism and service in the community.

Finally, congratulations to Mayor Hancock and the Denver City Council--all of whom were inaugurated last month. We look forward to working with them and their respective staff members in the years ahead.

Onward...

Travis Leiker
President, Board of Delegates
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods

Register for CHUN's 50th Anniversary Event

TICKETS ARE SELLING QUICKLY. REGISTER TODAY!

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods
50th Anniversary Celebration & Wine Tasting

Wednesday, September 18, 2019
5:30 p.m. (VIP Reception) ** SOLD OUT **
6:30 p.m. (General Admission)

The Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York Street
Denver, CO 80206

Space is limited. Deadline to register is September 15th. Must be 21+ years old to attend. Questions or to register by phone, call 303.830.1651 or email chun@chundenver.org.

Member of the Month

Denver Health was founded as City Hospital in 1860 to serve the health care needs of the rapidly developing city of Denver. Since then, they have grown alongside the community to become a complete health care system, providing care for all residents -- at every point in their lives. As Colorado's primary safety-net institution, Denver Health has provided billions of dollars in uncompensated care and serves as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation. To learn more, visit: https://www.denverhealth.org/about-denver-health

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Upcoming Events

A Taste of Colorado
The 36th Annual Festival of Mountain and Plain...A Taste of Colorado takes place Labor Day Weekend in Civic Center Park. The festival features over 50 Colorado restaurants! This tantalizing event offers more than just food!
Attendees can shop at over 175 Arts and Crafts Marketplace booths. An abundance of children’s activities, educational and interactive exhibits and fun games for all ages. Additionally, three other stages will host free nonstop entertainment. On the Main Stage, festival goers will be treated to a stellar line-up of national acts. Other stages will host a continuous menu of music provided by the Regional Stage and the local Cap Hill Stage.
Admission is Free!

Saturday, August 31 - 11:00AM – 10:00PM
Sunday, September 1 - 11:00AM – 10:00PM
Monday, September 2 - 11:00AM – 8:30PM
(Please note – Festival has been changed from a 4-day event to a 3-day event and will NOT be open on Friday, August 30).

For more information, visit www.ATasteofColorado.com or call (303) 222-5108.

Check out A Taste of Colorado on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ATasteofColorado
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATasteofCO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atasteofco/
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/atasteofco

Read about A Taste of Colorado Street Closures

Photos courtesy of A Taste of Colorado

Congress Park Neighbors 2019 Ice Cream Social

Congress Park Neighbors is hosting an ice cream social as part of National Night out and Denver Days. Come meet your neighbors and enjoy some cool, delicious treats.
Featuring Sweet Cooie's scrumptious ice creams!

Tuesday August 6, 2019
6-8p.m.
Congress Park Pavilion

A Week of Denver Days Events Across the City
Want to get to know your fellow neighbors? The 7th Annual Denver Days event is going on from August 3-11 and the city is kicking off with block parties, picnics, volunteer activities and more.

What is Denver Days?
Mayor Michael B. Hancock envisioned a city where neighbors not only knew their neighbors but as a result felt safer and more connected to the communities they call home.
Six years ago the Mayor turned that vision into reality by creating Denver Days, a program during the first week of August that encourages neighbors to get to know their fellow neighbors by hosting block parties, picnics, and service projects with the focus on small, organic gatherings.

Learn more and check out some of the public events happening around the city at http://bit.ly/DenverDaysEvents.

Meetings, Forums & Committees

Historic Matters Committee (formerly Historic Preservation Committee)
CHUN’s Historic Preservation committee and purpose are evolving! The new CHUN Historic Matters Committee will continue working to preserve Central Denver’s united neighborhoods historical and cultural matters by being the voice that informs, educates and partners our community, businesses and the City of Denver.

The committee will assert CHUN History Matters as the voice of our united neighborhood's historical and cultural matters. It will also enable and identify members interested in the committee and committee-related news to allow and will work to diversify and grow committee outreach and engagement with all RNOs, small businesses. The outreach and engagement efforts aim to create ongoing historic and cultural programming (i.e. lectures, walks, etc.)

NEXT MEETING:
Wed Aug 7, 2019 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm
1290 N Williams St, Denver, CO
CHUN Urban Planning Committee
The committee addresses Zoning and Land Use, Liquor License and Transportation issues that impact the CHUN neighborhoods. The committee addresses these issues by having parties of interest (developers, impacted neighbors, liquor license applicants, government officials, etc.) give presentations at scheduled meetings.

The committee also holds neighborhood assemblies to determine the desires of affected neighborhoods. Committee members also attend many public meetings to identify issues or to obtain information to keep the CHUN membership informed.

All committee meetings are open to the public. Citizens and businesses are encouraged to bring information, problems and issues to the attention of the Committee. Contact the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods office to obtain more information or to refer issues to the Zoning Committee.

To receive updates, meeting information, and agendas monthly, please email zoning.transportation@chundenver.org

NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, August, 2019 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
1290 Williams Street, Denver CO
CHUN Parents & Families Committee
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Parents brings together urban dwellers who've chosen to raise their children in a city environment.

This group is for Denver's parents who live in Downtown, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Congress Park, Uptown and City Park neighborhoods. More specifically, Capitol Hill United Neighborhood's boundaries are Broadway to Colorado, 1st to 22nd, so if your family lives there, join us!

We have multiple goals - to leverage Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods influence with police and the City, to improve conditions for families in this area, to share information, to retain parents in the area, to improve DPD schools, and to promote how awesome downtown Denver is.

NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday Friendsday With CHUN Parents
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cheesman Park Playground

CHUN Climate Crisis Committee (CCCC)
The CHUN Climate Crisis Committee had two meetings at the end of July. One was a planning session for the West Cap Hill Climate Action Forum and one was a long range strategy meeting for the ANCA Committee.
Download the August 2019 CCCC meeting report.

The date for the CHUN Neighborhood 4 ANCA Forum is tentatively set for Saturday, September 21. It will be the work of the local committee to select a site, promote the event, and begin the discussion of what it will mean to seriously address climate change as residents of West Capitol Hill. For more information on ANCA, including results from Denver Neighborhoods who have held ANCA Forums, visit https://accelerateclimateaction.org
Download the August 2019 ANCA meeting report.

The committee’s formation represents the next phase of the foundation established by C.H.U.N.’s longstanding Tree Committee as well as other previous environmental sustainability work.

Jim Slotta, left, speaks during a Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods board meeting in June. Slotta recently joined in with CHUN president Travis Leiker and member Stephen Polk to create a new Climate Crisis Committee. KAILYN LAMB

The committee is co-chaired by C.H.U.N. board members Jim Slotta, a founding member and president of Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action, and Stephen Polk, assistant professor in environmental studies at Naropa University in Boulder.

“The Climate Crisis Committee will convene a community-based dialogue around the urgent, worsening climate crisis and will promote a planet-helpful lifestyle among residents in C.H.U.N.’s neighborhoods,” says Slotta. “Denver has tremendous opportunities to experiment with creative solutions in combating climate change that involve wide swaths of neighborhood stakeholders,” adds Polk.
Read more about the committee in the latest article from Life On Capitol Hill.

Topics that the committee will address include water conservation, recycling, composting, renewable energy, and more.
For questions and additional meeting information about the Climate Crisis Committee, please visit https://www.chundenver.org/climate-crisis-committee.html or contact Jim Slotta at jslotta@earthlink.net.

NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, July 25, 2019
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
1290 Williams Street, Denver, CO

Congress Park Pool Public Meeting
Please join us the evening of August 12 to discuss the upcoming reconstruction of Congress Park Pool! Tell us what you love about the current pool and offer ideas for the new facility. Together, we can enhance the spirit and character of one of Denver’s beloved neighborhood pools. For more information, visit www.denvergov.org/parkprojects.
**Stick around after the meeting for a sunset dip in the pool from 7:30 – 8:00pm **

WHEN: August 12, 2019
WHERE: Congress Park Pool | 850 Josephine St., Denver CO 80206
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/621970204879051/
Nextdoor Event: https://nextdoor.com/events/3075901/

To request Spanish language interpretation please email parksandrecreation@denvergov.org.
Para pedir interpretación en español, email parksandrecreation@denvergov.org.

A sign language interpreter or CART will be provided upon request. Three business days’ notice is requested. Contact signlanguageservices@denvergov.org. For any other accommodation requests/concerns contact disabilityaccess@denvergov.org.

This project is funded through the Elevate Denver Bond Program, approved by voters in 2017 to enhance mobility, safety and quality of life across Denver.

Denver Water Lead Reduction Project Team To Present Alternative Program
Denver Water is working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the EPA to further reduce potential lead exposure for customers with lead service lines and lead plumbing. In 2018, CDPHE designated orthophosphate as the best method.

You may have seen the news coverage recently how Denver Water is considering proposing an alternative to the EPA to replace client-owned lead pipes rather than use orthophosphate. Please see attached the program fact sheet.

Denver Water recently opened up its comment period through August 7 on the proposed alternative and wants to outreach to as many organizations as possible, especially in its service areas. Further outreach is being offered to CHUN area residents during the August board meeting on August 15 @ 6:30 pm.

Program Timeline

Summer 2019
- Continued analysis and small-scale testing of Denver Water’s proposed approach.
- Ongoing community events to collect input on the approach.
- In August 2019, Denver Water will submit the official variance request.
Fall 2019 (Expected)
- EPA will decide whether to allow Denver Water to pursue the alternative to orthophosphate.
- Ongoing community outreach.
2020 and Beyond
- Once fully studied, Denver Water is prepared to implement the final decision.

Download the facts sheet about Denver Water Lead Reduction Program.
For additional information, contact:
303-893-2444
lead@denverwater.org
www.denverwater.org/Lead

I Am Denver Storytelling Lab: Inspiring Moments In Capitol Hill

As part of our 50th anniversary celebration efforts, CHUN invited the city's I Am Denver storytelling project team to host a storytelling lab at the Tears-McFarlane house on Wednesday, July 31st.

The process was very well organized and the storytelling team was there to give guidance and help participants create and refine their Capitol Hill stories. Lab participants sat together with storytelling facilitators to walk through the process of developing an inspiring, short story and really learn how to get their creative juices flowing. After the initial exercises, participants were given blank notebooks and helpful worksheets to try and write down their story before working with audio and video producers to capture those stories on video or as an audio recording. The final step was for participants to take a few photo head shots for the multimedia producers to include in the stories when they go back to their studio and build out a final product.

All in all, it was a great and enriching experience and we look forward to sharing a couple of those stories at our 50th Anniversary celebration in September.

I Am Denver is a partnership that brings City & County of Denver entities together with sister agencies, nonprofits, foundations and businesses to foster conversations among residents, and open the hearts, minds and doors of everyone who calls Denver home. They highlight and celebrate our residents, neighborhoods and history while allowing for high-level discussions around topics affecting Denver. Because of the partnerships established, they nurture individual efforts and group collaborations. To learn more about the I Am Denver project and how to participate in your own storytelling lab visit www.denvergov.org/IAmDenver.

Volunteers Help Clean up Colfax

Thanks to everyone who turned out Saturday morning for generously donating your time to come out to the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) trash pick up!

Thank you to Colfax Ave Business Improvement District for providing the route, donuts, and support needed to make this a successful event, and to Denver Public Works for kindly providing the trash grabbers and gloves.
If you'd like to get involved in future events with CHUN, you can see all of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at chundenver.org.

Congress Park Pool shutting down in 2020 to build bigger, better pool

When it’s hot out, pool-closing rumors are scary rumors. But there’s good news for anyone who heard Congress Park Pool will shutter for good at the end of the season.
The waterhole at Eighth Avenue and Josephine Street will close, but only temporarily to make way for a bigger, better one funded by voters as part of the 2017 “Elevate Denver” bond.
Construction will begin in 2020 with an opening date that same year, “pending no unforeseen maintenance issues,” Denver Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Cyndi Karvaski said.
Locals can weigh in — aka lobby for diving boards — during a public meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 at 850 Elizabeth St.

Read the full story at denverite.com

Commission recommends landmark status for Tom’s Diner; ‘I feel kicked in the gut,’ owner says

The owner of Tom’s Diner told reporters Tuesday that he felt “kicked in the gut” after a city commission recommended his property at 601 E. Colfax Ave. be designated a landmark.

Tom Messina, in his first public remarks since BusinessDen reported in May on a redevelopment proposal, told Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission that he has long seen the sale of the property as his retirement plan. “This property is basically all I have, and what I have based the future of me and my family on,” he said.

The commission’s Tuesday vote to recommend approval of the landmark application submitted by five Denver residents, however, was unanimous.

Tom’s Diner owner Tom Messina listens to speakers at a Tuesday meeting of Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission. (Photos by Thomas Gounley)

“We’ve seen owner-opposed applications before, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen one that so absolutely clearly meets the criteria and the bar for the historic significance in the city,” said Commissioner Kathleen Corbett.

The application now goes to City Council, which will make the final decision on the matter. Landmark designation would either scuttle the redevelopment plans or force them to be significantly scaled back.

To read more of this story visit BusinessDen.com.

Also in the News

Denver8TV Keeps You In The Know
Your City Now has all the week's news for you in under 5 minutes!

Protected Bike Lanes
High Visibility Crosswalks
A New Park in Green Valley Ranch
Food Trucks
Poetry!!

Tune in every week to keep up!
Follow @Denver8TV to learn more.

A Special Thanks to Some of Our Business and Community Partner Members:

Karen Pellegrin is has been appointed as editor of the CHUN Urban Dweller and a member of the board for West Capitol Hill (neighborhood 4). In her day job, Karen is a senior web administrator for the City and County of Denver and the city's digital accessibility coordinator, helping to manage the www.denvergov.org website and the city's web accessibility efforts. In her free time, Karen spends time in one of the wonderful Cap Hill parks, riding her bike along the Cap Hill neighborhood streets, or hiking and camping in the mountains nearby.

If you have something to share with your Cap Hill neighbors, please submit your news and stories to: dweller@chundenver.org

Urban Dweller

Volume 37, Edition 8

Message From the President

Register for CHUN's 50th Anniversary Event

Member of the Month

Upcoming Events

Congress Park Neighbors 2019 Ice Cream Social

Meetings, Forums & Committees

Top Neighborhood News Stories

I Am Denver Storytelling Lab: Inspiring Moments In Capitol Hill

Volunteers Help Clean up Colfax

Congress Park Pool shutting down in 2020 to build bigger, better pool

Commission recommends landmark status for Tom’s Diner; ‘I feel kicked in the gut,’ owner says

Also in the News

A Special Thanks to Some of Our Business and Community Partner Members:

Archives

Community Partners

Urban Dweller

Volume 37, Edition 8

​​Message From the President

Register for CHUN's 50th Anniversary Event

Member of the Month

Upcoming Events

Congress Park Neighbors 2019 Ice Cream Social

​Meetings, Forums & Committees

​Top Neighborhood News Stories

I Am Denver Storytelling Lab: Inspiring Moments In Capitol Hill

Volunteers Help Clean up Colfax

Congress Park Pool shutting down in 2020 to build bigger, better pool

Commission recommends landmark status for Tom’s Diner; ‘I feel kicked in the gut,’ owner says

​Also in the News

​​A Special Thanks to Some of Our Business and Community Partner Members:

Archives

Community Partners

Message From the President

Meetings, Forums & Committees

Top Neighborhood News Stories

Also in the News

A Special Thanks to Some of Our Business and Community Partner Members: