Volume 39, Edition 7

Message from the President

Greetings Friends and Neighbors, 

Happy Labor Day. Urban Dweller, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' (CHUN) monthly e-newsletter, is available online. Here is the latest from Denver's largest, oldest registered neighborhood organization and advocate.

Coffee in the community.  On Friday, August 27, I hosted a coffee and conversation with locals in the Governors Park/Alamo Placita neighborhood. I want to thank all who joined us for a thoughtful discussion about pressing city issues. A number of topics were explored including more inclusive housing policies, ways for locals to support small businesses, opportunities to enhance the Capitol Hill identity and "brand", and others. A special shout out goes to Noemi Ramos and the fabulous team at Ivy on 7th for hosting our group. Share your BIG ideas with CHUN and send them to [email protected]. 

City Council's at-large seats preserved.  In a narrow vote of 7 to 6, Denver City Council rejected a proposal that would have asked Denver voters to eliminate the two at large Council seats. CHUN's membership also weighed in and rejected the proposal. Instead, many of you called for preserving the at-large seats, suggested increasing the size of council from 13 to 15 members, and offered a number of other interesting concepts. One theme remains constant, council members need more staff support and larger budgets to boost constituency outreach and improve policy. Our organization looks forward to partnering with the Mayor and Denver City Council to ensure myriad Denver departments are staffed and funded appropriately. 

CHUN to host virtual town hall with CdeBaca and Hinds.  Shaping the greater Capitol Hill community through solutions-oriented leadership and community programs is essential to our mission. Join CHUN for a virtual meeting and conversation with Denver City Councilpersons Candi CdeBaca (District 9) and Chris Hinds (District 10) on Wednesday, October 6 at 6:30 pm. Please REGISTER HERE. 

CHUN joins the Denver Deserves Sidewalks Campaign. Denver Streets Partnership is "calling on the City and County of Denver to create a comprehensive and integrated Denver sidewalk network to guarantee that all of Denver is designed to prioritize and connect people first and to reduce our dependence on cars." The lack of safe, accessible sidewalks and infrastructure in many parts of Capitol Hill requires immediate attention. But, the need is not isolated to our own community. It is especially prevalent in Denver's communities of color and other historically underserved neighborhoods. Public infrastructure should be equitable and readily available to all Denverites. 

Register for the annual CHUN Wine Tasting and Fundraiser. Tickets are selling quickly for the 13th Annual CHUN Wine Tasting and Fundraiser. Join city leaders, friends, and neighbors for a lively evening featuring a wine tasting, light hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants, and an opportunity to connect with fellow Denverites. This event will comply with guidance from local and state public health officials. In addition, the capacity will be capped to allow for safe distancing. The tasting will be primarily held outdoors in the Logan Street Courtyard, Bubble Barn, and alleyway. All attendees are asked to be vaccinated against COVID19 before attending. 

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is pleased to announce a $1 million investment in The Denver Foundation. This unprecedented, innovative partnership establishes the CHUN Endowments which include an agency-advised fund and operating fund. Based on average annual returns, our endowments are expected to grow between 7-9 percent annually and the organization will only draw 5 percent each year. These endowment distributions, along with our growing membership, grants, corporate partners, and other fundraising activities, will fuel our operations, SEED micro grants, community programs, and our collective vision to move Denver Forward. As Richard Wilson, CHUN's treasurer said, the “Board of Directors is doing the smart thing...to diversify our funding strategy while building in safeguards to prevent unwise financial decision making in the future." The series of funds will be preserved in perpetuity. ​

Frances Perkins was secretary of labor for the 12 years of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and the first woman to hold a Cabinet post. Perkins writes, "The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life." CHUN, as a nonprofit neighborhood organization and community builder, aspires to do the same--to advocate for the best possible life for the Mile High City and its citizenry.

For Denver, 

Travis Leiker, MPA
President and Executive Director 

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Member of the Month

Castle Lion Development

Castle Lion Development, LLC was established in 1994 by Daria Castiglione and is committed to the preservation of Denver's unprotected architectural heritage with a vision for building well-crafted new multi-family buildings that respect neighborhood context. Castle Lion Development is passionate about real estate, conservation, restoration and construction.

Castle Lion's Projects include: The Bartholomew Residences, 1251 Penn Residences, The Beers Residences, The Wannatah Residences and The Downing Street Row Houses.

Ms. Castiglione received the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' “Good Neighbor Award For Notable Contributions by a Developer” for sensitivity to neighborhood context in the design of the The Bartholomew Residences Condominiums.

Additionally, Ms. Castiglione received a Mayor’s Proclamation from the City and County of Denver for the renovation of a notorious 100-year-old "crack house" at 1261 Pennsylvania Street, which was saved and repurposed into condominiums.

Castle Lion Development's specialties include affordable solutions for the adaptive reuse of structurally compromised or severely damaged older buildings and innovative solutions for the creation of appealing small living spaces to achieve the maximum units per project.

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CHUN News and Events

Join Neighbors at CHUN Wine Tasting September 29

After a 1-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, CHUN is pleased announce that it will host the 13th Annual CHUN Wine Tasting on Wednesday, September 29th at 5:30 pm.  Join city leaders, friends, and neighbors for a lively evening featuring a wine tasting, light hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants, and an opportunity to connect with fellow Denverites.

Special thanks to our early supporters at Carboy Winery, Logan Street, Joy Wine and Spirits, Ivy on 7th, and Denver7. 

Register HERE today.
Note: This event will comply with guidance from local and state public health officials, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regarding large gatherings and events at the time of the event.)

CHUN celebrates Denver Days with a Neighborhood Ice Cream Social

In August, CHUN partnered with City Street Investors and Milkbox Ice Creamery to host a neighborhood ice cream social at the historic Tears-McFarlane located at 1290 Williams Street. ​

St Francis Center Warren Residences Support Affordable Housing

St. Francis Center (SFC) is excited to invite you to the Saint Francis Warren Residences Grand Opening Celebration on October 22 at 10am at The Althea Center for Spiritual Engagement at 1400 North Williams Street, Denver 80218. 

The Warren Residences, located on 14th and Gilpin Streets, is SFC's third housing project in Denver, and will provide 48- studio style affordable supportive apartments for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and/or are justice involved. Residents will move into the Warren Residences in early October. 

At the Grand Opening on October 22, we will celebrate the importance and uniqueness of the Warren Residences. City officials, community leaders, SFC staff and a resident of Warren Residences will share their perspective of this innovative project. We will also lead tours of the Warren Residences and have light appetizers and drinks. 

GRAND OPENING FRIDAY OCTOBER 22, 2021
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM MDT
Add to calendar

Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality
1400 North Williams Street
Denver, CO 8021 View Map

CHUN SEED Award funds ​HRAC & Rocky Vista University Community Clean Up

The Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC) promotes public health by ensuring that people who inject drugs are educated and equipped with the tools to reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and to eliminate the proliferation of fatal overdoses.

HRAC is invested in the health and safety of their community and in August, HRAC and Rocky Vista University conducted a neighborhood clean-up that was mutually beneficial for both organization as well as being a great outdoor, socially-distanced opportunity for the community during the pandemic.

HRAC is a recipient of a 2020 CHUN SEED Award that helped fund this clean up. To volunteer, donate or just learn more about HRAC click here www.harmreductionactioncenter.org.

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CHUN Committee Reports

Community Engagement

​Community Interviews and CHUN-Talkwa - The committee has 20 names of people to be interviewed. In the past couple weeks, the team has been able to talk to six of these people. Email board member Jamie LaRue at [email protected] or call 720-530-4294 to get involved.

Little Free Pantry - The Little Free Pantry will soon be hosted by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a long-time CHUN community partner. The new location at 915 E. 9th Ave. will continue to provide nonperishable food items for those in need.

SEED Awards - 2021 applications are now available on the CHUN website and will be due on November 19th. Awardees will be announced in December/January.

History Matters

Members of the History Matters Committee met in August to outline their plans for 2022.

• Review landmark and demolition requests as to whether they merit action or investigation.
• Conduct quarterly outreach and education programs that will reach a larger audience of CHUN and non-CHUN members with a focus on topics of wide interest.
• Continue to build a strong partnership with Historic Denver.
• Align with the goals and mission of CHUN and serve as an advisory committee to the full CHUN Board.

This core committee includes Bruce Caughey and Kevin Kelly as co-chairs, Peggy Randall, Georgia Burleson, Charles Nusbaum and Debbie Young.

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Denver and Colorado News and Events

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Denver 2022 Redistricting

In 2021, voting district lines across the country will be redrawn to determine who represents the people of your state. 

Redistricting is the process that legislative bodies begin once every 10 years, using US Census Data, to account for population changes and ensure equal and proportional representation in electing districts.

In Denver, this means creating eleven City Council districts that are as evenly populated and as geographically compact and reasonable as possible to uphold the one-person-one-vote standard in the US Constitution.

See the timeline below to better understand when the City Council will meet and when and how you can get involved.

July - September 2021
Denver City Council will convene as a committee of the whole to begin drafting its resolution outlining criteria and procedures for the 2022 redistricting process.

​July - September 2021
Denver City Council is sponsoring a map drive with representable.org throughout the summer to learn about how you want to define your community.

September 30, 2021
The U.S. Census data will tell us how many people live in Denver.

December 2021
You can attend a Maptitude tutorial to learn how to make your own map to submit for Council consideration.

January 2022
State finalizes congressional districts.

January 2022
Denver Clerk & Recorder finalizes election precincts.

February - March 2022
Public vetting of proposed maps.

March 2022: Denver City Council approves final map
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Gerrymandering is silencing communities.
​Make your voice heard with Representable
and put your community on the map.

Changing Lives Through Music - Youth Development Music Program 

El Sistema Colorado is a non-profit that serves families by providing a free afterschool orchestra program to K-12 students with a passion for music. While they prioritize serving families with need, all students with an interest in music are welcome!

Registration for the fall is now open. The program is tuition-free and all instruments are provided so that all students have access.  They are especially looking for students 3rd grade and older.

El Sistema Colorado Interest Form (English): https://forms.gle/RpxgvtYvmJ2d3YDJ7 
El Sistema Colorado Interest Form (Spanish): https://forms.gle/hrJxTmvV9GSYhDkJ7 

Denver Issues Draft Five-Year Strategic Plan to Address Housing and Homelessness

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) has issued a draft review version of its Five-Year Strategic Plan to support those residents who are unhoused or facing housing instability. Following more than a year of public input from thousands of residents, stakeholders and partners, the plan will help guide how HOST invests resources, creates policy and partners to provide housing stability, resolves episodes of homelessness, and creates housing opportunities for the people of Denver.

In Denver, more than 115,000 of our friends, family, and neighbors are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, and more than 4,100 people are experiencing homelessness.
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For more information on the planning effort and to sign up for updates on the process, visit www.denvergov.org/housing.

115,000 in Denver are struggling to keep a roof over their head and more than 4,100 are experiencing homelessness.
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Cheesman Park Art Festival is October 2nd and 3rd

135 artists and craftsmen from across the United States will showcase their work at the 2021 Cheesman Park Art Fest. Each year, artists and craftsmen offer a wide array of mediums and price-points. This is a juried event, and the organizers take pride in the curated selection of hand-made, American-made work that is sold directly by the artists.

Live entertainment and food trucks will also be part of the festivities.

Celebrating Whittier’s History: A Park Walking Tour 

Denver’s Whittier neighborhood was first developed after the Civil War to meet the housing demands of a growing city. The first residents were artisans—carpenters, bricklayers, and metalworkers. Black families began moving to the neighborhood more than one hundred years ago, driven by redlining, a practice that restricted housing for minorities to certain neighborhoods, including Whittier and neighboring San Rafael and Five Points.

Today, Whittier’s history is on display in the fine architectural details of its brick homes and in five neighborhood parks—George Morrison, Sr. Park, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Park, Frederick Douglass Park, Fuller Park, and Madam C.J. Walker Park—four of which are named in honor of prominent Black professionals, some with connections to Denver.

To read more, click here: https:denverparktrust.org/july-29-2021/#whittierwalkingtour

La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood designated historic cultural district

Community members and residents, in partnership with Historic Denver and the city’s Landmark Preservation staff, worked to designate the La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood as a historic cultural district and in August, the Denver City Council voted to approve this landmark designation.

Through a year-long community process, the city’s Landmark Preservation staff created customized design guidelines that appropriately reflect the layered history and culture of the La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood. 

The La Alma Lincoln Park Historic Cultural District is now the 57th historic district and the second historic cultural district in the City and County of Denver. 
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Read more in English and Spanish / Leer en inglés y español >>

Sign Up for a Tree with The Park People

​​The Park People's mission is to work with communities to plant trees and improve parks for a healthy, resilient future.

They improve parks by raising funds for park projects, like the reconstruction of the Cranmer Park Sundial & Plaza, and they support the urban forest through their programs: Denver Digs Trees, Mile High Tree Champions, Community Forester, and the Park Legacy program.

Click here for a sign-up-for-a-tree application: theparkpeople.org/What-We-Do/Denver-Digs-Trees/Sign-up-for-a-Tree-Application-Reminder