Volume 35, Issue 9

September Is Membership Month!
Renew Now to Continue Supporting Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods

   Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is continuing with its mission: Planning. Preserving. Improving. And we need the support of every resident in Greater Capitol Hill.
  Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is one of Denver's largest and oldest Registered Neighborhood Organizations. Our boundaries extend from Colorado Blvd. to Broadway and 22nd to First Ave. There are several smaller RNOs within those boundaries and Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods cooperates with them whenever possible to move our shared issue ahead for the good of our neighborhoods. So, even if you are a member of another area RNO, you should support Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, as well.
   Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods welcomes property owners and renters, old and young. And we are actively interested in having business members, too. If you fall into one of these categories - and who doesn't? - please renew your membership. 
   Over the years, as people have come and gone, even when they have not renewed memberships we have often kept them on the mailing list. As part of our renewal efforts we  hope to include only those Greater Capitol Hill residents who have current memberships in our mailings. So please...renew today to continue getting news from Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods and to continue supporting our efforts. We're your voice with city government.
   Renew Your Membership Here.

Tell the City YOUR Vision of Central Denver
   The City has convened a group of representatives from Central Denver neighborhoods to help guide a new East Central Area Plan. Residents, property owners and business owners from Uptown, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, City Park West, Congress Park and South City Park will be meeting for the next year and a half to hammer out a plan that will guide growth and development for many years to come.
   The Department of Community Planning and Development wants your input and has devised an online survey that will be available until the end of October. If you have not already taken it, CHUN would encourage you to do it. The more thoughts and opinions, the more accurately the Plan will reflect how the citizens want our part of the city to grow.  You can find it here.

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Denver's General Obligation Bond Is on November's Ballot
   Capitol Hill United Neighborhood's Board of Delegates voted at the August Board meeting to lend our support to Denver's $937 million General Obligation Bond. The seven-part bond includes money for parks, recreation centers, libraries and badly needed street maintenance, bike lanes and other projects that will enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods. The vote was 21-1 in favor.

A Great Time to Try New Wines, Nibble and Nosh
and Bid on Cool Stuff at the 10th Annual Wine Tasting

   Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods 10th Annual Wine Tasting on September 13th at the Tears-McFarlane House was a huge success! The weather gods could not have been kinder and we got great support. More than 150 guests attended. We had a roomful of tempting silent auction items. The wines were simply yummy, the margaritas delicious, the food spectacular.
   Thanks to our generous sponsors: City Street Investors,Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Odyssey Bistro and Grill, The Irish Snug, Good Chemistry Nurseries and Sangre Azul.
   Thanks also go to our auction donors: Berenice's Salon, Maggiano's, Maggie & Molly's Sweet Life, CGN Real Estate Services, Nichole Doherty Massage, Colfax BID, Novo Coffee, Elements Massage, Satchel's on 6th, Korenke Sports, Lightshade and Swoozie's.
   We hope you'll patronize these local businesses that were so generous. We appreciate them and their support for Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods.

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Committee Report: Historic Preservation

August 28, 2017 at the Cuthbert-Dines-Starkey Mansion, 1350 Logan Street.
   Mary Starkey, the owner of the mansion allowed members to tour the stunning structure. The committee discussed the following items:

1. Marie Benedix, Paul Cloy and Marilyn Quinn described to the committee their four-year process to prepare an application for landmark district designation of the Packard’s Hill District, which consists of most of the blocks between Lowell Blvd., West 32d Avenue, Osceola Street and West 35th Avenue in the West Highlands Neighborhood. Eighty-two percent of the 163 structures are “contributing,” mostly built during the “period of significance” of 1896 to 1940, consisting mostly of Queen Annes, bungalows and terraces. They described many notable owners and residents. Most of the initial residents in the 1880s and 1890s valued the “pure” air on the hill above the air pollution of Denver, and the “clean” living without liquor and other impurities outside of the Denver city limits. The residents voted once against being annexed to Denver before they finally agreed to join. Many of the early business and community leaders were women. The committee voted by a vote of 15-0 to recommend to the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods board that Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods should support their application at the City Council hearing on September 25. (Note: the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Board voted unanimously at its September 21 meeting to support this proposal.)
2. The committee discussed applying for an Action Grant from Historic Denver which could be used to research and file an application for a West Cheesman Historic District, which would tentatively be bounded by Lafayette, East 8th Avenue, Ogden and Colfax. The committee agreed to apply for the application. Unfortunately, however, because of lack of time and electronic filing glitches, the committee chair was unable to submit the grant application by the deadline of September 1.
3. The committee heard a presentation by Mary Starkey and her real estate/financial agent Jeff Barnard about possible sale and re-use options for 1350 Logan and whether a new owner might possibly want to build a new structure where the back yard is now. The committee gave ideas about what the Landmark Preservation Commission would want to see during a design review process, if any.           

Green Corner - Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action

Cheesman High Rise Climate Action Forum @Embassy Place - September 16
by Parry Burnap, Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action & Greg Sorensen, Embassy House Environmental Action Committee

   While Hurricanes Maria and Jose gathered energy in the Atlantic, following shortly on the heels of Irma, here in Colorado, about 25 residents of the Embassy House, joined by neighbors from four other high rises around Cheesman Park, gathered their energy in a Climate Action Forum.  They were there to discuss what they could do, HERE and NOW, to contribute to diminishing the devastating impacts of climate change on future generations all over the world through both individual and collective action.
   The Embassy House Environmental Action Committee, in collaboration with Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action (ANCA), organized and hosted the forum. ANCA was launched just under a year ago with the support of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods in the Community Hall.  The Initiating Committee is comprised of local activists associated with the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA (ICA-USA), Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Denver Department of Environmental Health Sustainable Neighborhoods Program.
   Participants generated a long list of practical actions that are especially relevant to high-rise living that can be implemented both by individual condo owners and their HOAs.  Sample ideas included green roofs, solar installations, battery recycling, composting, improved recycling, electric vehicle charging stations, common area energy-efficiency improvements with the help of XCEL’s multi-family energy program, discount purchasing of household energy-saving devices, and Denver Water rebates on purchases of water-saving fixtures.  
   In addition to immediately pursing these specific ideas, the group agreed that they wanted to continue their collective efforts throughout the Cheesman high-rise community.  A team from Embassy House agreed to activate a website that will be called GreenChees, which will be used as a vehicle for working together, sharing solutions, and measuring impacts. There will also be another introductory forum in January similar to the September 16 gathering for any other interested high rises. Meanwhile those present will consider Part 2 - an action-planning session in their buildings, during which building residents can dig deeper into specific, measurable solutions and develop work plans with deadlines and schedules. 
   If you are interested in collaborating with other Cheesman high-rise dwellers want to receive our updates, please contact Greg Sorensen at Embassy House, [email protected].
   If you are interested in hosting a forum in your building, please contact the ANCA team at: [email protected]
    Or you can follow our progress in future issues of the Urban Dweller! 

More Neighborhoods Are Getting into the Act-ion
South City Park
   Participants from the May 13th South City Park Climate Action Forum presented at the September 20 South City Park Neighborhood Association (SCNPA) meeting. They proposed forming an official Sustainability Committee with this mission statement:
“Unite the South City Park residents around the issues affecting climate change in order to reduce the carbon footprint generated in our neighborhood, and do our part to support Denver’s 2020 Sustainability Goals."
They offered a six-point action plan:
   • Engage residents and strengthen community by Reactivating and strengthening the block captain system to identify current concerns of residents.
   • Identify and monitor what is happening now in the arenas of : gardening, tree cover, use of solar, recycling, and efficient use of water.
   • Increase awareness of climate change and how we as a neighborhood can make a positive difference in protecting our environment.
   • Engage residents in the six action categories identified at the May 13th SCP Climate Action Forum:
     1) Dream a sustainable neighborhood (in cooperation with Denver’s 2020 Sustainability Goals).
     2) Do inter-neighborhood research on what other neighborhoods are doing.
     3) Leadership outreach to high rises and businesses,
     4) Formulate a survey-Where are we now with sustainability and conservation in South City Park?
     5) Involve local schools and students.
     6) Provide access to educational materials, both locally produced and online resources.”

Congress Park
   The Green Team at Congress Park is marking the completion of their first year as one of 15 Denver neighborhoods recognized as Sustainable Neighborhoods through the City’s Department of Environmental Health. Their Climate Action Forum, which is scheduled for October 6 & 7th at the Churches at 11th and Fillmore, celebrates the successful completion of this first year. For details or to register contact Liz Goering at [email protected].

Cheesman Park - see above

   Other Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods wishing to organize an ANCA Forum might wish to do so before the end of 2017, as the committee will begin to respond to requests from other interested Denver neighborhoods in January of 2018. Contact: Jim Slotta at [email protected].

Neighborhood Notes

Upcoming Meeting on South Cap Hill Liquor License Proposal
   Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is hosting a meeting on Tuesday September 26, so the KTM Restaurant Group can introduce themselves to the neighborhood and discuss their intended liquor license application for a new location of Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey on the corner of 7th Avenue and Sherman Street.
What: Proposed New Liquor License for Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey on the corner of 7th Avenue and Sherman St.
When: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 @ 7pm - 8pm
Where: 1290 Williams St. (Tears-McFarlane House), Hedlund Hall

St. Andrew's Church Meeting & Action on Homeless Housing
   St. Andrew's hosted a neighborhood meeting to hear what neighbors surrounding the church at 2015 Glenarm Place in Uptown. Neighbors have complained about an increase in homeless people congregating and camping on the church's property, some of whom have exhibited very disruptive behaviors. It was clear at the meeting that they feel the concentration of homeless people is affecting their quality of life, including security breaches and negative feedback from potential home buyers and retail renters. Many residents also voiced concerns about the church's lack of communication and engagement with the neighborhoods.
  After listening to complaints, Rev. Randall  promised to respond within a month, which many of those attending said they felt was too long. The church, accordingly has responded more quickly, issuing this letter on Friday, September 22:

Dear Neighbors,
   Thank you to those of you who attended our neighborhood conversation on Tuesday, September 19, which focused on issues of homelessness and concerns about campers on our grounds. We greatly appreciate your presence and value your comments and questions. 
    We heard from you that you are concerned about safety, and for the degradation of the neighborhood you have worked hard to improve. We heard your concern about a concentration of poverty and service providers in this area, and concern for your property values. We heard a lot of understandable anger and frustration with us for our tolerance of campers on our grounds, our lack of responsiveness to questions and complaints, and our lack of engagement with and participation in neighborhood organizations. We understand in a new way the impact of our actions on your lives, and we ask again, as we did that evening, that you accept our apology.
   While none of us have solutions to the crisis of homelessness, we at St. Andrew’s can do something about campers on our lawns, and we will.
   Now that we have heard from you, we will invite the homeless campers to meet with us, so we can listen to their comments and receive their questions. We will also meet with the police to discuss our options in terms of support for whatever action we take.
   Given the urgency of the situation, we have called a special meeting of our vestry (board) on October 3. At that meeting we will consider everything we have heard and observed, evaluate our options, and make a decision (in church language, we will engage in a formal discernment process). We’ll send an email as soon as possible after that, and will also invite you to come discuss our plan with us, so that we can get your feedback before taking action.
In the meanwhile, here are the intermediate steps we are taking:

• We have invited our sexton (custodian) to sleep here for the time being, so that there is someone on the premises.
• We have asked for additional police presence.
• We have begun telling the homeless people camping here that the situation is not working, and that we have to make a change, but that we will invite their comments and questions before we take any action.

    After listening to your concerns, we have decided to cancel our planned meeting on October 3, which was to focus on our vision for a permanent supportive housing facility. We understand that addressing the camping issue is the top priority.                           
   We will be in touch again in the near future, but in the meantime, please contact me, Elizabeth Randall, or Deacon Elizabeth Garfield with further questions and comments.
   This comes with hopes that we can begin again on a new footing with you and work with you to sustain our neighborhood.
                                              Faithfully yours
                                              (The Rev’d) Elizabeth P. Randall, Rector
                                              St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

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Community Open House to Discuss City Park Golf Course Redesign
    The City is moving forward with its plans for redesigning City Park Golf Course. Two identical meetings are scheduled to share plans and introduce the design/build team of Saunders Constrution, iConGolf Studio with Hale Irwin Golf Design and clubhouse architect Johnson Nathan Strohe. The City has already gotten final input from its Design Working Group and these meetings will unveil what the finished product will look like.

• Thursday, October 12th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the City Park Golf Course Clubhouse, 2500 York St.
  
• Saturday, October 14th, 9:30am - 11:30am at the City Park Golf Course Clubhouse, 2500 York St.

Go Take a Walk! Community Workshop to Begin 5280 Loop Planning
   The 5280 Loop is envisioned to be a 5.280-mile, world-class urban trail in the center of the city. It would go through several Central Denver neighborhoods, including Capitol Hill, LoDo, Ballpark, Golden Triangle, La Alma/Lincoln Park and Auraria. The Downtown Denver Partnership is behind the effort and in conjunction with its planning consultant, Civitas, is holding outreach sessions to discuss "specific considerations for each area." The first one in Capitol Hill ("Planning Area #3) is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant St.. www.5280Loop.com for more info.

Public Meetings

Oct. 3, 10 a.m. - 201 West Colfax Avenue, Room 2.H.14, Webb Municipal Office Bldg. Appeal of an order to discontinue maintaining a 6 foot gate forward of the Primary Street facing Primary Structure façade (4 foot permitted), built without permits, in a U-SU-C zone.

Oct. 11, 9 a.m. - 201 West Colfax Ave., Dept. of Excise and Licenses. Public Hearing on Distillery Pub Liquor License and Acoustic Cabaret License at 244 South Broadway, Denver, Colorado.

Nov. 7, 10 a.m. - 201 West Colfax Avenue, Room 2.H.14, Webb Municipal Office Bldg. Appeal of a denial of a permit to amend/divide an existing zone lot into two zone lots, resulting in an existing residential structure encroaching 6 inches into the 3 foot north side interior setback, and projecting
approximately 4.5 feet through the north bulk plane in the front 65% of the zone lot, in a U-TU-B zone.