Message from CHUN LeadershipGreetings Friends and Neighbors Last month’s word was “gratitude.” This month, it feels appropriate to “celebrate,” because CHUN’s 14th annual fundraiser, Celebrate Community: Wine, Beer, and Bites, will take place on September 14th in the patio of Logan Street Restaurant. Now, more than ever, it is critical that community voices can inform the direction of our city and registered neighborhood groups (RNOs) such as CHUN are key to ensuring these voices are heard. Please join us on the night, tickets are available here. As well as wine tasting, a selection of beers, and light hors d'oeuvres, there will be live music from the wonderful Dzirae Gold. Cases of wine will also be available for sale, with 10% of proceeds being donated to CHUN. All funds generated from this event will allow us to continue our valuable work of preserving the past, improving the present, and planning for a future. We are proud of recent activities and achievements, which include:
We hope you can join us to celebrate these accomplishments and look to the future… over a few glasses of wine or beer. CHUN's Urban Planning Committee will also be hosting a community forum on October 11th on several forthcoming ballot initiatives. With an election just around the corner, we are committed to playing our part in disseminating accurate information on measures that will have a substantial impact upon our city. Keep eye out for further information on our website and via email. Finally, we are excited at the prospect of moving back into the Tears McFarlane House (as you can see from the expressions on our faces!) and cannot wait to welcome you to the historic mansion in the coming months. I hope you enjoy this edition of Urban Dweller and are having a memorable summer. Cheers! John Deffenbaugh Executive Director | Capitol Hill United Neighbors, Inc. Member of the MonthREDI Corporation
CHUN Volunteer & Support OpportunitiesSeptember 14: Please Join Your Neighbors at this Year's CHUN Annual Fundraiser - Wine, Beer and Bites
CHUN News and EventsRibbon Cutting for SEED Award Funded New Community Fridge
The Tears-McFarlane House RenovationsSignificant work has been done on the renovations of the interior and exterior of the Tears-McFarlane House. Built in 1899 on the northern edge of Denver’s Cheesman Park, the fashionable Tears-McFarlane House is an important Capitol Hill landmark, significant both for its architectural flourishes and its association with the development of the neighborhood. CHUN Board Members and Staff toured the Tears-McFarlane House on August 8th for a glimpse of the on-going restoration work on the property. Much progress has been made with refinished floors, new paint, updated lighting and fully-renovated bathrooms. Work will continue over the coming weeks as new carpet is installed, furniture arrives, and finishing touches are added. CHUN and City Street Investors are anticipating an early fall return to the renovated property. Design and permitting work continues on the new café with work on that phase of the project anticipated to start in early 2023. CHUN History Matters Members Enjoy Tour of Historic Patterson Inn
August CHUN Webinar: Denver's New Volume-based Trash Pricing Program
August CHUN Webinar: Activities of Nonprofits to Help Those Affected by HomelessnessIn August, CHUN partnered with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Colorado Village Collaborative, and WellPower to present a webinar focusing on the activities of nonprofits who work with those affected by homelessness. Presenters included Cathy Alderman, Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Cuica Montoya, Safe Outdoor Space Program Director at Colorado Village Collaborative and Chris Richardson, Project Manager at Mental Health Center of Denver - WellPower. The work of these wonderful organizations should give us hope that there can be a brighter future for our fellow Denverites without permanent housing. CHUN Committee ReportsCHUN History Matters CommitteeHistoric Curtis Park and Five Points Walking Tours- Discussion with Amanda Pennington to partner and create walking tours of Curtis Park, Historic Five Points Neighborhood, and partner with their neighborhood assoc. History Matters team of Andrea Hamilton, Kevin Kelly and Peggy Randall will organize tours of 10 or 12 people. Sign ups will include a QR code to create a donation for every tour to St. Francis Center. These are the dates that HM will plan signup for walking tours in October- 10/5 – 3 or 4 pm; 10/6 – 3 or 4 pm; 10/15 – 10 or 11 am; 10/16 – 10 or 11 am. CHUN Land Acknowledgement - A discussion about the Land Acknowledgement Statement took place. Many ideas about how to best move forward to assure that this is a meaningful action and not just a cursory addition to our website. Discussion centered eventually on treating it more like the statement of diversity and perhaps integrating the Land Acknowledgement into this key document. We will take this up at a future meeting before bringing it to the entire Board for approval at the September meeting. Katie Swick thought a good way to tie this together would be to introduce this to our CHUN members with special outreach on Indigenous Peoples Day on October 10th . Recognition - Carl Bourgeois, historic Five Points developer, preservationist and investor was honored in CHUN's August Urban Dweller. Landmark referrals: CHUN is not receiving notices for projects on the list for demolition eligibility. John Deffenbaugh will follow up with Community Planning and Development and the Denver Landmark Preservation Office to assure we are getting notices and are able to participate in any landmark training necessary. We discussed a recent demotion eligibility notice for a unique property at 401 N Madison St. that was the former home of Richard Crowther, a prominent Denver architect. Historic Denver was reaching out to engage CHUN on this home as well. There was significant discussion about CHUN being notified and what we can do about projects of great importance to the preserving the past of Denver, and what is the city obligation, The simplified process is as follows: A landmark designation application can come from the executive director of Community Planning and Development, one or more members of City Council, or three residents of the City and County of Denver. Community Engagement CommitteeA meeting for CHUN’s Community Engagement Committee was held on July 13, and focused on a mid-year review of goals and activities. Discussion included accomplishments so far, actions to be taken to implement activities, and in some cases, an agreement that activities are better accomplished through other places within CHUN’s organization. Goal 1: Community Investment – established in 2019, SEED Awards support community engagement by providing financial support for projects that align with CHUN’s mission and values as well as enhance the quality of life for those who live within the greater Capitol Hill Community.
Goal 3: Be a Voice for Social Justice It was agreed that the CHUN board would benefit from equity training. John D. knows of a training group and will contact them to gather more information. Once the CE committee has a proposal on training and cost, it will be presented to the full CHUN board for consideration. •Goal 4: Enhance Our Environment
Tears-McFarlane House & Community Center CommitteeDesign and construction work continues to progress on the Tears-McFarlane House and new café. Major items under consideration or completed since May include: Restoration and renovation work on the historic Tears-McFarlane House is in its final stages and is expected to be complete by the end of September
Design and permitting work on the new café continues with Semple Brown Design: o City Street has reviewed bids for construction of the new annex café and we are pleased to announce to the Board that Jordy Construction has been chosen! Information about their work can be found at: https://jordyconstruction.com/
Fundraising CommitteeSept 14 fundraiser postcard invites are in the mail along with email blasts planned to follow. Contract has been signed with Logan Street/ Carboy for the venue, JOY wine and Liquor is providing vendors for alcohol, and we have an amazing singer for entertainment throughout the evening. PLEASE NOTE: there will be an opportunity to order wine for purchase with 10% going to CHUN! Denver and Colorado News & EventsSafe House Denver Offers Sessions to Help Understand the Dynamics of Domestic Violence
October 2: 2022 Denver Kidney Walk at City Park
Cherry Creek Makes Paying for Parking Virtual
Inaugural Art RiNo Festival September 5th to 11th
Election Due Process and TransparencyThere are 2 upcoming elections in Denver. General Election: November 8, 2022. Municipal Election: April 4, 2023. Here are some links to help you learn more about due process and transparency.
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