August 2023

Letter from our President

This month, CHUN welcomes our new Executive Director, Brittni Joy West-Ware.  As a Denver native, Brittni Joy brings deep experience in working with non-profits like CHUN.  But more importantly, she has boundless enthusiasm for advancing CHUN's mission of serving the residents of Denver.  I and the CHUN Board of Directors are excited about what the future brings for CHUN, now that we have someone with Brittni Joy's background on board as Executive Director.

Last weekend, I joined our CHUN Treasurer, Richard Wilson, at the CHUN table at the Colfax Block Party hosted by Carla Madison Recreation Center on Saturday August 5th.  Richard and I talked with Denver residents about what CHUN is and what CHUN has and can do to improve our Denver neighborhoods.  What came through very clearly in our conversations with residents is that many people are hungry for opportunities to engage with their fellow Denverites on so many levels  and venues.  People want to know how they can have an impact on issues like development in and around their neighborhoods, and how they can help preserve our historic and unique architecture that makes Denver so special.  Residents want to get involved in efforts to help beautify their neighborhood streets and parks.  Moreover, in a post-pandemic Denver, people are searching for opportunities to reconnect with their neighbors in volunteer activities to help those among us who are less fortunate.

So join your neighbors as members of CHUN and get involved in make our city a better place in which to live and work!! Click her to join.

Thanks,
Christopher Mansour
President, CHUN

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Business Member of the Month

Your Mom's House

Your Mom’s House is an intimate multi-genre live music venue in the heart of the greater Capitol Hill Neighborhoods at 608 E. 13th Ave. They are known for bringing in the freshest up-and-coming artists - see August featured events below.

They are open every night from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

​You can find all of their upcoming shows at www.events.yourmomshousedenver.com or go to their Facebook page, under events, at https://www.facebook.com/yourmomshousedenver. ​

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CHUN News and Updates

CHUN Announces its New Executive Director, Brittni Joy West-Ware

Capitol Hill United Neighborhood (CHUN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Brittni Joy West-Ware as our new Executive Director from August 1, 2023. 

Brittni Joy has deep roots in our community as a Denver native born and raised in our city. She is deeply committed to CHUN’s mission of improving the lives and welfare of the thousands of residents living in CHUN’s service area.
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“The members and Board of Directors of CHUN are excited to have Brittni Joy join our team as CHUN’s Executive Director.  She brings excellent experience and knowledge to her new role with CHUN, said Christopher Mansour, CHUN President.  We are ready to help her succeed in her efforts to grow CHUN.”

“It is truly an honor to work with such an incredible organization. My hope is that I bring a fresh perspective to an already phenomenal mission, said Brittni Joy.   I can’t wait to see the results of this amazing team!"

Brittni Joy has a Masters of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Education and a Hospitality Management certification. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Clayton Contributes Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Clayton Members Club and Hotel and currently manages Brittni JOY Consulting, a JEDI and “Humanness” building company.

Brittni Joy West-Ware (left) and Christopher Mansour (right)

CHUN's History Matters Committee Working with Historic Denver on Seed Program to Help Residents in Historic Denver Homes

History Matters Committee members Bruce Caughey and ​Kevin Kelly represented CHUN at a meeting in July with Historic Denver to discuss the significant grant given to Historic Denver by the 1772 Foundation. The History Matters Committee identifies historic preservation and revitalization opportunities within CHUN' boundaries, monitors landmark designation activities, drafts position statements for board review and approval, and hosts periodic enrichment opportunities for the community. As the grant helps provide small and medium sized loans to people who live in historic houses, CHUN will work with Historic Denver to help them create the rules for the program and help identify possible loan recipients.

As Denver’s leading community-driven voice for historic places, Historic Denver, Inc. works every day to protect and promote Denver’s historic places in support of our diverse, dynamic and distinctive city.

Christopher Mansour quoted in Westwood Article on new Bike Infrastructure

Westword journalist, Benjamin Neufeld, reached out to CHUN to get our input on the new bike infrastructure in our area, part of Denver's 'community transportation networks" campaign.

An article published on August 3 talks to neighbors and regional neighborhood organizations (RNO) about the changes and the level of engagement from Denver Department of Transport and Interior (DOTI).

This is CHUN's input and coverage: "But according to the other RNO representing the area, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, the city's public engagement process on this particular project was more than sufficient. "We’ve worked with DOTI since early 2020 and engaged our membership and other neighbors to do the same," says CHUN president Christopher Mansour. "This included sharing early concerns that were voiced by residents and passing them along to city planners. CHUN is committed to being thought partners around these and other issues. The number of pedestrians and bikers currently being injured or killed on Denver’s streets is unacceptable."

Click here to read the full article.

Image from Westword, Aug 3 article: 'Another Bike Infrastructure Snarl in Capitol Hill"

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Denver and Colorado News and Updates

City Council Members, Chris Hinds and Amanda Sawyer, Promoting Walkability and Vibrancy for Colfax Avenue

As part of the East Central Area Plan, Denver's Colfax Avenue will get a new bus rapid transit line (BRT). Planners expect it to open in 2026, and officials say it will speed up public transportation along Colfax, transform parts of the street and promote economic growth.

City Council Members Chris Hinds and Amanda Sawyer want to make sure the surrounding properties are considered as part of the plan and have filed a rezoning application to implement the Active Centers & Corridors Use Overlay on parcels of land along East Colfax, from Broadway to Yosemite.  The goal is to activate ground-floor uses, create a more pedestrian friendly environment and better integrate future development into existing neighborhoods.
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The East Central Area Plan affects the neighborhoods of North Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill, City Park West, Cheeseman Park, City Park, and Congress Park, which includes the area between Sherman St. to Colorado Blvd. in this proposed rezoning.​

Artist rendering of proposed plan

Construction on Congress Park Playground, Walkways and Sport Courts 

Construction for the playground will start when the pool closes for the summer (mid August 2023) and should be complete by summer 2024. The expanded playground will meet play, safety, and accessibility needs.

​The walkways along 8th and Josephine in Congress Park will begin construction in the next week, and finish in early 2024. The project will complement the improvements made at the adjacent pool and improve sidewalk connections within the interior and exterior of the park.

Sports court improvements will include four new tennis courts, one new basketball court, and accessibility improvements. Abatement of the courts was completed in July 2023, and reconstruction of the sports courts will begin in August or September. Construction is anticipated to be completed by fall 2024.

Artist rendering of proposed plan

Ride Denver's RTD Public Transit for Free in August

​If only 10% of people in the RTD service area drove 50 less miles every week during July and August, it would be the equivalent of more than 1.5 million trees pulling carbon dioxide out of the air for one year, or taking nearly 10,000 cars off the road for one year!

During July and August, RTD will offer zero fares across its system as part of the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative. This collaborative, statewide initiative, made possible by Colorado Senate Bill 22-180, in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office, is designed to reduce ground-level ozone by increasing the use of public transit.