Urban Dweller

January 2023

1/9/2023

A Letter from John

Happy New Year! To kick off 2023, CHUN’s annual meeting will take place on Thursday, January 12th. Please join us at the Althea Centre at 1400 N Williams, further details are below. For the first time, the meeting will incorporate the SEED Awards, where we will celebrate the leaders of wonderful community initiatives that enrich the communities of greater Capitol Hill. After the main program, we invite you to an open house and tours of the recently restored Tears-McFarlane House, one block away at 1290 N Williams Street. Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be provided at the open house.

This month also brings big changes within CHUN. We say a very fond farewell to long standing Board President, Travis Leiker. Travis has been instrumental in shaping the organization and leaves CHUN with a solid financial footing and a wonderful, engaged board. Here are just a few of our accomplishments under Travis’s leadership:

Emerging from financial insolvency in 2017.
Launching our micro-grants to community nonprofits.
Hiring new staff and rebuilding the board of directors.
Refining internal financial and legal protocols to be consistent with best practices.
Rezoning the historic Tears-McFarlane House and forming a public-private partnership.
Negotiating several good neighbor agreements including those that paved the way for affordable housing, the first safe outdoor spaces to operate responsibly in greater Capitol Hill, and brokering
And establishing a $1 million endowment at the Denver Foundation to support CHUN in perpetuity.

Additionally, CHUN emerged as a policy thought-leader in Denver and it remains highly regarded for its work as a decades-old nonprofit and city advocacy organization.

We also welcome Christopher Mansour as CHUN’s incoming Board President. Christopher brings a wealth of experience and we look forward to working with him going forward. Further news about CHUN organizational changes are provided below.

We wish you a successful 2023 and look forward to working with you during this transformational year for our city.

Cheers!
John Deffenbaugh
Executive Director, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc.

Community Member of the Month

Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality

The Althea is a leading, innovative, and cherished sanctuary for dynamic spiritual education, transformative experience, and a compassionate, inclusive community. The mission of the Althea Center is to awaken the spirit of oneness in all.

At the Althea, they do things differently. They are not a conventional church nor even a typical center; they are a dynamic, diverse, evolving community, committed to supporting, inspiring and challenging all who seek to embrace an expansive way of being and a joyful experience of life.

They offer a Sunday 10:30 am gathering and many classes, workshops and special events throughout the week - from yoga to meditation, spiritual psychology to chanting and movie nights.

CHUN News and Updates

CHUN Annual Meeting and Tears-McFarlane Open House: January 12

Please join us to celebrate a vibrant 2022 and look forward to what promises to be an exciting 2023.

The annual meeting will be focused on the winners of CHUN's SEED Awards, which encourage civic entrepreneurship and 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.

Following the main program at the Althea Center, please join us for an open house and tours of the recently restored magnificent Tears-McFarlane House, two blocks away at 1290 N Williams. Refreshments will be provided. This event is free but please register to reserve your spot!

[above] Architects rendering of proposed updates and cafe.

WHEN Thursday, January 12th at 5:30PM
WHERE Althea Center, 1400 N. Williams Street.
WHY Celebrate local entrepreneurialism, network, mingle, get to know each other.
REGISTER Please register here chundenver.org

Announcing Our Newest CHUN Appointments

Christoper Mansour is the new incoming President of the CHUN Board of Directors. Christopher and his wife Carmel moved to Denver in 2020 and bought and renovated their condo in the historic Daly Mansion in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Christopher is excited to build on the tremendous success CHUN has experienced over the last several years by continuing to engage in the debates around future urban development in our Capitol Hill neighborhoods while striving to preserve the beautiful historic architecture that makes Denver such an amazing place in which to live and work. One of his top priorities will be to expand volunteer opportunities for CHUN members to help make a difference in the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Bruce Mann is the new incoming Vice President of CHUN Community Engagement. Bruce joined the CHUN board in 2022 with a desire to join with others in finding equitable solutions to challenging issues and to improve outcomes for all members of the community. In his new role, Bruce hopes to increase opportunities for CHUN members and the public to engage in direct service, become better informed and knowledgeable about the community and connect with each other.

George Gromke is the new incoming CHUN Secretary. George joined CHUN in 2022 because he has a strong passion for positive community change. Born and raised in Colorado, he is currently living in the Cheesman Park Neighborhood where he spends plenty of time biking around the city and playing pickleball at Congress Park! He joined CHUN to be more involved in my neighborhood and to help further the strong work CHUN has done to make our community a better place. As secretary, he hopes to provide a more integral role in that mission and to help provide support for the team.

Raj Agarwal is the new IT Specialist for CHUN. Raj joined the CHUN Board in 2020. He has lived in the City Park neighborhood for more than 11 years and during that time has seen a lot of change. Since joining CHUN, he has garnered a much better idea about how the changes takes place and why they do. He gained a lot of this perspective by actively participating in the Urban Planning Committee and volunteering at CHUN sponsored events. He says that after joining CHUN and becoming active in it, he feels like he doesn't just live in City Park, but feels it is a part of him.

Christoper
Mansour

Bruce
Mann

George
Gromke

Raj
Agarwal

Congratulations to our 2023 CHUN Good Neighbor Award Recipients

Tom Knorr Award for Outstanding Community Leadership named in memory of past CHUN Executive Director Tom Knorr, this award is given those who advance Tom's distinctive approach to building community; the recipient will be a person (or group) who brings people together, builds partnerships and helps people to realize we can accomplish more collectively and become a better neighborhood as we work together. Recipients of the Tom Knorr Award have demonstrated exceptional dedication and community spirit in their work to strengthen Capitol Hill neighborhoods over time. This is the highest honor bestowed by Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods.

- VICKIE BERKLEY & NICHOLE RACELIS

Roger Armstrong Award for Outstanding Volunteerism named in honor of CHUN's late executive director Roger Armstrong, this award is given to those who have displayed outstanding volunteerism in our neighborhoods.

- JEANNE PUERTA

Historic Preservation Award awarded to a person or organization for preserving and restoring historic, architecturally significant treasures throughout CHUN's boundaries and other Denver communities.

- SEMPLE BROWN ARCHITECTS

Neighborhood Character Award for preserving and developing neighborhood character through smart land use, effective zoning, community beautification, small business development, and architectural preservation efforts.

- SIENNA WINE BAR & SMALL PLATES

Affordable & Accessible Housing/Addressing Homelessness Award given to those organizations or individuals for their contributions to address homelessness or ensuring accessible, affordable housing in our neighborhoods.

- CAPITOL SQUARE APARTMENTS

Neighborhood Safety Award for fostering safe neighborhoods by increasing access to services, creating safe places, and establishing communities free of crime.

- RACHEL GRIFFIN

Vickie Berkley

Nichole Racelis

Jeanne Puerta

Semple Brown Architects

Sienna Wine Bar

Capitol Square Apartments

Rachel Griffin

Thanks to All Who Supported CHUN on Colorado Gives Day

This year, CHUN hosted its festive celebration on Colorado Gives Day to celebrate our accomplishments and making more good happen for the greater Capitol Hill area. We asked our friends and members to donate to CHUN.

Thank you to all of you who supported us on Colorado Gives Day. The site is still open for contributions, if you missed it in December. Click here.

Key CHUN work includes:

Funding civic entrepreneurship and community enhancements through SEED awards
Working to preserve the community's small businesses.
Hosting neighborhood clean-up events an supporting our precious parks and open spaces.
Calling on the City and County of Denver to implement urgent and innovative solutions for the unhoused.

Denver and Colorado News and Updates

Martin Luther King 'Marade' (March and Parade) - January 16

The day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., worldwide humanitarian, was assassinated, spurred an unstoppable and unapologetic movement to honor him with a nationwide holiday in the U.S.A. This great American is so honored because of his ability to change our nation and the world, which was destined to be forever headed in a wrong direction by not acknowledging, respecting, regarding and living out the ideal that all men and women are created equal.

'Marade' details:
Monday, January 16, 2023
Denver City Park
9:30 a.m. - Program commences
10:30 a.m. - Laying of the wreath
10:45 a.m. - 'Marade' to Civic Center, downtown Denver
Noon to 1:00 p.m. - Entertainment, awards and celebration

Residential Rental Licensing Starts on January 1, 2023

The requirement for any property with more than one unit offered for rent for 30 days or more must have a residential rental license starting on Jan. 1, 2023.

Starting Jan 1, 2024, a license will be required for anyone to offer, provide, or operate a residential rental property consisting of a single rental dwelling unit on a single parcel. The licensing program is part of Denver’s drive to achieve minimum housing standards and get an accurate count of available rental housing stock.

The City and County of Denver has several tools available to help navigate the application process. Review the information on our webpage, including information for before you begin the application steps.