January 2024

A Message from our Executive Director

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Business Member of the Month

Subculture

Longtime CHUN business member, Subculture is locally owned and operated. They are located in the heart of the CHUN neighborhoods and a favorite of many of our members!

What they provide is probably the closest thing to a hoagie or submarine sandwich beyond the East coast. Their meats and vegetables are roasted in-house daily and the bread is also baked fresh daily.

Subculture has more than 60 subs that are filled with roasted meats and cold cuts. They also have plenty of veggie and vegan sub options and fresh salads and dressings are all made in-house.

Drop in at 1300 Pennsylvania Street and tell them CHUN sent you!

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CHUN News and Updates

January 18: CHUN Annual All-Member Meeting and SEED and Good Neighbor Award Announcements

On January 18, CHUN will host its all-member annual board meeting. 

All members of CHUN are encourage to attend this meeting and hear CHUN announce the recipients of its 2024 SEED awards and Good Neighbor Awards.  We will also discuss our 2024 plans and goals.​

Presbyterian/Saint Luke's (PSL) Medical Center
Colorado North Room  
1719 E. 19th Avenue.
6 to 8:30 p.m.
The best way to get to Colorado North room is to use the PSL Surgical Entrance, which is just west of the main entrance. Once you enter through the surgical entrance, the Colorado North room is on the right. Parking is free in the garage located across from the main entrance.

SEED Award Application Deadline Extended to January 10

CHUN SEED Awards encourage civic entrepreneurship and community engagement by providing financial support for projects that align with the mission and values of CHUN as well as enhance the quality of life for those who live within the Greater Capitol Hill community.

​Recipients can receive up to $1,000 in SEED awards to enhance their own mission. 

Details on funding priorities and an online application are available here on our website.   

​Deadline extended - Please submit by January 10.

THANK YOU for Supporting Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Winter Wine..derland Event!

December 5 was both Colorado Gives Day and CHUN's Winter Wine..Derland Fundraiser. CHUN's friends and neighbors joined together to raise a glass to kick off the holiday season. We were able to raise more than $2,000 to support CHUN and other Colorado nonprofits. 

CHUN's mission is to work with neighbors, neighborhoods and the city of Denver to preserve the past, improve the present, and plan for the future of Denver's greater Capitol Hill community.

​Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported CHUN and Colorado Nonprofits.  And, a special thanks to our sponsors Councilperson Amanda Sawyer, James Golanty, Richard Wilson, Betsy Wagner, Sarah Craig, Sandy Goldhaber, Kathy Staiano and Michelle Trail.

CHUN and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Collect More Than 1,000 Food Items for the Youth of Denver!

More than 22  million children go home each weekend without food or a plan for food outside the free or reduced lunches provided at school.

THANKS to everyone who brought food items to our December Community Food Drive! 

Together, we collected more than 1,000 easy-to- prepare and easy-to-eat food items.
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We were able to distribute much-needed weekend meals to students in our area.

CHUN Awarded Community Benefit Fund from Chris Hinds

In 2023, District 10 Councilman Chris Hinds implemented a Community Benefit Fund in his district that provides financial support to community-based groups.

Groups can apply for up to $2,500 that will go toward community-benefiting projects such as neighborhood beautification and safety concerns, increasing civic engagement or cultivating community building.

CHUN was recently awarded $1,000 from this fund - thank you District 10!

Tears-McFarlane Café Makes Significant Progress in 2023

​CHUN's partnership with City Street Investors made significant progress towards the construction of the new park-side café in 2023. As 2024 arrives - and the opening of the new café approaches - it is worth reflecting on several milestones that have led to this upcoming celebration.

​In the spring of 2023, CHUN and City Street Investors made the difficult decision to pursue a different path as it related to the construction of the new café. 

Until this point, both CHUN and City Street Investors had planned for a full tear-down of the existing annex building and the construction of a new, purpose-built café designed by Semple Brown Design. Throughout 2022 Semple Brown had worked through multiple rounds of Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) reviews and had obtained approval for the façade of the new building. Semple Brown had also submitted for site development plan and building permit approval with the City of Denver. However, as 2022 came to a close it became apparent that such a project came with multiple challenges. Due to inflation and steeply rising material and labor costs over the course of 2022 the 'new-build' option for the café quickly ballooned in price. 

In partnership with Semple Brown, City Street Investors and CHUN began working through the design and permitting of a café within the existing annex building. With this new approach, CHUN and City Street Investors will be able to open the café quicker, at a greatly reduced cost to the partnership, and with less financial risk than the new-build option. In accordance with CHUN's goals around fiscal responsibility and sustainability, this option will also provide a quicker financial return to the partnership and eliminate the need for additional financial investment beyond the current allocation among the partners. 

Much complementary work has been completed in 2023, which builds on the momentum of this new approach. Last spring, City Street Investors removed the dilapidated patio and trellis encroachment onto Cheesman Park. In July, a neighborhood traffic and safety study of the surrounding area was kicked off and surrounding neighbors were updated on the project. This study is required by the approved Good Neighbor Agreement and recommendations from the traffic engineer are forthcoming. Concurrently, in the late summer City Street Investors applied for the liquor license, which is required to serve beer, wine, and cocktails at the café. We are pleased to announce that after the October 31st hearing, this license was recommended for approval by Denver's Excise and Licenses Department! 

Throughout 2023, CHUN began to make full use of the Tears-McFarlane House once again for its offices, celebrations, tours and board meetings. 

2024 is poised to build on these successes and culminate in the opening of the new cafe and completion of the vision of the property created many years ago. As outgoing Vice President of the Tears-McFarlane House Committee, CHUN Board Member of seven years, and resident of the greater Capitol Hill community I am truly humbled to have been but one of many stewards of this Denver landmark. Fellow Board Member Kevin Kelly, who has similarly witnessed the transformation of the Tears-McFarlane house, will be taking over this role in January. 

-Andrew Rogge, outgoing Vice President, Tears-McFarlane House Committee

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Denver and Colorado News and Updates

January 4: Longhorn Cattle Drive through Downtown Denver

There is only one day a year you can see more than 30 Longhorn Cattle walking through the streets of downtown.

The parade to kick off the National Western Stock Show is this Thursday, January 4, at noon.

​Bring your family and friends to see this old-fashioned cattle drive taking over the streets.

January 15: Denver Martin Luther King Marade (March and Parade)

Join CHUN, friends and neighbors as they march to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is commemorated in The Mile High City every January with what has grown to be one of the largest MLK Jr. Day celebrations in the U.S. — even larger than that of Washington, D.C.!

Denver City Park - Monday, January 15, 2024
9:30 a.m. - Opening Ceremony @ City Park
10:45 a.m.- Marade Step-Off @ City Park
Closing Ceremony and Resource Fair @ Civic Center
Following the Closing Ceremony @ Civic Center- Dr. King Legacy Bike Ride

​More Than 850 Housed, 8 Encampments Closed Through House1000

Mayor Mike Johnston announced last month that more than 850 people experiencing homelessness have been connected to stable housing and support services since the start of his House1000 initiative. The city has also permanently closed eight of Denver’s largest encampments. These areas will be permanently closed to camping.  
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House1000 Initiative Progress Since July 2023:

• Since the start of Mayor Johnston’s administration in July, more than 1,100 units have been secured to bring people experiencing homelessness indoors.
• Eight successful encampment closures have been completed providing safe and stable indoor shelter to more than 850 people as part of the Mayor’s House1000 initiative.
• A new public dashboard and map helps the public better understand the number of people moved indoors and the locations closed to camping.
• Four additional hotel sites — the former Radisson, Best Western, DoubleTree and Embassy Suites — have been identified to provide non-congregate shelter opportunities as part of Mayor Johnston’s House1000 initiative. The sites have been approved by City Council.
• The Johnston administration is moving forward with three micro-communities: 2301 S. Santa Fe Dr., 12033 E. 38th Ave., 1375 N. Elati St.
• The micro-community at 12033 E 38th Ave. is expected to open in 2023.

January 1 Law Updates Denver Minimum Wage to $18.29 Per Hour

The start of 2024 brings an increase in Denver’s minimum wage to $18.29 per hour on Jan. 1, and all businesses should have their payrolls prepared.

The minimum wage adjusts every year based on the Consumer Price Index to ensure wages keep up with Denver’s cost of living. The 2024 increase was 5.8%, less than the 2023 increase of 8.94%.
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Employers can still claim up to $3.02 in tip credits per hour for qualified food and beverage workers, provided employers can show documentation of at least that amount in actual tips received.

Denver Cuts Ribbon on Colorado Convention Center Expansion Project

In December, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joined hundreds of invitees and representatives of the City and County of Denver, VISIT DENVER and the community to celebrate completion of the Colorado Convention Center Expansion Project, signaling to the worldwide convention industry that the facility is now open for business!
 
Located on the roof of the existing building, the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center includes the new 80,000 square-foot Bluebird Ballroom that can be subdivided into 19 configurations of varying sizes. It’s now the largest multifunction ballroom in Colorado, able to host more than 7,500 attendees for a general session or 4,600 guests for a catered event.
 
The expansion also includes 35,000 square feet of wrap-around pre-function concourse space with floor to ceiling windows and a 20,000 square-foot outdoor rooftop terrace with dramatic views of the Rocky Mountains and Denver’s city skyline.

The new 200,000 square foot space is estimated to generate an additional $85 million in annual economic impact.

Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support for Denver Youth Expanded 

Caring for Denver Foundation is partnering with Crisis Text Line to expand free, 24/7 mental health support for Denver youth. Crisis Text Line is a national nonprofit organization that provides confidential text-based mental health support in both English and Spanish. Denver youth seeking support can text Denver to 741741 to reach a live crisis counselor. Learn more.