Volume 37, Edition 5

5/5/2019

Message From the President

Greetings Neighbors and Friends,

Welcome to the May 2019 edition of the Urban Dweller. I hope this note finds you well. Here's a quick update from Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN):

Denver's municipal elections are tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7th. If you are new to Denver or if you have recently moved, you will need to register and/or update your voter registration information. To learn more about how to vote and the Denver ballot, visit the Denver Elections Division or call 720-913-VOTE(8683). You can also learn more about the various ballot measures and candidates online at the Denver Post or at Denverite. When you vote...Denver wins.
Join CHUN's Zoning, Transit, Licensing and Land Use Committee on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 for an important update about current issues impacting our community. Guest presenters include the following: Scott Robinson from Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department; Ashlee Grace from Denver Public Works; and Frank Locantore, executive director of the Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District (BID),
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 13th. Congratulations to Molly Williams and Sarah Wells, Co-Vice Presidents of Fundraising and Events, for organizing another fantastic event at our historic Tears-McFarlane House. Many thanks to Syrup Breakfast, Lunch, & Catering for providing the delicious brunch. Be sure to support one of their 3 Denver Restaurants Syrup at City Park, Syrup at Cherry Creek, and Syrup Downtown.
Last month, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods joined community members at Doppio Coffee to clean up trash along Colfax Ave., 16th Ave., and 17th Ave. between Lafayette and Logan. Colfax Ave hosts the Colfax Community Clean Up monthly throughout the spring and summer. Special thanks to Karen Van Haaften, VP of Community Engagement, for representing our organization.
On April 19th, fellow CHUN board members Dmitrii Zavorotny, Amy Alleman, and I accompanied Denver city employees to walk through the Uptown Neighborhood and to address specific traffic, pedestrian safety, and mobility concerns in the neighborhood. Areas of interest are 19th and Logan; two-way street conversions along Grant Street, the 17th Avenue corridor, and others.
Last month CHUN welcomed several new members and received many additional membership renewals. Special thanks to the following: Adam Larkey; Phillip Danielson; Helen Schreves; St. Paul Health Center; Lindsay Burleson; Sarkisian Oriental Rugs and Fine Art; The Corner Beet; Denver Botanic Gardens; Argonaut Wine and Liquor; and Pete's Kitchen and Satire Lounge. We are honored to have your support!
CHUN's 50th Anniversary Wine Tasting and Celebration will be held on Wednesday, September 18th at 5:30 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE! To volunteer for the event, contact Molly or Sarah at fundraising@chundenver.org.

Finally, Sunday, May 12th is Mother's Day. Please take a moment to celebrate and recognize the amazing mothers in your life. I will be treating my mom to brunch at one of her favorite Capitol Hill dining spots--to thank her for the support she has provided throughout my 38 years and to celebrate what an extraordinary woman she continues to be. Have a wonderful month.

Travis Leiker
President, Board of Delegates
Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc.

Upcoming Events

SAVE THE DATE. Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of planning, preserving, and improving Denver’s Capitol Hill community. Our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Wine Tasting will be held the evening of Wednesday, September 18, 2019. The event will feature a wine tasting, small bites from neighborhood eateries and restaurants, and a fabulous silent auction showcasing goods and services from locally owned businesses throughout Capitol Hill. For more information, contact Molly Williams or Sarah Wells at
fundraising@chundenver.org.

Learn more and support this historic event

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Join Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' Zoning, Transit, Licensing and Land Use Committee for an important update about current issues impacting your community:

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Tears-McFarlane House (Annex Building) - 1290 Williams Street, Denver, CO

Special Guests:

Scott Robinson from Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department will discuss the East-Central Planning Committee's efforts and provide a status report about the group's recent progress.
Ashlee Grace from Denver Public Works will review parking and transit design updates within CHUN's boundaries, including Uptown and the conversion of Grant Street to a two-way street.
Frank Locantore, executive director of the Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), will share updates about the BID's work to beautify Colfax through murals and other public art.

History of City Park Presentation and Community Open House
Please join Museum archivists Kris Haglund and Liz Clancy as they present the history of City Park. Learn how a “barren treeless wasteland” east of Denver in the 1880's grew into the beloved “people’s park.”

Saturday, May 18, 2019
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Ricketson Auditorium
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80
(Enter through west entrance)

Tickets are free, but space is limited.
Reserve your seat now.
Reserve Online:
https://secure1.dmns.org/history-of-city-park
Email to join our mailing list:
natureplay@dmns.org
#NaturePlay

Download the flyer in English
Download the flyer en Español

Live Music, Pizza Truck, Craft Beer and Yard Games This is a family friendly event.

SUNSHINE COLORADO HOME SHARE PRESENTS
PINT AND A SLICE FOR HOME SHARING

Sunday, May 19th
12:30-3:30pm
Home Share Colorado Courtyard
2501 N. Gaylord St.
Denver CO 80205

Adult tickets: $20
Ages 6-13: $10

Sunshine Home Share Colorado is a nonprofit organization helping home owners above the age of 55 age in place. They look to build relationships within the community by thoughtfully and safely matching a home owner with a home seeker of any age to create sustainable and affordable housing income, companionship and purposeful living.
For more information and to register online visit the Sunshine Home Share Colorado website.

Meetings and Forums

CHUN Zoning, Transit, Land Use, and Licensing Meeting
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Join Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' Zoning, Transit, Licensing and Land Use Committee for an important update about current issues impacting your community:
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
6 p.m.
Tears-McFarlane House (Annex Building)
1290 Williams St.
Denver, CO

Special Guests:

Scott Robinson from Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department will discuss the East-Central Planning Committee's efforts and provide a status report about the group's recent progress.
Ashlee Grace from Denver Public Works will review parking and transit design updates within CHUN's boundaries, including Uptown and the conversion of Grant Street to a two-way street.
Frank Locantore, executive director of the Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), will share updates about the BID's work to beautify Colfax through murals and other public art.

Join us for an East-Central Area Community Workshop!
Come learn about the East-Central Area Plan and have a say in your neighborhood’s future.
Tuesday, May 21
6- 8 p.m.
Church in the City – Beth Abraham
1580 N. Gaylord St., Denver

Dinner and childcare will be provided along with Spanish interpretation services.
Complete meeting information can be found at www.DenverGov.org/eastcentralplan.

Download the event flier for this and other upcoming meetings.

Historic Denver Round Table
Leaders and Representatives of Denver’s Historic Districts!
You are cordially invited to join local non-profit Historic Denver, Inc. for a round table conversation about the hottest historic preservation topics in our city.

This is an opportunity for you to get to know and share information with other historic district neighbors, be in the know about what’s on the horizon for preservation policy, provide feedback on your neighborhood needs in our rapidly-growing city, and hear about Historic Denver’s work.

We hope you can join us at our offices in the historic Emerson School, 1420 Ogden, on one of the following two dates:

Thursday, April 25th at 8:30 – 10:00 am (pastries & coffee included)
Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00-8:30 pm (cookies & light refreshments)

Topics will include:

What does the Blueprint Denver update say about historic districts?
What are the proposed changes to the Landmark Ordinance?
What’s the latest on Larimer Square?

RSVP by Friday, April 22nd to info@historicdenver.org.
Can’t attend? We encourage you to send another representative from your neighborhood.
Questions? Call (303) 534-5288 ext. 1.
Download

Community Update Meeting: Liquor Common Consumption Areas in Denver
Thursday, May 2nd
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Ford-Warren Branch Library – meeting room #2
2825 N High St,
Denver, CO 80205

Please join the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses at a community update meeting to learn more about the legislative history, statutory requirements, and potential features of Liquor Common Consumption Areas in Denver. Attendees may also ask questions and provide feedback based on the information presented.

This community update meeting is open to anyone seeking to learn more about the future of Liquor Common Consumption Areas in Denver. Representatives from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses will be there to present the information and answer any questions.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?
If you cannot attend the community update meeting, but would like to be included in future updates regarding the development of Liquor Common Consumption Areas in Denver, please sign up for our periodic Liquor Bulletin. Specific questions may also be emailed to
Erica.Rogers@denvergov.org.

Denver residents, share your voice!

Take transit, ride a bike, walk, or drive along Broadway?
Live near the corridor or frequent the businesses there?

Denver Public Works wants your feedback on the multi-modal improvements planned for Broadway. Share your voice and provide input on conceptual design elements that aim to create a corridor-wide vision where people of all ages and physical abilities feel safe and comfortable using any mode of travel. The survey will stay up through the month of April. Take the survey!

You can sign up for project updates and learn more about how to get involved at
Denver Moves: Broadway

Public Health and Clinical Considerations
Alcohol is a central to our community and our culture, a part of celebrations, sporting events and social gatherings. But alcohol overuse worsens the health of our community, as it is associated with injury, violence, liver and heart disease, depression and other illnesses. By one estimate, alcohol is the seventh leading underlying cause of premature death and disability in Colorado. By several measures, such as binge drinking and alcohol-related fatal car crashes, Denver has a higher rate of alcohol-related health problems than other urban counties in the West. Dr. Tim Naimi’s presentation, “Alcohol: Public Health and Clinical Considerations” will provide a starting point for a discussion about how to decrease alcohol-associated adverse health outcomes in Denver.

Event Details

Thursday, May 23
11-11:45 a.m., networking lunch
12-1:00 p.m., lecture and discussion
Denver Museum of Nature and Science: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205

Space is limited. Register by clicking the RSVP now button at the top of this page.
Learn more at the Dr John Sbarbaro Lecture event website.

Community Housing Mechanics Presentation
Tuesday, April 30th
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Hive Denver
1616 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204

Join us for an introductory presentation on the mechanics of co-buying, forms of co-ownership, and financing models for community housing and shared ownership. Been curious about how buying a building together might work? Looking to buy a home to share? Want an investment property but don't have the cash you need on your own? Interested in meeting other people with similar ideas? We’ll get into some of the details related to property acquisition, financing, legal structures and questions, and also have time to socialize with other like-minded folks. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your future co-owners at this event!

RSVP here for this free event! bit.ly/letscobuy

Presented by LiveWork Denver and Hanson Planning Group, generously hosted by Hive Denver. Looking for an office or co-working space? Check out their new spot --- https://hivedenver.com/

PILOT PROGRAM: Home Energy Score for Denver Residents

The City is running a pilot program for Denver residents who are selling their home or recently purchased. The following content can be shared through your upcoming newsletter, social media, or email lists.
____
Join hundreds of your neighbors in understanding your home’s estimated energy costs, and what upgrades can help now and over time. You can be in the know too, by requesting a free Home Energy Score (typical cost of $175) through the City & County of Denver’s pilot program if you recently purchased your home, are buying or planning to sell a home in Denver.

Request a Score here if you:

Recently purchased a home in Denver (within the past 12 months)
Are preparing to sell your Denver home
Are under contract for a Denver property

Questions? Contact: HomeEnergy@denvergov.org
More information about the pilot can be found at: www.Denvergov.org/HomeEnergy

Volunteers Help Spruce Up Cheesman Park

Cheesman Park is a jewel in the middle of Denver, but it can always use a little TLC, especially since it’s located right in the middle of densely populated neighborhoods. That’s why about 75 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and stepped in to help clean the area on Monday.
Crews hit the ground running at 9 a.m. and finished around noon.

This is all part of a nationwide program for Oroweat Bread. The baker teamed up with Denver’s Parks and Recreation Department to spruce up the park, doing everything from mulching to picking up trash, even re-painting street curbs. The bread company says it is celebrating a return to all things natural, and – naturally – that includes giving back to the community. “Because the community gives to us,” Oroweat Director of Sales, Tony Miller explained. “Our families live in this great community, and to give back feels really good. Definitely want to help with the parks to clean up the environment.” The volunteers also enjoyed a lunch once they completed the clean-up, courtesy of Oroweat.

By Mekialaya White at denver.cbslocal.com

The Cheesman Park mansion topped Denver-area home sales in March. (Photos courtesy LIV Sotheby’s International Realty)

$4M Cheesman Park mansion tops local home sales in March

A Cheesman Park mansion nearing the century mark was the priciest home to sell in the Denver metro area in March. The home at 860 N. Vine St., which dates to 1921, is within walking distance of the Denver Botanic Gardens. Listing agent Christopher Bouc pointed to the massive wine cellar and family-friendly backyard as the major selling points of the 0.36-acre property.
businessden.com

Vietnamese restaurant to fill former DJ’s Cafe space along Lincoln

A Vietnamese restaurant is taking over the former DJ’s Cafe space along Lincoln Street in Cap Hill.
Signage for Anise has gone up at 865 Lincoln St., and calls the incoming restaurant “a modern Vietnamese eatery.”
Read more at businessden.com.

A Vietnamese restaurant will open in the space formerly occupied by DJ’s 9th Avenue Cafe. (Thomas Gounley)

Nine-story apartment building in Cap Hill sells for $17M

Denver apartment owner RedPeak has purchased a nine-story building in Capitol Hill. The company paid $16.8 million last week for 990 Logan St., according to county records. The building has 66 units, making the deal worth about $254,000 a unit. The building dates to 1970. It sits on a half-acre lot. Read more at businessden.com.

A New Cherry Creek Lounge Promises 120-Plus Spirits

A new lounge opening in Cherry Creek promises to showcase more than 120 spirits, many new to Denver, from around the world. Cherish Spirits Lounge debuts in May in Cherry Creek from owner Bart DeLorenzo, who most recently had Sevilla nightclub in Denver. The 4,500-square-foot lounge takes over the former Venue 221 event space.
Read more about the restaurant opening at EATER Denver.

Cherish Spirits Lounge Cherish Spirits Lounge/Facebook

Also in the News

Uptown Capitol Hill Neighborhood Walk-through Focused Around Safety
On Friday April 19, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods board members Dmitrii Zavorotny, Travis Leiker, and Amy Alleman accompanied City and County of Denver Government employees--Ashlee Grace and Adam Jadun--to walk through the Uptown Neighborhood and to address specific traffic, pedestrian safety, and mobility concerns in the neighborhood. Areas of interest are 19th and Logan; two-way street conversions along Grant Street, the 17th Avenue corridor, and others.

Colorado Public Radio to move news gathering operations to downtown Denver
Colorado Public Radio is moving its news gathering operations to downtown Denver after 15 years of broadcasting from Centennial in an effort to be closer to news makers at the State Capitol.
A team of nearly 50 reporters, producers, editors and digital news staff will move into a new, 9,000-square-foot newsroom and studio at 303 E. 17th Ave. in North Capitol Hill, which is a half-mile walk to the State Capitol. Some staffers have been using space in the building as a satellite office for the past few months.
Read more at Denver Business Journal.
By Andrew Dodson

Chase Bank eyes vacant Colfax Arby’s
Chase Bank is considering converting a long-vacant fast-food restaurant on East Colfax Avenue into a bank branch. The New York-based company submitted a site-development plan to the city this month proposing to convert the former Arby’s at 2310 E. Colfax Ave. into a bank branch.
Read more at businessden.com.
By Thomas Gounley

Cherry Creek mansion lists at price double that of neighborhood’s most expensive recent sale
A Cherry Creek mansion has hit the market with an eye-popping price tag just shy of $14 million. That’s twice as much as the priciest home to sell in the neighborhood in decades.
The home, located at 460 Saint Paul St., is 11,800 square feet, and sits on one-third acre, according to the listing.
Read more about the Cherry Creek listing at businessden.com.
By Libby Flood

City Park Gold Course delays opening
Cherish Spirits Lounge, coming to Cherry Creek, to offer 'spirits that no one else in the area has'
Why a developer decided to build multi-million dollar condos in the heart of Capitol Hill
Thirsty Lion Gatropub closes in Cherry Creek
Cheesman Park office building yields a quick 28% return
After 20 years making candles in Denver, Rosy Rings to open first store
Uptown's Penn Station Coffee to close, be replaced by specialty toast shop
Sites at two intersections leading into Cherry Creek sell for $5.5M
Denver's Original Farm-to-Table Restaurant Gets New Owners
New owners of Cherry Creek’s Pasta Pasta Pasta expand hours

JOIN THE CAPITOL HILL UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS TEAM!

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is accepting applications for the position of Office Administrator/Manager. This is a great opportunity for a responsible, motivated, and detail-oriented person who is looking to expand their experience in community outreach, event management, and engaging the Denver community in neighborhood advocacy. This is a part-time position estimated at 10-20 hours a week with some flexibility in work schedule. Salary is $12-$15/hour depending on experience. Benefits are not included.

Learn more about the position

The Urban Dweller