Message From the PresidentGreetings Friends and Neighbors, I hope this message finds you well. Urban Dweller, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' (C.H.U.N.) monthly e-newsletter, is available online. Here is the latest from Denver's largest, oldest registered neighborhood organization and advocate: Environmental stewardship begins in the neighborhood. On Saturday, May 8, 2021, C.H.U.N., and our partners at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, will host an electronics recycling event. The event will be held in the church's parking lot located at 9th and Emerson Street, from 9 am to noon. We are seeking volunteers that morning for 2-hour shifts. If you can help, please contact us at chun@chundenver.org by Friday, April 30. You will receive a confirming email shortly thereafter. A special thanks goes to our Climate and Community Engagement Committees for putting this partnership together. Share your story. In 1874, a Methodist minister and a businessman met beside Lake Chautauqua in Upstate New York. They founded an adult education movement that introduced people to new ideas and issues of public concern. This would later evolve into the Chautauqua Movement. The C.H.U.N. Community Engagement Committee came up with a new take on a bold idea: CHUN-Talkwa. From April through August, C.H.U.N. will interview members of the community, including those who are not typically engaged in city governance/planning. This may include the unhoused, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and other participants transcending lines of difference. Based on the content of interviews, we hope to highlight some of our most profound, insightful community members to participate in webinars, talks, or newsletter content. Email board member Jamie LaRue at jlarue@jlarue.com or call 720-530-4294 to get involved. Actively monitoring development activities in Governors Park. There are a number of developments proposed within the neighborhood blocks near Governors Park. While C.H.U.N. continues to monitor these activities, ranging from demolition permits filed at 701/711 Grant Street to market-rate apartments slated for the site of Racines, we have asked the City to develop a neighborhood review committee to help shape the future of Governors Park. Our goal is to prevent/deescalate hostilities and promote collaboration through solutions-oriented dialogue. Denver Community Planning and Development notes, "In some design review districts, an appointed board conducts design review using adopted design standards and guidelines. In others, city staff conduct design review, or a community group conducts design review and makes recommendations to developers or city staff." You can voice your support for such an approach by contacting Councilman Chris Hinds at district10@denvergov.org. When Denverites work together, neighborhoods win. Temporary SOS Sites Continue with great Success. EarthLinks Colorado is creating hope and opportunity at First Baptist Church operating one of Denver's first, pilot temporary safe outdoor spaces (TSOS). Recent highlights include: 34 total residents supported; more than 5,000 meals served; 40 case-management appointments; stronger partnerships with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver Public Library, and others; and more measurements of success. We are honored to be their thought partners and developing effective solutions to homelessness (during and after COVID) in our city. More must be done to support unhoused residents. C.H.U.N. continues to collaborate with neighborhood groups and business improvement districts to provide aid to the unhoused. In a letter to Mayor Hancock and Denver City Council, we write that this collection of groups has forged a path to build neighborhood support for, and overcome barriers to pursuing near term, actionable solutions to address homelessness. Further, we assert "we are committed to leading this effort by helping other communities with best practices." Through collaboration, smart policy, and real solutions, we can act quickly to move Denver forward. Check out the list of recommendations here. Safe, shared streets. Denver has created shared streets across the city to make it safer for everyone to move around their neighborhoods. Traffic calming configurations along some of the shared streets have helped improve safety, slow traffic, and function better in the winter. If you have used the 11th or 16th Ave Shared Streets, our community partners at Denver Streets Partnership would like to hear your feedback on these upgrades. Take their survey here and share with your neighbors and friends: https://bit.ly/3qX6cJE Addressing flavored tobacco products at the municipal level. C.H.U.N. joined the Greater Park Hill Community Association, Jefferson Park United Neighbors, Montbello 2020, Northeast Park Hill Coalition, Ruby Hill Neighbors, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, One Colorado, NAACP, Colorado Black Health Collaborative, Denver Health, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, National Jewish, Healthier Colorado, and many more to address the sale of flavored tobacco products in Denver. While tobacco companies target everyone, Denver’s Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately impacted. We look forward to working with Denver City Council and Mayor Hancock to do the right thing and promote measures that improve public health outcomes. New executive director, but a familiar face. The C.H.U.N. board voted unanimously to appoint me as President and Executive Director effective immediately. While this does not change my full-time employment obligations, this appointment marks an important milestone and transformation for the organization. It indicates a transition period during which we will modify our operations to meet the needs of the greater Capitol Hill Community through staffing, community investments, and robust advocacy. We are building a more formalized structure that will advance C.H.U.N.'s mission and compliment our growing role as Denver's largest, oldest nonprofit RNO. Our hearts go out to our friends and neighbors in Boulder, Colorado. While 30 miles may separate our two cities, we stand shoulder to shoulder against gun violence. As the old adage goes, it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Let us be the lights for safety, equity, justice, and kindness. For Denver, Travis Leiker President & Executive Director Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc. Monthly Member Profile: The Florentine Condos
Flavored Tobacco Products in DenverCapitol Hill United Neighborhoods and other Registered Neighborhood Organizations, in a collaborative letter to Mayor Hancock, have endorsed the "Flavors Hook Kids" resolution to protect youth from flavored tobacco products. Read our letter attached below. Earth Links Denver and Colorado Village Collaborative |
Historic Denver, Inc. launched its 50 Actions for 50 Places campaign in March and needs your help! In honor of the organization’s 50th anniversary, Historic Denver is looking for the next 50 places worthy of preservation action, and they are asking the people of Denver to help identify these places. Community members can submit the places they can’t imagine Denver without through an on-line form and map! Perhaps it’s a favorite neon sign, a school, church, community center, the home of someone that shaped Denver, a unique block, an open space, a meaningful mural, or a small business. Historic Denver is searching for places that are relevant to Denver’s history, representative of Denver’s diverse stories, and have not already been recognized or protected. In May, Historic Denver will announce 50 places and work with community members to devise an action strategy for each one. Examples of possible action strategies could be raising awareness, storytelling, installing interpretive markers, providing technical assistance, or nominating a site for local, state, or federal designation. |
Denver Community Church Neighborhood Survey
Denver Community Church (DCC) at 16th and Pearl has been the site host for the Safe Outdoor Space in the Uptown / North Cap Hill neighborhood. During the process of getting community feedback on the initial vision for a Safe Outdoor Space, DCC received a lot of feedback and some criticism for choosing to host this project. It occurred to them that it would be wise to get some feedback from the near neighborhood on how the church could be a better, more engaged neighbor in Uptown. They have put together a short and anonymous survey and would love for our Uptown neighbors to participate. |
Denver Shared Streets Traffic Calming Survey
In response to feedback from the community, Denver has extended its Shared Streets initiative through the 2020-2021 winter season. In addition, they have recently installed new traffic calming configurations to improve safety and function better in the winter. If you have used these streets, the Denver Streets Partnership would like to hear from you. Streets with upgrades to provide feedback on:
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Climate Action: It Starts and Ends In Neighborhoods
When: Saturday, April 10th at 9:30-11:30 AM Join Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation to honor Earth month with its first Community Climate Forum hosted by the new Climate & Sustainability Committee. What will Denver’s sustainable and resilient neighborhood of the future look and feel like? How can we work together to respond to the climate crisis while at the same time creating a healthier and more equitable city? Join community and city leaders who are leading the way to address climate challenges. The forum will also hear from Denise Fairchild, PhD, author of Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions. Dr Fairchild is the inaugural President of Emerald Cities Collaborative, a national nonprofit on a “high-road” mission to green our cities, build resilient local economies and ensure equity inclusion in both the process and outcomes of a new green and healthy economy. |
Denver Restaurant Week Returns
April 23rd - May 2nd, 2021 Visit Denver's event returns for its 17th year. Denver Restaurant Week will take place during the late spring dates of April 23 to May 2 to take advantage of milder spring weather. To-go and Delivery will also promoted for those who prefer to stay home. The event aims to bring some much-needed business to the restaurant community, while also giving residents a way to support their local favorites and get a delicious meal in the bargain. |
Small Business Administration Brown Bag Lunch Sessions
When: Once a month through August 4th. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Colorado and Mi Casa Resource Center bring you the SBA Brown Bag Lunch sessions. The sessions will provide small business owners information on numerous programs aimed at giving them a competitive edge. Session topics range from learning the ins and outs of government contracting, to better understanding the SBA's coveted 8(a) Business Development Program, to knowing what specific resources exist for women-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and other important items. |
City seeks public comment on HUD Annual Action Plans
Denver is releasing two Annual Action Plans for a 30-day public comment period between Monday, April 4 and Wednesday, May 5. These plans represent the city’s activities on federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including a draft plan for 2021 and an amended plan for 2020 – the latter amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plans will be available for viewing or download here beginning April 4. A public meeting regarding both plans will be hosted virtually on Wednesday, April 14 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Join the meeting by clicking here. |
City Park Alliance 1st Annual Golf Tournament
Where: City Park Golf Course
View the Save The Date below, and visit cityparkalliance.org for more information.
Updates from The City of Denver
Street Sweeping Season has Started
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has begun sweeping season on April 1. Parking restrictions that support the program will be enforced to keep sweeping operations effective. Residents are encouraged to check the red and white signs on their blocks or sign up for reminders and remember to move their cars on their street sweeping day. Street sweeping plays a critical role in keeping our city clean and moving cars for the street sweepers makes a difference, allowing operators to get all the way to the curb line where dirt and debris accumulates. |
Ways to participate:
- Virtual Kick-Off Meeting
Join a community kick-off meeting on Saturday, April 10 at 11 a.m. via Zoom or phone. During this meeting, an in-depth overview of the project, ways to participate, and a question and answer session will be provided. Spanish interpretation will also be provided. - Survey
This survey will gather the stories and histories of Denver’s Chicano and Latino communities to inform the historic context. It is designed for those who self-identify as members of the various ethnic communities associated with Denver’s Latino/Chicano heritage, however, anyone who has valuable information to share about this important history is welcomed to participate. - I Am Denver Mini-Documentary
I Am Denver, the community-wide multimedia project that documents the city’s history, culture, and vision by fostering conversations and celebrating residents, will both collect oral histories and empower Latino and Chicano residents to record their own stories of family and community in video. I Am Denver will also produce a mini-documentary film of the city’s Chicano and Latino communities.
Read the full press release: A preservation project to protect & celebrate Latino/Chicano history
Denver to Open New Public Restroom Downtown
City and County of Denver is installing a freestanding, permanent public restroom on Champa Street, just off the 16th Street Mall. It is anticipated to be available for public use this spring after utility connections and other site work details currently underway are complete. The new restrooms will be convenient, clean, and safe facilities, with an attendant present during operational hours and touchless entrances, hand sanitizer stations and space to queue – all critical features during the COVID-19 pandemic. Denver purchased the restroom facility with federal Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) and will operate the unit moving forward with Wastewater Enterprise funds from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI). Read the full press release: Denver to Open New Public Restroom Downtown. |
The Expanding Affordability Project
With housing costs going up, more families are spending more of their budgets on where they live or finding themselves priced out of neighborhoods. As part of Denver's overall strategy to provide more and better housing opportunities for all residents, the Affordable Housing Zoning Incentive Project aims to create new tools and improve existing ones to address residents' growing housing needs. Over the last few months, the project has shifted gears to include other tools, along with zoning, to help address housing needs in Denver. Continuing their work with the Department of Housing Stability (HOST), the new Expanding Affordability Project will now involve:
Visit the project website or the links below to learn more about what affordable housing is, why it matters, changes to Denver's housing market, and more. |
Also in the News
In Our Community
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Denver8TV Keeps You In The KnowYour City Now has all the week's news for you in under 5 minutes! The City and County of Denver's 5-minute news roundup that covers local government, city news, and local and public events. New episodes every Friday.
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- Multifamily developer Gables purchases Cap Hill site from five sellers
- 8-story building with only 4- and 5-bedroom apartments planned in Uptown Denver
- Station GM speaks out as landmark application filed for Denver7 building
- Multifamily developer pays $6.2M for Racines property in Cap Hill
- Some Colorado teens now eligible for COVID vaccines; meet 4 girls who helped make that possible
- Colorado will open coronavirus vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older starting on Friday
A Special Thanks to Some of Our Business and Community Partner Members:
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