Urban Dweller

Volume 40, Edition 6

5/25/2022

Message from the Board President

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this note finds you well. Welcome to the Urban Dweller...the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods monthly e-newsletter. Here is the latest from one of Denver’s oldest and largest neighborhood organizations and community advocates:

You are invited to participate in a webinar on Monday, June 6th beginning at 5:30 PM to learn more about current news and developments along Colfax Avenue. This community meeting will include Brian Toerber and Jeff Bader, who are leading efforts to revitalize the All Inn Motel. Other guest speakers include Frank Locantore, Executive Director of the Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and Commander Kimberly Bowser of Denver Police District 6. Commander Bowser will address plans for the District 6 Denver Police Station on avenue. Click HERE TO REGISTER.

John Deffenbaugh has been appointed Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods' next executive director effective June 1, 2022. John brings a solid experience in architecture, urban planning, and public policy. In this part-time role, John will oversee the day-to-day programs, activities, and operations. He joins community outreach organizer Katie Swick; collectively they will further CHUN’s mission and vision throughout greater Capitol Hill and Denver. We are thrilled to be staffing up once again and building out more programming and delivering outcomes.

Congratulations to History Colorado for launching the Rainbows and Revolutions exhibit on Saturday June 4th. The greater Capitol Hill neighborhood was featured prominently throughout the museum for its history as a place of equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people in Denver.

The Tears-McFarlane House restoration project continues. If you have an opportunity to stroll by the property at 1290 Williams, you will see the mansion getting a much needed paint job!

CHUN's Urban Planning Committee met earlier this month with stakeholders, members, and neighbors. The committee received a briefing from Colorado State Representative Steven Woodrow (House District 6) concerning the recent legislative session. The discussion included an overview of key housing-related bills that passed and await the Governor's signature, state funding to address climate change, and other efforts aimed at reducing homelessness. The committee evaluated proposed changes to trash collection, recycling, and composting in the city and county of Denver. And finally, our friends at Ideal Market shared design plans for a new mural on the western facing wall along Emerson and 11th Ave. Support for the mural and Denver's plan to provide free composting and recycling to Denverites moves to the full CHUN board for consideration and approval.

Americans have once again been impacted by more gruesome, unspeakable acts of violence. Our thoughts go out to the communities of Buffalo, NY, Uvalde, TX, and other cities impacted by mass shootings. If you, or someone you know, is struggling at this time, our nonprofit partners at WellPower are offering free, same-day mental health services to adults in metro Denver. If you need a safe space to get help, please consider connecting with Therapy Direct. CHUN is grateful for nonprofit community partners who are at the forefront of addressing mental health concerns and proving critical community support.

“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.” - Maya Angelou

For community,

Travis Leiker, MPA
President, Board of Directors

Member of the Month

The Center on Colfax

June is LGBT Pride Month honoring the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.

Honoring Pride Month, we are spotlighting The Center on Colfax , which opened in 1976 and has grown to become the largest LGBTQ community center in the Rocky Mountain region, giving voice to Colorado's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and playing a pivotal role in statewide initiatives to reduce harassment and discrimination.

Today, The Center is focused on fulfilling their mission by ensuring that every member of the LGBTQ community has access to the programs and resources they need to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.

Denver 2022 PrideFest
June 25 - Pride 5K
June 26 - PrideFest Parade
June 25 & 26 - Denver PrideFest Festival at Civic Center Park

CHUN News and Events

CHUN Member and Business Member Happy Hours

In May, CHUN hosted a General Member and a Business and Community Member Happy Hour.

Watch this space for news on upcoming Happy Hours and our September 14 CHUN Annual Wine and Beer Tasting.

Renovations and Improvements underway at Tears McFarlane House

We are so happy that renovations and improvements are underway at the historic Tears-McFarlane house now jointly owned by CHUN and City Investors.

We are hoping to get our permit to begin work on the new café soon.

Watch this space for more pics and more details.

CHUN History Walk in Curtis Park / Five Points

On May 23, members of the History Matters Committee participated in a history walk in Curtis Park/Five Points led by CHUN Board member and St. Francis Center employee Amanda Pennington.

Participants gained a perspective on homelessness and witnessed the major changes in one of Denver’s oldest neighborhood.

Pennington shared that some of the changes are welcome and yet there are major concerns. Many have endured tough years in this area, but now are having difficulty being able to afford to stay. Welton Street in Five Points has long been a cultural hub for the African American community and remains and important geographic area, but its future is also changing.

Heart to Heart in the City Benefit Concert - June 8

CHUN Community Member, Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (CVV), is excitedly preparing for its Heart and Soul 2022: Heart to Heart in the City annual benefit concert on June 8th at 6:30 p.m.

Jazz/soul violinist Monique Brooks Roberts and vocalist Rajdulari and band will perform. These artist activists are coming together for a night of jazz, soul and community for CVV.

The venue is The Space Gallery at 400 Santa Fe Drive, which features plentiful outdoor and indoor gathering space. Wine and cheese, soft beverages and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Click here for tickets.

CHUN Committee Reports

Community Engagement

The volunteer event at Alamo Placita Park on April 30 had a total of 52 volunteers, in large part due to promotion done by CHUN and by CHUN member Molly Williams who lives in the neighborhood. Denver Park Trust received a CHUN SEED award for the clean-up project.

On April 22, CHUN SEED award recipient, Morey Middle School, held an Earth Day event, in which more than 200 students, as well as parents and teachers, cleared out old plants and planted seedlings that the student had grown themselves.

The Denver Community Fridge, another CHUN SEED award recipient, is looking for a location within CHUN boundaries for its fridge as its current location is a challenge. CHUN's Katie Swick is working with A. J. Boglioni of Denver Community Fridge to secure a new location.

Peggy Randall is working with Yazmin Castillo, Volunteer Team Lead for Metro Caring, to find a volunteer activity for CHUN members this summer.

Denver and Colorado News and Events

June 22: Bike From Work Day Bash + Movie Night

The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District is joining forces with Denver Streets Partnership, Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) and Denver Bicycle Lobby for a Bike From Work Day Bash + Movie Night, Wednesday, June 22. 5:30-10 p.m.

The event will be located at the intersection of North Humboldt Street and 16th Avenue, where the street will be closed for the event between 3 p.m. and midnight. Bike lanes on 16th Avenue will remain open.

Bike From Work Day, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Economist Apartments, 1578 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80218

Movie Night on Colfax, 8-10 p.m.
Intersection of 16th Avenue and Humboldt Street

Find event details and updates at colfaxave.com.

Denver's Expanded Waste Services in Denver

Expanded waste services increases equity & fairness.

The model is more transparent and equitable than charging a flat fee for trash because residents pay only for the level of service they use, just like other utilities. Households that produce less trash and recycle and compost more pay less.

Under the new system, the city will provide income-qualified instant rebates to assist low-income residents. Eligibility will be determined by income and the number of people in the house (Area Medium Income). 30% AMI will receive 100% instant rebate, 50% AMI will receive 75% instant rebate and 60% AMI will receive 50% instant rebate. Renters will
also be eligible for the instant rebates.

By transitioning to an expanded waste services system, Denver can then roll-out citywide weekly composting service at no extra charge to residents.

Why Compost

BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN LANDFILLED.

Because there is no oxygen in the landfill once it’s covered, biodegradable materials decompose anaerobically. This process creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG) that traps 84 times more heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. When you compost organic material instead, it can pull carbon down out of the atmosphere and sequester it in healthy soils. Soils can store 3x more carbon than trees!

2022 Homeownership and Economic Empowerment Summit - June 11

Denver Housing Authority (DHA) is hosting its 23rd annual Economic Self Sufficiency/Homeownership Summit on June 11th.

Join if you have questions about how to buy a home in a challenging market, need resources to help with affordable homeownership, how to get down payment assistance or how to qualify for a mortgage.

This year, they will host the free event virtually. You can participate in classes, receive great information and make connections with people in the affordable homeownership world, all from your home.

Click here to register.

Half Price History Colorado Memberships available

History Colorado has created a special Community Membership level designed to attract Capitol Hill residents!

For $45 a year, HALF the price of a regular membership, community members plus 5 guests can visit the downtown History Colorado Center for no charge, plus many other state and nationwide museums in their reciprocal network. Community members will also receive discounts at the gift shop and the Rendezvous Cafe.

Click here to join.