Category: General News

Take a class in the neighborhood! All in walking distance from your home, the following take place from 6th & Corona to 6th & Milwaukee:

MoonDance Botanicals – Reiki, soap-making, and herbals

Denver School of Photography – Digital photography, Photoshop or Lightroom

Trouts Fly Fishing – Casting, tying flies, or a trip out on the water.

Novo Coffee – Brewing, steaming and seed-to cup with your local barista.

The Truffle Cheese Shop – Buratta making or pairing cheese with beer or cider.

Apothecary Tinctura – Wellness, meditation, aromatherapy, herbalism and accupuncture.

Denver Divers – Swim and diving lessons, first aid and rescue.

Autonomous Vehicle now deployed on Denver streets at RTD’s 61^st and Peña Commuter Rail Station

DENVER, CO — Today marks the first on-road deployment of an autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle in both Denver and the State of Colorado. The EasyMile 100 percent electric, autonomous shuttle made its debut this morning and will continue operating for the next six months. The self-driving shuttle will connect passengers from the 61^st and Peña commuter rail station to the Panasonic and EasyMile offices and to the 61st and Peña Park-n-Ride lot via four stops. Mayor Michael B. Hancock joined representatives from the Regional Transportation District (RTD), EasyMile, Panasonic, Transdev, and L.C. Fulenwider, Inc. for a ribbon cutting and ride aboard the unit.

“We’re excited to see how driverless technology will work in Denver and to embrace new, innovative and better mobility options to move more people and improve travel for residents and visitors alike,” Mayor Hancock said.

Transdev will operate the EasyMile autonomous shuttle for the Denver RTD in a new route called 61AV, serving people who park and live near the 61^st and Peña commuter rail station free of charge. The project’s main goal is to assess the viability of autonomous services in providing first and last mile connections to and from transit.

“RTD is pleased to participate in this groundbreaking partnership to explore how innovations in mobility are creating new and expanded opportunities for public transportation,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova “The 61AV partnership allows us to interface directly with an autonomous vehicle demonstration and assess how this technology can be applied in a transit setting to meet the future mobility needs of the people and communities we serve.” 

The shuttle will run a predetermined route Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., making a complete loop every 15 minutes. Although it will not have a driver, an ambassador will be on the shuttle at all times to help answer questions and ensure safety for the passengers and operations. Transdev, will also provide the ambassador for the RTD service. Partners in this AV demonstration project believe autonomous shuttle services will transform local communities and become an integral part of how communities are designed in the future.

“Having an EasyMile autonomous shuttle circulating throughout the entire Peña Station NEXT and Peña Station NORTH developments will be a key element that will help change the overall complexion of real estate development…and it’s being tested now!,” said Cal Fulenwider, III, CEO and Chairman, L.C. Fulenwider, Inc.

The EasyMile shuttle will be programmed to make designated stops along predetermined routes (see attached maps). It runs an average speed of 12-15 miles per hour and can carry up to 12 passengers. This autonomous vehicle demonstration project is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the newly-formed Colorado Autonomous Vehicle Task Force for six months of operations. Data collected on usage and operability will be shared between project partners to improve future deployments and bring autonomous services into wider usage.

“We are pleased that our CityNOW stakeholder alignment process is resulting in yet another transformational industry ‘first’,” said Jarrett Wendt, Executive Vice President Panasonic Corporation of North America. “Together with the City and County of Denver, Denver International Airport, RTD, L.C. Fulenwider, and EasyMile we continue to produce groundbreaking advancements that none of us could accomplish on our own.”

EasyMile says its shuttle and operating system have been tested and verified over 200,000 miles in 22 counties, and have transported over 320,000 people with no accidents or injuries. The shuttles have air conditioning, automatic wheelchair ramps, passenger information systems, electric batteries, and onboard USB chargers. Passenger feedback on all of these deployments has been extremely positive.

Transdev and EasyMile have partnered on over 50 deployments covering more than 10,000 passenger trips in the US. Globally, Transdev has provided over 2,000,000 fully autonomous passenger trips in the past 10 years, and works with several vehicle and software system providers to design and implement fully integrated autonomous mobility solutions.

“EasyMile is proud to be deploying our EZ10 as an integrated part of the RTD transit system. Driverless technology is a key part of our future transit systems and we thank RTD for their leadership and vision,” said Sharad Agarwal, Senior Vice President of EasyMile North America.

More information about the Route 61AV project is at www.rtd-denver.com/61AV.

Beginning in mid-August, the city of Denver will implement a new Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Program which will ultimately include our CCHN area. Although no firm timetable is in place, CCHN inspection will be the second citywide area of the program to be addressed. Per city ordinance, property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalks adjacent to their properties. In order to assess existing sidewalks that present a hazard to public travel, the city will perform formal inspections to determine sidewalks, citywide, that are damaged, uneven, or sloping excessively. Denver Public Works (DPW) will contact property owners of the required repairs mandating repair work begin 45 days after home notices are left and mailed notices are issued. This repair program will not address missing sidewalks or gaps in sidewalks which is dealt with by Denver’s Sidewalk Gap Program.

To begin the repair process, property owners may choose a DPW contractor to do repairs based on cost estimates provided or can hire their own preferred contractor. Ultimately, DPW will re-inspect all properties to determine if issues have been adequately corrected. Nancy Kuhn, DPW Director of the Public Information Office, indicates homeowners in historic designated districts like CCHN will not encounter additional city approvals to fix their sidewalk problems. Financial assistance will be provided to homeowners who qualify.

Sidewalk repair options include patching with grout or epoxy to fill cracks, gaps or holes, mud jacking to repair tilted slabs to level the grade of the sidewalk, and grinding/shaving repair to remove a portion of the elevated slab. In some cases, sidewalk hazard situations will require partial or full replacement. Particular challenges may be faced by property owners with flagstone sidewalks due to cost and limited contractor expertise issues. Regarding healthy mature trees with roots lifting up sidewalks, the DPW supports finding creative solutions with the property owners, including arborist opinions, to remedy walking hazards.

Information about the Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Program can be found HERE.

By Alice Anneberg

When you ride your bike, there’s nothing worse than being away from home and getting a flat tire or needing to make an adjustment to your bike and not having the tools to get you back on the road. Or, you notice a malfunction before you even leave the house and you don’t have the tools you need. Whether you’re en route or just without tools, the Denver Public Library, in collaboration with the Denver Community Active Living Coalition, is providing bicycle repair kits at seven library branch locations beginning May 22 for short-term check-out:
Athmar Park
Byers
Ford-Warren
Ross-Barnum
Ross-Broadway
Sam Gary
Schlessman Family

Kits can be checked out for up to two hours on-site (at the library) and are available free with your Denver Public Library card. Don’t have a card? Don’t worry! Staff can get you signed up instantly.
Each kit contains basic tools to repair tires or make adjustments to your ride:
1 dual-valve pump with pressure gauge for inflating tires
1 set of allen wrenches for minor adjustments
1 adjustable wrench for minor adjustments
1 set of tire levers to remove/replace a tire
Tube patches, sandpaper and glue for patching a hole in a tube
Illustrated instructions (English and Spanish) for fixing a flat tire

You can find more information about the toolkits at the DenverCALC blog and the Denver Public Library blog.
Map of sites: CLICK HERE
Follow @DenverHEAL on Facebook for updates or reach out to with any questions at calc@denvergov.org

Kayla Gilbert
Built Environment Equity Program Manager
Community Health Division
City and County of Denver, Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE)

Kayla.Gilbert@denvergov.org
Office: 720-865-4948 | Cell: 303-250-0540

Did you know that our area has a new 67,000 square foot, 5 story recreation center with exercise machines and rooms, a climbing wall, basketball court, two pools (including a lazy river and an 8-lane lap pool), a child watching room, and rooftop event space? Denver Parks and Recreation opened its new $44 million facility to much fanfare in January.

Denver voters approved the Denver Better Bond Program in 2007 to enhance and construct facilites that touch the lives of all residents. The facility became the dream of Carla Madison, a local colorful personality, who lost her fight with cancer in 2011 while serving on city council.

Now, The Carla Madison Recreation Center at Colfax and York offers residents an impressive option for health and wellness. For $45 to $332 for an annual membership, residents can enjoy the array of exercise options as well as the benefits of up to 15 different kinds of exercise classes, including various types of yoga, cycling and even dance classes. There are also day passes available.

The LEED Gold certified facility will cheer any visitor with its bright colors and large windows that connect the indoor indoor space with the sunny Colorado outdoors.

The exercise machines face west, providing inspirational views of the mountains. Also, the center boasts Colorado’s first recreation center climbing wall, which resides outdoors and stands 30 feet tall. In keeping with Carla’s vision, there are activities for all ages.

Hours of Operation
Monday – Thursday 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Residents who live on streets with 2-hour parking limits can apply for a permit that will absolve them of the time limit. However, residents with permits will still be subject to the rules regarding no parking on street sweeping days.

Register your vehicle at https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/homepage/permits.html.

Many neighbors are concerned about the potential noise pollution from the new hotels and restaurants in Cherry Creek North. If the noise becomes an issue there are specific steps you can take to have the issue investigated. If the noise occurs between the hours of 7am to 8pm Monday through Friday, or 8am to 5pm on the weekends, please call 311. If the noise occurs outside of those hours, please call the Denver Police non-emergency number: 720-913-2000.

By Wayne New

On June 2nd the first Colfax stakeholder meeting was held to discuss and plan the re-development of the 15 mile length of Colfax Avenue in conjunction with the first implementation of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Led by the City’s Community Planning and Development, this discussion included over 70 attendees representing City departments, Colfax business improvement district leaders, developers, architects, and neighborhood and professional representatives. The meeting’s primary focus was to identify and address present and future limitations and obstacles to development. The key issues were:

1) Zoning – The present main street zoning will need to be evaluated to enable properties to be more productive and to enhance pedestrian and retail streetscape amenities. This may include vacating some alley sections to accommodate the existing depth of some lot and to create a safer environment.

2) Streetscape Planning – Activating sidewalks will bring greater life and vitality to the street and support the unique character and landmarks in many Colfax areas. Attractive, inviting patios and specialty retail will increase retail business from tourists, local residents, and other visitors.

3) Traffic Management – The objective of BRT is to reduce the number of cars and traffic on our streets. Presently, Colfax has three lanes going east and west – two travel lanes and one parking lane on each side. To implement BRT one of the travel lanes will be dedicated to these BRT buses only during peak hours in order to balance and manage the traffic and parking for businesses on this busy street.

4) Affordable Housing – The lack of affordable housing is one of the City’s most important issues, and the re- development of Colfax and implementing transit should encourage affordable housing construction. The Mayor will be asking for approval on a $150 million, 10 year plan to provide greater financial assistance to developers for affordable housing.

5) Homeless and Public Safety – The City is striving to improve its efforts and programs to reduce our homeless population and to provide greater safety and security for our residents, businesses, and tourists. Issues to improve public safety on Colfax are as follows:
a. Housing – Since Colfax has a significant homeless population, increasing emergency and transitional housing will be a priority for Colfax development and safety improvement, as it is recognized nationally that these are some of the elements that can help break the cycle of homelessness.
b. Police Presence – Increased police patrols and visibility will help homeless individuals reach supportive services, and will create a safer environment for businesses and the public by combating drug sales and use, as well as deterring crime. Public safety is key to success.
c. Mental Health Support – Mental health support workers are now riding with the police to assist with the growing number of homeless with mental health issues.
d. Lighting – According to Chief of Police Robert White, an effective safety improvement is to illuminate high crime areas on streets and in alleys. Funding has been requested for this high intensity lighting on Colfax similar to the new lighting implemented on the 16th Street Mall.

6. Connectivity – The Colfax BRT implementation plan does not include Colfax from the Auraria Campus to Sheridan Boulevard to the west nor to the east from Yosemite to the I-225 light rail station. Transit network connectivity is a major factor in our City’s transportation strategic planning.

7. DURA and TIF – Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance is being sought to develop specific blighted Colfax sites and larger areas on East Colfax. By using the incremental increase in property and retail taxes to offset new construction financial cost, retail and affordable housing development is promoted.

8. State Highway or City Street – Planning and improving Colfax is more difficult since the street is classified as a State highway, requiring State approval with many changes, which begs the question: should Colfax be designated as only a City street and not a State highway?

9. Parking – Parking has been the most frequent discussion topic for businesses and neighborhoods. Maintaining street parking spaces was the influencing factor on the decision to use a Colfax travel lane rather than parking lane for BRT use.
Garages – Providing parking flexibility will be an important incentive for affordable housing construction. In many cities the shared use and cost of parking garages in suitable locations has provided increased commercial and resident parking and offset new development parking requirements. Shared parking will complement transit and minimize neighborhood parking and traffic concerns.

10. Improving Colfax has been a long term desire and dream that needs to become reality. For this goal to be achieved, it will require cooperative planning and assistance from all City agencies; developer and neighborhood support; and capital improvement financing. Re-developing and preserving Colfax can and will be accomplished with all of us working together to create an exciting and productive street for our businesses and residents to live, work, and play.

Window restoration and/or replacement was one of the most discussed items on our neighborhood survey last fall. Windows are to any house as the eyes are to a face, and therefore give it character. New windows not properly designed to match a home’s era can be spotted by even the untrained eye. The Landmark Preservation guidelines stress the importance of preserving a house’s original windows. With the appropriate weather stripping and sealing, historic windows can be very close in weather efficiency to new ones. There are a few companies in town that do great restoration work (e.g. Phoenix Restoration and Lyons Historic Window).

If one of your original windows is beyond all repair, you can apply to the CCHN Design Review for permission to replace it. With the proper documentation stating the window’s irreversible state, you will be able to help get
your house the care it needs.

The beautification committees is responsible for planting and weeding the urns on the north side of 1st Avenue, the gardens at Race Circle and 3rd and Race, and the borders in front of the walls on High, Gilpin and Franklin Streets. All the annuals will be planted in the coming weeks and will be a mix of hardy species in colors to attract desirable pollinators!

New hedges of Green Velvet boxwood were planted earlier this month at the corners of Gaylord and Race, and will provide a more well-defined entrance into the neighborhood.

Xavier Banuelos and his crew have been doing the planting and maintenance for the past five years. Denver Parks & Recreation is responsible for mowing, wee control, watering and tree care in all of our medians. The committee works closely with the city to keep our landscapes attractive and healthy year round.

Urn & Gate Cleaning

If you walk by our iconic gates and welcoming urns, you have probably
noticed that they were in desperate need of cleaning and repair.
After bidding out the job to several companies, Rocky Mountain Hot Jetting
services completed the cleaning work on all 29 planters recently as well as the
gates, for a total of $1,500.

We will have several companies assess the gates and secure bids for the any
repairs that are needed to maintain the integrity of these historic structures.

Street Repaving Has Begun

As you have likely noticed, street paving has begun in our neighborhood. The city has not provided a timeline at this point, so please be patient and look forward to having nice, newly paved roads!

For weekly updates on the paving schedule, and to see future projects
in the works, you can visit https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/streets-andsidewalks/street-maintenanceimprovement.html.

4th of July Parade

Please join us for the annual CCHN 4th of July Parade. We will gather at
9:30am at 4th and Franklin. This year the Crepe Gatsby will be servicing sweet and savory crepes, as well as coffee. There will also be balloon twisting and air brushed tattoos for the kids. Don’t forget to wear your most festive Independence Day attire! Bike, stroller, and wagon decorations are encouraged!

Easily the most noticeable landmarks in our neighborhood, and arguably throughout the city, the gates on 4th Ave many of us drive through every day add to the charm and history of our historic neighborhood.

The Fourth Avenue Realty Company hired well-known Denver architect William Ellsworth Fisher to plat the Country Club Place into three wide streets. Each street was to have a parkway down the center, and each would have a distinctive entrance gate along 4th Avenue. The most elaborate gate was built on Franklin Street, which was the entryway to the Denver Country Club until 1957 when it moved to Gilpin Street.

The Franklin Street gate spans the entire street. A 10 by 24 foot wooden platform with sloping, tiled roof with exposed rafters covers the entrance. Supporting this are two large, square, paneled stone columns that connect on either side to Mission-style arches over each of the sidewalks. The gates at Gilpin and High Streets do not cover the whole street but stand as pillars on each side, connecting with the sidewalk
arches. There was originally a four-foot wall along 4th Avenue connecting these gates but it’s been broken up over the years by homeowners.

The gates are a classic example of Spanish architecture with the stucco base and red tile tops. While Fisher designed many buildings in a variety of architectural styles through Denver, many speculate he chose this style because he believed it encouraged a community spirit. Perhaps it is also because Denver and Madrid lie on almost the same longitudinal line, a mere 5,000 miles apart.

You may have noticed that our historic gates are in need of repair. The repairs of these gates are a priority for the CCHN board. We will provide more information on the restoration process in coming months, as well as opportunities to help fund this cause.

Late last year we asked you to share your thoughts regarding two important areas: general feedback about the board, and capital needs in the neighborhood. Thank you to everyone who participated. Your opinions are invaluable to the current and future state of our neighborhood. Without further adieu, here are the results.

Most Important Issues to Residents (listed in order of importance):
• Improve communication around how CCHN spends its budget, neighborhood activities, issues outside the neighborhood in surrounding areas, CCH Design Review Committee, relationship between neighborhood and city capital needs.
• Increase in security hours
• Beautification of the neighborhood, which includes flowers and maintenance of medians
• Repairs to the historic gates
• Adding and improving street lighting
• Concerns over snow removal
• Repair and repave current sidewalks
• Increasing the amount of current sidewalks
• Traffic Safety
• Street repair

Next Steps
The CCHN Board has discussed the survey results and agreed upon priorities for 2016. Capital needs priorities will be broken into two phases. Phase 1 includes historic gate repair, security review, beautification of the neighborhood, and snow removal options. Phase 2 may include street lighting, sidewalk repair and sidewalk expansion. Because many of these items will require additional funding, the board will determine funding options for capital needs and other improvements. The CCHN Board has also identified a communication strategy, which we have detailed for you below.

In April, Public Works will begin a long-planned reconstruction of the Fourth Avenue and Gilpin Street intersection. Fourth Avenue will be narrowed to 35 feet from its current width of more than 60 feet. This will be accomplished by building a series of three narrow east-west oriented islands, leaving the driving lanes on the south edge of the current curb and creating a one-way westbound driving and parking access at the north side of the present intersection. The present stop sign on eastbound Fourth Avenue will be moved east to align with southbound Gilpin Street. A stop sign will be added as southbound Williams Avenue bends west to Fourth Avenue.

Public Works will fund the bulk of this project, paying $43,300. Remaining allocated city moneys of former Councilwoman Jeanne Robb’s budget, $24,000, will cover the balance of the work. CCHN and Driving Park neighborhoods will be responsible for maintenance of the urns. Detailed drawings can be found at countrclubhistoric.org.