Summer 2016 News Inside New Owner, New Possibilities at 3015 E
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Congress Park Summer 2016 www.CongressParkNeighbors.org News Inside New Owner, New Possibilities at 3015 E. Colfax Volunteers Needed 2 By Wendy Moraskie Colfax – Preserving 3 Character he All Inn Motel at 3015 E. Colfax, Toerber is scheduling meetings with archi- Tellerpalooza 4 Trecent home of the shuttered RockBar, tects, contractors, commercial brokers and Rocks Again has been purchased by Inspire Investment adjacent neighborhood associations to deter- Group and is slated for redevelopment. IIG mine what gaps the site can fill successfully. Teller Steps Up 5 Green Efforts is finishing construction on the Detroit Ter- He expects to break ground in 2017. races apartment building just two blocks west Congress Park Earth 6 Day Festival of the All Inn site. During planning and construction, Toerber intends to make the parking lot available to Sustainability in 7 Congress Park As an immediate neighbor to Congress Park, local businesses through rental agreements. the neglected All Inn property impacts on our More foot traffic in the area means more City Council Addresses 8 Homelessness and section of Colfax, which has been waking observation of the lot, the building and the Marijuana and stretching itself into a dynamic, vibrant surrounding area, ostensibly dissuading less- Work Continues in 9 shape, bridging the historical and our place- desirable behaviors. The hotel is now operat- House District 8 grounded future. The current state of this ing under a 90-day rolling lease, and Toerber CP Crime Remains 10 building can’t help but adversely affect the said a surfeit of problems will activate a Low, Could Be Lower opinions of passers-by as they visit nearby 90-day notice to cease operations. Crime Map 11 shops and restaurants and consider living and working here. Colfax Avenue between Josephine and Colo- Sweeping Works 12 for Floors, Not People rado have long been colorful and unique. In In an interview, IIG head Brian Toerber men- recent years the area is beginning to reap the Denver Botanic 13 Gardens Activities tioned plans to rehabilitate the hotel’s exte- benefits of efforts by energetic and committed rior, potentially add a fifth floor and possibly city staff, and adjacent City Park South and City Park Jazz 14 a second building on the lot. Currently he Congress Park neighborhood residents. Biz Directory 15 envisions retail on the ground floor and about 60 small apartment units in Let’s prepare to work toward a more comple- the 400 square-foot range that mentary, attractive and effective use for 3015 Congress Park’s Vision (1995 Neighborhood Plan) would rent for about $1000 that honors the history and architecture of per month. Other options the surrounding neighborhoods, embraces Congress Park is a traditional city neighborhood with a small-town include scraping the existing “today,” and prepares a foundation for the atmosphere. Here, people of diverse cultures, building and replacing it with future. We’ll watch this next incarnation of ages, colors and economic backgrounds share one or two buildings aiming the All Inn with hopeful, cautious optimism. a sense of community, value older homes and toward the combination of mature trees, and enjoy the convenience of city living amid the stability of a retail space and micro-units. thriving neighborhood. 2 Congress Park News :: Summer 2016 Volunteers Needed for Denver's Top Neighborhood* Congress Park News is a quarterly publication of o you enjoy walking around the neigh- Do you receive lots of notices about services Congress Park Neighbors, borhood? Do you support Congress and activities in the neighborhood? You are Inc. A network of volunteers D produces and distributes Park businesses? You would be the perfect just the person we need to compile the most it to a circulation of more person to deliver newsletters to businesses pertinent information into brief articles for than 4,500 residents and near you. the quarterly newsletter. businesses within the area bounded by Colfax Avenue, Sixth Avenue, York Street You could gather breaking news from business Are you very committed to the care and feed- and Colorado Boulevard. owners and their neighbors and share it with ing of Congress Park? Make sure you attend the CP News writers to contribute to articles. the bi-monthly neighborhood meetings to hear www.CongressPark what’s going on near you, and find out how Neighbors.org You could also talk with business owners you can help Congress Park thrive. Congress Park News about advertising in the CP News. And we P.O. Box 18571 always like to have more volunteers to de- *5280 Magazine rated Congress Park number Denver, CO 80218 liver the newsletter to our neighbors. 1 of the 71 Denver neighborhoods it rated in Editorial Board: its May issue. Wendy Moraskie CPN Board Advertising Coordinator, Layout & Design Editor: Michelle Warwick murphy.michellej@ gmail.com Your Congress Park Neighbors 2016 Volunteer Board of Directors Distribution: Volunteers Needed Tom Conis—President And we thank these committed neighbors: [email protected] Your articles, letters Joan Gregerson, Liz Goehring and Becky Coughlin and advertisements are Myles Tangalin—Treasurer —Congress Park Green Team coordinators always welcome. [email protected] Kris Schindler—Congress Park Maggie Price—Website Historic Preservation Neighborhood meetings are 1465 Fillmore; 303-333-5478 held every other month [email protected] Lisa Bingham—Hospital District Redevelopment (August, October, Decem- ber, February, April and Wendy Moraskie—Newsletter Steve Eppler—Crime Action June), on the third Wednes- 1475 Milwaukee St.; 303-355-3735 [email protected] day, at 7 p.m. in National [email protected] Jewish Hospital’s Heitler Denver Botanic Gardens Liaisons Hall. Watch the newsletter Victoria Eppler—At-Large Bill DeMaio; [email protected] and the email blasts for 1254 Clayton St.; 303-912-7988 Myles Tangalin [email protected] Victoria Eppler featured speakers. Don’t get the email blasts? Your elected, all-volunteer Congress Park Board Sign up at www.congress invites you to attend the open meetings at National Do you have a suggestion for your Board? parkneighbors.org. Jewish Hospital on the third Wednesday every other month (Feb., Apr., June, Aug., Oct., Dec.) at Send hints and help to This newsletter is printed on 7 p.m. in Heitler Hall. [email protected] 100% recycled paper with soy-based ink by The CPNews has a need for a volunteer who Signature Offset Lots of other neighbors help with communica- can visit with CPN professionals and busi- tions, membership, and more, and generally nesses about advertising in the neighborhood make Congress Park a great place to live—you newsletter. Call Wendy at 303-355-3735 for know who you are and how much we depend on more information. you—Thanks! Summer 2016 :: Congress Park News 3 Colfax – Preserving Character and Encouraging Development By Councilman Wayne New, District 10 Bargains for a Good Cause ver the past six months CW Mary Beth This planning process will address the Sheridan OSusman, Council President Chris Hern- to Yosemite length of Colfax in its three major You love yard sale-ing don, CM Albus Brooks, CM Wayne New, CM segments (west of Broadway; Broadway to and contributing to a good Paul Lopez, and CM Rafael Espinoza, the six Colorado; and east of Colorado) that have their cause, so the Zonta Club City Council members representing districts on own personality traits and development needs. of Denver’s (501.c.3) Colfax, have initiated a discussion and plan- The re-development project will be emphasizing annual yard sale is the place to be on May 21. ning process to re-develop the 15 mile length of the following key areas: The nearly 40 members Colfax Avenue in Denver (Sheridan to Yosem- of the club are serious ite), in conjunction with the implementation of 1) BRT Transit Development about spring cleaning the first segment of the bus rapid transit (BRT) 2) Affordable Housing and their club’s mission: system. City departments, Colfax business 3) Existing Colfax Area Plans & Recent Ur to improve opportunities improvement district leaders, developers, and ban Land Institute (ULI) / Rose Foundation for at-risk women and children. They’ve arrayed other neighborhood and professional represen- West Colfax Study a selection of gently-used tatives have initially participated to define the 4) Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) decor, jewelry, furniture process. The input and guidance from neigh- and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and other household borhoods and businesses will be essential for 5) Zoning and Streetscape Planning goods on the lawn at 1360 the project’s future success. Our discussions to 6) Parking Glencoe on one Saturday date have been energetic and positive with great 7) Homeless and Safety Improvement each May for more than 10 years. Funds go interest in the future of Colfax. toward grants to local The planning effort will include a series of organizations. Morning is public meetings and communications to request best, but not before your input and keep you informed on 8 a.m., please. progress. Some 2017 improvement ideas may be evaluated by each respective City For more information or to In the Neighborhood? donate, call Wendy at Council member for possible submission Let’s Get to Know 303-355-3735. One Another to the Budget Office for consideration. New to the area? Unfamiliar with the Strategic capital improvement project Edward Jones way of doing business? funding for essential Colfax needs will Take an hour or so to learn how we work with millions of individual investors. be evaluated, discussed, and referred for Together, we can create and implement inclusion in long term strategic planning. an investment strategy designed to help you achieve your long-term fi nancial goals. We tailor our recommendations The re-development of Colfax will be a based on you: your current situation, great opportunity to preserve its wonder- objectives and risk tolerance.