Guest Editorial
Truth, Lies And Coverups
by Nasrin Kholghy
There’s been a lot of talk about our family in the Chronicle and on radio recently — most of it false and ignoring the facts. So here’s the truth.
Glendale is our home. Twenty-seven years ago, we moved our business from the old Cherry Creek Mall to Colorado Boulevard. Our kids played basketball on Birch Street. We enjoy Glendale’s spectacular annual fireworks from the rooftop of our rug store. You’ve driven by our rug store’s distinctive blue awnings many times.
Since our kids had their first birthday parties at Celebrity Fun Center, we’ve been deeply invested in Glendale and its surroundings. Over the decades, we have become good friends with many people in the community; our clients know us on a first-name basis. They’re part of our family. It was no surprise that so many people came to our support when we were threatened with eminent domain abuse and possible condemnation last year. For that, we wholeheartedly thank the people of Glendale and Denver, and everyone that stood up to defend our rights as landowners guaranteed under the Constitution.
We opened our rug store out of necessity then expanded it by choice. Although my husband and I hold UCD electrical engineering degrees, the political environment in 1979 made it impossible to find jobs. Authentic Persian & Oriental Rugs was born out of our need to sell the only thing our father could send from Iran and support family still attending the University of Colorado,
This is a true family business. We all work six or seven days a week. Even friends pitch in. My brother travels abroad frequently to find the best quality rugs and latest designs. My sister and I make certain that every rug sold is the perfect fit for each home — even if we have to drive hundreds of miles to do so.
We would never propose a project that would be an eyesore or detrimental to our community in any way because we live and work here.
In 2007, we first drafted plans for a mixed-use development on our land. That proposal includ-ed cascading terraces overlooking the creek, retail, restaurants and eleven high-end residential units. We understood the plans complied with all Glendale zoning laws, yet we received discouraging feedback. At that time, the Master Plan (page 35) said of our property: “This is the preeminent development site in the City. It contains 6.5 acres. It has frontage along Colorado Boulevard and the Cherry Creek channel and possesses spectacular mountain views. The concept of mixed use along with community amenities can be captured on this site. Ground floor uses would include eating, entertainment and specialty retail. Upper floor use could include office or residential.”
The zoning laws were changed five months later to further restrict residential use. Glendale has steadfastly opposed a residential component despite the fact that it is proven to work.
Homes are essential to building true communities. They help make places safer; people are more concerned about the neighborhood’s appearance and actually take pride in where they live. Residential properties would have the least impact on traffic — we know how bad the traffic can get around Colorado Blvd. and Alameda — easing congestion in general. That was the finding of a 2010 City-financed traffic study and why, in part, we want residential as part of our plan.
Glendale 180 envisions a downtown full of bars with 24-hour alcohol co
nsumption and huge profits. The City also investigated adding gambling to their plans. We suspect they don’t want our rug store here because our kind of business isn’t as profitable. They only desired our land.
City officials now say they don’t need our land. Yet they say we’re holding up Glendale 180 when, in truth, they’re holding up progress! Furthermore, it’s not just our family that’s at odds with the City, although we’re slammed in the media most. Glendale has similar issues with the Staybridge Hotel, the property adjoining ours.
These are just examples of the allegations and defamatory remarks tossed around in this publication, but to their credit, they finally invited us to tell our side. We welcome this opportunity.
We also invite anyone to visit our store and talk about these issues. You’ll be warmly welcomed regardless of your views. We have many docum
ents available that support the facts and we’re open seven days a week to discuss the truth. We want everyone to read and verify the facts themselves.
In March, Glendale’s Chamber of Commerce voted to “repudiate and denounce” us claiming we recruited hate groups to support our plan. That is false. We’ve never hired any groups to support us. We don’t employ private investigators. We’ve never proposed an ugly skyscraper as the Chronicle claims. The mayor and his wife (primary owner of Shotgun Willie’s and The Smoking Gun) along with the Chronicle’s publisher, and its executive editor sit on the Chamber board. At least three of them voted for this resolution that wasn’t based on facts.
Don’t you wonder why the Chronicle and the City are so passionate and persistent in slamming us each month? We suggest following the money. Glendale’s Downtown Development Authority plans to raise $200M in bonds and scrape a popular public park so a private developer can build more bars. Who will pay this $200,000,000 back? How long must we pay? Who reaps the benefits?