by Valley Gadfly | Oct 19, 2026 | Main Articles
by Glen Richardson
Promises Versus Reality: An aerial photograph shows the current condition of Glendale’s 10-acre Four-Mile District, where a six-story, 733-space parking garage stands alongside a large expanse of undeveloped land. Despite ambitious plans for a major entertainment and commercial destination, all work has ceased, the project is currently abandoned, and the $25 million garage remains the only building constructed by Salazar in the district.
Cities in Colorado are finding that entering into a seemingly binding contract with a developer to construct a critical downtown project does not mean it will ever, in fact, be done. The City and County of Broomfield entered into a $300 million agreement in 2019 with developers to construct a Broomfield Town Square on Main Street.
However, the September 12, 2026, deadline to pull the required building permits lapsed with no action taken. On October 13, the Broomfield City Council issued a notice to the developers to show cause why the Site Development Plan should not be revoked.
Even more frightening, the City of Glendale, in a court filing, accused Denver-based Central Street Capital (“CRC”), headed by Rob Salazar and his family, through a related entity, of inventing an excuse not to perform its obligations regarding the $150 million Four-Mile District along Cherry Creek on Virginia Avenue, down from Shotgun Willie’s. CRC then sued the city for $20 million in state court, the same amount a Salazar-related entity has sought from the City and County of Denver in an unrelated suit regarding property in Globeville.
Litigious Father And Son: Rob Salazar (right) and Isiah Salazar (left) are pictured together at the groundbreaking of the Four-Mile District in Glendale on July 25, 2024. All work on the project has now ceased and through a related entity they are suing Glendale for $25 million which is just one of various lawsuits they have brought in the Denver area through entities they control against organizations (both private and governmental) they had been working with.
Glendale declared in its pleading: “Developer had no intention of completing the Project, so it manufactured a dispute to avoid closing on the purchase of Phase 1 Property.”
Litigious Family
The Glendale lawsuit is one of a long line of suits brought by Salazar-related entities regarding properties they are connected to in the Denver area.
Fox Street Investments LLC, a Salazar-controlled entity, acquired a small parcel of land (a 0.75-acre lot) in the Globeville area of Denver on which it wanted to squeeze a 20-story, 400-plus-unit apartment building. After the purchase, it sued the City and County of Denver, claiming its development rules were unconstitutional and caused the property to be worthless, while, absent the city rules, it would be worth $20 million.
Critics of the Salazars surmise that, instead of an entertainment district in Glendale, they wanted to acquire the 10-acre parcel, at least in part, to squeeze in high-density apartments, perhaps not dissimilar to what they are planning in Globeville.
A Salazar family holding company, SFF Reality Investors LLC, was a plaintiff in a 2019 lawsuit against Town and Country Motel, asserting that it was a public nuisance because of crime that interfered with its Fox Street properties.
Grand Plans: An architectural rendering depicts the ambitious vision for Glendale’s Four-Mile District, including an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, hotel, restaurants, retail establishments, and public gathering spaces.
Rob and his wife, Lola, brought a lawsuit as shareholders in Solaro National Bank, claiming that majority shareholder and chairman Michael Quagliano (known as “Red Pant Man” for wearing red pants while sitting courtside at Denver Nuggets home games) spent money on planes and helicopters for personal use, including trips to away Nuggets games.
Another Salazar-related case involved “Auraria Student Housing at the Regency” (formerly the Regency Hotel), which sued an entity called Campus Village, claiming its exclusive agreement with CU-Denver, requiring all new international students and incoming students to reside at Campus Village, was an unfair monopoly. A federal jury awarded the Salazar-related entity $3.26 million, which federal antitrust laws triple for injured parties.
In the LoHi area of Denver, CRC developed a 57-unit apartment building which it sold for $34 million to a third party but signed a lease to keep their office space in the building. CRC then turned around as tenant and successfully sued the new owner as landlord alleging it had created an “intolerable condition” through maintenance problems and a failure to maintain the building at the required standard.
Healthcare Litigation
Red Pant Man: Michael Quagliano nicknamed the “Red Pant Man” for his attire attending courtside Denver Nuggets games. He is the subject of a shareholder lawsuit filed by developer Salazar and his wife adding another chapter to the legal controversies surrounding the Four-Mile District’s former developer.
Rob Salazar was originally an accountant and, prior to becoming a real estate developer, was involved in the healthcare field, where he became embroiled in very serious litigation.
The United States government sued him personally, as well as other individuals and entities, including Solomon Health Management LLC, of which Rob Salazar was president and CEO, under the federal False Claims Act, alleging fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billing. Salazar was able to get some of the claims dismissed, but not others. The public record does not reflect the final disposition of the remaining claims, although numerous lawsuits were filed by individuals relating to the matter, claiming negligent care.
Parking Garage To Nowhere
Four-Mile District Parking Garage: The only building constructed by developer Salazar in the currently abandoned Glendale’s Four-Mile District is this empty six-story, 733-space parking garage on Virginia Avenue. Built on a one-acre lot owned by a Salazar-related entity, the $25 million garage was financed entirely by bondholders, with Salazar bearing none of the construction costs.
The only building constructed by Salazar regarding Glendale’s Four-Mile District is a massive six-story, 733-space garage on Virginia Avenue, on a one-acre lot owned by a Salazar-related entity. The parking garage cost $25 million to build, all of which was borne by bondholders and not Salazar.
The money to repay the bonds was expected to come from sales tax and other funds generated by a functioning entertainment district, which is now not going to be built, at least not by Salazar. Critics of Salazar point out that the parking garage could serve a high-density apartment development that they surmise Salazar would want to build on the remaining acreage.
The attorney for CRC, Daniel Richard of the law firm Davis Graham & Stubbs, told The Denver Post/BusinessDen that Glendale’s claim that CRC didn’t plan to complete the project was “false, unsupported, and directly contradicted by the record.” The case is set for trial beginning January 4, 2027.
by Valley Gadfly | Oct 19, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
November has arrived in the Cherry Creek Valley, bringing shorter days, colder nights, and the annual realization that Christmas decorations have appeared in stores before we’ve even finished the Halloween candy.
The Gadfly remembers when the holiday season began after Thanksgiving. Apparently, that tradition has gone the way of affordable groceries, inexpensive parking, and a quick drive through Cherry Creek.
Speaking of Cherry Creek, anyone who hasn’t visited the neighborhood in a few months might need a map to figure out what happened. New buildings continue to reshape the landscape, bringing luxury residences, hotels, restaurants, and office space to an area that once seemed perfectly content with boutiques and neighborhood watering holes.
The transformation has been remarkable. Cherry Creek has become one of Denver’s premier destinations for shopping, dining, and upscale living. The Gadfly applauds the investment while wondering whether the neighborhood will eventually require valet parking just to visit the valet parking stand.
Meanwhile, just down the road, Glendale continues maintaining its independent personality while surrounded by a metropolitan area that seems determined to become more complicated by the day.
There is something refreshing about a city where you can travel from one end to the other without packing a lunch. Glendale may be small geographically, but its restaurants, businesses, and community events give it a presence considerably larger than its footprint.
And then there’s traffic. Colorado Boulevard remains one of the region’s most reliable sources of frustration. What should be a simple trip can turn into an extended opportunity to contemplate life’s mysteries or listen to an entire podcast.
The Gadfly is particularly fascinated by modern traffic signals, which apparently have developed the ability to sense when a driver is in a hurry and immediately turn red.
Perhaps one day Denver officials will unveil a revolutionary transportation strategy called keeping traffic moving. The Gadfly suspects it would be enormously popular.
But November is also a time to appreciate what we have. Despite the traffic, construction, and rising cost of practically everything, the Cherry Creek Valley remains a remarkable place to live and work.
We enjoy beautiful parks, excellent restaurants, thriving businesses, and neighborhoods filled with people who care about their communities. We also have dedicated small business owners, volunteers, and first responders who make our corner of Colorado special.
Thanksgiving reminds us that the most important things in life generally aren’t found in a shopping mall or luxury condominium. They’re found around the dinner table with family and friends.
Of course, a properly prepared turkey, excellent stuffing, and a generous helping of mashed potatoes contribute significantly to the holiday spirit.
Before we know it, the holiday lights will be glowing throughout Cherry Creek, restaurants will be filled with seasonal celebrations, and shoppers will be searching for parking spaces with the determination of prospectors hunting for gold.
So here’s to a wonderful November, a happy Thanksgiving, and a holiday season filled with good food, good friends, and a minimum of traffic delays.
As for the Gadfly, he’ll be enjoying a second helping of pumpkin pie while wondering why the Christmas music started playing in October.
Some traditions are worth preserving. Others could stand to wait until December.
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 29, 2026 | Main Articles
One Man Killed In Parking Lot — Suspect Arrested In Mexico
by Glen Richardson
Apartment Battle: An extraordinary gun battle broke out at Esprit Cherry Creek Apartments that required the intervention not only of Glendale P.D. but also Denver, Sheridan, and Cherry Hills police departments. No individual has been charged yet but arrests are expected to be announced soon.
At 2:09 a.m. on August 31, 2026, the Glendale Police arrived at Esprit Cherry Creek Apartments where a wild gunfight broke out in the parking lot involving up to a dozen individuals who were believed to be predominately from Venezuela. One juvenile was badly wounded with a gunshot wound to the chest and was later pronounced dead.
Glendale would receive assistance from the Denver, Sheridan, and Cherry Hills police departments during the initial response and subsequent scene investigation. Because the gunfight is an active homicide investigation, the Glendale police are not releasing the identities of the individuals involved, information regarding potential suspects of interest, or specific investigative details at this time. Glendale detectives have identified several individuals connected to the investigation and are working closely with outside law enforcement and investigative partners. Various details of the information for this article has been obtained from third party sources outside of the Glendale police department.
The gunfight at Esprit was recorded on the apartment house’s residents. The videos allowed the Glendale police to track which apartments or automobiles the participants went into following the gunfight.
There were dozens of bullets lodged into the walls around Esprit as well as vehicles on the premises. Glendale police towed in four vehicles with bullet holes. Three individuals were taken into protective custody, but later released with no charges filed.
Crime Scene: Bullets were found sprayed throughout the complex as well as in vehicles in the parking lot.
One of the major participants in the gun battle was a Venezuela national identified by the Glendale police and traced down to Mexico, where he had been arrested in Mexico for violation of that country’s immigration laws. The suspect was likely in the United States illegally but not arrested in the United States for violation of this country’s immigration laws, and under Colorado law the Glendale police are prohibited from coordinating with ICE. The Glendale police department acquired an arrest warrant for the suspect and is coordinating for extradition with the Mexican government.
The individuals involved in the gun battle are believed to be rival factions of the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization know as “Tren de Aragua” (TdA). Members of that organization took over three apartment complexes in Aurora in 2024, and the subsequent criminal activity made national news.
In August of last year, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 30 individuals associated with TdA in Colorado for drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, prostitution, and firearms crimes.
The enormous influx of Venezuela illegal immigrants to Denver including TdA members occurred under the Biden Administration. It had been estimated 40,000 illegal migrants reached Denver starting in 2022. The City of Denver placed in Aurora large numbers of illegal migrants bussed up from Texas to Denver. The transporting of those illegal immigrants to Aurora caused a major rift between the administrations of those two cities.
Glendale City Manager Chuck Line indicated that the Trump administration’s efforts to close the border have greatly reduced the influx into Glendale. However, a significant number of TdA members are still believed to be in the greater Denver area.
Glendale police anticipate additional arrests relating to the gunfight over the next several months.
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 29, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
From Broadway’s Halloween Parade To A Fright Fest Plus Garden Ghosts, Scare Lurks
by Glen Richardson
Trick-or-Treat: Albeit traditional trick-or-treating is on the decline, many youngsters still go door-to-door collecting candy on Halloween.
Halloween 2026 lands on a Saturday — the first since 2020 and the last until 2037 —and Denver is treating it accordingly. Here’s a look at the haunts, the parades, the family nights, the bar crawls, ending with Ghosts in the Gardens, Victorian Horrors, BOO-lesque, and the Nightmare Before Christmas on Oct. 31.
The tradition launches with the seventh annual Broadway Halloween Parade on Oct. 17, 6-9 p.m. Stretching from 5th to Alameda along Broadway, the Parade features various spooky floats, bands, and marchers. The floats that drift down Broadway aren’t typical parade floats, they’re labors of love, built by people who care deeply about bringing joy to the crowds lining the street. It’s magical fun, so bring the entire family.
Terrifying Traffic: The floats that drift down Broadway aren’t typical parade floats, they’re labors of love, built by people who care about bringing joy to the crowds lining the street.
Glow at the Gardens opens on Oct 15, it runs to Oct. 18, plus again Oct. 21-24. The Broadway Bar Crawl is Oct. 24, as is Dia de los Muertos at Civic Center Park. BOO-lesque is Oct. 23-31. Nightmare Before Christmas with the Colorado Symphony is at Boettcher Concert Hall, Oct. 29-30, 7:30 p.m., and in the afternoon at 2 p.m. on the 31st.
Halloween Balls
Paranormal People: Attend the Paranormal Palace at the Double Tree Tech Center, Oct. 31, and you’ll see people decked out in garments similar to this.
This year’s Paranormal Palace is at the Double Tree Denver Tech Center, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The bash features 8,000 sq. ft. of decor and lighting, stage shows, a dance floor, interactive exhibits, and bars. The Dark Harvest Masquerade Ball is at the Castle Event Center in Northglenn, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Plus, of course, there are bar crawls, family daytime events, and closing night for most haunts and patches.
Two of the most popular family Halloween attractions are the Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest, and the immersive Glow at the Gardens in Denver Botanic Gardens. When the sun goes down, fear takes over Elitch’s Fright Fest. Haunted houses, terrifying scare zones, sinister live entertainment, and rides in the dark create an atmosphere of nonstop thrills
Want more? Then wander Botanic Gardens’ illuminated Glow at the Gardens. It’s enchanted landscapes animated by live performers, with hand-carved pumpkin displays around every bend. While most nighttime Halloween events feature foam “funkins,” every single one in the Gardens is grimacing jack-o’-lanterns and larger-than-life sculptures that are freshly carved from real, locally grown pumpkins. The Gardens also features Ghosts in the Gardens Oct. 9-10, Oct. 20, and Oct. 28-31. Storytellers share true staff experiences, security guard encounters with the unexplained, and the haunted history of the place once known as “The Boneyard,” 5:30-10 p.m. Oct. 8-10, and 20, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Then again on Oct.28-30, 4:30-9:15 p.m. p.m.
Trick-or-Treating
Night Fright: Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest has haunted houses, terrifying scare zones, sinister live entertainment, and rides in the dark. Photo: Elitch Gardens
Families in many Denver neighborhoods say traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is on the decline, albeit popularity varies by locations.
Trick-or-treating generally wraps up between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. in most neighborhoods. There is no official or universal age limit to trick-or-treat, but most public surveys and social norms point to 12 to 14 years old as the age when kids start aging out. Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is declining in many neighborhoods, though popularity varies heavily by location
Finally, there’s a Trick-or-Treat Street on S. University Blvd. in Centennial with games, booths, and lots of candy. Hours are 4 to 5:15 p.m. or 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Site is the Goodson Recreation Center parking lot, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial. All children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
Boo At The Zoo
Creepy Cavalcade: The seventh annual Broadway Halloween Parade is Oct. 17, 6-9 p.m. The Parade features spooky floats, bands and marchers.
Denver Zoo’s Halloween institution, Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 1-31, beginning at 4:30 p.m. It takes over a full month of evenings in 2026, not just the week before Halloween.
Kids work trick-or-treat stations through the zoo grounds after regular hours, and the run is long enough that a family can pick a weeknight instead of fighting the closing-weekend crowd.
The dated evenings are Oct. 2 and 3, Oct. 9 to 11, Oct. 16 to 18, Oct. 23 to 25, and Oct. 30, all 4:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31 is a sensory-friendly night with the same hours, built for guests who need lower stimulation.
Tours & Teas
Do you know what lurks beneath the surface of Denver’s beautiful Cheesman Park? Local tours — year around not just on Halloween — uncover the eerie history behind the park, Fact: It was Denver’s first city cemetery. During the tour, you’ll hear haunting tales and hair-raising firsthand accounts of paranormal activity.
You’ll also uncover the truth behind the spine-chilling process used to remove the bodies from the cemetery and learn about the haunted mansion homes of Humboldt Island. By the tour’s end, you’ll be able to determine for yourself if the park is truly haunted.
Or, consider attending a spirited and spooky tea at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Oct. 11. Event will feature a spooky and spirited tea featuring traditional tea service. You’ll enjoy hauntingly charming desserts, themed cocktails and beverages, interactive experiences, and a spellbinding live opera performance inspired by Shakespeare’s most infamous witches.
Daring Dashes
Call it a Monster Mash, Halloween 2026 in Denver features a “Thriller” list of eerie races — both 5K & 10K — to keep “Dem Bones” moving this holiday.
Start with the Spooky Spirit 5K & 10K, plus Half Marathon on Oct. 3 at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, 8 a.m. There’s a Kids Dash, a One-Mile, followed by the 5K & 10K. Results and awards presented immediately following the race.
Denver’s Sloan’s Lake 5K & 10K Monster Dash is Saturday Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m. There’s a mile and a mini loop for the kids. Stay after the race for BBQ, drinks for several sponsors, plus scary music. At the Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd., participate in Hoofin’ It Through the Hallows 5k Oct. 24. It features a costume contest at 5 p.m. The race starts at 5:30 p.m.
by Valley Gadfly | Aug 20, 2026 | Valley Gadfly
The mornings finally begin to cool down, the afternoons are still warm enough for a patio, football returns, school is back in session, and before long the mountains will begin putting on the annual fall-color show that reminds us why people keep moving here despite our repeated requests that they stop.
Around the Cherry Creek Valley, September also brings something else: a return to the rhythm of community life.
Summer vacations are ending. Business groups are gathering again. Arts organizations are launching their fall seasons. Restaurants and shops are preparing for a busy final stretch of the year. And local governments, never known for taking an extended vacation, have plenty on their agendas as well.
Cherry Creek Keeps Growing
The latest State of Cherry Creek numbers provide some perspective on just how significant the area has become. Cherry Creek now attracts more than 16.8 million visitors annually, is home to 1,694 businesses, and supports more than 16,800 workers.
The district also generated more than $119 million in tax revenue for Denver during 2025, including retail sales, property and lodging taxes, and parking revenue.
And the building cranes aren’t disappearing anytime soon. Eight projects were reported under construction with another eight announced, including major developments such as Cherry Creek West, the Waldorf Astoria Residences, and Cherry Lane.
All of that development naturally produces debate about traffic, parking, density and what Cherry Creek should look like 10 or 20 years from now.
Those are worthwhile discussions. But amid all the arguments over growth, it is worth remembering that thousands of small and locally owned businesses are part of the Cherry Creek economy. The State of Cherry Creek report counted more than 462 ground-level retail and service businesses, with 87% qualifying as small businesses.
So this September, perhaps buy lunch from somebody who knows your name.
Amazon will survive.
The Arts Wake Up For Fall
September also means Denver’s cultural calendar starts getting serious again.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts begins its 2026-27 Theatre Company season with Destiny of Desire, opening September 11 at the Wolf Theatre and running through October 4. The production is a telenovela-inspired play with music by Karen Zacarías, directed by Marcela Lorca.
After a summer of concerts, festivals, and outdoor entertainment, September is the month when Denver’s theaters, galleries, and performance spaces begin filling their calendars again. The Gadfly recommends taking advantage. There are only so many evenings one can spend watching television while scrolling through a telephone and simultaneously complaining that nobody does anything interesting anymore.
Colorado Boulevard Remains A Conversation
One subject that will continue well beyond September is the future of Colorado Boulevard. The proposed Bus Rapid Transit project has generated substantial discussion over dedicated transit lanes, automobile capacity, pedestrian safety, neighborhood traffic, and how construction could affect businesses along the corridor.
At an April stakeholder meeting, participants expressed strong interest in safety improvements and more reliable transit, while also asking for additional technical information about traffic modeling and raising concerns about vehicles being diverted onto residential streets. Businesses and residents have also asked planners to consider construction impacts and access. Those aren’t unreasonable questions.
Colorado Boulevard is one of the region’s most important north-south corridors, and improving transit and pedestrian safety while keeping businesses accessible and neighborhoods livable is a balancing act worth getting right.
The Gadfly’s contribution to the planning process remains simple:
Anyone making a major decision about Colorado Boulevard should first be required to drive it during rush hour. Call it field research.
Enjoy September While It Lasts
Colorado September never seems long enough.
Soon enough we’ll be scraping windshields, arguing about snowplows, and watching television meteorologists stand beside Interstate 70 explaining that driving into the mountains during a blizzard might involve delays.
For now, however, we have cool mornings, warm afternoons, football weekends, community gatherings, theater openings, busy patios, and the beginning of fall in the Rockies.
Get outside. Visit a local business. Attend an event. Meet somebody new. Take in a show. Spend an afternoon in the neighborhood.
And sometime this month, look west. The leaves will soon begin changing.
For once, that’s a change everyone around here can probably agree on.
