by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2024 | Main Articles
Largest Creek Development In History Set To Begin; To Cut Traffic, Slash Structure Size, Use, And Heights
by Wayne New & David Steel
Wayne New is a former Denver City Councilman. David Steel is the former CEO of Western Development.
Traffic Terror: 1st Ave., University, Steele, and Cherry Creek South Drive already have terrible traffic. Cherry Creek West project will add 10,000 vehicles per day.
Have you recently driven down Alameda, University, Steele, 1st Ave., or Cherry Creek South Drive and experienced the incredible traffic and congestion in the Cherry Creek area? Have you tried to cross 1st Ave. and feared that you could be hit by a car? You are not alone.
We believe in smart, well-designed development, but we all know that the unintended consequence of too much density without concurrent transportation planning is uncontrolled traffic. However, a Denver Moves Cherry Creek statement from City Planning and the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure reads: “DMCC recommends that an increase in density in Cherry Creek is needed to support higher frequency/more reliable transit, and allow for more local trips within Cherry Creek to be taken by walking/bicycling.”
They are putting the cart before the horse!
Choking Cherry Creek
What’s driving this large increase in Cherry Creek traffic? The problem begins with the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District’s (BID) 10-year, 150% density growth plan.
Additional causes are:
Safe Cross Streets: Major Cherry Creek North arterial streets — particularly 1st Ave. — have scarcity of safe pedestrian crossings despite shopping popularity.
- Underutilized BID underground parking and limited on-street parking is creating parking and traffic problems in the neighborhoods;
- Increased Leetsdale/Colorado cut through traffic on 1st Ave. to downtown. At least 50% of 1st. Ave. traffic is from cars originating from Leetsdale, Colorado Blvd., and University;
- Reduced RTD bus services/limited routes — limited service reduces employee transportation;
- Lack of planned transit implementation on major arterial corridors — the 2012 Cherry Creek Area Plan stated “Cherry Creek has highest regional traffic volume” and called for transit services. The City has estimated that it will take 10 to 20 years to implement transit;
- Limited use of City transportation demand management strategies to reduce traffic — City strategies to reduce traffic have not been emphasized or enforced;
- Maximum Intersection Capacities — 10 of the 13 major Cherry Creek area intersections exceed the maximum traffic of 36,000 cars per day.
Adding Obstacles
Even with all of the above, the City will be allowing the rezoning of the largest development in Cherry Creek history. This Cherry Creek West Project development on the west side of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center poses the following issues which will have to be addressed:
- Scale: The approximate 1,600,000-sq. ft. (SF) development will be 45% greater in SF compared to the present Shopping Center;
- Building Height: Three (3) of the seven (7) buildings will be 13 stories in height and one building will be 11 stories. The average height of all buildings will be 10.5 stories;
- Vehicle Traffic: According to the developer, the number of vehicle trips onto 1st Ave. and University will increase traffic by 1,000 vehicle trips per PM Peak Hour or 10,000 per day;
- Traffic Flow: The flow of traffic will be difficult with the property having only four (4) entrances/exits that are: two (2) one-way only and 2 two-way with lights. The existing Shopping Center, which is 45% smaller, has seven (7) entrances/exits with four (4) two-way with lights;
- Construction Difficulties: The entire 13-acre property will require two (2) to three (3) story-depth underground for project infrastructure construction and parking. Those 10 years of project construction will create continuous 1st Ave. traffic issues.
What To Do Now
What can immediately be done to reduce traffic, since transit is 10 to 20 years in the future?
Establish a 75% residential use ratio for new development for next five years since residential construction creates the lowest level of new vehicle trips; Expand RTD route services to Cherry Creek; Implement specific Transportation Demand Management measures for all existing and new building developments, which will have the potential of reducing Cherry Creek traffic by 2,500 vehicle trips per PM Hour:
More: a) Require RTD Eco-Pass programs to increase bus usage; b) Require hourly parking or unbundled parking for all building users, including employees; c) Implement bicycle support amenities for all buildings.
Structure Size, Height
Implement and fund shuttle services from Cherry Creek to University / I-25, the Colorado Blvd / I-25, and Colorado / I-70 light rail stations to expedite service to the present transit network.
Propose to the City a Development Impact Fee Program to help fund Cherry Creek improvements — a plan which has created millions of dollars from developers in other cities.
Even with these Cherry Creek options and recommendations, the easiest and most effective solution for immediate traffic reduction is to address new building use, size, and heights. Therefore, reducing the total CCW new development square feet and height to eight (8) stories will have a significant reduction in vehicle trips.
Crosstown Bugs: Cherry Creek Dr. South has become a major thoroughfare for drivers crossing in either direction between University Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
Resident Support
What can residents do to help? Implementation of any of these recommendations falls under the purview of the various registered neighborhood organizations (RNO) and their respective Councilperson.
Each RNO should send a Position Statement to the City & County of Denver (Councilperson). If a Position Statement is not sent, then, in effect, the RNO is endorsing the CCW Project as submitted. Written resident comments can also be sent to your Councilperson.
All concerned organizations and residents should attend Planning Board and the City Council meetings to express their opinions. Approval of the submitted CCW rezoning will create traffic and congestion for the foreseeable future. RNOs and business organizations are the ones with the stature to make a formal submittal of objection.
About The Authors
If you have questions, please contact Wayne New at wayneindenver@gmail.com or David Steel at steelyard@msn.com.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2024 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Connecting: Two Pals & A Pup has had good traffic during the first month of the Glendale Farmers Market. They have also made good connections with other vendors. Visit www.twopalsandapup.com for more information.
Saucy: Saucy Chops Food Truck is a Colorado born Food Truck that provides everyone’s classic favorites such as a chicken parmesan sandwich doused with scratch made sauces. Visit www.saucychops5280.com for more information.
Inaugural Year: The new Glendale Farmers Market has attracted a crowd of enthusiasts each weekend and it will run every Saturday through August 31, 2024.
The Hispanic Restaurant Association, in cooperation with the City of Glendale and the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce, started a farmers market in Glendale and the first month was a huge hit.
The farmers market is located at 4601 E. Kentucky Avenue in Glendale (the P1 parking lot near Infinity Park). It runs every Saturday through August 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is touted as an experiential farmers market, catered by the Hispanic Restaurant Association’s own chefs and different from the usual farmers markets around the area.
Hot Sauce: Mamas Peri Peri Hot Sauce is one of the vendors at the Glendale Farmers Market each Saturday. The sauce is an ancient family recipe carefully blended in a time-honored tradition of Portuguese culinary excellence. Learn more at www.mamasperiperi.com.
“The Glendale Farmers Market is fabulous,” said Kim Umbarger, Glendale City Councilmember. “It has a lot of variety. I am a farmers market enthusiast so I was expecting it to be tiny. But it had all the things. You have all of the really good produce, fruits, and there were games for my kids which I was not expecting. And there was music. I didn’t realize but the hill is shaded so you can sit on the grass and eat your snacks. I highly recommend it. It is a great market.”
The Glendale Farmers Market features multiple chef demonstrations, a Taylor Swift booth for the kids to dance, plenty of locally sourced sauces, vegetables, and more. The vendors are also pleased with the Saturday market. “We are pleased to be part of this farmers market in its inaugural year,” said Stacey Bennett, co-owner of Two Pals & A Pup. “We have had good traffic at our booth each weekend and we are appreciative for the opportunity the Glendale Chamber and the Hispanic Restaurant Association provided us. We look forward to the rest of the summer.”
Since USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service began tracking farmers’ markets in 1994, the number of markets in the United States has grown to 8,720, an increase of about 7.07 percent from 2013. Total annual sales at U.S. farmers’ markets are estimated at $1 billion. On an average market day, 916 households shopped across markets in the U.S. and spent $14,547 per farmers market. The Hispanic Restaurant Association is well positioned to make the Glendale Farmers Market one of the most popular and unique in the Cherry Creek Valley.
Visit www.glendalefarmersmarket.com for more information and to explore the vendors lined up for the summer.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2024 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
Kade Ruotolo defends his title against fellow American Mikey Musumeci in ONE 160 at Ball Arena on September 6, 2024.
ONE Championship is the world’s largest martial arts organization, ranking among the world’s top five sports properties for viewership with a cumulative reach of over 400 million fans, according to Nielsen. ONE produces and distributes events across more than 190 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and more. ONE can be viewed on many of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Prime Video, Sky Sports, and many others.
Cherry Creek Valley residents can see these athletes compete at Ball Arena on September 6, 2024. ONE 168 will feature many contests in an atmosphere compared to a rock concert.
“We were here [1stBank Center] last May for our first event in the U.S.,” said Rich Franklin, ONE Vice President. “We had such a great event with a sold out crowd and a great reception from the fans, that we decided to return and do two events in the U.S. Denver and Atlanta.”
Franklin became the UFC Middleweight World Champion in 2005 and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. He became ONE Vice President in 2014, supporting key strategic initiatives for the company.
Some of the key matchups on September 6 include: Mikey Musumeci vs. Kade Ruotolo, and Liam Harrison vs. Seksan. Added to Fight Card, Joining Stamp vs. Xiong Jing Nan, and Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek. “I’m excited for this one [Haggerty vs. Superlek],” said Franklin. “Superlek is called the kicking machine. And Jonathan Haggerty is known for his elbows. He can close distance with an elbow like most people could with a long kicking leg. This is going to be a fun one to watch.”
In addition, two contests have been added to the stacked ONE 168 fight card. First, two of the top pound-for-pound grapplers on the planet will collide when ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo defends his title against fellow American Mikey Musumeci in a must-see matchup. “We do a really good job matching up our submission grappling matches,” said Franklin. “Typically they are really fast paced. I expect this one to be really exciting.”
As the reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion, Musumeci is looking to become the first two-division submission grappling titleholder in ONE history.
In addition, striking icon Liam Harrison of the United Kingdom will face Thai fan favorite Seksan Or Kwanmuang in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout. “Seksan is legendary in Tailand,” said Franklin. “His name in Tai translates to the man who yields to no one.”
ONE 168: Denver will also feature ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex, who will attempt to become a two-division titleholder when she challenges Xiong Jing Nan of China for the ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Title. And in a battle between two of the greatest strikers, reigning two-sport ONE World Champion Jonathan Haggerty of the United Kingdom will put his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on the line against current ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Stage Front VIP, the exclusive U.S. VIP experience partner of ONE, will continue to provide fans with access through immersive VIP experiences that include premier seating, premium hospitality offerings, athlete meet-and-greets, event collectibles, and more. You can sign up for more information on Stage Front’s VIP packages at stagefrontvip.com/one-denver.
Amazon Prime members can watch these matches live monthly and all 167 matches are archived for those who want to become more familiar with the sport. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit www.onefc.com/events/one168.
by Valley Gadfly | Jun 20, 2024 | Valley Gadfly
July is a hot date to sing songs hailing the Land of the Free, as we embrace freedom on America’s birthday, July 4, 1776. Fireworks will roar across the sky like the thunder in July.
It’s summertime and the weather’s hot, but at least there’s no snow. With its days of blue skies and time that seemingly stands still, we’re in a spell that connects us to good times.
To help you seize summer, here are our spirited choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment, to get you rockin’ into July’s festivals, parades, fireworks, and barbecues:
For a fabulous summer stroll with the family, head to Cherry Creek North for the juried Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 5-7. District streets will be filled with art, plus food & entertainment, starting at 10 a.m. Information: 303-355-2787.
Enjoy an evening of music under the stars as the Colorado Symphony plays Mozart at McGregor Square July 10, 7 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
For French fun featuring artists, shopping, and cuisine, go to Bastille Day at Cherry Creek’s Fillmore Plaza July 12-14, 4-9 pm. Information: 720-447-7961.
Swallow Hill’s Four Mile Park summer concerts end with Sugar Britches tribute to songwriter John Prine July 10. Then Shakedown Street salutes Grateful Dead Band’s eclectic style July 17, 6:30 p.m. Information: swallowhillmusic.com.
Get barbeque for the 4th, and year around at AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q, given the “Bib Gourmand” title for high quality at a good price. Unfussy S. Delaware St. dine-in or take out spot is 29th on Yelps Top 100 BBQ list. Information: 720-851-5571.
Jazz-soul vocalist Tatiana Mayfield sings music of Aretha Franklin, other jazz-soul artists at the Arvada Center July 15, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-898-7200.
Cherry Creek North retailers, restaurants, art galleries, fitness studios, and more offer markdowns at Sidewalk Sale, July 18-23. Information: 303-394-2904.
It will make you laugh, cry, and think, so take the family to see the musical Wicked playing at the Buell Theatre, July 24-25. Information: 720-865-4220.
See art, plus multiple stages of performers at the Global Dance Festival in the Stockyards Event Center, July 26-27, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Information: 720-707-0670.
View the work by 150 artists and craftsmen displaying their work at the Cheesman Park Art Fest, July 27-28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 505-373-7363.
Rumble, reel, rave, and party at the Roaring ’20s Gala July 13-14 to help a local non-profit working to create change. Dress in Roaring ’20s attire for dinner, live auction, and dancing followed by Casino Night at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center, beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting until midnight July 14. You’ll be helping Hope Connection & Community give a helping hand to fulfill hopes, dreams, and goals of families and children in need. Information: 303-386-6232.
Named after Julius Caesar, July marks the midway point of the year. For the big party on the fourth, America consumes around 150 million hot dogs to celebrate our independence.
As we March into July to a John Philip Sousa tune, the Dave Matthews Band’s hit song “American Baby” gives us a source of optimism and hope, even when times are tough.
Kaboom: Watch Glendale’s jaw-dropping fireworks — considered the Valley’s premier display — July 2. What will lightning say to annual fireworks? “You stole my thunder!”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
