“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. They are important … for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities.” — Robert Spector
The commercial topography of Anytown,
America, is changing due to a distinct set of economic circumstances. The
buying power of large corporate entities and the low overhead of online
retailers are undercutting the profit margins of independent brick-and-mortar
businesses. As mom & pop shops give way to big box outlets, national chains
and web-based sales platforms, the independent business model is becoming an
increasingly difficult equation to balance.
Despite these daunting circumstances, a few
independent proprietors have found a way to stand their ground against the
seemingly unstoppable tsunami of hospital waiting room-like establishments and
soulless, whitewashed, cookie-cutter stores. While Denver’s ongoing
transformation into a generic urban sprawl mirrors that of most American
cities, a stubborn patchwork of retail holdouts continue to express traits of
their 20th Century DNA by operating with distinct, inimitable identities. These
holdouts are singular brands that cannot be duplicated or synthesized any more
than the personalities of their proprietors could be mimicked, molded or
mass-marketed.
This is by no means a comprehensive index, rather, it is a suggestion of infamous standouts across several industries — a list intended to expand the perception of your daily commercial options. Whether you must drive an extra mile, rearrange your schedule to make “normal” store hours or spend an extra buck or two — spending your hard-earned money in businesses with soul is damn well worth it.
Cigars On 6th
Cigars: Cigars on 6th is a welcoming place for sociable connoisseurs.
(707 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
A circle of ornate, leather-padded chairs
await tobacco connoisseurs, humidor aficionados and enraptured novices alike.
Visitors can expect knowledgeable advice on the nuances of different cigar
brands and can be reassured that at no point will they be harangued by salesy
pretense or over-accommodating smarm. You can choose from a world-class
selection, light up on the spot and relax into conversation with your
companions and other patrons while the game plays in the background on a giant
flat screen TV.
Rupp’s Drums
Drums: The gang at Rupp’s Drums offers personalized, world-class expertise.
(2045 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80224)
This retail percussion mecca was originally
opened by the infamous Bob Rupp in 1984 and is revered among local musicians
and internationally renowned rock stars alike. Just about every stackable
square inch of space is occupied by the necessities of the percussive arts.
Every member of the sales staff is either a seasoned drummer, an accomplished
musician of another sort, a sound engineer or all three. You can expect expert
advice on every facet of their product line and practical suggestions based on
your specific needs. The difference between shopping here and going to a chain
store is the difference between front row seats at your favorite band’s live
concert and watching a video of said event shot on a wobbly smartphone.
Wax Trax Records
Records: Wax Trax Records boasts a massive collection of music across all genres. Wax Trax has been in Denver since 1975.
(620 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
This Capitol Hill landmark has been Denver’s
go-to place for recorded music since the early 1980s. Unlike corporate retail
stores, the staff are neither instructed nor inclined to adhere to the notion
of “the customer is always right.” You will not be bombarded by insincere
politeness or overly-helpful attention. Rather, you can expect to be left alone
to browse a staggeringly comprehensive offering of music across all genres. The
selection of domestic and imported music is unparalleled, and if you can’t find
what you’re looking for because you don’t remember the artist’s name or you
can’t spell — you may get the idea that you shouldn’t be there in the first
place. This mainstay has outlasted several pivotal trends, including the file
sharing fiasco, the music pirating era and the Independent Records location
that set up shop a few blocks away and recently folded. Wax Trax is currently
riding high on the wave of the vinyl record resurgence.
Mutiny Information Cafe
(2 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209)
Books: Book lovers will find their “epicenter of cultural mojo” at Mutiny Information Cafe.
A South Broadway landmark for years, this
one-of-a-kind bookstore, coffee bar, comic book shop, used record rack and
pinball arcade is what some refer to as Denver’s “epicenter of cultural mojo.”
Proprietors Matt Meygasi and Jim Norris personally curate every piece of
inventory — be it the latest issue of X-MEN or a newly-released, signed album
by Steve Earle. You can order a Thai iced tea, an Americano or a matcha tea
latte, grab a chair in one of the lounge areas and read, philosophize, play
chess, work on your epic poem or just stare at all the shelves and wonder where
to begin. Frequent poetry readings, musical performances, book signings and
presentations by literary luminaries make this place a shining example of what
can happen when you disengage from virtual media and go interact with people
the old-fashioned way — in person.
Rockmount Ranch Wear
(1626 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202)
In 1946, “Papa” Jack Weil founded this
Denver institution that has organically grown into an international fashion
phenomenon. For three generations, these western-themed stylings have enticed
blue collar folks, alternative icons, country music legends and rock ’n’ roll
superstars. The company has remained family-run since its inception, was passed
down to Jack Jr. and is currently run by Papa’s grandson Steve Weil. Their LoDo
storefront avails visitors to a museum-like stroll through a rustic setting
abundant with western motif, custom embroidered shirts and everyday “ranch”
wear. Papa Jack was also the inventor of the snap-up button shirt, which has
been endorsed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Steve Buschemi and Elvis Presley.
Although internationally acclaimed and often imitated, the store and its wares
exude an undeniably genuine appeal to everyday people.
The Wizard’s Chest
Toys: Gift shoppers, game lovers and toy experts will find paradise at The Wizard’s Chest.
(451 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203)
This family-owned gift-shopping paradise
that first opened in 1983 has become a Denver institution. This 18,000 square
foot behemoth hearkens back to a time when kids’ games were played in actual
reality with tangible toys, inspired imaginations and physical human beings.
The original Cherry Creek location was moved to South Broadway in 2015 and
features, gifts, gags, gadgets and games of every imaginable stripe along with
costumes galore and a professional theater makeup department. Such gargantuan
retail overhead would spell disaster for a start-up, but decades of building a
large clientele has enabled proprietors to leverage their brand loyalty into a
real-life community of exciting weekly events. Meetups are held for fledgling
magicians, board game experts, Lord of the Rings lovers, Dungeons and Dragons
players, Star Wars geeks and much more. Their impressive calendar of
constructive extra-curricular engagement is no doubt one of the keys to their
long-lived success and a feature that would be impossible to replicate in a
corporate bureaucracy.
The new Denver location boasts an assembly line of sparkling, brightly-lit retail facades adorned by careful corporate branding. Yet, a few stalwarts of the old business model dare to offer personality, sincerity and expertise rather than the bland, sterile mediocrity that seems to be all the rage. So, the next time you see a storefront that is not emblazoned with a generic logo that has been burned into your psyche through mainstream marketing, take a chance and pop in. You just might experience what yesterday was commonplace and what tomorrow may be but a dusty memory.
The firing of Independence Institute’s Jon Caldera as a weekly columnist by The Denver Post is the latest of increasing number of voices stilled in Colorado and across the country for a real or imagined sin. Caldera’s crime was apparently talking about transgenderism without the sufficed sensitivity and in particular noted his belief that there are two human sexes. Caldera’s use of the word “transgender” rather than some other unspecified politically correct term which was, in and of itself, apparently a fire-able offense.
The firing made national news to which the
principal Editor of the Post Lee Ann Colacioppo responded with an Editor’s
Note. In it she denied the assertion of some that the Post did “not want to run
conservative columns about issues surrounding sex and gender.” She declared
conservatives could offer opinions on those subjects provided they used the
correct “respectful language.” She noted that the Post reserved the right to
edit any column and demanded that any columnist must work with them in a
“collaborative and professional manner” to strive to the goal of “respective
language,” implying that Caldera did none of the above. Caldera’s last column
is online and contained only four short paragraphs on the sensitive subject. It
is difficult to find exactly where in the column the disrespectful and
insensitive words were located.
Even in its diminutive state we believe
having a statewide paper like the Denver Post serves an important public
service and we are generally hesitant to pile on the ever-increasing criticism
of it, but this is too much even for this Editorial Board.
Caldera’s columns in the Post over the last
four years have been at times humorously provocative, but never meanspirited or
incendiary. Caldera heaped praise on the Post and Editorial Page Editor Megan
Schrader who fired him. Anyone who has ever interacted with Caldera would find
it difficult to take seriously the implication that he is not “collaborative”
or “professional.”
The real reason for the firing in our minds
is located elsewhere in the Editor’s Note where Colacioppo admits that some of
the Post’s readers find “offensive” opinion columns that do not comport with
the paper’s progressive bent. The Post works closely with the Washington Post
reprinting their articles and even editorials. It is clear that the Post would
like to emulate the Washington Post’s idea of a conservative in its “Turn
Right” columnist Jennifer Rubin who is now more rabidly left wing than its
“Turn Left” columnist. That apparently is the Post view these days of what
Colacioppo described in her Note as exploring “a variety of subjects and
feature[ing] a variety of voices.”
Jon Caldera
We understand the temptation. Every month
we receive no small number of calls and emails demanding that we cancel Peter
Boyles’ column. Boyles was once iconoclastic on the left and these days is more
often iconoclastic on the right. Similarly, every time we run a guest editorial
by Dr. Jack Van Ens, who is on the left side of the aisle and very much
anti-Trump we get calls and emails demanding he be removed from our editorial
page. Perhaps we are old fashioned, but why would anyone want to read just the
same viewpoint over and over. Of course, one could refuse to read the columns
one doesn’t agree with, but today’s cancel culture demands that voices one does
not agree with must be silenced, permanently if possible. We think the Post
greatly underestimates the intelligence of its readers and pays way too much
attention to the twitter mob.
Our publisher certainly understands the new
“cancel culture.” After 10 years being on radio, he was fired from 710 KNUS for
making a one-line dark humor joke, which he genuinely regrets, about how boring
the impeachment hearings were. The station was inundated with calls that he be
fired, not by listeners who were very supportive of him generally, but
professional “astro turfers” on the left. His firing by Salem Corporation was,
of course, not sufficient for the professional astro turfers as he, his wife,
and their 8-year-old son were then subjected to a barrage of the crudest,
obscene death threats imaginable, almost all from people who never listened to
the radio show or even previously knew it existed. They went after the
associations he had long been part of, and many individuals he was friends
with.
They, of course, also threatened this
paper’s advertisers. Luckily, we at the Chronicle are used to it. On January 7,
2015, Islamic terrorists massacred 12 employees of Charlie Hedbo magazine in
Paris, for cartoons they found “insensitive” and not sufficiently “respectful.”
While many news publications including the Chronicle declared “Je suis
Charlie,” the Chronicle took the extra step and printed on its editorial pages
every offending cartoon. The employees of the Chronicle and our advertisers
were threatened with every type of violence and death threat possible.
Most, but not all, of our advertisers
refused to be intimidated and we were fortunate that many businesses rallied
behind us and were repulsed by the tactics. The paper emerged stronger than
ever. As far as most of us are concerned, as in 2015, it is once again “Je suis
Charlie.”
“Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
by Luke Schmaltz
Psilocybin mushrooms occur naturally in many areas of the world.
On May 14, 2019 Denver’s profile as a
one-of-a-kind American city expanded in dimension. Initiative 301 passed by the
slimmest of margins (50.6% to 49.4%) which enacted the decriminalization of
psilocybin — the active substance in psychedelic mushrooms.
Those who are curious as to what may happen
next can refer to the cannabis legalization history book and take note of a few
crucial milestones. Firstly, psilocybin is not yet legal, it has simply been
demoted to “the lowest legal priority” according to Decriminalize Denver, the
grassroots political action group that introduced the measure. This important
step toward legalization means that, at some point in the future, anyone over
21 will be able to legally purchase psilocybin mushroom products and services
in a retail or clinical setting. Currently the City of Denver’s policy is to
devote zero resources to the prosecution of psilocybin with a review panel in
place which will intermittently assess public and fiscal impacts of the
measure.
Just as the monetization of marijuana
continues to prove, when a controlled substance with numerous benefits becomes
legal, innovation and entrepreneurship flourish. In the case of psilocybin,
however, consumption on a massive scale as in the cannabis industry is
tentative, due to the distinct differences between the psilocybin and THC. The
greatest of these being that magic mushrooms do not have the same widespread
appeal as marijuana. Regardless, impending legalization harkens the creation of
a new segment of commerce that will, for a while at least, be unique to the
Mile High City.
An Element Of Familiarity
Like the marijuana flower, “magic”
mushrooms occur naturally across the world in dozens of strains with varying
potencies. Once mature, the dried caps and stems can be consumed raw or added
to food and beverages for greater palatability. Also, psilocybin holds great
allure for recreational substance users while presenting untold value for the
medical and wellness fields.
A New Retail Market
Palatability has long been an issue with
psychedelic mushrooms, as most who have partaken attest that chewing the dried
fungi is less than pleasant. So, it stands to reason that the first retail
products will address this objection — most likely with the same creative gusto
seen in the cannabis industry. One can expect chocolate bars infused with
“shake” — a term for ground-up mushroom caps and stems. Other anticipations
could also include gelatin capsules, peanut butter (creamy or crunchy), green
tea bags, jars of honey, pasta sauces, and smoothie-ready fruit medleys — all
infused with specific doses per serving of psilocybin. Although tax revenue on
these gross sales may pale in comparison to the cannabis numbers, there’s no
doubt that this new market will produce jobs and stimulate commerce.
Guided “Trip” Tourism
Once psilocybin can be legally sold and
openly consumed, all-inclusive magic mushroom experiences may further expand
Colorado’s tourism appeal. These “trip” packages would most likely include
measured doses in the preferred method of ingestion, a controlled environment
based on the clients’ personal tastes and a shaman-type guide to administer the
proper amounts and lead the weekend adventurers through each phase of their
journey. These psychedelic retreats could be marketed as self-care vacations
and consciousness-expanding getaways.
Alternative Treatment Clinics
Magic mushrooms can be cultivated in artificial environments.
The prescription opioid crisis has proven
that assigning a pill to every affliction may not be the best long-term
strategy. In a search for non-addictive compounds for treating difficult
maladies, science and medicine have discovered some compelling therapeutic
aspects of psilocybin. Studies by the Heffter Research Institute,
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Beckley
Foundation have proven the efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression,
addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cluster headaches, anxiety and PTSD
among other conditions. Upon legalization, health and wellness professionals
may be setting up psilocybin therapy practices that treat the root of health
problems instead of masking the symptoms.
Peace Of Mind Services
Aside from recreational allure and
therapeutic potency, perhaps the greatest benefit magic mushrooms have to offer
is inner peace. A 2016 FDA-approved clinical trial called the NYU Psilocybin
Cancer Anxiety Project revealed that psilocybin had a profoundly positive
effect on those struggling with end-of-life issues. Specifically, through
measured, guided doses, cancer patients experiencing depression and anxiety in the
face of impending death were able to confront their fears and find peace of
mind. This profoundly valuable service will no doubt find a robust clientele
when psilocybin becomes legal. Palliative care clinics designed to help
patients enjoy their final days with clarity and mental tranquility may carve
out a significant market share. Rather than being a sad and somber last chapter
of life, hospice may present a final opportunity for the dying to celebrate the
beauty of life.
Psilocybin has not been decriminalized in America since the 1970s, which puts Denver at the forefront of territory that has been unexplored for the last 50 years or so. With legalization a distinct possibility, so too are the possibilities for new segments of commerce forged by highly valued products and services.
True Food Kitchen: Outside True Food Kitchen in Cherry Creek. Image by Jessica Hughes
A national chain that has found a home in
Denver’s Cherry Creek shopping district, True Food Kitchen is a casual, yet
chic, healthy dining option. With earth-like elements including green chairs, a
butcher block bar, and speckles of greenery at each table, you can’t help but
feel good about eating here. Offering both seasonal dishes and staple items,
patrons will enjoy a full menu of soups, salads, pizza, bowls, burgers and
sandwiches, and an assorted mix of healthy entrees. Even their cocktail menu
leaves little guilt on the table with their Beets by Jon (organic vodka, red
beet, lemon, and pineapple) and their Juniper Rose (rose-in-fused gin, lime,
grapefruit, thyme). Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available.
Try: Spicy Panang Curry ($14)
Vital Root — Location: 3915 Tennyson St.
Vital Root Outside: Vital Root, located in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood.
Vital Root: Sunflower Risotto at Vital Root.
Found in the hip and trendy neighborhood of
Berkeley, Vital Root is a local food company committed to providing nutritious
and delicious food. The multi-level modern space, filled with botanical art and
good, clean food, offers both weekend brunch and an everyday menu, plus grab-and-go
food options and a happy hour you can feel good about with their $4 juice of
the day. Using ingredients such as coconut, dates, sunflower and avocado oil,
and ancient grains, their food is designed with the healthiest ingredients as
possible. Dedicated to those with food allergies and dietary restrictions, an
outdoor sign asks that no outside food or drink be brought indoors as they
operate a gluten-free kitchen.
Try: Sunflower Risotto ($13)
Vert Kitchen
Vert Kitchen: Salad du Marche at Vert Kitchen.
Location: 704 South Pearl St.
Nestled between the homes of North
Washington Park, Vert Kitchen offers a small café space with big flavor.
Serving up lunch and brunch options made with organic and locally sourced
ingredients, you will no doubt feel good about what you are eating. Everything
is made in-house using French cuisine techniques, 100% organic produce, plus
all-natural and sustainable meats and dairy. Take a sip at the café and bar for
freshly brewed coffee, natural wines, and premium beers. Enjoy your meal
indoors in their cozy café atmosphere or take yours outside to their backyard
patio-filled, with green and garden elements.
Try: Salad du Marche ($16)
Green Seed Market
Location: 2669 Larimer St.
Located inside the Denver Central Market,
Green Seed Market is a neighborhood market with a twist. Pick your poison of
fresh vegetables and fruits for purchase or order a custom soup, salad, veggie
bowl, acai bowl, smoothie, or fresh juice to take home with you. With a focus
on offering the produce of the season, Green Seed Market is dedicated to bringing
foods to the neighborhood most would not find at their local grocery stores.
Try: Gangsta’s Paradise ($9.50)
Whole Sol Blend Bar
Whole Sol Blend Bar: Fresh juices from Whole Sol Blend Bar.
Location: 1735 Chestnut Pl.
Home to Denver and Boulder’s only USDA
certified organic juice bar, Whole Sol offers a fresh twist on healthy foods.
100 percent dairy free, gluten-free, and organic, you can feel confident what
you order is good for your soul. Known for their smoothie bowls and
cold-pressed juices, you can’t go wrong with either. Don’t want to eat it as a
bowl? Just ask and they will turn your bowl into a smoothie. Take your bowl to
the next level with additional add-ons including their own Newtella, greens,
granola, and plant protein.
Try: I Like You Matcha ($10)
Just Be Kitchen
Location: 2364 15th St.
A haven for the food conscious, Just Be
Kitchen serves up 100 percent gluten-free, soy-free, and grain-free food
options that cater to Paleo, Whole30, Keto, and AIP friendly diets. A seasonal
menu offers breakfast, brunch, and dinner options. Plus, an entire menu
dedicated to the Whole30 diet, including its very own bone broth bar. For
sipping, try a gluten-free beer or a crafty cocktail using reduced grain-free
spirits.
Try: Radiant, sweet potato gnocchi ($12.50)
Mercury Café
Location: 2199 California St.
Get a mix of it all at the Mercury Café.
Known for its dance lessons and live music, the restaurant has also made a name
for itself for its fresh organic dishes. Everything on the menu is gluten-free,
except the bread. Get down this year with organic foods and a dance lesson or
two.
Try: Pagan Vegan Plate ($10)
Superfruit Republic
Locations: 7483 E. 29th Pl. &
1776 Broadway, Suite 115
A fast-casual café, Superfruit Republic
serves up tasty acai bowls packed with the nutrients a healthy body craves.
With two locations now in Denver, visitors can choose from organic acai bowls,
fruit smoothies, and fresh juices. Add a boost to your bowl or smoothie with
coconut flakes, goji berries, or any fruit/nut blend.
Try: The Blueberry Pumpkin (large bowl
$9.50)
Watercourse Foods
Location: 837 E. 17th Ave.
Catering to vegans everywhere, Watercourse
Foods serves up what they call “vegan comfort food.” With their fresh
ingredients prepared daily and friendly atmosphere, they make eating healthy
easy to do. With an extensive breakfast and brunch menu, plus salads and
sandwiches and dinner entrees, visitors can eat healthy all day long. Don’t
forget to wash your food down with locally brewed kombucha on tap!
Try: Za’atar Eggplant ($16)
Vitality Bowls
Location: 2702 E. 3rd Ave., Denver, CO
80206
A national chain restaurant, Vitality
Bowls, offers a location in Denver’s Cherry Creek shopping district. With
smoothies, bowls, salads, paninis, soups, and juices, there are options for any
meal of the day. Their signature bowls and smoothies are made with the best
ingredients available and do not include fillers like artificial preservatives.
Gluten-free options are available.
The abandoned site of the Warren Church may be remodeled into supportive housing units.
The St. Francis Center (2323 Curtis St.) is
embarking on a satellite project in the Cheesman Park neighborhood that stands
to benefit a handful of people — none of whom live in the area.
The Warren Church complex sits mostly empty
at 1640 E. 13th Ave. after it was closed in 2014 by its owners — the Mountain
Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church. Regardless, for the last 10
years, the St. Francis Center (SFC) has operated an employment center for the
homeless from one of the church’s auxiliary buildings. The SFC Employment
Services Office also offers a free storage service for clients who need a safe
place for their possessions while they are getting back on their feet.
The proposed project would remodel the
existing structures into a supportive housing facility for those using the SFC
employment service. Essentially, the complex would serve as a temporary
residence for people working toward permanent housing. Rental rates would be
based on the tenant’s individual income.
The controversy surrounding the project is
assuredly not due to the nobility of SFC’s intentions. It can be universally
agreed upon that helping the homeless is a good and necessary cause. Yet,
conflict has arisen due to a set of blaring fiscal incongruencies as well as an
array of social disparities and structural oversights. The inflated costs of
the project presents a ledger of alarmingly lopsided numbers. Further, the
tenant eligibility parameters raise legitimate safety concerns for neighbors
while the remodel would violate numerous Department of Housing (DOH)
regulations and zoning laws.
The St. Francis Center operates an employment service for the homeless from one of the old Warren Church buildings.
The facility is slated to be named the
Warren Apartments but has been dubbed “The Gilded Dormitories” by critics of
the project. Those in opposition — most of whom live, work and/or own property
in the area — have formed a citizen group called Neighbors of North Cheesman
Park. A founding member (requesting anonymity) who works in government finance
has compiled a set of compelling comparisons which illustrate a profound
misappropriation of taxpayer funds.
Do The Math
Recently, a copy of the St. Francis Center
proposal was obtained by a Neighbors of North Cheesman Park member through the
Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). The plans show a 6,090 square foot
residential design consisting of 42 one-tenant units, each 145 square feet in
dimension (10’ x 14’). The estimated construction price tag rings in at a
whopping eight million dollars — $8,101,191.00 to be exact, which boils down to
a cost of $192,886.00 to build each of the 42 (10’ x 14’) units. To give
perspective on this, comparable structures in the area such as the Colorado
School of Mines dormitories were built for $46M to house 400 people at a cost
of $122,500 per unit and the University of Colorado Denver dormitories were
built at a cost of $68M to house 550 people at a cost of $123,636.00. These
data demonstrate that the Warren Apartments will be built with an excess cost 55.7%
compared to local averages. Also, the 145 square-foot units will not include
kitchens or restrooms. Additional comparisons lend further befuddlement to the
exorbitant construction price tag, as it places the building costs at $7.34 per
square foot — a rate 269.2% higher than the Denver per-square-foot average
($1.99) and 420.3% higher than the Colorado average ($1.41). These grossly
uneven comparisons beg the question: why anyone would want to spend so much
money for such a limited facility when the same money could be used to help
many times the amount of projected beneficiaries.
Follow The Money
Gap funding for the Warren Apartments
project will come from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, from
the Denver Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Division of Housing.
A report issued by the St. Francis Center in January 2018 named the above
entities as partners, investing $9.5 million, $500 thousand and $500 thousand,
respectively. When the final closing on the property commences (it has been
postponed several times), the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist
Church will receive $1.2 million, while BlueLine Development out of Billings,
Montana, will be awarded the $8M remodeling contract and SFC will take over
ownership and operations of the premises. Operating costs will flow to SFC from
taxpayer revenue coffers in the form of vouchers, warranted by the fact that
the facility will offer on-site services for residents.
Communication Issues
The Warren Apartments have been authorized
for construction for some time, yet those living and working in the district
were not informed through federally regulated means. The proposed build
involves exterior remodeling of an existing structure. According to Denver
Development Services, such an undertaking requires that “Building permits must
be posted onsite and be visible from the street.” No such posting exists, and
instead, stakeholders such as neighborhood property owner Chris Mast, are
hearing about the project through the grapevine. In his case, he was informed
via casual conversation with the Executive Director of Warren Village — an
adjacent non-profit facility for low-income single-parent families.
Safety Last
When Mast approached an employee of the SFC
employment office and asked about the Warren Apartments project, he was met
with hostility. He was told, more or less, that if he doesn’t like it he should
move. When he obtained a copy of the Saint Francis Center proposal, Mast
discovered that the facility would adhere to the Housing First guidelines set
forth by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. He found it concerning that
a facility within several blocks of a daycare center and a transitional housing
facility for single-parent families (both at Warren Village) is willing to
house individuals convicted of felony assault, as long as they have not
offended within the last year. The guidelines also state that there is no
policy regulating on-site alcohol and drug use. Plainly put, violent criminals
using toxic substances may be living next to families including recently
displaced women and their children.
Zoning Violations
Thus far, the Warren Apartments issue has
gone largely unopposed because it has been withheld from public knowledge. For
those in city government who are in the know, the project has garnered support
— especially among Denver City Council members who want to cultivate an image
of homeless advocacy. Yet, in addition to the aforementioned issues, the
remodel will violate zoning laws by establishing a “supportive housing”
facility adjacent to an existing structure designed for the same purpose
(Warren Village) and by operating a large residential property that is devoid
of designated parking. To a lesser degree, the proposed remodel will also
violate statutes regulating exterior alteration of historical structures.
There are many potential outcomes should
the project see completion. In a best case scenario, numerous people in need
are given a temporary place to live so that they can get back on their feet. In
a worst-case scenario, this section of Capitol Hill becomes further stressed by
a potential criminal element that endangers neighborhood children. Regardless,
a massive amount of taxpayer funds and charitable money will be spent on an
out-of-state contractor and awarded to religious organizations based in other
districts of Denver. Bottom line, like all other misspendings of tax dollars,
this project makes little sense.
The Neighbors of Cheesman Park have created a website with all of their financial findings which includes a comparative analysis. To access this information, visit www.stfrancis-cheesmanproject.com.
In Colorado there has been little notice that the storied multi-billion dollar department in charge of the state’s transportation needs, CDOT, has evolved into little more than a massive piggy bank for former employees who have set up consulting firms to perform the jobs that CDOT used to perform itself.
When the State Auditor did a Performance
Audit on CDOT it found that 80 of the 84 consultant contracts it looked at had
serious flaws including “unapproved consultants labor rates, contracts without
proper approvals and contract terms that did not comply with state
requirements.” Yet in 2019 another quarter billion dollars will have been
squandered on consultants by CDOT. A total revamping of how CDOT performs, or
fails to perform, its basic functions needs to be undertaken.
Even more scandalous is the
anti-competitive practices undertaken by CDOT pursuant to a 2013 change in the
law whereby instead of requiring low bid for projects over $50,000 they are awarded
on the so-called “best value” method of Design Build (DB) or Construction
Manager/ General Contractor (CMGC). Since there is no clear public criteria for
determining who wins a contract under this system it has become a cesspool of
potential corruption. Not surprisingly it has led to only two firms controlling
over 80 percent of the market — Kraemer North America (a subsidiary of the
Japanese mega firm Obayashi Corporation) and Kiewit Corporation out of Omaha,
Nebraska. Experts estimate that the CMGC method is costing over 30 percent more
than of what it would cost under low bid competition and in turn costing
Colorado taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
The change in the 2013 law was comically
called the “Keep Jobs In Colorado Act.” Instead the act has resulted in
destroying or badly damaging Colorado firms who previously dominated the
competitive bid process. While the Colorado press has largely ignored the
scandal at CDOT it has not escaped the purview of federal authorities. The
national Engineering News-Record on November 29, 2019, announced that the
United States Department of Justice had “launched a multipronged effort to root
out bid-rigging, price fixing and other forms of collusion in construction and
other sectors on local, state and federal government funded contracts.” There
is now a strike force which is comprised of prosecutors in Washington as well
as 13 U.S. Attorneys offices in addition to FBI investigators and personal from
four inspector general offices.
CDOT Director Shoshana Lew
One of the key U.S. Attorney Offices is
that of Colorado. One of the items that possibly brought Colorado onto the
radar screen was the purported statement by a key member of CDOT. The high
ranked CDOT official allegedly stated that the $20 million contract for repair
of the Highway 36 sinkhole should not be competitively low bid because CDOT
could not guarantee, under such a method, that it be awarded to their friends
at Kraemer.
Federal authorities are apparently aware
that bid rigging has expanded far beyond various contractors illegally getting
together and now may involve state agencies.
In looking at CDOT one of the key areas of
investigation may be “bid suppression” as a form of a collusive bidding scheme.
The “Guide to Combating Corruption & Fraud in Development Projects” notes:
“Corrupt government and procurement
officials can facilitate the bid suppression efforts (e.g. by disqualifying
other legitimate bidders during the bidding process) . . . .”
Many local contracting firms in Colorado
are increasingly upset that they are not allowed to take an actual part in
bidding for CMGC projects. They are falsely urged to apply to make it seem that
the process is legitimate and then excluded by CDOT on criteria that only
applies to massive national or international firms like Kraemer and Kiewit.
According to federal sources one of the red
lights for a corrupt bidding process is lack of transparency. Under the prior
low bid process the exact figures for all parties were available after a
contract was awarded so losing bidders could see where they fell short. When an
in-state contractor asked CDOT for a copy of the winning bid under a recent
CMGC project he was given a document with almost all of the key relevant
information redacted by CDOT as shown at right.
Federal authorities are apparently hoping
to bring a case of bid suppression that would make national news as to ensure
the greatest effect. The indictment of Shoshana Lew or other high CDOT
officials regarding the duopoly that has overtaken state construction projects
would certainly fit the bill. However, there is no present indication of
personal financial benefit by any present CDOT official, which while not
necessary in such cases, is still preferred by some federal authorities.
Regardless of federal efforts to clean up
uncompetitive bidding in Colorado, it is clear that CMGC method of awarding
projects should be suspended in Colorado until a transparent competitive system
that will save Colorado taxpayers billions of dollars is undertaken. That and
tight restrictions on consulting contracts with CDOT are both long overdue and
badly needed.
