by Mark Smiley | Sep 26, 2024 | Main Articles
State And Local Governments Propose Drastically Constricting Auto Traffic On Colorado Boulevard
Two Lanes To Be Removed In Favor Of Buses And Bicycles
by Mark Smiley
CDOT Rep: Ryan Noles, Bus Rapid Transit Program Manager CDOT Region 1 Traffic & Safety, attended the open house on September 12, 2024, and answered questions from attendees.
It Can’t Be Worse?: Above, an already congested Colorado Boulevard may become much worse if CDOT plans are approved.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is bringing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Colorado Boulevard similar to what Denver residents will soon have to endure on Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The development could potentially stifle an already congested corridor in the city of Denver. CDOT is attempting to build a coalition with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County, and the City of Glendale. However, officials in Glendale and many other citizens are skeptical on the viability of the plan.
For the City of Glendale to endorse the project, according to Chuck Line, Glendale City Manager, “They need to show that access to our businesses or to our streets is not negatively impacted from their plan,” said Line. “Also, the congestion this would create would need to be alleviated by an identical amount of people taking public transportation. At this time, they have not demonstrated that.”
Colorado Boulevard touches Glendale as far South as Mississippi Avenue and Alameda to the North. It also has ancillary streets such as Dahlia and Cherry that will be impacted by increased congestion on Colorado Boulevard. CDOT recognizes that Glendale would be a key ally if this project is to succeed. However, the organization with a $1.7B budget is a long way from acquiring acceptance from the village of Glendale. “Glendale has been a participant in the BRT process,” said Josh Bertrand, Deputy City Manager, City of Glendale. “I fully anticipate that local involvement will be needed but we have a long and bumpy ride as the plans meet reality.”
Some residents who live in close proximity to Colorado Boulevard question the need for such rapid transit. Barret O’Brien, who serves on the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and lives two blocks off of Colorado Boulevard, is one such skeptic. “I drive Colorado Boulevard daily and each time I pass a bus, I notice it is basically empty,” said O’Brien. I don’t see how removing a lane will force people to ride the bus.”
Open House: CDOT hosted an open house to promote the Bus Rapid Transit project on Colorado Boulevard. The meeting was held at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver/Cherry Creek in Glendale on September 12 2024.
The project, which is part of CDOT’s 10-Year Plan, will begin as far North as the 40th and Colorado station and run along Colorado Boulevard. The initial phase of the project is determining how far
Glendale Officials: Chuck Line, Glendale City Manager (left), and Josh Bertrand, Glendale Deputy City Manager, both feel there is a long way to go before Glendale can fully support the BRT plan along Colorado Boulevard.
south the line should go along Colorado Boulevard. One option is to go all the way to the Southmoor station at Hampden. “We are going to be working through that process with the community and with our stakeholders to determine what is the right area for the project and where is it needed the most,” said Ryan Noles, Bus Rapid Transit Program Manager, Region 1 for CDOT. “What we’re trying to do is address the congestion by providing a better transportation option through public transportation, through the buses. We’re looking at the 40 route and how we can improve it.”
The trouble, as Line pointed out, is that ridership across the board for RTD is down. In fact, Jennifer Ford Keel, who attended the open house in Glendale on September 12, 2024, rides the 40 bus often. Ford Keel came to the Open House at the Hilton Garden Inn hoping to hear a presentation. She was hoping this project wasn’t already done. “I was hoping they were looking for our input so that we could help them make an informed decision,” said Jennifer Ford Keel, a lifelong Denver resident. Ford Keel could ha
ve given valuable input as she rides the 40 bus on Colorado Boulevard from 23rd Avenue to 37th. “Most of the time that I climb up on that bus, there is nobody else on it. This is something they are trying to push down our throats. I don’t think they have done the research. I think it is an opportunity for them to make money.”
Rae Hunn was also motivated to attend, what ended up being an Open House, because she was miffed. “We don’t need a rapid bus transit down Colorado Boulevard,” said Rae Hunn, a lifelong Denver resident. “Anytime you talk about transit on Colorado Boulevard, that means lane changes and more congestion.”
CDOT argues this project will improve congestion and help Denverites better connect to their destinations. “If you think about the connectivity with the rest of the transit system and all the different destinations on Colorado Boulevard and how it fits into a larger system, it really is an important part of a better overall transit network,” said Noles.
New Plans: The proposed route for Bus Rapid Transit on Colorado Boulevard leaves many residents questioning its efficacy.
Ford Keel doesn’t believe people will ride this bus to make those connections. “People who are in cars going down Colorado Boulevard are making a connection and going someplace else,” said Ford Keel. “It’s not the end of the line for them.” In fact, Ford Keel feels the traffic in the neighborhoods along the corridor will increase dramatically.
Hunn agrees. “People [in cars] are going to go down Ash, Albion, Bellaire, and Jackson,” said Hunn. “They will go down any ancillary street so they can get to a cross street. The traffic on those streets is going to increase” to the detriment of the neighborhoods.
According to CDOT, construction will take two years which will certainly make it miserable for commuters during this time. Construction in the Denver Metro area is all too familiar to those that live and work in the city. “The results are evident each time you see a CDOT construction project,” said Tom Lisi, Denver resident. “Traffic snarled by miles of cones, at times making no sense, while there are small sections of work. This inefficient plan impacts everyone on already overcrowded roads while increasing the idling traffic brown cloud. Terrible management.”
The initial planning on the corridor has uncovered that it is uncomfortable for pedestrians, difficult to access if not driving, and if you are driving, it is congested. Peak rush hour on Colorado Boulevard is challenging for motorists to say the least. “We do hear often that people feel uncomfortable riding the bus and it has come up in our community engagement,” said Noles. “Through the project design, we are looking at improving the bus stops by having well lit stations, emergency call boxes, and security cameras.”
What Hunn learned during the aforementioned open house was that they are going to “screw up traffic on Colorado Boulevard to make a faster bus lane. They don’t have anyone in this room that can tell you how many people ride the bus on Colorado Boulevard,” said Hunn. “I have never seen a bus on Colorado Boulevard that was full.”
When asked if Hunn would ride the bus if it were safer with better lighting, she indicated she was too old and would not. She does not want to walk out of her house to walk a few blocks and stand outside to wait for a bus. That wait according to Noles could be as long as 15 minutes. Many believe even a bus that comes by four times per hour is not enough frequency to make it a convenient option or viable alternative.
Hunn was most upset about the lack of information and how this project would be funded. “When they send out these notices [invite to come learn about the project], it’s already a done deal, they just want to tell people what they’re going to do,” said Hunn. “I’m so tired of these rich people in powerful positions screwing the little taxpayers. Trust me, it’s going to come out of our tax dollars.”
Some attendees remember the disastrous, ineffective, and costly Bee Line that ran down Colorado Boulevard to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center back in 1998. The small van operation lasted less than two years and failed due to lack of ridership.
Stay tuned for more information on this project as it moves through the approval process. In the meantime, share your opinions by taking CDOT’s survey located at www.codot.gov/projects/studies/denvermetrobrt/coloradoblvd/survey.
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 26, 2024 | Main Articles
Units Built This Year Rank Mile High City 10th In Nation; New Units Expected To Jump Vacancy Rate To More Than 9%
by Glen Richardson
Suburban Style: New Edera Apartments on the old Kmart site at S. Monaco Parkway and Evans features open courtyards and gardens.
Denver is experiencing a construction boom for apartments, with the second quarter of the year seeing a record 7,349 new units completed. Metro Denver is expected to deliver 13,000 new units by the end of 2024, ranking the city 10th in the nation. Nationwide, the U.S. surpassed 500,000 units for the first time on record.
The latest city construction is part of a larger trend of 19,000 new units added to the market over the previous 12 months, and 31,235 units in the last two years. This is the strongest multifamily construction surge in the region since the 1970s.
However, the Census Bureau now predicts new housing units in the Mile High City will drop by 18% in 2024, to a
Canyon-Cut Crash Pad: The 16-story, 187-unit One River North features soaring walls enchased in a one-of-its-kind sculptural facade.
total of 17,000 units, down from 20,600 in 2023. The shift is due to a number of factors, including higher interest rates, labor shortages, plus a scarcity of lots.
Vacancies Soar
New units are expected to increase Denver’s vacancy rate to more than 9% by the end of the year, which would be the highest it’s been in over 20 years. The luxury four- and five-star segments make up almost 80% of the units scheduled for completion in 2024, and these properties are expected to be most affected by the
new supply.
Denver’s robust pipeline of around 28,000 units under construction will maintain pressure on occupancy rates, though potential relief may emerge in 2025. The significant decrease in new apartment construction starts, however, could lead to an increase in rent growth.
Denver’s economic outlook for 2024 suggests tempered growth, with a 0.4% job growth rate, supported by sectors like education and health services, but challenged by contractions in financial and professional services.
Rent Growth Slows
The median rent in Denver fell by 0.1% through July, and has now decreased by a total of 1.4% over the last 12 months. The city’s rent growth over the past year is similar to both the state (-0.9%) and the national average (-0.8%).
Denver’s rent growth in 2024 is pacing below last year. Eight months into the year, rents rose by 2.6%. This is a slower rate of growth compared to what the city was experiencing at this point last year: From January to August 2023 rents had increased 3.9%.
Denver rents went down 0.5% in August, compared to the national rate of 0.1%. Among the nation’s 100 largest cities, this ranks Denver 86th. That is similar to the monthly rent growth in Louisville, KY (-0.1%), and Jacksonville, FL (-0.5%).
Rents 26% Higher
The median rent across the nation as a whole is $1,241 for a 1-bedroom, $1,398 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,412 overall. The median rent in Denver is 26.1% higher than the national average, and is closer to the prices in Vir
AMI Apartments: Opening at the old CDOT headquarters on E. Arkansas Ave., limited income Krisana Apartments will have 151-units.
ginia Beach, VA ($1,785), and Long Beach, CA ($1,785).
The rent price in Denver proper is $1,781, or 1.2% lower than the price across the metro as a whole at $1,802.
Of the 18 cities within the Denver metro area, Highlands Ranch is currently the most expensive, with a median of $2,422. Englewood is metro’s most affordable, with a median of $1,547. Metro’s fastest annual rent growth is occurring in Northglenn at 3.1%, while Golden is the slowest at -3.9%.
Gems At Year’s End
With the pipeline of new apartments at a record high, there are a variety of locations, styles, and types of units coming onto the market as 2024 ends. Here’s a look at some of the top projects nearing or just completed in city neighborhoods.
One such gem nearing completion is the Akin Golden Triangle on Bannock St. The 12-story building with 98 multi-family units, honors the Golden Triangle Arts District design guidelines, while taking a fresh approach to the built forms within. The result is a project that enhances the environment and elevates Denver’s urban apartment living experience. Dissimilar, but also unique is One River North, a 16-story, 187-unit Highrise in the RiNo arts district. It features private, open-air terraces and soaring walls enchased in a first-of-its-kind sculptural facade.
For renters seeking a more suburban lifestyle, there is the newly opened Edera Apartments featuring open courtyards and gardens. Built on the site of the old Kmart at S. Monaco Parkway and Evans Ave., there are a total of 287 units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. Also less urban is Avanti Residential in the Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood at West 29th Ave. & Xavier St. It also has studios to three bedrooms, allowing renters to enjoy walks and scenic bike rides. For those with limited incomes (60% of the Area Median Income or AMI), Krisana Apartments — a 151-unit, four-story apartment complex — is about to open on the site of the old CDOT headquarters at 4242 E. Arkansas Ave. Project features 21 studios, 71 one-bedrooms, and 59 two-bedroom units. A King Soopers Market will open next to Krisana on the west in 2025.
Bannock Buildout: Following Golden Triangle Art District guidelines, the 12-story, 97-unit Akin Golden Triangle is expected to open by year’s end.
Construction Stalling
The apartment building frenzy of the past two years won’t continue through 2028. Metro Denver is projected to lose its 2019-2023 pace by 7.8%, Thus, about 46,629 new units are expected to open in the following five years.
Compared to the previous five-year period, the Mile High City will see a 17.3% decrease in new units, with 23,421 expected between 2024-2028.
In contrast, Aurora is expected to add 95.6% new units, doubling the number of apartments added in the last five years (from 4,611 to approximately 9,018 units).
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 26, 2024 | Main Articles
When Witches Go Riding, And Black Cats Are Seen, The Moon Laughs And Whispers, It’s Halloween In Denver
by Glen Richardson
Chilling Halloweentown: Kids, families decorate houses-yards in colorful characters, skeletons, and pumpkins, giving neighborhoods a unique holiday atmosphere.
Creaky attics, eerie stairwells, dark, and shadowed corners. Eek, it’s Halloween
Twilight Zone Party: Coloween is a 50,000-sq.-ft. jungle-themed Halloween party with massive stages in the National Western complex Oct. 26.
and Mommy’s Little Pumpkins are carving out a terror-ific ghostly month of treat streets and haunted houses for kids. Dad, mom, and the neighbors, meanwhile are venturing into spooky, suspenseful ghoulish grown-up parties and pub crawls.
You’re not going batty! Denver is known for its haunted days and nights of fright during Halloween month. It’s the boo-tiful time of year: There are many tales of ghosts and demons in Denver — especially in certain city parks — but it is the paranormal at local cemeteries that spook people most. On occasion locals claim to hear footsteps. And voices! “Is this hell?” the voice asks. Such reports are why the Mile High City merits a spot among America’s great Halloween towns.
From Fright Fest Weekend at Elitch Gardens to the Halloween Spooktacular at Boettcher Concert Hall, there are many amazing Halloween festivities for families to cherry-pick. Here’s the Chronicle’s monster month guide to bewitching places to go and things to
Monster Movies: See vintage monster movies from the 1890s-1920s at the Sie FilmCenter’s Monsters of Early Cinema Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
do for “fang-tastic” fun:
Fright Fest Weekend at Elitch Gardens, Sept. 30-Nov. 5; Kiddieland closes at 6 p.m. and fright by night begins. Guests can enjoy their favorite rides after dark, but be on alert as Fright Fest comes alive. Creatures lurk around every thrilling corner. Each area of the park has its specific haunted attractions. Information: 303-595-4386.
Ghosts In The Garden is an Open Air Scare Oct 4; Oct 12-13, & Oct. 17-20, Denver Botanic Gardens. The gardens dare you to join them after dark for spine-tingling stories of their haunted history, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
Rocky Horror is showing in Denver’s original 1896 movie theater, Oct. 11. The historic Elitch Theatre is showing the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Theater will have a spectacle of the live cast performing alongside the movie. Information: 720-593-9395.
Nightmare, Oct. 11-13. Denver Dance is back at the Clocktower Cabaret with a show full of tricks that’s sure to be a treat, 7 p.m.. Information: 303-293-0075.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival, Oct. 12-13 — Pick out your perfect pumpkin, enjoy live music, and stage performances at Four Mile Historic Park, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 720-865-0800.
Haunted Hearts Ball at Grant-Humphreys Mansion, Oct. 13 — All vampires, witches, and dark fairies are invited to the allure of dark romance, 6 p.m. Enjoy savory bites and sweet delights, plus alcoholic beverages available. Information: 303-894-2505.
Gore & Lore, Oct. 18-20 — See the spookiest aerial versions of classic characters from history, folklore, and urban legend at the Clocktower Cabaret, 7 p.m. Information: 303-293-0075.
Broadway Halloween Parade, Oct. 19 — Back for the sixth time, the Broadway Merchants Association parade stretches from 5th to Alameda along
Spirits At Four Mile: Engage in spine-tingling rituals that echo the spiritual practices of the 19th century at Four Mile Park Oct. 26, 6-11 p.m.
Broadway. Parade features spooky floats, bands, marchers, and magicians at 6 p.m. Information: 303-859-0491.
Twisted Techno Dancy Party, Oct. 19 — Join Denver’s underworld at DJ Ajax Studios, 2150 Curtis St., 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dance to the relentless beat of techno and other genres of music, where darkness and mystery converge. Information: 720-514-1400.
Haunted History Tour, Central City, Oct. 19 — Starts with cocktails in the haunted Teller House. Following tarot reading, take a haunted walking tour. Night ends with professional medium seance. Information: 303-292-6500.
Harvest Haunt Express, Oct. 19-20 — Colorado Railroad Museum’s Halloween-themed steam-up event. Haunted railcars, a
Broadway Howls: Creepy, spine-chilling Halloween floats, bands, and marchers parade down Broadway from 5th Ave. to Alameda Ave. Oct. 19, 6 p.m.
hay bale maze, plus a coal-burning steam locomotive pulls train of the harvest express. Information: 303-279-4591.
Glow Before Dark, Oct. 19-21 & Oct. 22-27 — Families can take the kids to Denver Botanic Gardens to see vignettes of Glow of the Garden during the day, 9 a.m.-1. p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
Monsters of Early Cinema, Oct. 20 — Experience the thrills and chills of spooky vintage cinema from classic monsters (Dracula & Frankenstein) to dystopian versions of the future (Metropolis). Wild Beautiful Orchestra performs a live soundtrack to film clips from the 1890s-1920s at the Sie FilmCenter, 7 p.m. Information: 720-381-0813.
Glow at the Gardens, Oct. 22-27 — Enjoy the spooky, silly, and spirited like no other at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 6-9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
Halloween Bar Crawl, Oct. 25, 26, & 31 — Receive a wristband for drinks at multiple locations at One Shot Back, 2134 Curtis St., Ste 101. One night or all-access. Information: 720-524-6353.
BOOlesque Halloween, Oct. 25-31 — The Clocktower Cabaret’s Halloween BOO-lesque is back and hotter than “hellfire.” Expect the unexpected as the Cabaret’s Halloween burlesque and variety show transforms your wildest nightmares and dreams, 7 p.m. Information: 303-293-0075.
Spirits & Spirits, Oct. 26 — Engage in spine-tingling rituals that echo the spiritual practices of the 19th century at Four Mile Historic Park, 6-11 p.m. Learn
about a Victorian Mourning Ceremony and have your own tin-type photo taken. Information: 720-865-0800.
Denver’s Black Cat Ball, Oct. 26 — New location in the old Gart Sports’ building — now known as the Sports Castle — at 1000 Broadway, 7-10 p.m. Live music, dancing, food trucks, and a vampire specialty bar. A benefit for the cats and kittens of The Feline Fix. Information: 303-202-3516.
Halloween Songs & Stories, Oct. 26 — Niki Tredinnick & Barry Osborne do original songs and stories about ghosts, goblins, and devils in Tufts Theatre at Swallow Hill, 8 p.m. They also do old ballads, traditional tunes, plus tell creepy stories from their own lives. Information: 303-777-1003.
Coloween, Halloween Dance Party, Oct. 26 — Dance party in the 50,000-sq.-ft. National Western complex, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Party again features Fantasy Stage with Amazon Jungle theme, plus costume contest. Information:720-663-1414.
Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 27 — A music concert for boys and ghouls, featuring songs and compositions from films and television at Boettcher Concert Hall, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Harvest Hoot, Oct. 27-29 — A three-day festival and trick-or-treating adventure at the Children’s Museum of Denver at the Marsico Campus, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Inform
ation: 303-433-7444.
Is Mrs. Brown Still Here? Oct 29 — Meet a ghost in the Historic Molly Brown House Museum. A rare chance to learn about various ghost-hunting methods in the historic home of Margaret Tobin Brown, 6 p.m. Information: 303-832-4092.
Candlelight: A Haunting Halloween Classic, Oct. 30-31 — Hear spooky classics performed by a string quartet as candles flicker at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-360-5360.
The Creepy Crawly Garden, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 — Explore plants named after the Denver Botanic Gardens’ friends and plants. Includes stories, nature walk, art projects, and a plant to take home. Information: 720-865-3500.
by Valley Gadfly | Aug 23, 2024 | Main Articles
Construction On Cherry Creek North’s Delay-Plagued, But Plush Condo Project At 2nd & Steele Set For January Start
by Glen Richardson
Miami’s Stacked Boxes: Cherry Creek’s condo developer PMG built this 100-story Waldorf Astoria hotel-condo tower. It is a design inspired by stacked and cantilevered boxes.
Waldorf Astoria — the name that evokes history and elegance — first announced plans for a Cherry Creek North condo building in December 2021. Three years later, build-out of the much-anticipated project site at 185 N. Steele St. is at last imminent. The proposed start date is January 1, 2025, with completion expected in 2026.
Upper Crust In Creek: Architectural rendering shows what the much-anticipated Waldorf Astoria condos building at 2nd Ave. and Steele St. will look like. Start date is January, 2025.
Property Markets Group (PMG), the development firm behind a 100-story Waldorf Astoria hotel and condo tower in Miami, and its architecture firm, Shears Adkins Rockmore, presented architectural renderings to the Cherry Creek North Design Advisory Board earlier this year. PMG also owns the block where TV station Denver7 operated for decades and plans to develop a 12-story, 600-unit apartment complex on that site. The station has relocated to Delgany St. in RiNo.
The architectural firm’s Andy Rockmore told the design board that the five-story building is intended to serve as a transition between shorter buildings to the east and taller buildings — up to 12 stories — to the west. PMG initially requested that the city rezone the property to allow up to eight stories. However, the development firm ultimately decided to be content with five stories, and withdrew the application before the city could respond.
A $29.1 Million Deal
PMG spent $29.1 million in multiple transactions between late 2021 and early 2023 to acquire the 0.81-acre site where the condo building will be built. The spot is where the former Italian trattoria Piatti has sat empty since Christmas 2021. The project will also include the plot of land where the longtime closed Cherry Creek Bombay Clay Oven restaurant building stands.
The development firm’s plans now call for a five-story, 172,000-sq.-ft. luxury condo project to be built on the 0.81-acre site. It will feature roughly 40 residential units across floors two through five, including seven penthouses on the top floor, six of which will have private rooftop terraces.
The smallest units will be about 670-sq.-ft., whereas the largest penthouse will occupy a substantial 5,000-sq.-ft. The roof will also include a common terrace space for residents, plus a bar, and a nearly 900-sq.-ft. pool.
Restaurant & Retail
Pricey Piatti Plot: PMG paid $29.1 million for spot where the Italian restaurant Piatti has sat empty since Christmas 2021.
Preeminent Perspective: This rendering shows a slightly less formal perspective of the delay-plagued but plush condo project.
The building will have approximately 2,200-sq.-ft. dedicated to a residential lobby and concierge area. Site plans for the ground level of the building also show the structure will house a 4,360-sq.-ft. restaurant and bar on the corner of 2nd Ave. and St. Paul. There will be 3,532-sq.-ft. of retail space on the corner of Steele and 2nd Ave. The project design also calls of a 70-space underground parking garage.
Given the price PMG paid for the land and the proposed number of condos in the building, each unit is expected be listed for sale at multimillion dollar prices. For reference, a three-bedroom condo in PMG’s Miami tower start at $3.3 million.
“Cherry Creek has been a specifically targeted neighborhood for us,” explains Ryan Shear, PMG managing partner. “We love Denver, we’ve built in Denver before, and we’re excited to introduce a high-end condo project into Cherry Creek North. We aim to provide the best and most seamless addition to the neighborhood.”
Open Space, Alley Doubts
Bulldozing Bombay: The iconic condo brand is also replacing the longtime closed Cherry Creek Bombay Clay Oven restaurant building.
Plans initially called for an existing alley running north to south through the site to be replaced by one running east to west, to the south of the building. The developer argued that the change would facilitate loading and access to car elevators for the underground parking garage.
Cherry Creek North’s design board had questioned and expressed concerns about the alley relocation. They also had doubts about the amount of open space provided by the developer. Cherry Creek’s zoning mandates that at least 15% of a property must remain open. Several board members voiced concerns that the design deviated significantly from neighboring structures. Thus, the board was concerned the project would not mix well with neighboring buildings within Cherry Creek.
“We believe it fits with the district character,” Rockmore responded. “Our goal is to achieve a higher standard, to raise the bar.” Ultimately, the board did not approve the designs at the time, requesting that the developer and architect address concerns regarding mass reduction and amount of open space. It remains unclear how PMG and architects at Shears Adkins Rockmore have addressed the alley and open space concerns expressed by the design board.
by Valley Gadfly | Aug 23, 2024 | Main Articles
Glendale’s Sammy Sullivan Stars In Paris Games; Women’s Elite Rugby Picks Denver As First Pro Site
by Glen Richardson
We Won: Sammy Sullivan, who lives in Glendale, reacts as she joins her Olympic teammates after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics.
Boundless Playground: Infinity Park is one of the only rugby-specific stadiums in the U.S., and the country’s first municipality- owned stadium.
Glendale, America’s rugby haven and its moniker as RugbyTown USA, is in the spotlight’s beam again as the U.S. earned its first-ever medal in women’s rugby at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
After never finishing an Olympic rugby competition better than fifth, the U.S. women took home the bronze medal after a thrilling 14-12 comeback victory against Australia, the gold medalists in 2016. In Tokyo, the U.S. was knocked out before the medal round by Great Britain. The Americans got payback in Paris, eliminating Great Britain in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. team included Sammy Sullivan. a star Colorado rugby player for Glendale’s Gray Wolves. Now Denver — and possibly Glendale — is getting a new team in the Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) league. The league is targeting next year (2025) for its inaugural season. The revelation coincides with the U.S. winning its first-ever Olympic medal. If WER does launch here, it would be the first fully professional women’s sports team in metro Denver.
Glendale Rugby Boom
Biding Time: First lady Jill Biden, left, speaks with Glendale’s Olympic women’s rugby player Sammy Sullivan, in Eaubonne, France.
American rugby got its start in 2007 with the building of the Infinity Park Stadium in Glendale. It is one of the only rugby-specific stadiums in the country, and the first municipality-owned stadium of its kind in the country. Infinity Park hosts oodles of different rugby events, matches, and activities. Glendale also offers a variety of youth rugby, including spring after school rugby, and summer flag rugby. There’s also a high-altitude training center, considered one of the finest rugby training facilities in the country.
Glendale’s Mayor Mike Dunafon — who played a stint with the Denver Broncos —launched Infinity Park and rugby for what he describes as “its camaraderie and sportsmanship.” The decision was his commitment to the community.
The strong performance in Paris will be impactful for Glendale, the Mile High City, and the sport as a whole. After this summer’s bronze-medal win, USA Rugby announced that Michelle Kang — owner of the Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and London City Lionesses women’s soccer clubs — will gift $4 million over the course of four years to the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team. Enrollment in the sport has climbed in the U.S. ever since rugby sevens became an Olympic sport in 2016. Look for the game to soar in 2025.
Sullivan Stars
Tournament Town: Rugby tournament play has long been a staple at Infinity Park. The RugbyTown 7s tournament features the U.S. Armed Forces. AP Photo by George Walker IV
A shining star on the world stage, Sammy Sullivan — who lived in Glendale — was a key player in the Olympic games, leading the U.S. women’s rugby team to several victories to begin the Paris Olympics.
She plays for the Colorado Gray Wolves, as well as the U.S. women’s rugby team. The team was originally established in 1981 as the Harlequin Olde Girls before aligning with the City of Glendale in 2007 and becoming the Glendale Raptors Merlins. In 2020 the team became an independent club, run and operated by the players. The team still plays at Glendale’s Infinity Park. Sullivan started playing rugby at West Point and holds the rank of Army Captain. She’s originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Sullivan did not attend the opening ceremony ride down the River Seine because women’s rugby played shortly afterward. Instead, she built Legos. Her Olympic Lego project features iconic Paris sites including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
While in France for the Summer Games, Sullivan met first lady Jill Biden and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jayson Kelce and his wife Kylie.
Pro Women’s Rugby
Sammy Shines: Glendale’s Sammy Sullivan was a key player in the Olympic games. She led the U.S. women’s rugby team to several victories to begin the Paris Olympics. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) has announced that Denver, along with Boston and Chicago, will be the first cities to host a professional women’s rugby team. Goal is to have 30 players on each team when the inaugural season gets underway in the spring of 2025. The announcement coincides with the U.S. winning its first-ever Olympic medal in Paris. The league hopes to have six to eight teams for its inaugural season. Matthew Payne, director of the Denver Sports Commission — an affiliate of the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Visit Denver — responded that the Mile High City is thrilled to be a founding city
“Denver has a lot of history in women’s rugby, and recently they’ve had some success with the Women’s Premier League and have won quite a few of the national championships,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, president of the WER. “And so, we felt like bringing that energy and the continued history of women’s rugby to the area would just really make sense.” WER has the intention to start with 6-8 teams, and then looks to build toward a strategic expansion plan during the next 10 years. The league’s founding players will be announced following a selection in January.
WER is supported financially by private investors, including members of the rugby community, sports-focused venture capital, and former Procter & Gamble executive Deb Henretta. WER is adding to its roster of investors in its current capital round, which is on track to close by years end. WER prides itself in putting founding teams in markets that have a strong foundation and grassroots efforts in both the rugby and women’s sports. Team names and stadium details for all markets will be announced later.
Childs Play: Children from in and around the Denver metro area participate in rugby sports training programs at Infinity Park.
Colorado History
The nation’s first recorded competitive women’s rugby team hails from Colorado. In 1971, both the University of Colorado and Colorado State University were formed and they played their first match in 1972. The first women’s college championships were also held in Colorado.
During 1973 another Colorado team — the Scarlet Harlots — was organized, followed in 1974 by the Denver Blues. By 1974, there were approximately 29 women’s teams in the U.S. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, women’s rugby continued to grow with a majority of those teams adopting the names of colleges and universities.
Until 1990, very few rosters of women’s collegiate rugby teams were entirely undergraduate students of the university; most college teams were made up of graduate students, alumni, and local residents. Then in 2007, following the opening of Infinity Park in Glendale, tournament rugby has been a staple, with the venue hosting some of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the country.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
The city’s plans for residential trash, recycling, and compost services still lack strategy and responsiveness to residents, according to the recent follow-up report from Denver Auditor Timothy O’Brien.
“We’ve continued to hear from a lot of residents in the past 18 months who have concerns about their trash and recycling pickup, as well as the implementation of composting services,” Auditor O’Brien said. “There’s still work to do to achieve ideals of efficient pickups and environmental benefit.”
The auditor looked at the city’s residential trash, recycling, and compost services ahead of the implementation of the volume-based pricing program in November 2022. They found understaffing, old and unreliable trucks, and lack of strategy for the new program.
The auditor made nine recommendations in the original audit. But during the follow-up work they found the division fully implemented only three of them. Five other recommendations that addressed significant risks were not implemented. And one recommendation related to replacing the city’s aging trucks was partially implemented.
The remaining risks center on strategy, data, and resident satisfaction.
More than 18 months into the volume-based pricing program — which shifts the cost of weekly trash pickup to residents based on how much they throw away but make
s recycling and compost included at no extra charge — the Solid Waste Management Division still lacks a strategic plan that identifies specific objectives, goals, and needs for delivering services to residents.
Managers said plans to develop a strategic plan are ongoing. Division leaders acknowledged the importance of a comprehensive strategy, but still do not have one to guide their day-to-day operations or set long-term goals.
Additionally, key recommendations still need work for tracking data for efficient routes and responsiveness to resident service requests.
The city’s new routing software is intended to collect data like maps of pickup points and monitoring of stops. But the system was neither fully operational at the time of follow-up, nor was the software referenced in the draft procedure on how to adjust collection routes.
And although the division has a dashboard to track operations and metrics like tonnage and route completion, there are still inconsistencies in how it tracks open and closed cases from residents who report missed pickups through 3-1-1 and other platforms. As a result, the division does not have an accurate picture of its response to residents’ service requests.
Similarly, the auditor recommended the division develop a process for annual performance reviews of trash, recycling, and compost services. The department has not yet finalized its review process or created an annual review, nor does it plan to pursue feedback on resident satisfaction through surveys or an analysis of environmental costs.
“The trash, recycling, and compost program is one that impacts almost every person who lives in Denver,” Auditor O’Brien said. “I would like to see more improvement on behalf of the people we serve.”
Without sound data and information, the Solid Waste Management Division cannot make informed decisions that impact the viability of the city’s volume-based pricing program and cannot ensure the fees it collects for residents’ trash pickup will achieve the city’s goal to increase Denver’s waste diversion rate.
One area where the divis
ion did take some action is addressing its aging fleet of trucks. At the time of the audit, nearly half of the vehicles in the division’s fleet were within a couple of years of the end of their estimated remaining life. The average estimated useful life for waste collection trucks is eight years, but the city was still using one truck that was 18 years old.
Since then, staff have worked on options for purchasing or leasing trucks, including plans to lease 25 new trucks every two years. However, they have not actually started leasing new vehicles. Division leaders still do not know if they will be able to replace the fleet due to backlogs and budget cuts.
“Denver’s trucks are old and cost more and more to maintain,” Auditor O’Brien said. “I’m glad to see a plan for replacement, but waiting longer due to budget constraints will likely drain even more of the city’s budget.”
The division did take action to address some of the staffing concerns we identified. In 2022, there was a 21% vacancy rate among drivers. Since then, the division performed a staffing analysis. As of May 2024, staff said 84% of positions are filled.
