by Mark Smiley | Apr 2, 2014 | Main Articles
Massive
University Blvd. Projects Plus
District’s Construction Explosion Snarling Traffic
by Glen Richardson
Mega developments underway in Cherry Creek North are snarling traffic within the district while two massive projects along University Blvd. has traffic grinding to a halt. Commuters complain that during rush hour, traffic on University is nearly at a standstill for up to six blocks in all directions. Normal weekday traffic volumes along University in the Cherry Creek commercial area are approximately 50,000 vehicles per day. The two-hour morning peak period begins at 7 a.m. and ends around 9 a.m., while the afternoon peak is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Officials say the resulting traffic jams will get worse this summer for people who commute northbound along University Blvd./Josephine and southbound York/University from 6th to 2nd Avenues.
Traffic headaches within the 16-block shopping-dining district are being created, as buildings are demolished and new ground excavations begun for a half-dozen major projects currently underway. Construction related traffic tie-ups have local businesses fuming over lost sales while some report they have had to cut down on staff hours because of the slowdown. More than 11,250 employees work within the district.
University Blvd. Projects
Denver Public Works started construction in January (Chronicle, December 2013) on a new storm drain system plus a street improvement project along University Blvd. in Cherry Creek North. Additional work is taking place east of University and 1st Ave. Officials had said they would keep one or two lanes open in each direction throughout the project. However, in late March northbound University was closed at 1st Ave.
The storm drainage portion of the project is designed to reduce the frequency and impacts of recurrent, localized flooding in the Cherry Creek area. This project will add significant capacity to the drainage system. The main components include a new outfall structure draining into Cherry Creek through a new storm drainage pipe that will ultimately extend north into the Cherry Creek neighborhood.
Building Boom Congestion
The proliferation of high-rise buildings under construction in Cherry Creek North is also causing problems for both district shoppers and businesses. Traffic slowdowns and stoppage due to construction is not only clogging streets but it is also paralyzing business as shoppers and residents flock in and out of the district. In addition, construction vehicles and equipment are monopolizing traffic lanes and parking spaces, reducing the already congested road capacity.
The biggest traffic slowdowns are along 1st Ave. where work is underway on the enormous FirstBank building at St. Paul. Just east of that project on 1st Ave., construction is creating traffic congestion, where the 12-story Steele Creek Apartment project is being built, at the intersection of Steele that has always had traffic flow problems. Adding to the streets woes will be construction traffic as the RH Gallery project gets started to replace the former Saks Fifth Avenue space along 1st Ave.
Perfect Storm
Cherry Creek North shop owners, restaurants and other businesses say the work along University Blvd. plus the massive building projects within the district are creating substantial business difficulties. Furthermore the timing of projects particularly along University couldn’t have been worse. “The spring and summer months are our busiest time other than Christmas and they waited until we were starting to get busy and started closing down streets,” said one retailer. Added another: “This is the perfect storm!”
On the positive side, at Ten Thousand Villages on 3rd Ave. next to the 250 Columbine development, manager Charlotte Otto says that while it has impacted business, customers are still coming in. “We are finding ways to thrive despite the challenge. Our loyal customers have been a huge strength.” Many in the district, while declining to give their name or that of their business, say on average they have seen foot traffic drop 15-20 percent, with sales off 10 percent. Owners and managers also say they felt shut out of construction decisions, including the timing of work.
A customer in one shop told the Chronicle, “We were so determined to make it we drove around the detours three times before we found the correct turn into the store.” The manager at one business stated that while driving down 2nd Ave. going to FedEx kinkos, construction flaggers refused to let him make the turn until he became belligerent. Businesses and restaurants all complain that employees are late to work. What once took two minutes now takes 20. Moreover, they note it is increasingly difficult for both customers and employees to find parking. One business along University/York noted they had seen escalating road rage and fender benders plus cars cutting through their parking lot. Several businesses told the Chronicle they had just received notification via a pamphlet of the upcoming closure of Josephine. The reaction of one manager: “Oh my God!”
Cherry Creek’s Woes
Benefit Competitors
The traffic jams throughout Cherry Creek have not escaped the notice of the area’s competitors. Jeff Estey, a restaurant entrepreneur who owns three restaurants in Old Gaylord by Washington Park (Wash Park Grille, Max Gill and Grille and Agave Taco Bar), drives his child to the Cherry Creek area for lessons and knows well the traffic woes the area is suffering from. He began a radio advertisement campaign developed by Entercom which notes the parking and traffic problems in Cherry Creek due to construction and invites potential diners to come to the Washington Park area where those issues are not impediments for customers. He states, “Our idea was not to be malicious, but rather poke fun at Cherry Creek’s woes and give people a pleasant alternative.” Restaurants and shops in Glendale are considering similar advertising campaigns.
The City and County of Denver anticipates that the street and storm drainage work will be completed by November of this year. By that time the first of the already approved mega developments will begin to be completed. The effect of those developments on traffic and parking is unknown as the city declined neighborhood requests to perform studies on their impacts.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 13, 2014 | Main Articles
Trader Joe’s Parking And Traffic Problems Mar Opening
Lack Of City Planning Enrages Neighbors; Petition Drive Started
by Charles C. Bonniwell
The opening of Trader Joe’s at East 8th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard on Valentine’s Day was widely anticipated by neighbors and fans of the specialty grocer. A nearby church even put out a banner declaring “Welcome to the Neighborhood — Trader Joe’s.” But the mood has definitely soured due to what critics call an absence of any meaningful traffic planning or engineering by the city.
Shopper Peter Colussy declared, “It’s an absolute zoo.” Local resident Mary Martin said that, “On Saturday, we just sat in front of my window and watched the chaos.” For Martin it took 15 minutes to just get out of her driveway. Other residents complained not only of the horrific parking but broken wine bottles and shopping carts left on the streets and on residents’ lawns.
One resident described the area around Trader Joe’s to be like the movie Road Warrior, while another individual told KDVR television, “Fighting, actual fighting in the streets over parking spaces. There were two ladies up here and there was yelling and horns were honking and, oh, it was a mess.”
Mary Tirrell who lives near Trader Joe’s notes that in the very short time since the store has opened she has had her car side swiped three times.
While nearby businesses have enjoyed the increased foot traffic, many are taking draconian steps on the parking overflow. Julie Perlmutter was one of four persons who got her car towed after parking in the U.S. Bank lot and going over to Trader Joe’s. “There are tow trucks everywhere. The second you walk to Trader Joe’s you’re gone.” Shoppers who have gotten their cars towed have to get transportation to the tow lot and pay $280 to get their car back. Perlmutter succinctly noted, “It sucks!”
Homeowners near Trader Joe’s who have their homes for sale are finding it difficult to find buyers. Mary Martin has taken her home off the market noting, “It doesn’t look good for a potential buyer to come and see that this is not a quiet street anymore.”
Critics are generally split on who is to blame for the mess that 8th and Colorado has become. Some point to Trader Joe’s itself. Robert Meer points out, “Trader Joe’s is like this all across the country. They construct the minimum amount of parking allowed under the law and once they get in it’s the neighborhood’s problem. They know it is going to be a mess and they just don’t care. They are ‘Trader Joe’s’ and everybody else can just stick it.”
The headline in the Miami Herald concerning the Trader Joe’s which opened in Pinecrest was “New Trader Joe’s store creates traffic mess; 55 cars towed.” In Dallas WFAA-TV’s story on Trader Joe’s was “Traffic and Parking are Concerns at Trader Joe’s Newest Dallas store.” Similar headlines are appearing across the country wherever Trader Joe’s operates according to critics.
Other businesses and neighborhood groups are looking squarely at the alleged lack of planning by the City and County of Denver.
The site has 70 parking places which meets the minimum required by the city code, but appears to be clearly inadequate for the large numbers of enthusiastic shoppers and the fact that the 8th and Colorado is and will be the only Trader’s Joe with a liquor license in the state.
Mary Martin stated, “I don’t think enough planning went in to prevent this from happening.” Resident Joanne Bader has been circulating a petition which would require the city to immediately do traffic and engineering studies to help mitigate the problems and has over 140 signatures of residents, shoppers and business owners.
“It’s too late,” stated Jeremy Kruze. “Once they didn’t require adequate parking or traffic flow in the planning process the city gave away the ball game. Seventy parking places for the only Trader Joe’s in Colorado with a liquor license is a joke. All they had to do at the planning department was go online and find all the problems that Trader Joe’s created and in those cities that have much greater parking requirements than Denver.”
Some point to the chaos that the city’s Community Planning and Development Department is in. After a series of lower level resignations, the Executive Director Rocky Piro resigned on February 7, 2014. He had moved to Denver only two years before from Seattle to take the position. Mayor Hancock and Piro have refused to state why he resigned and whether he was asked to by the mayor. Brad Buchanan, an architect who was the chairman of the citizen appointed Planning Board, has taken his place.
“It’s a mess down there,” said Kruze. “You don’t really have a functioning department anymore to look out for the neighborhoods and the citizens. Companies like Trader Joe’s can get away with almost anything and there is no one to stop them.”
He adds, “If you think there are parking and traffic problems now just wait until they finish with the already approved projects in Cherry Creek North. The lack of adequate planning for traffic and parking by the city for those projects is really unbelievable. Trader Joe’s is just a taste of what the future will bring for the residents of southeast Denver.”
Some residents have directed their anger at the area’s Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman for not taking a more pro-active role regarding Trader Joe’s. She has stated, “There are opportunities when and if parking for residents becomes problematic due to commercial uses that you can get special resident parking permits like those in Cherry Creek North.”
At Councilwoman Susman’s biannual town hall meeting at Mizel Museum on February 27, it was standing room only with many of the people attending to discuss the Trader Joe’s problems. Susman indicated that she wanted to wait for six months to see whether the parking and traffic issues lessen. The councilwoman’s remarks did not please some at the meeting and her approach was summed up by Channel 9 anchor Kyle Clark as “We can’t fix the problem until the problem goes away.”
by Mark Smiley | Mar 13, 2014 | Main Articles
Glendale Mayor Considers Gubernatorial Run
Mike Dunafon Running on “Liberty” Platform
By Mark Smiley
The mayor of Glendale, Mike Dunafon, is contemplating running for governor of Colorado as an independent candidate. Planning a possible candidacy that will emphasize the use of social media, he has set a goal 60,000 likes on Facebook by the time he turns 60 years of age on April 6. If he achieves this, he is throwing his hat in the ring. At time of press, he has over 24,000 likes on Facebook.
Dunafon has been traveling around the state speaking to groups and promoting what he calls his “liberty” agenda. He doesn’t necessarily have anything against the other candidates. He just has a different approach.
Dunafon is libertarian leaning but is not easily pigeon holed in the normal liberal/conservative continuum. He is a small government advocate who is pro-gay marriage, pro-gun, pro-choice and pro-marijuana. He was the only mayor in Colorado to come out in favor of Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana in Colorado, he officiated a gay wedding in 2013 at a small chapel in the town of Morrison, and helped lead the Magpul “Free Colorado” rally in Glendale that was held to protest upcoming gun restriction laws. The event was attended by over 5,000 people.
Political experts give Dunafon only a very small chance to win as an independent candidate not backed by either major party. The only person to become governor of the State of Colorado who was neither a Republican nor a Democrat was David “Bloody Bridles” Waite elected in 1893 in response to the devastating Silver Crash of 1893. He is best remembered for being instrumental in getting woman’s suffrage passed in Colorado, but he lasted only two years in office.
Dunafon’s possible candidacy has, however, attracted a great deal of early interest. Eli Stokels of Fox 31 did a highly positive piece on television on his potential run and Dunafon has being featured on various radio programs. One political expert noted:” For those who would totally rule out any possibility of Dunafon being able to succeed I have two words for them – Jesse Ventura.”
Ventura a former Navy Seal and professional wrestler won the governor’s seat in Minnesota over future US Senator Norm Coleman as the Republican candidate and political scion Hubert Humphrey III on the Democratic side even though Ventura spent only $250,000 on his campaign and was originally given no chance of winning.
Regarding campaign financing Dunafon indicates that he is not accepting any campaign contributions. “Why vote for a candidate based on a television or radio advertisements. My views on virtually any subject are posted on my website and I plan to meet voters either in person or by twitter and the internet. A smart phone is the greatest campaign and voter empowerment tool that has ever been invented. If I am elected I will not be beholden to any money interests.”
Dunafon wants to cut the size of government and decrease the number of laws that average citizens are subject to. He points out that these are not just theoretical political positions he has taken. Glendale has been able to cut its work force in half and starting last year at every regularly scheduled council meeting at least one outdated or harmful law has been revoked.
He notes, “Cutting back on government really isn’t all that hard to do, but you really have to want to do it. Democrats never want to get rid of any government workers as they view them as people who will vote for them and never have seen a law they didn’t like no matter how oppressive. Republicans say they want to cut the size of government, but when they get elected they do little more than concentrate on implementing the worst sort of crony capitalism for their big money supporters.”
Another issue that he promotes is decreasing the state’s burgeoning prison population “We incarcerate more people in the United States than any other country in the world on both gross numbers and percentage of the population. We have 5% of the world’s population put 25% of the prison population. In states like California the prison guard union has become incredibly strong and fights any legislation that would effectively decrease the prison population and thus negatively affect the number of prison guards needed.”
Colorado has 21,486 prisoners in the state system with 4,070 of them being drug offenders. Upon becoming governor he would seek to release virtually all non-violent drug offenders. He notes it costs the state $26,000 a year to house an inmate. “Why not give them an ankle brace and a job and get them adding to society rather than costing us incredible sums of money. I would give employers a $13,000 deduction for employing these inmates for up to five years. All we are doing to is to support a prison industry that is costly and destructive to lives. We could save a great deal of money and do something positive for people.”
Dunafon points out that he once again is not simply talking about simple political talking points. He is a board member of Step 13, a local non-profit alcohol and drug program that puts former addicts and alcoholics back to work and receives no governmental funding. Dunafon has personally employed many Step 13 “clients” for projects. “They are very hard workers who are unbelievably grateful to get a second chance. Not all of them make it and some slip back but many do succeed and to think that it is preferable to have them rotting in jail or living on government assistance is both sad and pathetic.”
He has repeatedly invited Governor Hickenlooper to tour the Step 13 facility to show him that it can work. His requests to date have been declined.
He notes that polls indicate that trust in government here in Colorado and across the country is at an all time low. “Nothing is ever going to change if we just keep on electing the same old politicians whether Republican or Democrat who just regurgitate the same old tired ideas. I admit that I am not the standard cookie cutter candidate, but it is perhaps time to look for people that are not part of the political main stream which has in many ways become more of a stagnant pool. I promise you I would stir things up and I think for the better.”
You can view Dunafon’s website and political platform at mikedunafon.com and visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MikeDunafon. If he gets another 35,000 likes he will be on the campaign trail until November promoting his different style of politics throughout Colorado.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 15, 2012 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Only 3,636 days separate the fire that burned Spanish Gate Apartments to the ground on December 28, 2003, and the raging fire at the Apartments at Cherry Creek Corporate Center on December 14, 2013. The eerie part of these devastations is that the two complexes are situated 200 feet from one another on South Cherry Street, north of Kentucky Avenue. The recent fire started at approximately 11:40 p.m. at South Cherry near Kentucky Ave. and was contained by 1:30 a.m. The Denver Fire Department sent 23 trucks to the scene while the Glendale and Denver Police departments, along with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, assisted with evacuating nearby neighbors. Residents to the east and south of the fire — as many as 100 — were evacuated as a precaution. Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park was used as an evacuation center. The flames could be seen as far away as Castle Rock — about 28 miles away from the fire site. Residents highly praised the prompt response of the Denver Fire Department and the Glendale Police for largely limiting the damage to the apartments under construction. The previous fire, across the street, was started on December 28, 2003, and destroyed one of two five-story buildings at the Spanish Gate Apartments in Glendale. Residents say Blake Fieber, who admitted to setting the fire that torched 58 apartment units, engaged in a fight with his roommate. One resident, Nancy Weaver, perished in the fire, in what was described as a slow and agonizing death. Blake Fieber pleaded guilty to a negligent homicide charge, and a lesser count of arson, as part of a plea agreement that called for the original 41 charges to be dropped. Fieber was to stand trial for first-degree murder and arson, among other charges.
Neighboring apartments in this December 2013 fire may have had exterior damage due to extreme heat. One of those belongs to Kentucky Ridge homeowner and City Councilman Dario Katardzic. His blinds are completely scorched and the framework around the window is charred. “I lost my first home in the war in Bosnia,” said Katardzic. I was 90 percent sure I was going to lose this home as well.” Jamie Brady lives in the 4550 Cherry Creek apartment homes adjacent to the fire. Brady tells the Chronicle, “I didn’t hear any explosions that some people reported hearing. I could hear the sounds you would expect from a building fire: wood popping from the heat or collapsing as their supports gave way or were knocked down by the hose.” A ladder engine was already set up on Cherry Street and beginning to engage the fire from above. “I then noticed that two additional engines were hosing down the roofs of the The Crescent at Cherry Creek apartments, across Cherry Street from the fire. The westerly wind was blowing the smoke directly at those apartment units. You could see steam rising from the roofs as a result. My fellow 4550 neighbors agreed we were very lucky that the wind was not coming from the south, or we would have been in trouble.”
Jamie added, “Hearing about the melted cars from The Crescent the next day drove that point home. The edge of our parking garage was probably the same distance from the flames. Fortunately the luck of the wind direction kept us out of danger.”
She did not realize there was a fire at first. When she did, she decided to walk out (approximately midnight) to the roof deck of her parking garage to investigate (and move her car if necessary). Approaching the railing she observed “flames were above the 5th floor deck.” She said it became evident that the fire was engulfing the adjacent apartment building which was still under construction.
She concluded by saying, “In my short time in Colorado, I’ve learned how quickly wind can affect a fire.” She also notes that in the future she “will certainly pay a little more attention to those random fire alarms in our building.”
The Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement: “All of our residents and members of our business community can be assured that their businesses are safe and that with the exception of a street closure during the investigation, that business in Glendale is as usual.”
The ATF’s National Response Team composed of experts from across the country has taken over the third floor of the Glendale fire house indicating that arson was not originally ruled out as a possible cause of the fire.
MKS Residential, a California based real estate company, acquired the 5.4 acre site a year ago in order to build a 341-unit high end apartment complex featuring apartment layouts ranging from 572 to 1,335 square feet.
As part of the transaction the seller of the land demolished what remained of Spanish Gate Apartments which had stood empty for the decade since the 2003 fire. The property was then conveyed to the City of Glendale to be used as a parking lot for Infinity Park.
It is anticipated that MKS Residential will take insurance proceeds from the fire and begin building the apartment complex anew.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 14, 2012 | Main Articles
by Charles C. Bonniwell
Young grade school kids at the Good Shepherd School at 6th Avenue and Elizabeth Street wanted to show their appreciation to American troops in Afghanistan over the holidays. Jan Greer, who helps with the enrichment program at the school, came up with the idea of a banner with medals and stars and words of encouragement from the kids.
The idea took off with 1st grade teacher Katie Armatas and her assistant Jennifer Fisher helping the kids who are in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades at the school come up with ideas and concepts. The kids got to work and the banner began to take shape under the title “Thank You For All You Have Done.” The 1st and 2nd graders wrote personal messages to the troops contained in stars on the banner while the kindergartners did the coloring for the medals.
Grace Farrell a 2nd grader wrote: “Dear Veteran: Thank you for giving the United States freedom. And thank you for protecting the community. You guys are so amazing.”
First grader Gavin Scarth in turn told the veterans: “Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for protecting our country [and] flag.”
After finishing up their work the kids hung their banner up in the hallway for all to see. But the kids intended the actual troops in Afghanistan to receive their thanks and Kabul was thousands of miles away. The Veterans Administration and the National Guard were unresponsive to calls from the school. Then Connie Thomas, who volunteers at the school to help kids read, had an idea. A family friend is Denver Police Lieutenant Kenny Chavez who is a Colonel in the Colorado Army National Guard and was about to leave for his fourth year-long tour of duty in Afghanistan at age 58.
Colonel Chavez said he would be honored to be the courier for the kids and volunteered to meet and thank them for their message of encouragement to the troops. On the morning of Tuesday, December 17, 2013, the kids were thrilled to gather and meet Colonel Chavez in full dress uniform in the hallway of Good Shepherd School underneath their banner.
He promised the kids not only to take the banner to Afghanistan, but to hang it proudly in the regimental dining hall for all to see and be admired. He anticipated that the troops would likely want to think of ways to show their appreciation to the children of the Good Shepherd School in the near future.
First grade assistant Jennifer Fisher reflected after Colonel Chavez had left carrying the banner properly packaged, “The kids were just overjoyed to meet the Colonel. For them he was a real life hero and coming to their school will be a day they will never forget.”
Good Shepherd School was founded in 1924 and is run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver. It is located at 620 Elizabeth Street in Denver and has classes from preschool through 8th grade in traditional and Montessori formats.
