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‘Come as you are:’ Women’s only co-working community opens in Denver

Charley Co. just opened up its doors this week. It’s inside the Source building in the River North neighborhood. It’s a co-working space meant for women to work together and support one another.

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Home affordability study offers glimmer of hope to Denver buyers

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Housing affordability is improving this year in metro Denver, enough to give buyers a little bit more breathing room in terms of the income they need to show lenders, according to a study from Canadian real estate brokerage Zoocasa.

Zoocasa estimates that someone buying a home at the median price in metro Denver of $370,000 in April would need $64,284 in income to qualify for a mortgage, assuming a 20 percent down payment and an interest rate of 4.5 percent on a 30-year loan.

A study in March based on year-end numbers showed the median home price at $375,000 in metro Denver required a household income of $65,148 to qualify for a 30-year loan.

“Overall affordability for homebuyers has improved slightly in Denver between December 2018 and April 2019,” said Penelope Graham, a managing editor at Zoocasa.

Buyers of a median-priced home in Denver needed $864 less in income to qualify in April than they did in December. While that isn’t a big drop, it does represent a shift after years of increasing income requirements.

RELATED: When it comes to low foreclosure rates, no state compares to Colorado

Somewhere between half and 55 percent of households in metro Denver can afford to buy the median-priced home in this market, according to the study, which doesn’t include the latest drop in rates below 4 percent.

The study assumes buyers make a 20 percent down payment, which represents $74,000 at metro Denver’s median price. That represents a big hurdle for many first-time buyers, who typically put down much smaller amounts.

“It’s important to note that households making a smaller down payment would require a higher income in order to qualify for a larger mortgage, thus requiring them to be at a higher income group,” Graham said.

Detroit; Columbus, Ohio; and Oklahoma City are the three most affordable cities of the 35 major metros examined in the study. San Francisco and Los Angeles were the two least financially accessible cities.

Home price gains nationally have been softening for more than a year. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose 3.5 percent in April, its slowest annual pace since September 2012, according to an update Tuesday.

Denver’s home price index also slowed, rising 3.8 percent in April, down from a 4.3 percent annual pace in March and a 5 percent pace at the start of the year.

But the chill may be about to lift, thanks to lower interest rates, said CoreLogic deputy chief economist Ralph McLaughlin.

“The U.S. housing market is showing signs the cooldown may end within the next few months,” he predicted Tuesday in his analysis of the latest index numbers.

The hunt for affordability continues to weigh heavily on the market and is creating a significant variation in rates of home price appreciation, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The industry group found that U.S. homes ranging from 750 square feet to 1,750 square feet in size are appreciating at a 12.1 percent annual rate this year, compared to a 3.4 percent increase for homes between 3,000 square feet and 6,000 square feet.

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen dies at age 75

In this Jan. 5, 2011, photo, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway who he named Executive V.P. of football operations during a news conference at the team’s headquarters in Englewood, Colo. Bowlen, the Denver Broncos owner who transformed the team from also-rans into NFL champions and helped the league usher in billion-dollar TV deals, has died. He was 75. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

In this Nov. 28, 2010, photo, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on prior to the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Denver Broncos, in Denver. Denver Broncos owner Bowlen dies at age 75, family says in statement released by team.(AP Photo/Joe Mahoney, File)

FILE – In this June 16, 1998, file photo, then President Clinton, left, and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a ceremony at the White House where the president honored the Super Bowl XXXII champions. Denver Broncos owner Bowlen dies at age 75, family says in statement released by team. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Pat Bowlen, the Denver Broncos owner who transformed the team from also-rans into NFL champions and helped the league usher in billion-dollar TV deals, died late Thursday night, about two months before his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was 75.

In a statement posted on the Broncos’ website, Bowlen’s family said he died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. They did not specify a cause of death. Bowlen had battled Alzheimer’s for several years.

Bowlen was the first owner in NFL history to oversee a team that won 300 games — including playoffs — in three decades. He had as many Super Bowl appearances (seven) as losing seasons, and Denver is 354-240-1 since he bought the club in 1984.

Under his stewardship, the Broncos won Super Bowls in 1998, ’99 and 2016.

Following their 31-24 victory over Green Bay for the franchise’s first championship, Bowlen famously hollered, "This one’s for John!" Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway called it the greatest moment of his playing career.

Elway the executive returned the favor on Feb. 7, 2016, when he jabbed the silver Lombardi Trophy into the sky after Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 and declared, "This one’s for Pat."

That came 18 months after Alzheimer’s forced Bowlen to step down from his daily duties running the team.

"I’m just glad I had the opportunity," Elway told the Associated Press in the victorious locker room that night. "I didn’t want to think about it too much because I didn’t want to jinx anything. But I was waiting for the day that I was able to do that. So, I was glad and really thrilled that I was able to do that and we’ll take that trophy over to Pat next week and let him cherish it."

Elway delivered the prize to Bowlen’s home back in Denver. And in the Mile High City, more than a million fans packed downtown for a victory parade 17 years after Elway capped his remarkable playing career by leading the Broncos to back-to-back titles.

Super Bowl 50 was the Broncos’ eighth trip to the big game, seven under Bowlen’s watch, and all of those with Elway’s help — first as his QB and then as his GM.

Bowlen’s wife, Annabel, who recently announced that she, too, is battling Alzheimer’s, and their children were on hand to accept the Lombardi Trophy on his behalf in Santa Clara, California.

"His soul will live on through the Broncos, the city of Denver and all of our fans," Bowlen’s family said in their statement Thursday night. "Heaven got a little bit more orange and blue tonight."

During his 35 seasons as owner, Bowlen’s teams compiled a .596 winning percentage — tied for second-best in the NFL during that span. Among professional franchises in the four major North American sports, only the San Antonio Spurs, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers were better, according to the Broncos.

Bowlen relished working behind the scenes and shied away from the spotlight. In the words of former coach Mike Shanahan, "Pat just wanted to be one of the guys."

"That’s why I think he was so beloved by so many people, including myself," Shanahan said. "And you also knew that he would give anything to make your football team better or at least get a chance at the Super Bowl.

"At that time you would say every ounce that he had — I should say every penny he had — he wanted to go into giving the football team a Super Bowl. That was his No. 1 priority. That was it. It was not trying to buy different companies and trying to make more money. His goal was winning a Super Bowl."

Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said: "Most guys would tell you that played for him or worked for him that he was not only our owner, but he was your friend."

Bowlen served as a sounding board for NFL Commissioners Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell. He was crucial to the league’s growth as a member of 15 NFL committees, including co-chairing the NFL Management Council and working on network TV contracts, including the league’s ground-breaking $18 billion deal in 1998.

"Pat was the driving force in establishing the championship culture of the Broncos. He was also an extraordinary leader at the league level during a key period," Broncos President and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. "With the fans, Pat felt in many ways that his team belonged to them and approached things with that in mind. There will never be another owner like Pat Bowlen."

Bowlen had a deep appreciation for his players, whether or not they were stars, and it’s not unusual to see ex-Broncos watching practice.

"When I retired, Mr. B. told me I was welcome anytime at team headquarters," Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "He said I didn’t need a pass, either: ‘Your face is your credential.’"

Ownership of the franchise is held in a trust Bowlen set up more than a decade ago in hopes one of his seven children will one day run the team. Until then, Ellis, one of three trustees, is doing so in a "What would Pat do?" sort of way.

Although daughter Brittany is hoping to one day take over the team, the succession plan and the trustees’ oversight of Bowlen’s estate has been challenged in state district court in the last year by some members of the Bowlen family.

Those who worked for Bowlen remember a man who put production ahead of profits; trained tirelessly for triathlons; fostered a winning atmosphere from the lobby to the locker room; and was always quick with a compliment and sure to couch his criticism.

"Pat Bowlen was the heart and soul of the Denver Broncos," Ellis said. "Not only was Pat a Hall of Fame owner — he was a Hall of Fame person."

Bowlen flashed his competitive streak whether on the road conducting league business, on the sideline watching his team or on the StairMaster drenched in sweat.

It was evident in his dislike for Peyton Manning when the quarterback played for Indianapolis before joining the Broncos in 2012.

"I get it, and I respect that," Manning said, adding that Bowlen flew back to Denver from his off-season home in Hawaii to welcome him when he signed with the Broncos, and they were friends afterward.

"If there was a way for him to compete against what he’s going through," former defensive end Alfred Williams said a couple of summers ago, "he’d beat that damn disease every time."

Bowlen is survived by his wife, Annabel, and seven children — Amie, Beth, Patrick, Johnny, Brittany, Annabel and Christianna.

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The Guide to Denver Real Estate (for the Design-Obsessed)

Illustration by Claire Rollet

Most home-buyers call their real estate agent with a “must” list at the ready—a catalog of wants and whims ranging from the number of bathrooms needed to retain familial sanity to walkability to the newest hipster bar. But the aesthetes among us are on the hunt for even more: a bona fide architectural gem—an antidote to the soulless new builds popping up around town. “There’s this shift happening in that people are wanting homes with more detail and charm, and not just a blank slate,” says real estate agent Heidi Cox of Distinct Real Estate.

To help you find those homes, we’ve created the following rundown of where to look for architectural beauties in and around Denver, the drawbacks and benefits of six common styles, how to maximize your MLS search, what to know about historic designations, and much more. Whether you’re dreaming of waking up each morning in a classic Denver Square, or you’ve already furnished a mid-mod ranch in your mind (Eames forever!), there’s help for you here.

Our panel of real estate experts:

Ron Buss, Realtor at Coldwell Banker Dee Chirafisi, broker and founder of Kentwood City Properties Heidi Cox, Realtor at Distinct Real Estate Lane Walsh, broker and owner of Dwell Denver Real Estate

By the Numbers: So, What’s It Going to Cost You? A renovated Victorian in Congress Park. Photo by Raul Garcia. Styling by Kerri Cole.

Short answer: It varies, but be prepared to pay more for less. For example, “midcentury moderns usually don’t have basements, which means they’re typically lower square footage,” says Realtor Lane Walsh of Dwell Denver Real Estate. “And architectural styles with smaller floor plans sell for a higher price per square foot simply because of the math. If a 900-square-foot bungalow in West Highland sells for $530,000, the price per square foot is about $588. If a 2,000-square-foot Denver Square in Park Hill sells for $900,000, the price per square foot is $450. So even though the Denver Square is more expensive, the bungalow has a higher price per square foot.” Ultimately, says Realtor Dee Chirafisi of Kentwood City Properties, the cost of a historical property is often determined by how much it has been renovated: “A Victorian with original electrical, plumbing, and kitchen is likely going to be much less expensive than an [updated] midcentury modern.”

Know the Lingo: Denver Architecture 101

Presenting six historical home styles that are iconic to Denver—plus where to find them and what pitfalls to expect.

Queen Anne Victorian Queen Anne Victorian. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Leave it to an architectural style named for a royal to be ornate. From 1880 to 1910, these amped-up Victorians were the ne plus ultra in modern living, with scalloped shingles to draw eyes up to gables, turned spindles zhushing up porches, and interiors so cinematic you’d think you were on a movie set.

Expert Intel: “Victorians can have very challenging floor plans,” Realtor Lane Walsh says. Kentwood City Properties’ Dee Chirafisi agrees: “It’s difficult to do any kind of main-floor master suite because they just weren’t laid out that way—although a lot of people do really lovely additions on the back.”

Where to Look: Baker, City Park West, City Park South, Curtis Park, Sloan’s Lake, Washington Park West

Denver Square Denver Square. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield.

As the 20th century got rolling, Foursquares (known locally as Denver Squares) were the hot home type: two stories and generous porches all contained in the form of a—you guessed it—square. This grand home style’s distinct rooms are the opposite of open-plan living, and that’s just how homeowners liked it.

Expert Intel: “One drawback of these homes is that they have a central staircase that tends to break up the floor plan,” Chirafisi says.

Where to Look: Baker, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, City Park West, City Park South, Five Points, Highland, Washington Park

Craftsman Bungalow Craftsman Bungalow. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield.

These charming odes to the Arts and Crafts movement flourished in Denver between 1900 and 1930 and are best known for their clapboard or brick exteriors, gable rooflines with exposed rafter tails, and wide porches perfect for whiling away an afternoon. Interior layouts are cozy as can be (read: often cramped).

Expert Intel: “Since they’re typically one-level [floor plans], there’s a bed and bath on the main floor, which can be a plus,” Chirafisi says. “The drawback is that some people think they’re dark because they have large overhanging roofs, which were done intentionally to create shade and keep living spaces cooler.”

Where to Look: City Park, Congress Park, Platt Park, West Highland, Washington Park

Tudor Revival Tudor Revival House. Photo courtesy of zsiteportal.

Hansel and Gretel would feel at home in a Tudor, thanks to the straight-out-of-a-fairytale decorative wood—called half-timbering—that adds interest to the brick, stucco, or stone facades. A coveted style in the 1920s, Tudors are also known for their hipped and gable roofs and decorated chimneys. Inside? Details galore, including arched doorways.

Expert Intel: “The upstairs is often not a true second floor, because the roofline is not dormered—so a tall person can stand in the middle of a room, but might hit his head on the ceiling if he moves four feet in either direction,” Walsh says. “Also, [Tudors] don’t have the open floor plan that many buyers these days are looking for.”

Where to Look: Belcaro, Bonnie Brae, Mayfair, Montclair, Park Hill, Washington Park

Mediterranean Revival Mediterranean Revival. Photo credit: TheWBBA

Silver Screen aficionados obsess over these tile-roofed gems, which call to mind the artful architectural wonders of Old Hollywood. Trendy in Colorado in the 1920s, the beauties are known to feature white stucco facades, low pitched gable roofs, and arcaded entry porches.

Expert Intel: “Mediterranean Revivals tend to be modest in size, around 1,200 square feet,” Walsh says. “Those tile roofs can be a pain to replace—the average replacement cost of a regular asphalt shingle roof is about $10,000-$20,000, and a tile roof is $35,000-$40,000, depending on whether you choose clay or concrete. However, tile roofs can last up to 100 years! So I guess, in the long run, the price evens out.”

Where to Look: South Park Hill and Sloan’s Lake

Midcentury Ranch Midcentury Ranch. Photo by Daniel O’Connor.

You can thank California for this oh-so-popular style. Single-story midcentury ranches have been beloved since the postwar boom for good reasons: stair-free ease of living, open floor plans, and—key for Denver—attached garages.

Expert Intel: “Midcentury-modern homes have flat or slightly slanted roofs, and as such have very little insulation between the ceiling and roof,” says Ron Buss, Realtor for Coldwell Banker. “They also tend to have larger, single-pane windows; unless they’ve been replaced, they can lose heat in the winter.”

Where to Look: Arapahoe Acres (Englewood), Arapaho Hills (Littleton), Bel Aire (Wheat Ridge), Bonnie Brae, Harvey Park, Hilltop, Krisana Park, Lynwood, Montclair, and South Dahlia Lane

Find Your Dream Home Style

Not quite sure which architectural style is for you? Check out our fun key to find your home-design soul mate.

You might like a Queen Anne Victorian if … Queen Elizabeth II is your favorite royal and your idea of bling is an Art Deco emerald-cut diamond ring.

You might like a Denver Square if … you imagine making conversation with Prince William while trimming your rose bushes (and picking a few to put inside).

You might like a Craftsman Bungalow if … your jaw drops at the sight of a Patek Philippe pocket watch on Antiques Roadshow and Seattle is your dream vacation destination.

You might like a Tudor Revival if … Kate Middleton is your favorite royal, you dream of a long trip to Cheshire, England, and your idea of comfortable seating is a tufted chaise.

You might like a Mediterranean Revival if … you prefer succulents over roses, recently booked a trip to Seville, Spain, and want an Alexander Calder mobile in your home.

You might like a Midcentury Modern if … you want to kick back in a Scandi recliner next to a shelf of succulents with Prince Harry and Megan for company.

Q&A: What’s the Deal with Historic Designations?

To suss out whether historic designations might be worth the work to a homeowner, we asked Tom Hart. The architect behind Hart Studio is also on the board of trustees at Historic Denver, a nonprofit, urban historic preservation organization whose first major win was saving the Molly Brown House from the wrecking ball in the 1970s.

Popular architect William Quayle designed the H.H. Thomas House in the 1870s. Photo courtesy of Historic Denver, Inc.

5280 Home: OK, tell us the truth. Is a historic designation a smart thing for a homeowner to apply for? Tom Hart: It’s certainly worth doing. Part of it is intangible: These old buildings are what make Denver Denver. Our neighborhoods each have a different character, and that’s why people like them. I don’t want to slam suburbs, but they all just look the same.

How old does a house have to be to qualify? The general rule of thumb in the historic-preservation community is 50 years, but some homes are younger.

Is there a financial upside? There are Colorado preservation tax credits you can get if a building is individually landmarked or part of a neighborhood that’s landmarked. You’ll be able to recoup 20 percent of any qualified renovation costs up to $50,000. There’s an application process with the Landmark Preservation Commission, which is part of Denver’s Community Planning and Development department. The forms can be daunting to the layperson; the proposed landmark needs to meet certain criteria regarding history, architecture, or geography. There are a couple of hearings, and it takes several months. A large percentage of the applications go through on the first try.

That doesn’t sound too bad. What’s the catch? Can I still paint my house Hermès orange? You can paint your house whatever color you want. You can gut the inside if you want to, too. [A historic designation] only affects the exterior architecture of the building. Things that need to be reviewed are roof modifications; window, roof, and door replacements; additions; changes to siding; retaining walls in landscaping; and solar panels. You’re allowed to add storm windows and security doors without approval, however.

Old Homes, But New

If you love the idea of an old house but could do without the creaking floors and miniature closets, hire these builders whose new homes look just like the historical homes we all know and love.

“My specialty back in the day was creating ‘revival new old houses,’ and some of what we’re doing today is part of that same recipe,” says John Mattingly, principal of this Denver architecture, design, and construction firm. Because people are drawn to older homes for their durability, he notes, his team’s designs emphasize time-tested architectural ideas, like thick interior walls and dropped beams and coffering. 720-473-5498, chaletcolorado.com

Prairie-style homes inspire the designs created by this Denver-based firm. “We put our modern touch on [historical styles] while still being timeless,” says principal Bryan Bozeman. One secret to an age-old vibe in new construction: reclaimed wood from barns and old houses and/or recycled antique brick for a touch of true history. 720-722-4040, stonecloudco.com

How to Maximize Your Search Online

Unfortunately, searching by architectural style on the MLS (Zillow, Redfin, and the like) might lead you astray. “On the MLS, Realtors are inputting the information, so it’s often inaccurate,” Cox says. So Chirafisi recommends plugging in the years when your dream home would have been built. “For example, you can search for the years 1890 to 1910 and get a lot of Victorians,” she says. And then, in this real estate market, hope that your dream home doesn’t get snapped up before you can make an offer.

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Billionaire From Denver Shocks Graduates With Promise To Pay Off Student Debt

(AP/CBS4) — A billionaire technology investor from Denver stunned the entire graduating class at Morehouse College. He announced at their commencement Sunday that he would pay off their student loans — estimated at up to $40 million.

Robert F. Smith, this year’s commencement speaker, made the announcement while addressing nearly 400 graduating seniors of the all-male historically black college in Atlanta. Smith, who is black, is the Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in software, data, and technology-driven companies.

(credit: CBS)

“On behalf of the eight generations of my family that have been in this country, we’re gonna put a little fuel in your bus,” the investor and philanthropist told graduates in his morning address. “This is my class, 2019. And my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans.”

The announcement immediately drew stunned looks from faculty and students alike. Then the graduates broke into the biggest cheers of the morning and stood up, applauding. Morehouse said it is the single largest gift to the college.

Smith, who received an honorary doctorate from Morehouse during the ceremony, had already announced a $1.5 million gift to the school. The student debt for the class of 2019 is estimated to be as much as $40 million though no immediate total had been calculated yet.

Smith said he expected the recipients to “pay it forward” and said he hoped that “every class has the same opportunity going forward.”

“Because we are enough to take care of our own community,” Smith said. “We are enough to ensure that we have all the opportunities of the American dream. And we will show it to each other through our actions and through our words and through our deeds.”

In the weeks before graduating from Morehouse on Sunday, 22-year-old finance major Aaron Mitchom drew up a spreadsheet to calculate how long it would take him to pay back his $200,000 in student loans — 25 years at half his monthly salary, per his calculations.

In an instant, that number vanished. Mitchom, sitting in the crowd, wept.

“I can delete that spreadsheet,” he said in an interview after the commencement. “I don’t have to live off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was shocked. My heart dropped. We all cried. In the moment it was like a burden had been taken off.”

His mother, Tina Mitchom, was also shocked. Eight family members, including Mitchom’s 76-year-old grandmother, took turns over four years co-signing on the loans that got him across the finish line.

“It takes a village,” she said. “It now means he can start paying it forward and start closing this gap a lot sooner, giving back to the college and thinking about a succession plan” for his younger siblings.

“You are responsible for building strong, safe places where our young brothers and sisters can grow with confidence, watch and learn from positive role models, and believe that, they too, are entitled to the American Dream.” -Robert F. Smith @RFS_Vista #MorehouseGrad2019 pic.twitter.com/CeMs6CxQkq

— Morehouse College (@Morehouse) May 19, 2019

Morehouse College president David A. Thomas said the gift would have a profound effect on the students’ futures.

“Many of my students are interested in going into teaching, for example, but leave with an amount of student debt that makes that untenable,” Thomas said in an interview. “In some ways, it was a liberation gift for these young men that just opened up their choices.”

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Suspects In STEM School Shooting Set To Appear In Court WednesdayThe suspects in the deadly Highlands Ranch school shooting are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

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Tour a Denver neighborhood packed with eclectic eateries and historic buildings

Situated just east of downtown Denver is the bustling yet charming neighborhood known by locals as Uptown — and more formally by the city as North Capitol Hill.

On any given day, one could take a stroll through Uptown and notice the juxtaposition of old brick buildings alongside high-rises that tell a story of how one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods has evolved over time.

And with scores of eclectic eateries along a stretch of 17th Avenue known as Restaurant Row, Uptown is a great place to spend a summer night playing ping pong in an old garage-turned-Asian-cuisine-restaurant or exploring a speakeasy located inside an ice cream shop.

Uptown is bordered by 20th Avenue on the north, Downing Street on the East, Colfax Avenue on the south and Broadway on the west. Like many surrounding neighborhoods, Uptown has seen its share of change and growth in recent years, but the area has kept its charm and preserved its unique history along the way.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood. This story is part of our weekly 9Neighborhoods series. Check out the 9NEWS Instagram at noon on Friday for a photo tour of Uptown. The history

Much of what we call Uptown today was owned in the 1800s by a man named Henry Brown (no relation to the more well-known Denverite and Titanic survivor Molly Brown.) He’s known as the father of the grid structure we see today through parts of downtown and Capitol Hill.

Brown was a carpenter from Ohio who came to Denver in the mid-1800s and used the Homestead Act of 1862 to lay claim to 160 acres between what is now 11th and 20th avenues and between Broadway and Grant Street. This area became known as “Brown’s Bluff” and would later become what we know now as Capitol Hill and North Capitol Hill.

After Denver was designated the capitol of Colorado, Brown donated 10 acres of land to build the State Capitol Building. When there were delays with building the capitol, Brown unsuccessfully attempted to do a little take-backsy of the land.

The Supreme Court eventually got involved and decided in 1885 that the land belonged to the state. Brown eventually sold the block between Broadway and Lincoln and 17th and 18th for $40,000.

Historic preservation efforts

Local historic groups have spearheaded efforts in recent years to preserve stretches of the area’s interesting architecture and small brick commercial buildings.

A plan to tear down the The Tavern Uptown building at 538 E. 17th Ave to make room for new apartments drew the ire of Denver’s historic preservationists back in the summer of 2015. After gathering more than 1,700 signatures asking for the building to be saved (and several months of discussion with the developer), the site was rezoned and the integrity of the building, which dates back to 1900, was saved.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

“The building served as a grocery for many years before being turned into a bar, first as the Black Timber Tavern and later the Grand, before becoming the flagship Tavern in 2002,” according to Historic Denver.

Uptown is also home to several beautiful and historic churches like Central Presbyterian Church – a Romanesque style structure located at 17th Avenue and Sherman Street. It was added to the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1974.

Trinity United Methodist Church at 18th Avenue and Broadway was built in 1887 with a Gothic design using beige rhyolite from Castle Rock. It can seat up to 1,300 people and was added to the National Register list in 1970.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

At the corner of 16th Avenue and Clarkson Street sits the Denver Turnverein Dance Center. The historic dance venue dates all the way back to 1865 when “Turnvereins sprang up around the US to promote social activities, physical fitness, and healthy minds.” The organization still offers classes on six different types of dances, including ballroom.

The variety of cuisines that make up Restaurant Row

It would be hard to write about Uptown without mentioning all the great dining options. There are so many quality restaurants worth checking out that it’s no surprise Restaurant Row has a reputation as one of the best places in the city to grab a bite to eat.

Watercourse has delicious vegan and vegetarian comfort food options and also showcases the work of local artists. Nearby, Avenue Grill and Beast & Bottle are wonderful date night spots.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

Park & Co is the place to go if you’re craving a burger and beer combo. Williams Tavern has a classic dive bar feel and cheap drink options (bring cash).

Ace Eat and Serve has some of the area’s best ramen dishes — and also gives guests the option to play a little table tennis pre- or post-meal. Just up the street, Be On Key Psychedelic Ripple is a laid back and funky venue for seeing some live music.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

A few Restaurant Row staples like Tony P’s Bar & Pizzeria and M Uptown have closed in recent years. New additions like The Shanty Supper Club and Stoney’s Uptown Joint have since popped up and added new character to the neighborhood.

A few blocks north on 19th Avenue, you’ll find spots like Tap Fourteen, a Colorado-centric restaurant with a rotating list of 70 drafts, creative cocktails and quality bar eats. There’s also two different patios and four fire pits that are perfect for summer nights in the city.

The Tap Fourteen Spread at Tap Fourteen Uptown

Stop into D Bar next door if you’re craving a sweet treat.

Frozen Matter is the neighborhood’s go-to spot for unique ice cream offerings. Inside, you’ll find a freezer door that doubles as a portal to a speakeasy called Retrograde. The dimly lit speakeasy offers high-end specialty cocktails in an intimate space that takes you back to the days of prohibition. And if you time it just right, you may even see bar staff using a chainsaw to carve into the ice they use in drinks.

A photo tour of Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

The neighborhood is also home to numerous coffee shops, spas and even a gourmet grocery store.

A desirable place to live, work and play

Uptown’s proximity to the heart of Denver, ease of access to public transportation and overall walk-ability makes it an appealing urban destination. Plus, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the State Capitol Building, Civic Center Park and the 16th Street Mall.

It’s less than two miles from City Park and Cheesman Park. Uptown is also super close to two of the city’s favorite music venues — The Ogden Theatre and Fillmore Auditorium.

High-rises that have popped up in recent years make up the bulk of residential options for those that live there. Housing prices are steep and similar to surrounding neighborhoods with a 2-bedroom, 2 bathroom house or condo listed at an average price of $473, 521, according to the real estate website Live Urban.

The average cost to rent a studio apartment in the neighborhood is $1,484. And a one-bedroom? Those are listed as an average of $1,805 per month.

The mix of offices, retail, restaurants and condo/apartment units that makes up Uptown offers a slightly slower pace of living than its downtown counterpart. It’s a fun neighborhood that’s definitely worth spending a few hours (or days) exploring.

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Colorado company pioneers real-estate franchising in PHL

FRANCHISING is one of the best routes toward entrepreneurship.

With a reliable franchise as a business partner, a fledgling entrepreneur can be guided and trained properly in running the business. Denver, Colorado-based RE/MAX saw the potential of franchising in the country’s real-estate sector as the company continues to show dynamism and growth in the past six years.

Kenneth Stern, country manager of RE/MAX Philippines, said the country is an attractive market in real estate mainly because of its strong macroeconomic fundamentals and strong remittance from overseas Filipino workers. As a result, RE/MAX launched six years ago its franchising model in the property sector.

The real-estate juggernaut has more than 125,000 real-estate brokers and agents in its network of 8,229 offices in more than 100 countries and territories across the world—one of the world’s largest—if not the largest real-estate brokerages.

Aside from its broad network, Stern said, Filipino real-estate professionals could learn a lot from their American counterparts such as having a goal-oriented mindset and who thrive on challenges. If you are basketball fanatic, you can imagine they are looking for people who have the passion and drive of a Michael Jordan.

Moreover, Stern said, the franchising model in the local property sector seeks to professionalize and make it on a par with global standards. Moreover, the Filipino-American executive said, a real-estate agent or broker could put her or his own business with the backing of a global brand.

Aside from offering higher commissions, RE/MAX offers agents and brokers the support in marketing. He disclosed in an earlier interview with a local publication that has more than an average of 15 transactions in a year.

Stern said RE/MAX is pushing the envelope further by promoting inclusivity. “Being in the country for six years now, we want to spread the growth to the other parts of the country,” he said. It has opened 30 branches nationwide. It had recently opened two branches in Cebu, one in Bacolod, Iloilo, Mindoro and Antipolo. “We’re planning to open in Clark and Davao soon,” he said.

“We have opened branches in Tuguegarao, Siargao and Palawan. “We’re looking to expand in other areas of the country,” he added.

“The vision of RE/MAX is to professionalize real estate in the Philippines. We are also growing that, especially in new markets,” he pointed out. As an emerging market, the expertise of RE/MAX can be tapped especially in the countryside in terms of identifying the legitimate brokers and professionalizing the industry, among others.

Stern said emerging cities have also caught their attention because of the boom enjoyed by the local property sector. “Who would have thought that we will open an office in Siargao,” Stern pointed out.

According to Stern, as RE/MAX opens more franchises and collects more data, it will be interesting to see how other areas perform in the secondary market, especially with regards to foreign buyers.

“As a global company, RE/MAX is in good position to help its brokers and agents get worldwide exposure, giving them access to foreign markets that were previously inaccessible to them,” said Stern. “As we expand, we also aim to include more locations to our data and see how up-and-coming locations are performing with the entry of RE/MAX, Stern said, adding that they will introduce professionalism in the property industry, especially to the people living in the provinces. “There’s an opportunity there for companies looking for investment,” he said.

“Our goal in every country we operate is to professionalize the real-estate industry. In the Philippines, we are still growing that. The Philippine real industry needs more professionalism. We want to boost the brokers’ capabilities and expand nationwide,” he said. “Moreover, the people can leverage the multinational experience so they can enhance their businesses,” he added.

Stern stresses that their franchising model also fosters entrepreneurship in real estate. “For the first time in the Philippines, a real-estate broker or agent looking for a better opportunity can start…[and] own [a] business using the credibility of a big name in real estate. We specialize in helping entrepreneurs get their business started or help business owners scale up their existing real-estate business.”

Stern added that their business model works because it is not just about selling more real estate. “It is about helping agents make more money in less time and giving them the flexibility to control their own schedules. Our system is about finding top producers who want to professionalize in the real-estate industry and be in control of their own legacy in the industry.”

As testament to Filipino brokers’ high level of professionalism, RE/MAX Philippines has four brokers in the top 100 RE/MAX brokers in the entire world in 2017. “One of them in fact is No. 2 in the world,” shared Stern.

So effective is its franchising business model that according to a survey of major players in the United States, RE/MAX agents close the most number of transactions per year, which is 17.2 per agent in 2016—that’s more than one property, sold per agent each month.

In the Philippines, the numbers are not too distant: in 2017, each agent of the company closed on average 15 transactions, which is equivalent to a sales volume of P243 million and commissions of P3.7 million.

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Denver Chip Co. Makes Tasty Artisan Chips In Lakewood

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Prepare yourself for the best potato chip you’ve ever had. It’s a bold proclamation, but no bolder than the explosion of flavor that comes with your first satisfying crunch of Denver Chip Co. chips. The new brand can already be found at Whole Foods, Lucky’s Market (Boulder, Wheat Ridge, Longmont), Lolita’s Market and a handful of breweries.

What makes them so delicious? It starts with the Idaho russet potatoes used to make the chips. Russets have a higher sugar content, which results in somewhat caramelized, slightly darker chips that are richer in flavor than most other commercially produced potato chips. After slicing, the spuds are soaked in hot water to remove as much starch as possible, then fried in non-GMO oil. Hot and fresh out of the fryer, the chips are dusted in one of two magical, proprietary seasonings: Original (with notes of garlic and onion) or Sweet & Spicy (punctuated by a nice kick of habanero). Everything is made in small batches, and no preservatives are used in the process.

Before Denver Chip Co. owners (and brothers) Dylan and Connor McSweeney started making their artisan chips here in Denver, they helped their father, Mark McSweeney (founder of Broad Ripple Chip Co. in Indianapolis) bring his chips to market. After opening in 2014, the chips became a local favorite in Indianapolis in the eyes of both consumers and restaurateurs. They quickly gained a devout following and achieved widespread distribution across Indiana.

In 2017, the McSweeney brothers knew they had a winning product on their hands, so they took the family business on the road and headed west. While they never expected it to be easy, the hurdles to finding a production facility and bringing it up to code turned out to be a lot higher than originally expected.

They initially signed a lease with a large, spacious facility, but soon discovered the gas pressure was too low and couldn’t be fixed, so they had to back out of that location. Two months into the buildout at their current production facility, they realized they couldn’t get the gas pressure they needed to power the industrial 35-gallon fryer, so the gas line had to be upgraded.

The roadblocks didn’t stop there. It was then determined that the gallon-per-minute water flow wasn’t high enough because it was being delivered through an old half-inch line. They ended up digging a trench 75 feet to the closest water line to install bigger pipes to deliver the water they’d need to extinguish in the event of a fryer fire.

At that point, they were close, but still not up to code. The building’s structure was unable to support a ventilation unit, normally installed on the roof, to remove potentially harmful fumes as the potatoes fry. So instead, they built a platform inside to install the unit overhead on the production floor. Beyond the cost, the installation added the annoyance of permanent obstacles to work around while making chips.

Approval to begin production finally came at noon on a Friday, but instead of going out to celebrate, the brothers called all their friends and worked nearly forty hours in one weekend to meet their first (and very large) wholesale order deadline for Whole Foods.

All those challenges aside, the brothers say they’ve found a very supportive community for starting a small business here in Denver. In addition to getting assistance from the West Metro Chamber of Commerce and Lakewood Office of Economic Development, they frequent events hosted by food-based trade groups such as Colorado Food Works and Naturally Boulder. Networking at such events was pivotal in finding a distributor who’s now bringing them new business nearly every week.

While just two flavors of chips seems minimal, the brothers say they like to keep it simple and don’t plan to expand the flavor lines any time soon. In fact, Mark McSweeney says he didn’t even debut the second flavor, Sweet and Spicy, until his third year of business.

“And it was us that brought it in,” Dylan pokes at his dad.

Brother Connor agrees: “We completely engineered the Sweet and Spicy.”

The brothers also take credit for the brand’s pug mascot. Mark says he originally wanted the company logo to be a duck, as homage to the Broad Ripple neighborhood in Indianapolis from which the company took its name. However, he was ultimately convinced by his sons to use the family dog, a pug named Zeus, as their mascot and logo inspiration.

The McSweeney brothers make it clear that they couldn’t have gotten the Denver chippery up and running without the guidance and support of their father, who has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. They’re grateful for the life and career he’s bestowed upon them, and have certainly hit the ground running with it here in Denver. It’s only a matter of time before you sit down at your favorite brewery and see that adorable pug smiling back at you from the shelf.

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Feds Punishing Immigrants For Working At Legal Pot Jobs: Denver

DENVER, CO – An obscure "morality clause" used by federal immigration officials is crushing the dreams of immigrants who work in Colorado’s legal marijuana industry by denying their their applications to become naturalized U.S. citizens, the City of Denver said.

Legal immigrants in Denver are facing "renewed hostility" from the feds a statement from Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Denver Excise and Licenses Executive Director Ashley Kilroy said.

On Wednesday, city officials met with two Denver immigrants who were told by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that they were ineligible for naturalization strictly because of their "past or current employment in the cannabis industry," the city said in a press release. The immigrants – one from El Salvador, the other from Lithuania – have each been permanent residents in the U.S. for more than 20 years.

"They have both graduated from Colorado schools, paid their taxes and consider Colorado their home," the city said.

City Attorney Kristin M. Bronson released a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, sent Wednesday condemning the Trump administration’s "latest attack on immigrants." the city is seeking guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure "consistent implementation and enforcement of state marijuana laws" in more than 30 U.S. states, the letter said.

"Denver understands the need for federal laws and regulations regarding citizenship and immigration, but we are seeing the heartbreaking effects that those federal laws and regulations are having on our residents," Mayor Hancock said in a statement. "However, under current federal policy, lawful, permanent residents like the Denver residents I have met with are being denied naturalization and may lose their legal status based on their lawful employment in the cannabis industry."

"It was definitely like getting sucker punched," immigrant Oswaldo Barrientos told Mayor Hancock, as reported in a statement. "I thought I was a shoo-in. I’ve been here long enough. I’ve paid my dues."

Lawyers told Denver staff that immigrations officials are essentially "trapping immigrants into openly admitting to felonious activities under federal law, thus putting them at risk of detention and deportation should they travel abroad and later return to the U.S." the city said.

USCIS Public Affairs Officer Debbie Cannon released a statement from the agency:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is required to adjudicate cases based on federal law. Individuals who commit federal controlled substance violations face potential immigration consequences under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which applies to all aliens regardless of the state or jurisdiction in which they reside.Marijuana remains illegal under federal law regardless of any actions to decriminalize its possession, use or sale at the state and local level, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not issued any policy exempting the INA’s prohibitions on marijuana violations in locations where marijuana is legal under local laws.

Until the federal laws are changed, Denver staff are warning immigrants who want to seek citizenship of the risk under federal law of working in Colorado’s legal cannabis industry.

On Denver 8 TV, the City will begin airing a PSA originally produced in a collaborative effort by Servicios de La Raza and Marijuana Industry Group (MIG) roughly a year ago that warns noncitizens of the risk of possessing, consuming, selling or growing marijuana under federal law.

"I’m sorry about what’s happening to you," Mayor Hancock told the immigrants in a statement. "This is horrible."

This story has been updated to include a statement from USCIS.

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Downtown Colorado Springs enjoyed a banner 2018, report says

The amount being spent to develop residences, hotels, sports venues and other projects in downtown Colorado Springs totals $863.9 million over the last five years — a 30 percent jump in just the last year, according to the Downtown Partnership advocacy group’s 2019 report on the state of the area.

The latest figure reflects projects that are completed, under construction or on the drawing board, and received a boost by last year’s announcement of Weidner Field, the multipurpose stadium planned for downtown’s southwest side, and Robson Arena, to be built farther north at Colorado College.

“What’s great to see in that pipeline is that we have a lot of completed projects,” said Susan Edmondson, the Downtown Partnership’s president and CEO. “In the past, things started as announcements. But we’re really showing that we’re delivering. But, frankly we want that pace on that pipeline to keep up. We know we still have a ways to go.”

The 2019 report, released during a Thursday reception at The Pinery at the Hill,is the partnership’s fourth annual showcase of downtown trends and accomplishments. The report’s factoids, statistics and analysis are meant to help investors, developers, real estate brokers, retailers, civic leaders and property owners in the area make smart decisions.

Edmondson said the addition of 241 new apartments, lofts and other residences in 2018 was downtown’s largest single-year output and one of the area’s biggest achievements.

Now, projects recently completed include the 172-unit, 333 ECO apartments at Colorado and Wahsatch avenues; the 46-unit, 22 Spruce apartments southwest of Bijou and Spruce streets; and the 20-unit Park Manor East west of Monument Street and Mesa Road.

• 29 land-use permits and approvals were issued for 20 projects in 2018. The number of permits was similar to the previous year, but nevertheless included several large developments.

• 577 building permits were issued in downtown’s 80903 ZIP code last year with a total estimated value of $119 million. The permit total was down 19 percent from 2017, but the value of the permits rose 6 percent on a year-over-year basis, an indicator that big-ticket projects are in the offing for downtown.

• It’s easier to find an apartment downtown than elsewhere around town, but the downtown market is getting tighter. Apartment vacancy rates rose to nearly 22 percent in downtown after the opening of the 333 ECO apartments, but dropped to 11 percent at the start of 2019 as more units were absorbed. Citywide, the apartment vacancy rate was 6 percent through the third quarter of last year.

• The remodeled Trolley Building in the 500 block of South Tejon Street was among the high-profile retail and restaurant projects completed last year in downtown. The Atomic Cowboy bar, Denver Biscuit Co., Fat Sully’s Pizza, Dos Santos Tacos, Frozen Gold Ice Cream and Cork & Cash, a whiskey and wine bar, opened in the building, which had housed Southside Johnny’s tavern.

• The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum’s attendance of 112,383 jumped 24 percent from the previous year while the Cottonwood Center for the Arts saw a 40 percent growth to nearly 60,000 visitors.

• Attendance at downtown events, visitors centers and other cultural activities totaled more than 840,000 in 2018, up slightly on a year-over-year basis. Construction continued last year on the U.S. Olympic Museum, which is expected to open to the public in 2020 and become a tourism draw for the area.

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Atlas Real Estate Group Continues Momentum with Team Additions and Promotions

DENVER, Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Atlas Real Estate Group, a full-service realty group specializing in real estate investments, brokerage and property management, today recognizes the significant growth of its team and the promotion of four team members.

In 2018, the Atlas team evolved and expanded as the year progressed and the company grew. Additions to the property management team included Maria Estes and Erika Ojeda-Louvier, while Lisa Schoen, Keenan Meyer, Bryan Szabatura and Andrew Guterman joined Atlas’ Zillow Offers team.

In addition to recent hires, Jason Jones, Ryan Denison, Becky Slaughter and Brian Bellew were all promoted to regional managers. This group of leaders will be overseeing property managers, maintaining owner relations and providing full-service asset management. The new regional managers are well-educated industry veterans and have been a part of the Atlas team for 3-6 years.

"Having been on the Atlas team for six years, it’s been rewarding to be able to develop professionally and keep pace with the company’s development," said Jason Jones, a recently promoted regional manager. "My fellow regional managers and I are rising to the occasion by embracing greater responsibility."

Regional manager Brian Bellew added, "I’m grateful to be recognized, and personally speaking, it motivates me to raise the bar to an even higher level of service and support for owners and residents."

Atlas Real Estate Group also eclipsed over 2,500 units of property under management. At this scale, adding more managers to the team was imperative and the additions have been both seamless and successful.

"The growth of property management has allowed us to expand our footprint in Colorado and add skilled professionals to our team, reinforcing Atlas’ ability to build successful teams and businesses," said Nick Mertens, VP of Property Management. "Each of the regional managers cited have made unique contributions and have had a positive impact on our overall operations."

For media inquiries please contact Binh Nguyen at 866-225-0920 ext. 106 or binh@flackable.com.

About Atlas Real Estate Group: Atlas is a full-service real estate group specializing in investments, brokerage and property management in Denver. The group’s internal real estate holdings exceed $50 million and it has bought and sold more than 4,000 properties totaling over $750 million worth of transactions. Atlas manages more than 2,500 residential and commercial properties across Denver and surrounding areas. To learn more about Atlas, visit www.RealAtlas.com.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atlas-real-estate-group-continues-momentum-with-team-additions-and-promotions-300799024.html

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Copyright (C) 2019 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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Denver and French Sister City Celebrate 70+ Years with Michelin Star Chef

DENVER, Colo., Feb. 20, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Denver Sister Cities International announces that Denver’s most food-savvy Francophiles will convene on March 4, 2019, at the French-inspired Coohills restaurant, a slow food-friendly eatery in LoDo, for a six-course meal with French wine pairings to honor the relationship of Brest, France, and its sister city, Denver.

Coohills Restaurant Denver

This momentous occasion is a collaboration between two top chefs from each city: Denver’s award-winning Chef Tom Coohill and Brest’s Michelin-starred Chef Nicolas Conraux of La Butte Restaurant (https://labutte.fr/home/).

The menu coalesces flavors from the Rocky Mountains and the Brittany coast. The cost is $85 plus tax and service fee; reservations are highly recommended.

A percentage of the proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Brest Committee of Denver Sister Cities International.

“I’m honored to offer my restaurant as a cultural conduit for Denver and Brest. The palate is the best way to build bridges, and our two cities have a special relationship that deserves an equally inspiring evening of dining,” said Chef Tom Coohill.

Denver Sister Cities International, a local nonprofit, is the organizing institution, through its Denver-Brest Committee. The organization bolsters citizen diplomacy through business, cultural, and educational partnerships. This event was conceived in the spirit of former President Eisenhower’s vision of the Sister Cities International program and is intended to carry on this legacy through gastronomic-inspired diplomacy.

These two cities’ relationship began when Brest rescued 19 of Denver’s downed pilots during WWII. The City of Denver reciprocated when its schoolchildren fundraised to build a Children’s Medical Center to support the French town’s war-torn infrastructure. The relationship has continually evolved into a rich variety of ongoing cultural, business and educational programs, including the creation of a Sister Cities Beer between Renegade Brewery in Denver and Brasserie du Baril in Brest.

SUMMARY: Date + Time: March 4, 2019, 5 p.m. MST.

Event Location: 1400 Wewatta St., Denver, CO 80202.

The cost is $85 plus tax and service fee; reservations are highly recommended.

Related Events: Prior to the dinner, an Economic Development delegation from Brest will be touring Denver in the morning with City officials, companies, and cultural representatives to meet their counterparts, and they will enjoy a welcoming luncheon with President Eisenhower’s great-grandson, keynote speaker Merrill Eisenhower. A park dedication ceremony will take place at the City of Brest park, located on Colorado Boulevard, following the luncheon. There also will be a student exchange of 12 high school students from Brest, France, visiting Denver at the same time.

About Denver Sister Cities International: We are passionate, peace-stirring citizens infatuated with the idea of global friendships. We create exchanges that create community impact and kindle lifelong friendships. President Eisenhower introduced the idea in 1956 in the wake of WWII to support “citizen diplomacy,” due in part to the success of the Denver-Brest Sisterhood: https://www.denversistercities.org/.

Eisenhower envisioned an organization that could be the hub of peace and prosperity by creating bonds between people from different cities around the world. By forming these relationships, President Eisenhower reasoned that people of different cultures could celebrate and appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts.

About Coohills: With a focus on local, regional, and farm-fresh ingredients, Coohills Restaurant and Bar — operated by seasoned restaurateurs and husband-and-wife team Chef Tom and Diane Coohill — is reminiscent of what you might find in bars and restaurants in Europe. The open kitchen and uniquely modern interior design by award-winning architects Semple Brown underscores Coohills style. Located in the hip Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver neighborhood, we invite you to tuck in at your own intimate table for two or more, or enjoy our outdoor terrace for a spirited drink at Denver’s only restaurant located along Cherry Creek, which offers nightly views of the sunset over the mountains through their floor-to-ceiling windows.

Fresh crudo salads, homemade breads and desserts, cheese or house made pate and sausage selections, or warm duck leg confit can be enjoyed along with plates of pasta and fresh seafood, roasted game and meats, and locally grown vegetables. Our menu reflects the best and freshest foods from each season. Learn more at: http://www.coohills.com/

###

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT: Sacha Heppell Denver Sister Cities International (720) 220-4152 brest@denversistercities.org

News Source: Denver Sister Cities International

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Affordable housing units are coming to the old Loretto Heights campus

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Editor’s Note: ‘Our Colorado’ helps us all navigate the challenges related to growth while celebrating life in the state we love. To comment on this or other 360 stories, email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.com . See more ‘Our Colorado’ stories here .

DENVER — Part of the former Loretto Heights campus will be transformed into affordable housing. The developer of the area, Westside Investment Partners, Inc. announced this week that it will work with Hartman Ely Investments and Proximity Green of Denver to renovate the Pancratia Hall.

The building, which was built in 1929, used to be home to the old dormitory and some classrooms for the school.

In a news release, the developer said it will use some tax credits to help finance the building’s renovation. One of the issues the group will have to contend with is asbestos in the building, according to Councilman Kevin Flynn.

Flynn has been working closely with both Westside Investment Partners and the community to determine the future of the area.

He says the renovation not only saves a historic building from demolition, but it also fills a desperate need in the community. Flynn says many affordable housing units across the city are studio or one-bedroom apartments and aren’t big enough to accommodate low-income families.

Pancratia Hall will feature more than 60, two to three-bedroom apartments.

“A lot of working families have kids and they need affordable housing,” Flynn said.

As for the rest of the 72-acre plot, it’s not quite clear what will happen quite yet. The old administration building and chapel will both be preserved , as will a cemetery where dozens of Sisters of Loretto who worked at the old school are buried.

More than 230 people showed up to a community meeting in January to hear about the plans for the area and to give their input.

“We want to make sure that it’s preserved in the future and that it’s a place that the community can go and appreciate and have that community feeling,” said Tara Durham.

The Loretto Heights campus is right in her backyard and, at first, she was worried about the development.

“I’m a history buff, I’m a Colorado native and so anytime that we hear anything that is going to be going on historically, I like to get involved,” Durham said.

She now serves on the steering committee for the small area plan with the city and is the secretary of the local neighborhood organization.

Durham says she was excited to hear that Pancratia Hall will stay and she’s looking forward to the rest of the redevelopment, even if it means losing some of the open space.

“I would like to see it preserved but it’s going to be redeveloped and they’re going to incorporate the park and have some trails running through and keep that open space flowing,” she said.

The city has an online survey up for people to weigh in on what they would like to see for the future of the area. However, the survey only runs through mid-February.

Flynn says he’s also planning on holding several more community meetings in English and Spanish before a plan for the campus is finalized.

The community can also weigh in at the steering committee meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Loretto Heights library.

Otherwise, residents of the neighborhood adjacent to the property can attend its meetings on the third Thursday every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at All Saints Pariah Hall to hear more about the progress of the project.

Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Life after Terry Ragan: Gentrification adds to Colorado Springs’ affordable housing shortage

It’s more than a name change. The new owners of the north Colorado Springs apartment complex, Denver-based Slipstream Properties, are looking for a complete break with the past. Slipstream bought the property and six other complexes in southeast Colorado Springs from Terry Ragan in May for $102 million.

Under Ragan’s ownership, New Horizons and his six apartment complexes in southeast Colorado Springs — South Pointe Apartments, Pine Creek Village, Cedar Creek Club, El Vecino, Shannon Glen and Timbers Apartments — were notorious slums. Crime and code violations were rampant. Apartments were often uninhabitable due to mold, cockroaches, leaks and broken furnaces, windows, kitchen appliances and locks.

In the seven months since Slipstream took over, that’s been slowly changing. Building by building, the company plans to replace nearly everything.

“It’s a big ship to turn 180 degrees in the other direction,” said Anthony Loeffler, a partner in Slipstream.

For anyone familiar with gentrification in other cities, improvements come with a predictable trade-off.

Nicer apartments will attract tenants able to afford higher rents, enabling Slipstream to recoup not only the purchase price, but also the millions it is investing in renovations.

But Colorado Springs, which already has a huge deficit in affordable housing units that advocates say contributes to homelessness, will lose what city officials have admitted were among the few apartments the working poor, single parents and the disabled could afford.

Resident’s vehicles are parked outside of the Shannon Glen apartments in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Slipstream Properties purchased a set of 7 apartment complexes in May from Terry Ragan. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)

Mayor John Suthers has rejected any suggestion that the city should mandate that a portion of new developments be set aside for lower-income tenants. Instead, he advocates increased competition to push out unsavory landlords, such as Ragan, or force them to improve their properties to remain competitive.

Complaints down dramatically

Earlier this year, 3 percent of rental property owners in the city accounted for 50 percent of code enforcement’s cases and follow-up inspections, said Code Enforcement Manager Mitch Hammes.

In September 2017, when Ragan was still the landlord, his seven complexes were responsible for 26 housing cases, Hammes said. This September, there were seven.

The most tangible change is that complaints about crime or requests for repairs aren’t simply ignored.

Broken windows

Already, city officials anticipate a deficit of 26,000 affordable housing units this year, and rent increases at Slipstream’s nearly 1,200 units could further diminish the supply.

Even if that goal is met, Suthers conceded, it’s unclear whether that progress can outpace the city’s exploding population and need for affordable housing.

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Denver ready to offer new $400-plus rebates to low-income homeowners

The city of Denver is ready to expand a program that provides tax relief to some residents.

Until now, the city has offered special tax refunds to people over 65 and people who are “totally disabled.” Starting on May 1, though, that program is set to help low-income homeowners with children, too.

“We’re going to be able to, for the first time, help families,” said Councilwoman At-large Robin Kniech, a leader of the expansion along with Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore.

Eligible families could get a rebate of about $400 to $500 on their local property taxes. The refund is meant to help people deal with the higher property tax bills created by the city’s property boom.

The Denver City Council gave initial approval of the change on Wednesday and will take a final vote on Monday. It’s all but guaranteed to pass.

The new requirements are:

Eligible families must have at least one child under 18. The household income must be 40 percent or less of the area median income, or $26,880 for a family of three. The family must own a home and pay property taxes.

The rebates will be based on income: The less you make, the more you get back. It won’t be possible for low-income families to get a refund that exceeds what they paid in property taxes, though.

In 2017, the city sent out nearly 3,000 refunds to older people and those with disabilities through the program. City staff aren’t sure how many people will benefit from the expansion, but the program’s budget grew from $3.1 million for 2018 to $5.6 million for 2019.

Rebates will still be available for older people and people with disabilities, too. The income limit for that group will be 35 percent of area median income, or about $23,520 for a family of two. That’s a slight increase from the current limit. The program is available for both renters and homeowners from that group.

The city has offered rebates for older people since 1950. The latest expansion proposal began with the council’s housing and homelessness work group but also involved several city departments in a year-long conversation.

“Our residents actually came forward and said we’re on fixed incomes, we’re concerned about the rising property values, and what are we going to do to mitigate involuntary displacement,” Gilmore said.

The city will accept applications beginning on May 1 for rebates on the 2018 tax year. “This is going to help people stay where their community is,” said Mary Anna Thompson, a speaker at a public comment session.

In the past, the program has been “underutilized,” according to city staff, but the expansion could drive a wave of interest. It’s a “first-come, first-served” program, because there is only limited money each year.

“I feel confident we’re going to reach more households than in the past,” Kniech said. But she also has pointed out that there’s not a “huge” number of very low-income homeowners in Denver. The city may later re-examine whether the new income limit isn’t too low, and the government will have to ensure people know about the program, she said.

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Important Advice When Checking Out Denver Apartments For Rent

Will this be your first time living on your own? Does the feeling of paying for your own place and making your own rules seem exciting and fun? Of course they do because a good apartment represents a degree of freedom independence.

Unfortunately, looking at Denver apartments for rentcould prove a little challenging, especially if you don’t have experience with this type of thing. And while there are many great rentals to choose from, not all of them will be good for you and your lifestyle.

Newbies tend to make certain mistakes, and they usually kick themselves for it afterward. So, here is some advice for looking in the right places, and what you should always be aware of.

Get Clarity On Your Needs

In light of making this journey more fun and less frustrating, it is recommended to get clarity on your needs. In other words, what type of apartment are you looking for? Do you want an open-plan kitchen or something more private? Will you need 1 bedroom or more? What can you afford?

Only you can answer all these questions, and if you don’t get down the details, you are going to feel more overwhelmed when your actual journey towards finding Denver apartments for rent gets underway.

Plus, having these details serve an additional benefit revealed later in the article.

Speak To Friends And Family

If you feel you need opinions you can completely trust, why not ask friends or family if they don’t know about any open listings. However, you want these friends and family to live in the Denver area because it gives them perspective you don’t have.

They can give you more info about certain neighborhoods and what type of apartment listings you might probably be interested in.

Call A Local Real Estate Agent

Another good way to speed up the process is to simply contact a local agent. And as mentioned earlier, you want all the details ready before you make this call. This way the agent knows exactly what you are looking for and they can quickly track down potential apartments.

Make A Personal Visit

When you do find a couple of apartments worth checking out, don’t give up the chance to do a personal inspection before moving in. In fact, if you can inspect the apartment a second time, do it. The excitement could have you missing certain factors, which you want to be aware of before signing the lease. And this brings up the last tip.

Go Through The Lease Several Times

When you put your name on a document and agree to something, make sure you understand exactly what it says. For example, it should clearly state the responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant. And if there are sections you find hard to wrap your head around, it’s a sign to have a lawyer read it first.

While there are definitely challenges waiting as you look for the Denver apartment, it can be a lot of fun and very exciting.

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How To Find Apartments For Rent In Denver

Denver is an amazing place to live, but it is also very expensive. Lots of people want to move to Denver and they are drawn to the outdoorsy culture and cultural attractions that are in the area. Denver is a beautiful city and while it snows, the winters are not too brutal because the snow always melts in a day or two. You might get days that are in the 70’s in January so the winters don’t seem to drag on forever. Since the city is so popular it can be hard to find apartments for rent in Denver.

If you are looking for an apartment you are going to want to use all of your resources to find an apartment. You will need to look for apartments using multiple resources if you want to find a place to live. One of the best places to start is by using an online apartment finder. These apartment finders can help you target your search and they will help you get your choices narrowed to apartments that are actually going to work for your needs.

You get to create a custom search with an apartment finder and you can use it to find apartments that are in your budget. Living in downtown Denver is very expensive so you might want to consider looking outside of the city. Aurora, Commerce City, and Littleton are all good choices. The rent is going to be a lot cheaper but you will need to drive downtown and traffic can be thick.

If you have the budget, you will want to live downtown. Living downtown puts you close to all of the action and you won’t have to spend time sitting in traffic when you want to go downtown. You will be able to walk to a lot of the events if you move downtown and downtown has lots of activities and events that are constantly going on. Living downtown is exciting and there are lots of different apartment buildings that you can choose from. You will have to pay a premium to move downtown but there are going to be lots of things to do and you are not going to get bored.

There are a lot of luxury apartments that you can rent in Denver and you are going to want to spend time looking at these apartments if you can afford them. Downtown luxury apartments have lots of amenities and you are going to find pools and gyms in these buildings. The luxury apartments have lots of room and they are steps from all of the best action in Denver.

The food and entertainment scene in Denver is huge and there are always fairs and special events going on all the time downtown. The weekends are packed with activities and it is easy to find things to do. When you are looking for apartments for rent in Denver you should try to live downtown if you can afford the price of the high rents.

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