| | | | | | Centennial Updates, 4/27/2010 - Thanks to Andrea Suhaka It's time again for some Centennial news. I'm sorry for short notice on a few of these. Vorry Moon - 303-754-3354 If you do not want to receive these blast emails, just send me an email in return. ******************************* May 1, Free Shredding, Free Family Activities, and Free Lunch at Credit Union Open House Metrum Community Credit Union invites you and your family to attend our 63rd Annual Meeting and Open House on Sat., May 1, 2010 from 1 - 3 pm. The event will be held at 6980 S Holly Cir., Centennial, 80112. There is no cost to attend and the activities will be geared for the full family. Please Join Us For: Free Lunch Free On-Site Shredding 12-2 p.m.. Paper only. Up to 3 copy paper boxes or kitchen size garbage bags per person. Car Care Tips with Automotive Avenues This is a perfect clinic for new vehicle owners, mothers, daughters, sons and even weekend warrior mechanics! Free Home Loan Review with Centennial Lending Bring in your most recent mortgage statement and see if we can help lower your payment. Container Gardening Tips with Tagawa Gardens Presented by Luan Akin, Garden Ambassador of Tagawa Gardens. Free Kids Activities with Grandma Mimi of Tagawa Gardens This will be an activity they can take home! New Checking Account Specials with chances to win prizes & cash! Call for more details. This event will present the opportunity for you to talk with community partners and learn about car care tips, first and second mortgage lending, container gardening and planting with kids. Prize drawings will be held, as well as chances to earn up to $50.00 cash with a new checking account. For more details visit www.metrumcu.org. Or, call 303-770-4468, ex.150 by Thurs, April 29 to reserve your space today
**************************** May 1 & 2, May 8 & 9: Inverness Drive West closed May 1-2 and May 8-9 Weekend closures required for pedestrian bridge construction Arapahoe County is currently working to extend the Dry Creek Light Rail Station pedestrian bridge to allow for bicycle and pedestrian traffic to cross over Inverness Drive West. In order to place the bridge, construction will require the temporary closure of the northern most section of Inverness Dr. W. near the E. Dry Creek Rd. intersection. The closure will occur over two weekends, tentatively scheduled for May 1-2 and May 8-9, pending acceptable weather to help minimize the disturbance to residential and business commuters. During construction, northbound I-25 traffic exiting at E. Dry Creek Rd will find the eastbound right turn lane to southbound Inverness Dr. W. closed. Drivers will be directed to use detour routes along E. Dry Creek Rd. and Inverness Dr. W. I-25 commuters wishing to access Inverness Dr. W. are encouraged to exit at County Line Rd. and travel east to access Inverness Dr. W. "The bridge will link the Dry Creek Light Rail Station to the multifamily/multi-use development east of Inverness Dr. W," said Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld, who serves as Board Chairman. "Adjacent to major employment centers along a key commuter corridor, it will further encourage pedestrian, bicycle and future light rail use, thereby reducing commuter traffic and providing alternatives to driving." This project also provides connections for RTD call-n-Ride shuttle services to the Dry Creek Light Rail Station. The reduction of commuter traffic also will help improve traffic congestion at the I-25 and Dry Creek Rd. interchange. The pedestrian bridge will be 12 ft. wide to accommodate both bicycle and pedestrian two-way traffic. This project is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and will include an elevator and 12 bicycle racks. The project is jointly funded by Arapahoe County, Inverness Metropolitan Improvement District and Federal sources, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It is scheduled to be completed by mid-August. If you have any questions please call Jim Lang with White Construction Group at 720-641-6080 or Mark Brown with Arapahoe County at 720-874-6500. **************************** May 8, Shred-a-thon sponsored by Metro Denver Crime Stoppers and Channel9 News.13101 Broncos Pky, 7 am - noon If you would like to help during this event, pleas give Brian McKnight a call at 720-874-3750 **************************** May 8, South Suburban's Spring Fling at deKoevend Park, 10 am - 2 pm 6315 S. Uiversity Blvd. The event is designed as a hands-on interactive festival for children of all ages with a target market of the Centennial, Littleton and surrounding communities. ****************************
Centennial has passed its new Land Developent Code Several items were pulled from the LDC for further consideration by City Council. Over the next year the city will be discussing these items and creating a new zoning map of all properties withing the city. The LDC will become effective upon final acceptance of the new Zoning map, sometime in mid-2011.
Here are the items that were pulled from the LDC and probable dates before City Council. - 5/17 - site triangles
- 6/7 - RVs, boats, trailers
- 8/2 - bees
- 8/2 - fence maintenance
- 9/13 - surfaced parking
- 9/13 - fowl
- 9/20 - accessory dwelling units (granny flats and other out buildings for residential use
- 11/15 - trash receptacles
- 12/6 - landscaping
- 1/24/1 - oversized vehicles
- 1/24/11 - home occupations As this changes, I'll try to notify you. If one of these items particularly resonates with you, plan to attend the mentioned meeting. ****************************
Centennial Transportation Master Plan Coming The City is beginning the process of creating a Transportation Master Plan. There will be a dedicated project web site, four public open houses (tentatively scheduled for May & Sept.), a Community Advisory Committee for which applications will be forthcoming, and as much information as I can blast in my emails. The easiest way to comment on what's happening and what you'd like to see happening will be on the Project website. I'll get that address out as soon as I have it, but there will be a direct link from the City's website (www.centennialcolorado.com).
**************************** Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Neighborhood Watch Newsletter:
**************************** Historic 17 Mile House Receives Facelift Arapahoe County receives $175,007grant for restoration of 150-year-old property Arapahoe County's historic 17 Mile House Farm Park will receive a facelift thanks to a $175,007 grant for building rehabilitation and restoration from the State Historical Fund. The County is matching the grant with $112,603 of Open Space funds. The restoration includes stabilizing the existing first and second level floors, updating plumbing and electrical, adding period-specific fixtures including a kitchen, doors and coverings and adding an ADAaccessible bathroom. The ultimate goal is to create a period-specific house museum complete with exhibits and educational displays for the public to enjoy. The 17 Mile House has had a long and rich history with great historic significance. When the gold rush of 1859-1860 resulted in the permanent large-scale settlement of Colorado, six way stations emerged along the east bank of the Cherry Creek to accommodate travelers coming to Denver. These stations or mile houses were originally located every two to three miles along the Cherokee/Smoky Hill Trails, all leading to and named based on the distance to the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Broadway in Denver. Upon arrival, travelers could get meals, spend the night, rest their animals, and have minor repairs made to their coaches or wagons. Out of the original six miles houses, only 17 Mile House and 4 Mile House exist in their entirety today. "The site has undergone extensive work during the past few years including the structural stabilization of the house and barn, exterior paint and a new roof on the house," said Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld, who serves as Board Chairman. Fortunately, the 17 Mile House and barn have not changed substantially in over a century. They exist today because concerned citizens waged a 20-year battle to protect the site from modern development. In 2001,Arapahoe County was one of nine public and private agencies to join forces to preserve this important part ofColorado history, while at the same time provide an open space for people to enjoy. The $112,603 monetary match comes from Arapahoe County Open Space funds. The County's Open Space program has in just five years protected more than 15,000 acres of land that preserve natural habitats and wildlife corridors, protect sweeping vistas and provide outdoor recreation for residents of all ages, thanks to the voters who generously approved the Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use tax in 2003. Tours are available by appointment. For more information, call Glen Poole, Arapahoe County Open Space, at 720-874-6826. **************************** Arapahoe County $3M to help preserve High Line corridor. New working group to enhance conservation and recreation along High LineCanal
On April 9, Arapahoe County invited 19 municipalities and agencies that serve the 70 miles of terrain along the High LineCanal to establish the High Line Corridor Working Group. "The County''s proposal invites entities to work together to make future improvements, such as adding open space buffers and enhancing trails in an effort to beautify and enhance the High Line Corridor," said Arapahoe County Commissioner Jim Dyer. "By working together we can create a legacy for the High Line and change the face of this regionally significant corridor forever." Using Open Space tax dollars generously approved by voters in 2003, Arapahoe County pledged up to $3M in seed money, which will be used to help leverage new dollars for conservation along the Canal. The timing is supported by the current economic situation, which offers an opportunity for communities to secure open space along the Canal and preserve its character for future generations. ""I can''t believe how many people tell me they have great childhood memories playing along the High Line Canal,"" said Commissioner Susan Beckman. ""We have an opportunity to improve and protect what is one of the most treasured trails in Arapahoe County."" Arapahoe County is hoping to capture the same enthusiasm and success of the South Platte Working Group, a coalition of 19 cities, towns and local organizations working to conserve and restore open space and improve connections to the South Platte River. Convened by Arapahoe County in 2006 as a collaborative, consensus-based regional approach to protecting the South Platte River corridor, theSouth Platte Working Group has racked up several accomplishments in its short existence. The group has secured more than $25M in funding, including a $5.25M Legacy grant from Great Outdoors Colorado; acquired several parcels; built trail connections and won the Denver Regional Council of Government's highest honor for their collaborative work to protect the South Platte. In September 2008, Arapahoe County also launched the Cherry Creek Working Group, a multi-jurisdiction effort, which includes Douglas and Denver counties, along with 20 cities and organizations, to create a legacy for one of the most recognizable and treasured natural assets in the south metro Denver area – the Cherry Creek Basin. The Cherry Creek Basin Working Group is working to build off the past success in the Cherry Creek Basin to make future improvements, such as adding open space buffers and connecting trails in an effort to beautify and enhance Cherry Creek. **************************** And now for some TRANSPORTATION issues The Urbanophile Blog
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
The New Look of the American Suburb
(Ed's note: make sure you look at the pictures below the article).
This article is about the intersection of two trends I've written about before: suburban redevelopment and immigration.
http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/04/18/the-new-look-of-the-american-suburb/
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RTD not going to voters for Sales Tax increase
The RTD Board voted unanimously to not seek an additional sales tax in 2010. A number of individuals and organizations such as Transit Alliance offered comments before the Board voted. All comments favored waiting. The Board also reviewed recent polling data from the Coalition for Smart Transit which indicates that voters are still more concerned with the economy and jobs than with public transportation.
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The Urban Land Institute/The Ground Floor Blog April 22, 2010 Suburban Housing Market Declines a Result of Demographics Shift The current decline in demand for suburban "trade up" housing is more than just an economic correction; it is the result of a seismic shift in demographics and consumer behavior according to James Chung, president of Reach Advisors, speaking at the ULI Real Estate Summit at the Spring Council Forum in Boston last week. http://tinyurl.com/2aqdu87
***** Nasdaq.com Denver Transit Agency Nearing Innovative Rail Expansion Deal By Bob Sechler, April 14, 2010 Denver is turning to the private sector to help finance and run a planned $2.3 billion commuter rail expansion, providing a litmus test for investor interest in cash-strapped public transit agencies. http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201004131409dowjonesdjonline000320&title=denver-transit-agency-nearing-innovative-rail-expansion-deal | | | | | | |
