Aurora, Colorado
AP
 — 

A Colorado apartment complex where armed members of a Venezuelan gang were caught on video entering a unit last summer is expected to close in about a month under an emergency court order, city officials said Monday.

The city of Aurora had pursued a lawsuit to declare all but one building at the complex a criminal nuisance. Officials last week asked a judge to close the property in the meantime, arguing the situation reached a “breaking point” following the violent kidnapping and assault of two residents last month.

The city’s request was granted Friday ahead of a court hearing Monday.

Lawyers for the property owner, CBZ Management, dispute the city’s allegations and have asked for a trial to decide the lawsuit. However, the process to close the building will still continue as the lawsuit plays out in court, Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte said at a news conference following the hearing.

A lawyer representing the property owner, Stan Garnett, said he was not authorized to comment on the order.

While CBZ Management has previously said it was unable to provide maintenance to the complex because a notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, took over the buildings, the city has said the company created the problem by abandoning the running of them, which created a vacuum that let crime flourish.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain backed the closure, saying in a court filing that the complex had become a hub for crime because of a “criminal element that has exerted control and fear” over residents.

After the hearing, Chamberlain said he believed that members of Tren de Aragua were part of the problem there, noting that federal authorities say seven of the suspects in the kidnapping and assault are members of the gang. However, Chamberlain said gang members had not taken over the complex and emphasized that the main problem was the lack of management and oversight by the property’s owners.

The city said it is working with the surrounding county and others to provide relocation assistance to residents in 52 affected apartments.

The footage of the armed men at the complex from August drew the attention of President-elect Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. During a rally in Aurora in September, Trump announced a plan called “Operation Aurora” to target migrant gangs.

Four of the six men shown in the August video have since been arrested, according to Aurora police.

There was speculation at the time the video circulated that it showed members of a gang.

Authorities did not confirm a connection until December when Immigration and Customs Enforcement said two suspects from the video who were arrested in New York were members of Tren de Aragua.

According to Colorado court documents, the rifle seen in the video was used in a fatal shooting about 10 minutes later outside the apartment complex. It was found disassembled in an oven in one of the apartments, according to an arrest warrant.

The city did not seek the closure of a sixth building at the complex because a different branch of CMZ owns it. That building is being managed by a court-appointed official at the request of the mortgage lender who is making improvements to the building, according to the city.

• I’ve been to Alpine-style towns in the US that feel like Europe, particularly Switzerland.
• Colorado’s Ouray has been nicknamed “The Little Switzerland of America” for many reasons.
• Telluride and Crested Butte also feel like European-style escapes within the US.

Soaring granite peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and a myriad of geothermally-heated hot springs are just a handful of reasons that thousands of Americans venture to the Swiss Alps each year.

However, I’ve found similarly stunning mountainous landscapes and a thriving food and arts scene in humble Colorado.

The Centennial State is famous for its many adorable mountain towns and ski villages, but as a Colorado local, there are only three that I venture to when I want to rekindle that heart-pounding feeling I felt when I first visited the Alps many years ago.

Here are three of my favorite Alpine-style villages in Colorado.

I see why some say Ouray is a slice of Switzerland in the US

Ouray is one of few towns in the US that’s been nicknamed “The Little Switzerland of America.”

It’s easy to see why with just one wintery jaunt down its main boulevard — towering bluffs of rock and snow jut up in every direction, and historic buildings are everywhere.

There’s no need to fly to a mountain resort in Zermatt to get your adrenaline pumping, either. Ouray’s Ice Park and annual Ice Festival offer some of the best opportunities to dust off your crampons and go ice climbing in the US.

For a bit of higher-brow culture, stop at the Wright Opera House. It was established in 1888 and hosts a variety of live performances throughout the year, including an annual Yule celebration.

If you visit in the summer or fall, don’t miss the Million Dollar Highway, a scenic driving route that winds past cascading waterfalls and tall peaks.

When it’s time to refuel, check into the Victorian-era Beaumont Hotel in downtown Ouray. With its antique furnishings and historic architecture, it feels like it belongs in Europe.

Finally, soak your tired bones while enjoying outstanding mountain views at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool or the Historic Weisbaden Hot Springs Spa that give some of Switzerland’s a run for their money.

I’ve enjoyed many European vibes and eats in Telluride

Apart from having an excellent ski and live-music scene, Telluride is also home to incredible European-inspired eateries and architecture.

If you want to recreate a classic Swiss tradition, try the extensive fondue menu at Alpinist and the Goat, which features imported Gruyère and French truffle.

If you’re staying slopeside, check out Timber Room, which offers fire-roasted meals and crudité in an elegant, living-room-style setting.

For second-to-none Euro-style digs, head to the lavish Dunton Town House.

It’s designed to honor Tyrolean immigrants who came to the San Juan Mountains over 150 years ago — and Austrian ceramics and antiques can be found throughout the historic inn.

Of course, Telluride also has many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

To experience a quintessentially Alps-like mountain hut, visit High Camp Hut near the mountainous Lizard Head Pass. It puts guests at the center of the surrounding snowy peaks, with opportunities for backcountry skiing and sledding.

If you’re visiting in the warmer summer months, book a guided day trip along the Telluride’s via ferrata, which is reminiscent of similar gear-supported climbing routes in Switzerland.

Crested Butte feels like a mountainous escape

Since it’s about a four-hour drive from Denver, Crested Butte’s wildflower-strewn meadows and powdery ski slopes tend to offer a crowd-free escape from Colorado’s busiest mountain towns.

During winter months, Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers fantastic groomed runs for all experience levels. It’s known for its “extreme inbounds skiing,” which is reminiscent of Chamonix’s famous side-country routes.

I’d also recommend a trip through the nearby town of Gothic, which offers car camping and opportunities to swim in sparkling alpine lakes throughout the sunny summer months. Its striking landscape reminds me of the beautiful and immense summits around Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen village.

After a day of sightseeing in and around Crested Butte, enjoy blistered baby carrots and dry-aged Piedmontese beef at Two Twelve, an elevated eatery in town.

Or, try a fine-dining experience at Magic Meadows Yurt, which diners can only get to by Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.