Denver, CO
Residents share concerns about proposed micro-community site in southwest Denver
DENVER — People who live near a proposed micro community site in southwest Denver are speaking out and sharing their concerns. Many of them feel the site will put them and their families in danger. They say they have seen it happen before.
The proposed sites are one part of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s ambitious plan to move 1,000 people experiencing homelessness off the streets by the end of the year.
It’s been just under two weeks since Johnston released a preliminary list of sites where he wants to build the micro-communities, which would include Pallet shelters, which are prefab tiny homes that could be assembled in under one hour.
The city council approved the mayor’s request to spend $7 million on the micro-communities. The majority of the cost, $5.1 million, will be spent on purchasing the homes from Pallet. About two million dollars will be used to help get the sites ready.
One site would be built on a strip of land owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) at Santa Fe and Iliff in southwest Denver’s Overland Park neighborhood.
Denver7 spoke with several neighbors on Tuesday and found the reaction to the proposed micro-community was mixed.
“It’s very understandable because people’s experiences with the homeless have been so mixed,” said Jack Unruh, co-president of the Overland Park Neighborhood Association.
Unruh is someone who’s sympathetic to the plight of people experiencing homelessness. He says during the pandemic, he often carried on conversations with some of them who lived in an encampment in the neighborhood.
“I knew people by name,” said Unruh.
He said he was under no illusions that some of them were probably involved in criminal activity. But he says they never posed a threat to him.
“They didn’t pose a threat to me because I was in conversation with them and acknowledged them,” said Unruh.
He believes the mayor’s plan could work.
“I think many of the neighborhood leaders and community leaders are supporting the general direction that he’s taking,” said Unruh.
A narrow alley is all that separates several homes in the neighborhood from the property where the city is proposing to build the micro-community.
KMGH-TV
Unlike Unruh, several residents didn’t have anything nice to say about the mayor’s plan when Denver7 knocked on their doors Tuesday. Many said they were worried about crime and drug use, which they experienced before when other homeless people lived on the same site.
Many of the residents were too afraid to speak on camera, saying they didn’t want to make a big ruckus. Some say they feared retaliation.
Joy Fagan, who has lived in the neighborhood for three years, is not afraid to speak out.
She said the neighborhood has experienced many problems with homelessness in the past.
“This is the first summer we haven’t had about 50 to 75 homeless people living in that area, in that field, and in the cul de sac,” Fagan said. “We had them running down the street, chasing each other with guns. We had a woman lying in the middle of the street at three o’clock in the morning. We had syringes right there where kids were playing, so people quit bringing their kids to the park because of it.”
Fagan believes the micro-community will encourage more of them to move to the neighborhood, leading to more problems.
“That’s just rewarding bad behavior,” said Fagan. “You’re actually enabling them to stay in a dangerous situation for them. It’s a lose-lose.”
Robert Lee said he personally hasn’t had an issue, but one of his neighbors told Denver7 that a rock was thrown into his window by a homeless person.
Lee says he wants more information about the proposed micro-community site before rendering a judgment.
“We can’t all be for progress but [say] ‘not in my backyard,’” said Lee. “There still has to be some effort from the community, from every community. And I think really we just need more information, more tangible facts to work with and I think that will really help people feel more invested in actually pitching in and helping.”
The mayor’s office says the proposed sites were chosen due to their proximity to transit, access to utilities, and distance from schools, among other reasons.
The sites will include a community room, laundry rooms, and restrooms.
People will also be offered services to help them get back on their feet.
The mayor’s office said the tiny homes will begin arriving in November at sites around the city and the first units will be ready for move-in in December.
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Joy comes in many forms.
It was impossible to miss as royal blue caps and baseball gloves soared into the air on a cloudless Saturday, celebrating Cherry Creek’s 10th state baseball title.
On the All-Star Park field after an 8-1 victory over Regis Jesuit, teammates screamed and hugged as parents, overcome with emotion, wiped away tears. There is nothing like finishing a season as a champion.
For Wyatt and Walker Rudden, it represented their last time on a high school diamond together. Wyatt, the senior ace on his way to Michigan, and Walker, the gritty junior second baseman who refused to give up on his dream of starting, paused when trying to wrap their heads around the scene unfolding around them.
“His last pitch was a groundball to me,” Walker said, shaking his head. “Can you believe that?”
“He battled all year to get out there,” added Wyatt. “This was really special.”
Joy comes in many forms.
On the mound, Wyatt operates more like a middle linebacker than a pitcher. His fastball reaches 88 miles per hour, and he throws inside without fear, a trait “that really separates him and leads to his success,” explained Bruins pitching coach Dave Veres.
Wyatt reacted to three inning-ending strikeouts by flexing like Hulk Hogan before his finishing move.
“There might be a sip of an energy drink involved,” said Walker, who allowed one run on three hits, while navigating six walks with eight Ks over five innings. “What can I say? I love to compete. And the stakes were high.”
Joy comes in many forms.
Behind home plate, mother Megan stood watching, cheering, hiding her anxiety with polite conversation and a nervous smile. Husband Nick planted down the left field line, watching as a proud father and former Cherry Creek feeder team coach who worked with many of the kids on the roster.
“It means so much not because of the outcome but everything that goes into it,” Nick said. “We are blessed.”
The Rudden family is a Cherry Creek family. Nick and his three brothers played for legendary coach Marc Johnson. Nick won back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999 as part of the school’s five-year run of dominance.
He carved out a role as a utility player at Michigan before returning home. That is when reality clobbered him over the head. His sister Tammy Rudden Krause’s 5-year-old daughter Gabby was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2003. She passed away after a 19-month battle.
Joy, even when facing unimaginable pain and loss, comes in many forms.
Tammy created the Bags of Fun Foundation in Gabby’s honor. Over 15,000 backpacks with toys and games have been given to children fighting critical, long-term and life-threatening conditions in Denver, Kansas City and Omaha.
“Gabby was so brave, such a strong spirit,” said Dananne Solomon, the foundation’s director in Colorado. “She turned her own fight into a movement of laughter.”
The program relies on fundraising — Cherry Creek High School plays an important role during their spring power week — and volunteers. Wyatt and Walker never met Gabby, but became immersed in her memory as they helped out in any way they could.
“They are always available for work at the warehouse,” said Tammy, who has been attending Cherry Creek games for decades, watching her brothers and nephews. “They go to work and do the not-so-fun stuff behind the scenes.”
The way Nick sees it, he would not have a family if not for Gabby. Megan worked as Gabby’s nanny after college. That is how she met Nick.
“My wife and our children, none of it exists without the cause. It is hard to articulate who Gabby was, her resilience,” Nick said. “I can’t do justice on what she has meant to us.”
It was around middle school when Wyatt and Walker began to realize how special Gabby was. It was natural for them to volunteer. But it went beyond that. At Cherry Creek, they recruited teammates and classmates. They saw firsthand how awful cancer is, and how customized bags of toys can allow kids to be kids again, even if only for a few hours.
“It just changes their lives. It’s horrible to have to deal with cancer,” Walker said. “This gives them some control in a situation where they often feel like they don’t have any.”
Wyatt has also viewed Gabby as someone who put others before herself. Not long ago, he listened to a classmate recall his experience with cancer. It brought everything full circle.
“He got a Bag of Fun. And just to hear his story was amazing. He had a really tough time and that really helped him through his process,” Wyatt said. “It was a reminder of just how meaningful the work and the (foundation) are.”
Joy comes in many forms.
Holding a trophy, surrounded by friends you have played with for years, creates goosebumps. These teammates will walk together forever.
But there was something deeper than sports at work on this sun-bleached afternoon. When the cheering stopped, and the long walk began to the parking lot, there was humility learned from small victories that are a lot bigger than a baseball game.
“My sister has taken the memory of Gabby and created a legacy. I can’t tell you how proud I am of her, of what she’s done,” Nick said. “She has inspired our family, Wyatt, Walker, Annabelle and Hudson. She has inspired the Cherry Creek baseball community to help, to never take anything for granted. Today is a day when Gabby’s memory lives on.”
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Originally Published:
A giant rhino statue has been spotted at 29th Street and Arkins Court, signaling new activity at Denargo Market, a 17-acre mixed-use development in Denver’s RiNo Art District.
Standing 30 feet tall and weighing 22,000 pounds, the Denargo Rhino is the first piece of public art to arrive on the site.
“Before full buildout of the entire 17-acre site, we want people to feel like Denargo Market is a destination worth visiting,” said Sean Campbell, CEO of FORMATIV.
“The rhino is our first big step in prioritizing public elements for Denverites to interact with. Whether you’re climbing its sides, snapping a photo, or exploring our new parks and river activation, the rhino will welcome you to Denargo Market as a landmark that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Constructed from weatherized steel, the rhino features all-weather climbable panels, custom paint, lighting and surrounding elements like birdhouses.
The climbable statue, which won’t actually be climbable until later this summer, was envisioned by Denargo’s landscape architect Sasaki, in collaboration with developers Golub & Co. and FORMATIV.
It was brought to life by area fabricators JunoWorks and Eldorado Climbing Walls, with engineering support by Craft Engineering Studio.
While impressive, the Denargo Rhino is really just a baby compared to “Blucifer,” the 32-foot-tall blue mustang sporting red glowing eyes near Denver International Airport, and the 40-foot blue bear sculpture that peers into the convention center.
Online Reddit users have already welcomed the Rhino as one of the area’s apex predators, though some have questioned why it isn’t painted all blue to match its fellow titans. Golub & Co. and FORMATIV have launched a public naming campaign for the towering rhino sculpture.
As part of the “Name the Rhino” campaign, the public is invited to submit name ideas through Thursday, June 5.
Finalists will be selected shortly after, and the public will have a chance to vote on their favorites with the winning name announced during an unveiling event with Denver City Councilman Darrell Watson on June 12.
“We’re so excited to invite the community to be part of this story and help us give this iconic rhino a name that reflects the character and creativity of Denver,” said Laura Newman, vice president of investment & development at Golub & Co.
“Our goal with both the rhino and the public realm was to create a true sense of place here at Denargo Market, and we hope this becomes a beloved landmark for neighbors, families and visitors.”
Spread across the South Platte riverfront just north of Downtown Denver, Denargo Market is zoned to offer 3 million square feet of development, including residential, retail, office and hospitality spaces, public art and more.
The site will also feature over 1,000 for-rent residential units and 4 acres of public open spaces, anchored by sport courts, nature-based play, community gardens and a revitalized dog park.
Construction of infrastructure and public parks began in September 2023. Since then, the project has completed a 56-unit affordable housing community, the sport courts and the dog park, according to a project brochure.
By the third quarter of this year, 4 acres of public realm improvements, including art installations and community spaces, will be completed.
To date, $190 million has been invested in the development, generating an estimated $50 million in revenue for the City and County of Denver during construction.
The site was formerly home to Denver’s largest food market, housing more than 500 grower stands. However, in July 1971, a four-alarm fire destroyed the market and the site became largely industrial and vacant.
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Thousands of people will be at Civic Center Park this weekend for the Outside Festival. It’s in its second year in downtown Denver.
Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
The festival includes concerts plus adventure films, climbing experiences, athlete panels and signings, yoga classes, gear demos, a kids’ zone and food.
Tickets are still available at festival.outsideonline.com.
There are some road closures around Civic Center Park due to the festival. Broadway is closed through the weekend from 17th Street to 13th Avenue. A portion of 14th Avenue is also closed.
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