Life on Capitol Hill - November 2017

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11 17 DENVER’S 2018 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: GROWTH STILL HOT, BUT SLOWING By Jennifer Turner As 2017 winds down, thoughts turn to the new year and what’s on the horizon for Denver. The Mile High City has been on an impressive growth streak. In 2016, the Metro Denver area had “strong economic trends” with more of the same forecasted for 2017, according to a report from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. One leading indicator of economic strength is employment growth. Metro Denver clocked in at 1.2 percentage points above the national average with 2.9 percent employment growth. It’s not a secret that Denver is a great place to live and work, and the city received some impressive accolades in 2016: U.S. News and World Report named Denver the best place to live in the country based on a healthy job market, cost of living, and perception as a desirable place to live. Forbes ranked Denver as the nation’s best place for business and careers for the second year in a row. Outside Magazine ranked Denver the third best place to live in the country.

Population

While over 1,000 people move here every month, population growth has slowed slightly according to numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau. For the year ending July 1, 2016, 13,028 people moved to Denver, which is a 1.9 percent increase in residents. However, it is the first time this number has dropped below 2 percent since 2010.

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A young visitor to the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus plays in a water exhibit. The museum is a Colorado Gives Day-listed charity. Read more about the day on page 12. Courtesy photo.

Home Sales

The population increase has profoundly impacted the housing market. Denver has been a seller's market for the past number of years, largely due to low inventory. The September median price was $377,000 including single family homes, condos and townhomes. Finding a home has been particularly challenging for buyers with a price point under $400,000. Many properties in that range receive multiple offers within a few days of being listed, some over the asking price. However, there are signs the pace may be slightly less frantic. Karen Nichols, Broker Associate at Perry & Co,

summed up the current state of the market saying, “We are seeing some seasonal slowdown overall in sales activity. However, the market since the beginning of the year still reflects an increase in pricing even with a feeling that activity is a little flatter. Denver is still incredibly strong and the historic neighborhoods remain in high demand." Below are September median home sale prices and include the price changes over the last 12 months. - Capitol Hill: $289,470, -3.39 percent. - Cheesman Park: $356,090, -1.03. - Cherry Creek: $840,630, +1.98. CONTINUED ON 10

ROGER ARMSTRONG, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAPITOL HILL UNITED NEIGHBORS, PASSES AT THE AGE OF 54 By Haines Eason It is with great sadness we report that Roger Armstrong, longtime Capitol Hill-area community activist and former Executive Director of Capitol Hill United Neighbors (CHUN), has lost his battle with cancer. Speaking to her time with Armstrong, CHUN Board Member and former President Caroline Schomp, said “Roger Armstrong was a quietly strong leader who listened to all points of view. When I was president of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, he was patient, gentle and kind.

Property owner sues to stop cell towers in Cheesman Park area. PAGE 8

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He made me a better leader.” Armstrong started his career in HIV/AIDS outreach work. Originally from Philadelphia, he became a 20-year veteran of CHUN, starting his tenure in 1997 as a board member. He officially became a full-time CHUN employee when he left the Temple Events Center in 2005. As reported by LIFE in February of this year, Armstrong’s first full-time role with CHUN was as director of iconic CHUN event The People’s Fair—the first he directed was in 2006. By August 2008, he was executive director.

City unveils City Park Golf Course plans as resistance persists. PAGE 8

Armstrong noted for that story his pride in working for one of Denver’s most iconic registered neighborhood organizations (RNOs). “For me, it was really an honor to run an organization that had been so established over the years,” he said. “In most city circles, whether it’s city departments, planning departments, City Council, public works, they see CHUN as one of the biggest and most-organized [RNOs].” Speaking to his memory of Armstrong at an Oct. CONTINUED ON 10

We run down the 40th Denver Film Fest's musically inspired films. PAGE 18

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