EDGEWATER MAYOR Census, Sustainability, Mortgage Assistance & More Page 4
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Headed To Jeffco Open Space? Leave Your Drone At Home Page 8
MEDICALLY SPEAKING The Top 3 Summer Health Myths Page 9
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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND June 18 – July 15, 2019 • ngazette.com • FREE
Summertime, Art, Gardens And Dogs n By
Nancy Hahn
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ummertime in the 40 West Art District has something for everyone. Really. Everyone. There are fabulous shows at the galleries, First Friday activities on summer evenings, and art of every variety. There are activities for every age and even for dogs. Lakewood Arts and the 40 West Art District collaborated to create activities for children’s summer fun. There is one class still to come and it may be, the best of all! On Saturday, July 20, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Lakewood Arts in Lamar Plaza, children will have an opportunity to learn about impressionist art and create their own version of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” With swirls of blue and white for the early morning sky and whites and yellows for the stars, children will create their interpretation of one of the most well-known paintings of all time. Call 303-980-0625 or check out www.lakewoodarts.org for more information. The deadline to register and pay $5 for members or $6 for nonmembers is coming soon. June 22 is the date for Lakewood Art’s annual Garden Continued on page 6
SUMMERTIME IN THE 40 WEST ART DISTRICT has something for everyone, like this mosaic “selfie” chair, enjoyed by artist Charles Livingston. There are fabulous shows at the galleries, First Friday activities on summer evenings, and art of every variety. PHOTO COURTESY 40 WEST ARTS
Tiny Home A Big Deal For Local Family n By
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Elisabeth Monaghan
eople looking to buy a house in or around metro Denver know they can expect to pay about $430,00 for a small or “starter” home, making it difficult for low- and middle-income families to own or upgrade their homes. The lack of affordable housing in the area is one of the reasons couples like Katrina and Kyle Christensen opted for a tiny house to raise their three boys. Although they have only recently moved into their tiny house, the family has resided in Wheat Ridge for a little more than two years. With the Christensen family living in Centennial and Kyle’s job on Denver’s west side, the commute was long and the cost of a full tank of gas, costly. This prompted them to move the family farther north. When it came to deciding on schools, Katrina said one friend’s advice was especially helpful in making their decision. “It doesn’t matter where you live – Wheat Ridge or Arvada are both great – but your kids have to go to Mountain Phoenix.” Taking that advice, the Christensens downsized from 2,700 square feet to a 1,500-square-foot rental in Wheat Ridge. For six months, the Christensens rented, but as is the case for many renters in and around metro Denver, the monthly outlay took a significant toll on the family’s finances. “We were paying $2,500 a month, in rent,” says Katrina. “That was a stretch for us, but we did it because we liked where we were.” After six months, the financial strain forced the family of five with boys, who are 9, 7 and 2, to move in with family while they figured out how to remain in their adopted community. They settled on purchasing their newly built tiny house. For anyone unfamiliar with the concept,
a home is considered “tiny” if it is less than 400 square feet. Because that is not a lot of room, tiny house dwellers have found clever ways to utilize space while ensuring almost every square inch is functional. For example, most tiny houses have high ceilings to allow for lofts, which people use as bedrooms or children’s play areas. Some tiny homes have stairways to these lofts, with built-in compartments underneath that serve as storage, closets or bookshelves. Others have built-in Murphy Beds or tables they can fold
up when not in use. During the research phase, the Christensens spent Christmas of 2017 at Wee Casa, a tiny house Airbnb in Lyons. This allowed all of them to see different layouts and design options to consider for their home. One idea the boys liked was a catwalk in a Wee Casa house that was a Plexiglas, steel-framed bridge connecting the lofts, but unlike the clear variety at the Airbnb, the Christensens selected one that wasn’t see-through, and under the catwalk
is where they built their kitchen cabinets. Responsible for designing their tiny home’s interior, Katrina explains her approach. “I spent a lot of time figuring out and being honest about what we needed,” she says. At the top of her list was a dining room table. “The table was our stickler,” says Continued on page 2
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Developer Hopes To Restore Yates Theater As A Neighborhood Entertainment Venue n By
Laurie Dunklee
O
ld buildings connect the future with the past,” says Ari Stutz. “They give people a sense of place. An old building grounds you in the community.” Stutz and his partner Ken Wolf hope to restore the historic Yates Theater, built in 1926 at 44th Avenue and Yates Street, to its original purpose. The 5,000-square-foot auditorium features a vaulted ceiling, an ornately gold-trimmed stage, gold-framed murals, colorfully painted plaster and arched doorways. “We could cut it up into condos, but that wouldn’t serve the neighborhood like preserving the theater for what it is,” Stutz said. Stutz and Wolf, of Downtown Property Services, bought the tileroofed former movie house and a connected retail building for $2.1 million in 2016. Restoration of the retail side, facing Yates Street, is mostly done and occupied by a coffee shop, a boutique and a hair
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Continued on page 8
ARI STUTZ HOPES TO RESTORE the 1926 Yates Theater, 4979 W. 44th Ave., as a “walk-to theater for the neighborhood.” PHOTO BY LAURIE DUNKLEE