Valentine’s Day or Bust see page 6
Wheat Ridge Business Assoc. Seeks Members see page 2
West 29th Merchants Play Name Game see page 7
Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD
Wheat Ridge | Edgewater | FEBRUARY 14 – MARCH 20, 2014
Sprouting, Sprucing Proposed for SW Corner of Kipling & 38th
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By Cyndy Beal
roposals for new buildings and businesses are sprouting up on Wheat Ridge’s horizon. Sprouts Farmers Markets has plans to open a store on the southwest corner of Kipling Street and 38th Avenue in January 2015. Sprouts would be the anchor store, with other retailers and a senior housing complex additionally proposed for the blighted shopping center. Sprouts owns and operates 160 stores in eight states, 25 in Colorado. The 11.7-acre shopping center site, which contains four parcels of land, was deemed blighted by the city in late 2009. Denver-based developer MVG Development is working with Renewal Wheat Ridge, the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority, on the project, which will cost an estimated $12 million. MVG has not closed on the property, but has “purchase options for three of the four parcels and are negotiating on the final one,” said Wheat Ridge Economic Development Manager Steve Art. “Development is a long-term process and the whole process is moving along,” said Art of the redevelopment plans for Kipling and 38th, as well as other properties in Wheat Ridge. Currently there are six businesses in the shopping center, with Clancy’s Irish Pub being the oldest and perhaps best-known establishment. The Starbucks may build a new and larger store on the property. Clancy’s has operated as a restaurant and bar in the shopping center for 40 years. It became the oldest Irish pub in the metropolitan area when Denver’s Duffy’s closed in 2006. Jeff Hurlburt and Chad Martin purchased Clancy’s from the Wood family in September 2010. Clancy’s will remain open through the month of March, and this St. Patrick’s Day will be its last in the location – or ever, if they do not obtain financing for relocation. Rumors about Clancy’s closure and relocation have been rampant. Co-owner Hulbert wanted to set the record straight and said that “nothing is set in stone,” and no agreements have been signed. “We are in limbo,” he said. Ideally they want to stay in Wheat Ridge and would like to move Clancy’s to another area east on 38th Avenue, between Wadsworth Boulevard and Pierce Street. Hurlburt also said that the city of Wheat Ridge has been very helpful; and if Clancy’s does not reopen at another location, it will be a result of financial or personal reasons. Many lending institutions consider restaurants a high risk. One financing possibility for Clancy’s owners is the Enhanced Sales Tax Incentive Program, or ESTIP. The rebate program allows for a percentage of future business sales tax to be returned to the business for improvements to a property, for a limited dollar amount or time. Applications need approval by Wheat Ridge City Council, which created the program in May 1998.
For a city to acquire and redevelop property under the Colorado Urban Renewal Act, the property must be meet state criteria and be deemed blighted. Then, the city must create an urban renewal authority (URA), which is allowed to purchase blighted property and collaborate with a private entity to develop it. The private entity – MVG in this case – would be eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) on the project, which is a funding mechanism for redevelopment of blighted areas. It allows a developer to use future revenue from the increased county property taxes or city sales taxes.
Additional Wheat Ridge Projects City Manager Patrick Goff delivered his 2014 state of the city address to the Wheat Ridge Business Association in January, providing an update on 11 projects in Wheat Ridge. Several project areas are deemed blighted and are keys areas for Renewal Wheat Ridge, per the city’s website. Work is expected to begin this spring on three areas in the following order: 38th Avenue and Kipling Street, as previously described; the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, with site remediation beginning any time; and 44th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, where a second, multi-unit residential building is being added to the Town Center project. Other projects for 2014 include the Kipling Street multi-use trail between 32nd to 44th avenues, which will include continuous 10-foot-wide concrete paths and amenities such as benches and plantings. A $2.5 million federal grant will cover most of the $3.2 million cost. On 38th Avenue, the 24-month-long Ridge at 38 pilot project will wrap up. Data continues to be collected on economic impact and traffic, and the city will solicit public comment this spring, prior to city council making its decision on final, permanent plans for the area. On the northwest corner of West 29th Avenue and Fenton Street, Denver Water will replace Ashland Reservoir’s large tank system with two smaller, underground tanks and a green space. Clear Creek Crossing, at I-70 and Highway 58 (once proposed as a Cabela’s site), may see construction of a super WalMart store. Infrastructure work is needed first. Construction will continue on the Gold Line, an 11.2-mile light rail line, which will connect Wheat Ridge to Union Station with a station at Ward Road. Completion and opening is set for 2016. Proposed residential projects include Perrin’s Row at 38th Avenue and Depew Street; Incarnation, 40th Avenue and Fenton Street; and Fireside at Applewood, 38th Avenue and Simms. Look for continuing coverage of these and other projects in future editions of the Neighborhood Gazette. Send questions or comments to editor@ngazette.com
AT THE HEART WITH ART – Melinda Stewart’s “Strawberries n’ Cicadas” is part of her art series of anatomical hearts. Stewart is the next featured artist for Wheat Ridge’s Meet the Artist event on Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:30-7 p.m. at Kataluma Chai, 7300 W. 38th Ave. PHOTO COURTESY MELINDA STEWART
Would-be Legislators May Be Surprised by Work Ahead
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By J. Patrick O’Leary
tate representative Sue Schafer has chosen not to run for a fourth, two-year term, opening the House District 24 seat to a field of new candidates. At press, three contenders have announced their intent to run for the office: voter rights and women’s advocate Jessie Danielson; Edgewater City Councilman Kristian Teegardin; and former Wheat Ridge City Councilman Joseph DeMott. Elections for the office of Colorado House of Representatives will consist of a primary election on June 24 and a general election on Nov. 4. Candidates for the office must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen and reside in the county or district in the 12 months prior to the election. They must also collect signatures – anywhere from 400 to 1,000 – and file them with the Secretary of State by March 31 to appear on the ballot. (For details, download and read “How To Run For Office” at www sos.state.co.us.) That’s the easy part. The hard work will begin next January, when the 2015 state legislative session opens. Wannabe state senators and representatives should be prepared to pay a price for the privilege. It’s huge commitment of time and life for people who take it seriously, according to Schafer. “I compare it to running a marathon at sprinting speed,” she said. “You’re in a 120-day marathon and sprinting the whole time... You work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and rarely see your friends or family
for five months.” Children, grandchildren and spouses of legislators make the biggest sacrifice, she explained. “Children and grandchildren don’t understand it.” When first elected, Schafer thought that life in the legislature would be filled with nice conversations and time to think, as in a college classroom. The speed of events surprised her. “On day one, it was like a beehive in here – email, texting, phones ringing, public coming in, on every topic from A to Z,” she recalled, adding that typically 500-600 bills are introduced each session, of which twothirds die in committee. “That’s how busy it is.” “It’s moving fast every minute, on one hundred topics,” she said. “Today, I’m dealing with federal drug laws… then dealing with someone who wants to know why charter school bills are being run.” A group from a music therapy association wanted to talk to her, and she still needed to read a transportation bill. “It’s a huge juggling act.” Lawmakers don’t go it alone. Liaisons from state agencies are helpful. “If I need help on bill on transportation or agriculture, I know who to call. And lobbyists are helpful,” she added. ”Lobbyists are not evil… they represent oil and gas, teachers, nail salon advocates, insurance companies, chambers of commerce. They will tell you what’s good or bad in a bill, and why.” Continued on page 7