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N~
Contrary to popular opinion, this sculpture did not magically appear at the corner of Colfax ·and Kalamath. It was moved from its original location on Broadway by the Denver. Park People, a local civic group.
Because of money and a confused "focus," some Metro departments will be shuffled.
pg.3
magic involved
~
Donating blood at Auraria yields a different type of credit.
•
pg.8 "One of the few good plays about women" is presented by MSC Players.
pg.11
)
Volume 2, Issue 26 .__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
© MetroPress April 16, 1980
Speer relocation dead.••for now by Sal Ruibal
while opposing factions in the If Denver Post publisher Speer dispute maneuvered for 1 Donald R. Seawell wants to support. The plan had been recently aprelocate the northbound lanes of Speer Boulevard onto the Auraria proved by the St. Elizabeth's Area campus, it appears certain that he Advisory Committee, a landwill have to do it without state scaping review board that was in funds. the forefront of anti-relocation ef~ On April 10, the Colorado• forts. The landscaping plans propose Senate approved an amendment to the 1980-81 budget prohibiting the the creation of a pedestrian 'eddy' use of state funds to widen Speer north of the Science Building that would provide a focal point for Boulevard onto the campus. The measure, sponsored by Sen. foot traffic crossing Cherry Creek -v Dennis Gallagher (D-Denver), was from the East Classroom passed on a voice vote as an ad- Building. For safety reasons, dition to the Auraria Higher Auraria officials want to enEducation Center budget. The courage pedestrians to use the amendment has not been con- Arapahoe Street crossing. Before the plan can be imple. sidered in the House, but Gallamented, some conflicts with the ~ gher is confident of passage. "There is considerable support for city must be ironed out. The closure of 12th Street from it,'' he said. If the House approves the Lawrence Street to Speer provision, efforts by Seawell and Boulevard is essential to the landother downtown interests to create scape design. The city had agreed ' "' a park adjacent to the- Denver in 1978 to turn over the land to Center for the Performing Arts Auraria in exchange for property Denver wanted for other projects. would be stifled ... for now. The week of April 7, City In related action, the Auraria Board on April 14 approved con- Engineer Jack Bruce informed -( ceptual plans for the landscaping Auraria officials that the of the area east and north of the agreement was no longer accepScience Building. Planning for the table and additional property · area had been held up for months. would have to be exchanged.
The conceptual plan
app~oved
for the area near the Science Building.
The new demands wefe refused by Auraria and both sides retreat~~ to consider future strategy. By the end of the week, Bruce had begun to soften his position. In an interview April 11, Bruce explained that the city's move was not designed to aid relocation advocates, but was part of an overall traffic plan for Blake and Wazee streets. . ~'I ~~ .trying to proyide bet.ter
access for Wazee merchants," Bruce said. "I thought we could put all these deals into one package, but I guess we'll have to do it piecemeal.'' Although it appears relocation is a ~ead issue, no one-especially not the Auraria Board-is underestimating the power and influence of Donald R. Seawell. "I understand the thing is not entirely dead," said board mem~er Ross,F9rµey.