THE
ETROPOLITAN
The Metropolitan State College of Denver student newspaper serving the Auraria Campus since 1979
July 30, 1990
Volume 12, Issue 34
Denver, Colorado
Safety first in Denver's highest crime area Between Iraq and a hard place p. 7
p. 3
Teacher feature: Brooks Van Everen p. 15
Tivoli Brewery
Future hinges on stadium By Bryan Perry The Metropolitan
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~路 ~~~~~~~-'Ii The Tivoli has fallen on路hard times, but the location of the baseball stadium could improve its outlook
The plight of Tivoli Denver is as uncertain as ever, although its stock is sure to rise as the decision on the location of the baseball stadium is reached. The property on which the ailing mall stands is owned by the Auraria Higher Education Center, which has a 62-year lease with Trizec Equities Inc., and Tivoli Brewery Joint Venture, the majority and minority partners in the mall respectively. Trizec, owner of Larimer Square, also owns a large amount of property surrounding the city's proposed Central Platte Valley stadium site. The site itself, just north of the Tivoli, is owned by railroad baron Philip Anschutz and the city, and it's among five proposed sites that the Metropolitan Denver Major League Baseball Stadium District is considering. A decision will be announced in November, although Denver must rnake an offer to the Major League Expansion Committee by Aug. 31. Proponents of the Central Platte site say that its selection would greatly enhance the property value of the Tivoli and the surrounding real estate. Irv Moss, baseball writer for "The Denver Post," called it the "leading site." Moss added that Anschutz was a big loser in the selection of a convention center site. "Those people (Anschutz
Corp.) are not in the habit of losing," Moss said. Depending on the the baseball decision, the Tivoli is suddenly a very hot property. Trizec Equities filed a foreclosure action in Denver District Court against Tivoli Brewery Joint Ventures on June 14, saying that TBJV had violated the lease agreement with AHEC that requires that the mall be 75% occupied. That action led restaurateur Michael McCarty, owner of Adirondacks in the Tivoli, to announce his interest in acquiring the mall. According to a July 17, "Rocky Mountain News" story, McCarty.is.close to making a 13 to $IS million deal to acquire the Tivoli. Jim Schoemer, the out-going vice president for Administration at Metro, expressed concern about the possibility of someone turning the Tivoli into a "fun house." 路 "That sort oflate-night, early-morning activity creates real problems for us," he said, citing the 22 liquor license violations at EFEX, a club in the Tivoli. However, since it opened in 1985, the Tivoli has relied more on restaurants and clubs such as Morton's, the Boiler Room and the now-defunct Tijuana Yacht Club for its survival. As a retail center, the Tivoli has been less profitable. Schoemer structured the lease agreement in 1984, at a time when specialty shopping centers were popular in Denver. The agreement calls for a minimum paysee TIVOLI page 6
New garage: pay now, park next spring David 0. Williams The Metropolitan
The benefits of the new Auraria parking garage on Seventh Street, such as an easing of what many students and staff consider "nightmarish" parking conditions, won't be felt until mid-January. But the overall parking cost increases that the Auraria Board authorized to pay for the project will be felt immediately. A 25 cent average increase for both the fee Jots and the permit lots went into effect on Aug. 17. The parking garage will end up costing $12.5 million. "It's not going to totally solve the problems, but it will help considerably," Dean Wolf, director of the Physical Plant, said. Wolf noted that the net gain of avail-
able spaces would be about 1,100 new spots. The four-level, three-story structure will have 1,726 spaces, but it was built on lots that accommodated about 600 cars. If it seems that the garage practically sprang from the ground overnight, it nearly did. Ground-breaking was in April and since then progress has been rapid. "At this time, construction's been excellent, moving along quickly and (with) no major problems," Mark Gallagher, acting head of the parking office, said. The garage is being paid for by a $21 million bond issue that was authorized by the Auraria Board. The bond, which will also pay for property acquisitions west of campus, will be paid off through the collection of parking fees over the next 20 years. see PARKING page 6