On Friday, May 19 the second annual District 10 operating budget meeting was held with the city Budget & Management Office, six neighborhoods and six business community groups. This meeting gave leaders the opportunity to address their needs directly with the City Budget Department and appropriate City Department staff. The requests that were submitted by each participant described well their 2018 operating budget and long term community capital improvement needs that included supplemental information and images.

 

For the 12 neighborhood and business groups, 28 individual neighborhood and business capital improvement requests for the 2018 operating budget were submitted, totaling between $7- $10 million. Nine long range funding requests in a range of $43 to $58 million were discussed for consideration.

 

Requests for 2018 budget consideration focused on the following needs:

Long range needs included 1st Avenue & Steele intersection redesign; 1st Avenue complete street (providing safe access for pedestrians, bicycles, transit and vehicles); Harrison Street redevelopment challenges; Cherry Creek East design guidelines; and the Bayaud Outfall stormwater improvements.

 

The GO Bond capital improvement budget limitations mean utilization of operating budget funding is critical to support community needs and improvements. District 10 leaders and community members appreciate the willingness of the city to make this collaborative budget communication process possible. I especially want to thank Brendan Hanlon (City CFO), Stephanie Adams (Budget Director), and representatives from Public Works, Traffic Engineering, Denver Police, Community Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, Human Services and the Office of Economic Development for their participation and discussions of key community issues with the presenters.

 

The meeting was a wonderful opportunity for neighborhood and business leaders to discuss their community and neighborhood needs with our City budget and department leaders.

 

The ten year GO Bond capital improvement process is being completed, with $750 million in requests being submitted to the Mayor by the GO Bond Executive Committee and its five task forces. With the complete request list totaling $3.6 billion it is a difficult process to prioritize the most needed requests for funding. Discussions are underway between the Mayor and City Council to allow funding for additional community improvement needs. The final list of recommendations should be completed in July and will be communicated to residents for their review and support in the November General Election. Thanks to all residents who participated in the GO Bond process and its town hall meeting.

Denver has committed to eliminating traffic deaths. Every person matters and traffic fatalities are preventable. As a part of this mission, Denver would like your feedback regarding the locations of streets, sidewalks, intersections, and all transportation points that should receive attention in the City.

Click here to show us the places that concern you or the places that you think are good examples for transportation and safety.

The Cheesman Park Advocacy Group is coordinating summer volunteers to help care for the beautiful rose gardens in the north and south areas surrounding the Cheesman Pavilion. Each volunteer would have a designated bed section to deadhead and weed from now until October. Tools and instructions will be provided.
No experience is necessary. If you are interested in maintaining the beauty of the park and meeting more neighbors, please send an email to Cheesman Park Advocacy Group at CPAG@CheesmanPark.org. You will be surprised at how many neighbors will thank you for volunteering your support.

Join the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (CBID) on August 12 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for the 2nd Annual Art-i-fax Street Party! Help celebrate Colfax through visual and performance art and enjoy local music, food, and drinks with your neighbors. Pay homage to the people and events that got Colfax to where we are, while also reflecting upon what kind of Colfax community we want to help create for the future.

 

This year, Art-i-fax will be held at the intersection of Park Avenue and Colfax with the section of Park Avenue from Colfax to Humboldt being closed for the event. This specific location is inspired by the Colfax BID Streetscape Plan and will be part celebration and part demonstration to help the community experience and visualize the space as a future plaza. The street party will incorporate some aspects and programming that could take place if the space were eventually turned into a public plaza. The CBID wants to walk away from the event with a clear vision of what the community wants to see in a space like this, so they need your feedback!

The Golden Triangle Creative District (“the Triangle”) is thrilled to announce a new event series: Final Friday Art Walks! From 5 – 9 pm each month, Final Fridays will give visitors, employees, and residents an after-hours opportunity to explore the many creative spaces in the neighborhood. Final Fridays aim to provide an accessible and fun way for visitors to engage with the quirky, cool, and sophisticated art that defines this eclectic neighborhood.

  

Denver Days was started five years ago to encourage people to get to know their neighbors and feel safer and more connected to their communities. This year’s Denver Days will take place from August 5 through the 13! Neighborhoods can host block parties with the city paying for the barricades, waiving park permit fees for picnics, and / or helping organize service projects.

To learn more or to register, visit www.denvergov.org/denverdays! 

Work on the final phase of the street construction project along Cherry Creek Drive South is well underway with an anticipated completion date in late October or early November. The removal of all the concrete through the project limits is now complete, as is the removal of the asphalt in the Cherry Creek Tower parking lot. Work on the landscaping water line and storm pipe utility has begun as well as construction on the new retaining walls at Cherry Creek Tower. Crews are prepping for concrete installation that will begin in July. A new traffic light will be installed at the Cherry Creek Drive South and Alameda intersection. Discussions continue with traffic engineering and pedestrian mobility on pedestrian crosswalks, reduced speed limits, and other traffic improvements.

 

For more information, please visit the project website.