Athmar Park

Want Wal-Mart? Act now! Support campaign: March 6th

Mar 12, 2004

If you want Wal-Mart,act now! Support campaign launches at March 6 meeting!

In the last issue of the Athmar Park neighborhood newsletter, we featured an article about Alameda Square redevelopment. There has been a little progress since then, but every single person reading this article must act NOW, if our neighborhood has any hope of a successful redevelopment.

First, we'd like you to know about what progress HAS been made. Two of the Alameda Square property owners have been actively looking for a suitable property that could house any of the current tenants who would like to relocate together. The former RTD maintenance facility south of Alameda on Santa Fe is one such property being considered. This exciting course of action would enable the current business owners to become property owners instead of leasees and has the support of the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Better still, no businesses or properties would have to be condemned for Wal-Mart to redevelop Alameda Square.

The owner of the old Organ Grinder appears to be continuing with his plans to redevelop his 0.75-acre parcel into a tiny strip mall. Contractually, this plan cannot go forward without the consent of the other two owners of the shopping center; and they want to sell.

Unfortunately, City officials continue to hear from more people who oppose the redevelopment of Alameda Square than from those of us who support it.

Most of the opposition has come from folks who live outside of Athmar Park and our surrounding neighborhoods. To ensure our voices are heard, a community meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, March 6th to inform residents about the redevelopment and its benefits to the surrounding neighborhoods and about what--specifically--you can do to help, from writing letters to joining our Alameda Square redevelopment Committee (to help with site plan issues), to placing a yard sign on your property and more.

The meeting will be held at the Rishel Middle School auditorium, 451 S. Tejon Street, on March 6th, from 10-11:30 am. A large turn-out at this meeting will send a loud message to City officials about what residents in this area really want. Please mark this date on your calendar and help bring this redevelopment to fruition. Watch the mail for a postcard with more details.

In the meantime, the other specific action APNA is asking of you is to let City officials know how you feel about an Alameda Square redevelopment. We cannot stress enough how important it is that you communicate with city hall on this issue. Remember the 2000 elections? Remember how close the popular vote was?

In this situation, as in 2000, every voice counts! Make yours heard. Write, email, fax, and/or call the following elected officials today:

Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 350
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 720-865-9000 Fax: 720-865-8791
MileHiMayor@ci.denver.co.us

Kathleen MacKenzie, Council District 7
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 432
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 720-865-8900 Fax: 720-865-8903
Kathleen.mackenzie@ci.denver.co.us

Rosemary Rodriguez, Council District 3
69 Knox Court
Denver, Colorado 80219
Phone: 303-922-7755 Fax: 303-937-4651
Rosemary.Rodriguez@ci.denver.co.us

Carol Boigon, Council At-Large
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 451
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 720-865-8100 Fax: 720-865-8103
Carol.boigon@ci.denver.co.us

Doug Linkhart, Council At-Large
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 451
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 720-865-8000 Fax: 720-865-8003
Doug.linkhart@ci.denver.co.us