Athmar Park

ORGAN GRINDER F I N A L L Y RAZED

May 20, 2004

ALAMEDA SQUARE UPDATE: GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

by Rick Taylor and Karen Cuthbertson

There has been good news and bad news concerning Alameda Square Shopping Center (ASSC) since the last newsletter.

The good news is the old Organ Grinder building, that has been vacant for more than a decade, has been torn down. The bad news is the city building department has not received an application for new construction at that site.

The bad news is that there is no plan for redevelopment of the entire center before the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA), including the previously proposed Wal-Mart. The good news is the Mayor, the Mayor?’s Office of Economic Development, the Denver City Council, and DURA have heard from hundreds of Athmar Park residents that redevelopment is a priority; and they are beginning to listen.

APNA held a public meeting concerning ASSC on March 6, 2004 at Rishel Middle School. Over 160 residents and business owners attended the meeting. 136 residents responded to a poll APNA conducted at the meeting; of which 120 people expressed a desire for redevelopment as a Wal-Mart Super Center, 17 wanted redevelopment as something other than Wal-Mart, and 1 opposed any redevelopment. The results of the survey were sent to the Mayor and City Council.

Supporters of redevelopment were mobilized to contact city government. Postcards addressed to Mayor Hickenlooper urging his support for redevelopment were distributed at the public meeting, and?—to date?—his office has received hundreds of them.

Petitions challenging the Mayor and his administration to focus much more effort on redeveloping the Square, were circulated among residents and business owners. APNA has handed these petitions in to the Mayor?’s Office; petitions with a total of 860 signatures from residents all across the City. In fact, over 28% of the signatures collected were from people who live farther than 1 mile away from Alameda Square.

The Mayor and City Council members have received an undermined number of letters, telephone calls, and e-mails. Athmar Park residents attended four consecutive City Council meetings in March wearing bright orange stickers advocating for redevelopment.

The good news is we have received the attention of City government. Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez has said that Alameda Square is her number one priority. DURA?’s Board of Directors assured APNA members who attended their April meeting that Alameda Square is a priority for them. At a City Council economic development committee meeting in early April, Councilmembers Rodriguez, Hancock, and Faatz expressed their desire for redevelopment.

A big ?“Thank You!?” to all who participated in petitioning city government. However, we need to maintain the momentum. If you want to see Alameda Square redeveloped, you have to let your elected officials know. It won?’t happen without your active participation in the process. Take a few minutes out of your day to contact them for a brighter future for Athmar Park.

?— Editor?’s note: Many thanks to Dan Clem of Printer?’s Ink (303-777-9498) who donated the printing of the postcard campaign.

We also have a story, by neighbor Jill Honnecke, about her impressions of attending a City Council meeting with APNA, in an effort to focus attention on the Alameda Square redevelopment issue.