1.) Affordable Senior Housing

Kappa Housing, Inc. has received the tax credits needed to finance construction of a 70-unit senior housing project at Northfield and Central Park boulevards. Units will have 1- and 2-bedrooms. The apartments are being built for seniors 62 and older and persons with disabilities and incomes ranging from 30% to 60% of area median income. Construction is estimated to begin in summer of 2019, with completion by 2021.

2.) Diversity and Name Change Issues Raised in Stapleton’s Annual MCA Delegate Election

After many years when it was difficult to fill all the community delegate positions, this year, Stapleton Master Community Association (MCA) Executive Director Keven Burnett says there is actually competition for 8 of the 10 delegate seats.

This year the community group Rename St*pleton for All went to people they felt “would represent the community and be passionate about diversity and inclusivity and getting back to the Green Book’s initial ideals—and [address] some of the places we haven’t been successful like diversity and seamless boundaries,” says Genevieve Swift, Rename president. “And, frankly, the name is not in the spirit of the Green Book. We found eight passionate people who want to make a difference and get involved.” She says those delegates and the Rename group believe it’s not their place to choose a name—the community needs to choose it. But, she adds, they feel the name is “a huge barrier” to getting back to the Green Book (Stapleton Development Plan) ideals. Swift says the delegates and Rename St*pleton would be open and communicative with the community about how to participate in the process leading to a name change.

Burnett says there are two ways to change the name. The “express” way would be for a majority of delegates to agree on a new name and propose the change. If the Board accepts the recommendation, they would send it to Forest City, which has first right of refusal on a name change through 2022. If Forest City approved, the name “Stapleton” would then be legally removed and the community would be rebranded under a new name. Burnett says that while the process is available to the community, it would be lengthy and have a cost. He adds, however, that it most likely could be accomplished with discretionary funds, without a dues increase. The funds used for a name change and rebranding without a dues increase would be redirected from normal operations of the MCA in parks, pools and programs.

The other alternative for changing the name, and the only option after 2022, is for two-thirds of all property owners to vote in the affirmative for the change.

Ballots to vote for each district’s delegates were sent to all Stapleton addresses in late October. The ballots must be submitted in person or by proxy on or before the annual members’ meeting on Nov. 14.

3.) Forest City News: Final Land Purchases, Sale of Company

Forest City has almost completed the purchase of all Stapleton Airport land from DIA. They purchased 59.4 acres in late September, most of it between I-70 and Smith Road, with a 2-acre parcel at Havana and 51st Ave. Purchase of the final parcel, 5.98 acres just south of the RTD station in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) was expected in October but has not occurred. Forest City has until May 2019 to purchase the final acreage.

Forest City shareholders will be voting Nov. 15 on whether to approve the acquisition of Forest City by the Canadian company Brookfield Asset Management. Brian Fennelly, Forest City Vice President and Chief Financial Officer said at the October Citizens Advisory Board meeting that details about how the Stapleton office will be managed if the sale goes through are not known.

4.) New Middle School in North Stapleton

Meetings were held in October and will continue in early November so the community can learn about the three schools (Denver Green School, High Tech Elementary, and Beacon Network) that have applied to be the new middle school in north Stapleton. DPS has taken applications for community members to serve on the Placement Review Committee which, according to Maya Lagana, DPS Senior Director Portfolio Management, will have a 3:1 ratio of community members to DPS members. (And the committee appointing community members will itself have a majority of community members.)

On November 15 the Board will consider community feedback and DPS’ quality criteria in a vote to confirm the applicant programs to be considered by the Placement Committee. The committee members will be named by Oct. 31; the committee will then meet and make a recommendation by December 14. Community members can give feedback to the committee at cnqs@dpsk12.org or directly to DPS Board members (at board@dpsk12.org) through December 20, when the Board will vote on the final selection. Lagana says the Board has followed the Placement Committee recommendations in the prior two decisions on new programs. Board Member Jennifer Bacon says she believes the Board now has a practice of accepting the Placement Committee’s recommendations.

The new program will open in the 2019-20 school year at a temporary location in North Stapleton. The permanent location is expected to be at the Park Street Campus after construction of an addition to the Inspire Elementary building, but if Hi Tech Elementary is chosen, consideration may be given to expanding their existing facility.

5.) When will the Central Park Bridge open and when will MLK extension to Havana start?

Brian Fennelly, Forest City Vice President and Chief Financial Officer reported at the October Citizens Advisory Board meeting that there had been some delays on the Central Park Bridge and it is now expected to open mid-November.

Construction on the extension of MLK Blvd from Havana to Peoria is expected to start in November, said Fennelly.

6.) Fiscal Impact of Ballot Measures 109,110, 73

A special election version of Colorado Balancing Act lets taxpayers looks at the impact of Propositions 109 and 110 and Amendment 73. Voters in favor of Proposition 109 can look at the options for where they would cut $260 million. The simulation was produced by Engaged Public and CU’s School of Public Affairs. An announcement of the new simulation can be found at https://www.cudenvertoday.org/test-november-ballot-choices-with-colorado-budget-simulator/.

The simulation is at www.ColoradoBalancingAct.com.

7.) Superintendent Search Survey Results

Results of community meetings about the new DPS superinendent search were posted at supersearch.dpsk12.org. At the Sept. 11 meeting in northeast Denver (held at Denver School of the Arts), participants were asked, among other questions, to rank the most important quality a new superintendent must have. 65% said the new superintendent must address closing the academic achievement gap. 17% said it’s most important that the new superintendent must have a transparent and open budgeting process that prioritizes teacher salaries and direct service to students. 14% said ensuring graduates are ready for college or career was the most important quality.

8.) iPhone with iOS 12 Shows 911 Location

Ninety-five percent of calls to 911 are from cell phone users, but until the iOS update, call takers had to rely on a location description from the caller. With iOS 12, the 911 call center will now receive precise location information from iphones, enabling resources to be dispatched more quickly, according to Athena Butler, director of the 9-1-1 Communications Center.