1) What Will Be Built at MLK and Central Park Blvd?

On Denver’s Community Planning and Development website, the latest update for 8504 Martin Luther King Blvd. shows the project is still going through the Site Development Plan (SDP) process. The SDP was last submitted on April 19, 2021 and “resubmittal required” is noted. The project description is listed as follows: “The Price Development group is developing a five-story multifamily building in the Stapleton neighborhood along MLK drive and Central Park Ave. The development will consist of 288 units, including studios, one-, two- and three bedrooms. Amenities will include a sky lounge and an outdoor courtyard for tenant use. Parking will be provided in a wrapped garage that will be 5 stories. The site is zoned M-RX-5a.”

The Denver Planning website says “projects that have gone through the SDP process (essentially zoning entitlements, right-of-way improvements, stormwater/wastewater infrastructure review, etc) and received an approval allow the applicant to apply for building permits.” We’ll watch for updates.

2) CPB & I-70 Runway North & South Projects

An updated list of confirmed businesses for these developments was announced June 28. For Runway South (located SE of I-70 and Central Park Blvd.): 1) QuikTrip gas and convenience store; 2) Brandt Hospitality Group 4-story hotel with 106 rooms; 3) Superstar Car Wash. For Runway North (located NW of I-70 & CPB): 1) Chili’s casual dining; 2) PNC Bank with drive-thru ATM; 3) Raising Cane’s chicken finger restaurant, patio and drive-thru; 4) SCL Medical Group primary care facility; 5) Go Church worship and kids’ ministry.

3) Central Park Urban Living Condos

Councilman Chris Herndon speaks at the grand opening of 132 new income-restricted condos located at Central Park Blvd. and 36th Ave.

New owner Zack Gibson talks about the quality workmanship in his new condo.

The newly completed condos across the street from the Central Park Rail Station are now home to 132 homeowners who would otherwise have had a tough time in Denver’s housing market. At another time or in other locations, their jobs would enable them to afford middle class housing. At the opening event, Gete Mekonnen, Executive Director of Northeast Denver Housing Center, which pulled together the partners on this project, read some of the new owners’ occupations: accounts receivable specialist, tax examiner, program director, biomedical technician, Denver 9-1-1, small business owner, bus operator, utility worker, pharmacy technician, flight attendant. Qualified buyers earn below 80% of the area median income. For a single person that’s not more than $55,950 and for a household of three it’s $71,950. The project includes 51 one-bedroom and 81 two-bedroom homes. The City provided $2,640,000 in financing from the Affordable Housing Fund toward the $35.9 million project.

4) Are Your Maple Trees Dark Green and Healthy or Bright Light Green and Needing Help?

The tree on the right is an example of one that was turning bright light green and starting to yellow, but it turned back to dark green after chelated iron was added to the soil.

If your maple, oak and other trees don’t have dark green leaves, chances are that iron chlorosis, or lack of usable iron in the soil, is the culprit. Over time, these trees go from bright light green to yellow, then eventually die. Though Colorado soils tend to have sufficient iron, alkaline soils make it difficult for plants to absorb the iron, according to the Colorado State University (CSU) Extension office. Iron chelated with EDDHA or other options can be used to treat the soil. You can request a soil testing kit online, reach a master gardener and upload photos of problem trees at: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/ For more information, see: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2121-iron-chlorosis-trees/

5) More Airplane Noise in NE Denver Recently

DIA got an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant from the FAA to do maintenance and updates on Runway 16L/34R, a runway that is typically used in 40% of their operations, mostly departures, says Alex Renteria, DIA Public Information Officer. Maintenance at DIA is ongoing with annual AIP grants from the FAA, says Renteria, but with the airport now 25 years old, this grant triggered a major 6-month project. Concrete panels on the runway are being repaired and replaced as needed, all the lighting is being replaced with LEDs, and signage is being updated. The project on the 12,000-foot-long by 150-feet-wide runway started on May 17 and is expected to be completed in September. To accommodate this runway closure while maintaining the same level of flight operations, different runway configurations are now being used—and NE Denver residents are hearing more airplanes overhead.

Front Porch photos by Steve Larson