"Stop picking on the white people!!!"

Or so a regular and active Hispanic attendee of the Cole Neighborhood Association meetings says from time to time. (Please note again, I do NOT represent or speak for CNA, nor am I a frequent attendee of their meetings. Again, my posts don't claim to be anything than my personal opinion)
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"Everydaylife" writes in the Denver City Data Forum: "We moved to the Cole/Whittier last year because we were looking for affordable housing close to downtown in an area that is turning around"

A reply from "Frank in Denver": "Turning around from what? Is socio-economically cleansing a neighborhood of those with less income and forcing them further out from the city core something to be proud of? What I often run into are young white couples who are very happy to say they are a part of "bringing the neighborhood back", which is in many ways a very racist perspective. Do you think everyone who lives in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"

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Anyone else catch the assumption that our friend Frank made here? Notice anywhere in Everydaylife's post where s/he says s/he's white? What, do no blacks or Hispanics move to Cole seeking affordable housing? Do no blacks or Hispanics hope the neighborhood changes from its checkered, crime-ridden past, to a cleaner, safer place to live? Wow, sounds like Frank is stereotyping here... And what would it matter if s/he was white, black, or any other race? Does a certain ethnic background allow you to have an opinion about your neighborhood, while another forbids you to?

Racism anyone?

"Kettle, it's the pot--You're black." (Pun intended)

No, of course, if anyone doesn't think Cole/Whittier is just perfect just the way it is, they simply must be an evil white person--Oh, and their opinion doesn't count. You know, those dangerous, Starbucks-wielding Caucasians. No self-respecting minority or lower income resident could ever want an affordable grocery store, more commerce within walking distance, more trees and beautification, less violence, or a safer place for their kids to live and play.

I for one would guess that "Everydaylife" is suggesting that Cole/Whittier is "turning around" because crime is decreasing, homes are getting cleaned and fixed up, and in general the area is becoming a safer place for all (white, black, Hispanic, ALL) to live.

But Cole/Whittier still have a major way to go (as evidenced by recent shootings a block from my house)--But instead of thinking about gang violence, assaults, and murders, Frank is already busy lamenting the socio-economic "cleansing" and "forcing" of lower income residents "further out from the city core".

While we're here, I do feel it's my duty to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure this neighborhood was originally Eastern-European, and Asian (I can't find a link to support this assumption, but this is what I've been told--Original Cole residents were workers brought in to build and maintain the railroad). So Frank, while you're fretting over displacement, why not shed a few tears for all the Poles and Czechs that somehow got "displaced" by the blacks and Hispanics that live here now. I'm actually part Czech--Should I start telling every black person I see that I'm pissed that they "took over the neighborhood" from my people, like somebody told my wife the white people are doing today?

Frank goes on to say "Do you think that everyone living in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"
Whoah, slow down there, Chachi. No, but I sure hear a lot of my neighbors, that have lived here for years and years and years, telling me how the neighborhood has changed for the better: That there are fewer gang-bangers and drug dealers, fewer shootings, less violence, and that they feel that the neighborhood is improving--And that they're glad about it.

Know the only person that I know that has gotten "displaced" in my 4 years here? My neighbor, a Hispanic guy that grew up in the Curtis Park projects. But it wasn't the evil Starbucks crowd that displaced him--He told me he moved out because the neighborhood hadn't changed enough yet as he thought it had when he moved in two years ago with his wife and kids. Where did he move? The Suburbs... where he didn't have to worry about shootings, gangs, and drugs.

Perhaps "Frank in Denver" should stop generalizing about what whites think and do, what the poor think and do, and actually get out "in Denver" and actually talk to some people that live in the communities in question.

I think he likely would be surprised how happy residents are about the progress the neighborhood is making, into a safer, cleaner, yet still ethnically diverse area. And how most residents, regardless of economic status, feel there is a long way to go yet. So much so that the number one reason minorities are leaving, is to find a better place to live--Not gentrification or displacement.

Will you find some that are fearful of gentrification? Sure, you will. But these same people are already reaping the benefits of the improvement in the area, whether they've realized it or not. Oh, and the "new neighbors" (as some "old neighbors" call the newer white residents) are responsible for a lot of it: As the Hispanic resident I mentioned first in this post said at one meeting, "It's the white people that clean up the trash... that plant trees... and clean up the graffiti..."

With vacant housing abundant in Cole, crime still a regular occurrence, and folks leaving not because they're being forced out, but because they seek a cleaner, safer neighborhood, perhaps we can stop beating up on the white people about gentrification for a while.

Playing Operator in Cole--With Very Negative Consequences

Remember that game you played in school where you whispered a phrase into someone's ear, and they whispered it in someone else's, and so on and so forth around the room, until it came back to you, inevitably altered beyond belief? What was it called... Operator?

Tonight there was some hubbub at the Down-and-Out (Downing) Super that drew about six police cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. I thought it was an accident, and didn't think much of it. When after almost an hour there were still officers there, and police tape up, I decided to see what was happening.

I decided to walk the dogs to have a legitimate reason to walk by the scene. The minute I exited my house, our neighbor, a 18-year-old long-time neighborhood resident, known for being the block gossip and exaggerator, called to me.

"You hear what happened? They robbed the liquor store. Somebody got shot!" As much as I should know better than believe her, I thought, crap, that's going to suck, if there was just a shooting on our block.

Who are they you ask? Well, Them, of course.

She was already on her cell phone calling all her friends to share the "news" as I walked away and towards two of the police cars blockading the street. As I approached the car, I asked the officers what just had happened.

"Oh, it was an Ag Assault. Two homeless guys got in a fight."

I asked, "Is everyone OK?"

"Yes."

"So there was no robbery, or shooting?"

The officer laughed. "Nope..."

I laughed as well. "Can't wait to share this with my neighbor. She told me there was a robbery and shooting at the liquor store."

He laughed again. "Nope..."

So in under 1/2 hour, two homeless guys in a fight (or some other weapon) was transformed into "They (again, who are they? Them, of course) robbed the liquor store, and somebody got shot". Who knows what the story will be tomorrow, or next week?

Why do I care? Well, this neighbor was the same person that told us the other day that "The Police Are Being Racial Again..." after a traffic stop on our block. She claimed that an innocent Hispanic family, including a pregnant woman, were stopped, yanked from their car, hand-cuffed, and thrown down on the sidewalk, face down. Of course, they were completely innocent and were only pulled over because they were Hispanic. She also claimed that when one of our neighbors came out with a camera to film the event, the police aggressively grabbed it from her and broke it.

How many people has she shared that likely gross distortion of facts with? Any wonder why some minority residents still think the police are out to get them? Or why so many people still feel that Cole is an unsafe place to live? We have enough of a challenge changing perceptions in Cole, without someone undoing all our progress by being careless with the facts, in the interest of being an expert or sounding cool with your friends.

Newsflash: Blackberries and Club Dynasty Out, Kiva Coming Back

Just got word from a friend involved in the leadership of one of the neighborhood associations and it sounds like Blackberries and Club Dynasty are out at the old Tosh's building on Downing Street. Can't say I didn't expect this. My best guess was that they would go out of business before February.

More interesting, is it sounds like Kiva is coming back... with some scaled back hours, but with pretty much the same concept, menu, etc.

I know I've been a bit hard on Kiva previously, but I think this is great news. Especially after seeing what other enterprises could occupy that building, I am pretty thrilled that Kiva will be back, and wish them the best.

I also hope that they learned from some of their shortcomings so that they will be here to stay with some better menu items, and a sustainable business plan.

Welcome back Kiva Restaurant!

Denver Digs Free Street Trees for 2009

Cole, Whittier and several other surrounding Metro neighborhoods have been selected once again for free street trees from Denver Digs.

No secret why planting more trees in our largely barren 'hood just makes sense. Beautification, shade, or even just blocking your view of the crackhouse across the street.

How many trees can you get planted on your block? Imagine the difference they'd make. Last year a couple folks on our block got 13 trees planted. Amazing.

To learn how you, or some of your neighbors can get a free street tree (or perhaps several) visit the Denver Digs website, or contact them at 303.722.6262 or info@theparkpeople.org. I'm sure they're also looking for volunteers.

The deadline for submission of tree applications is March 16.

Los Angeles Times: Graffiti study bolsters 'broken windows' theory

I came across an interesting article that adds newfound support to the "Broken Windows" theory of law enforcement. In all reality, while some local activists argue otherwise, the Denver Police Department practices a multi-pronged aproach in Cole that at best loosely borrows select elements from Broken Windows (CompStat resource allocation and an emphasis on graffiti abatement, for example).

Where I think the article is most relevant to Cole, is in illustrating what I have said all along--Basically, that disorder (trash, graffiti, public drunkenness, unkempt businesses and properties) breeds disorder, by reducing the instinct to "act in a socially responsible manner" as they put it--I think many residents look around at the trash and graffiti in our neighborhood and think "No one else cares about this neighborhood, why should I?" Keeping our neighborhood free of trash and graffiti just makes sense.

I also find the comment by Bernard Harcourt, a long-time critic of Broken Windows, downright shocking in how it minimizes the severity of such crimes as vandalism and theft. While Harcourt suggests we "don't care about those kinds of trivial... acts," I for one do care about them, and will do whatever is in my power to reduce their occurrence in Cole--Whether one believes in the tie-in between disorder and more serious crimes like assault and murder or not, I would hope they would agree with me on that point at least.

But enough from me, here is the article:
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In a series of real-world experiments, people exposed to graffiti, litter and other cues of lawlessness were more likely to commit small crimes, according to a study published today that bolsters the controversial "broken windows" theory of policing.The idea is that low-level offenses like vandalism and panhandling create an environment that breeds bigger crimes. According to the theory, authorities can help head off serious violence by keeping minor infractions in check.
Dutch researchers tested the psychological underpinnings of the theory and found that signs of social disorder damped people's impulse to act for the good of the community, allowing selfish and greedy instincts to take over. The results appear in the journal Science.Community policing strategies based on the "broken windows" theory have taken root in cities across the U.S. and around the world since it was proposed in 1982. Most famously, New York City saw a 50% reduction in crime in the 1990s after then-Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and then-Police Commissioner William J. Bratton -- now head of the Los Angeles Police Department -- cracked down on squeegee-wielding panhandlers and the like. They credited the "broken windows" approach for their success.
An array of social scientists examined the city's crime statistics, and many of them concluded that factors like the booming economy and decline of crack cocaine were actually responsible for the dramatic improvement.Kees Keizer, a graduate student at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, thought psychology and sociology could add to the debate. Human behavior is influenced by three competing instincts: to act in a socially appropriate manner, to do what feels good in the moment and to maximize one's resources. Keizer predicted that when there's less motivation to be socially appropriate, the other two impulses would take over.To test this, he attached fliers for a fake sportswear store to the handlebars of bicycles parked in a shopping area. With no trash can nearby, shoppers returning to their bikes could either take the fliers with them or litter.A wall near the bicycles had a sign indicating that graffiti was forbidden. When the wall was indeed graffiti-free, 33% of people left the fliers on the ground or attached them to other bikes. After Keizer painted graffiti on the wall, the percentage of litterers rose to 69%. Keizer said littering jumped because the socially appropriate instinct -- to deposit the flier in a trash can -- was overtaken by the feel-good instinct to let someone else throw it away.In other experiments, the presence of four shopping carts strewn about a parking lot in violation of posted signs boosted the percentage of people who littered to 58%, from 30%. The sound of illegal fireworks increased the percentage of litterbugs near a busy train station to 80%, from 52%.To see whether social disorder would induce citizens to steal, Keizer left an envelope containing 5 euros (about $6.26) hanging conspicuously from a mailbox. When the mailbox was clean, 13% of passersby stole the envelope. When the mailbox was surrounded by trash, the percentage jumped to 25%, and when the mailbox was covered in graffiti, it rose to 27%. "It is quite shocking that the mere presence of litter resulted in a doubling of the number of people stealing," Keizer said. James Q. Wilson, the political scientist who developed the "broken windows" theory with George L. Kelling, said the Netherlands experiments bolstered his hypothesis."If public authorities worry about order, it affects the way people behave," said Wilson, now the Ronald Reagan Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University in Malibu. But Bernard Harcourt, a professor of law and criminology at the University of Chicago who has done studies debunking "broken windows," said Keizer's scenarios were too quaint to take seriously."We don't care about those kinds of trivial, manipulated delinquent acts," he said. "What we care about is violence."

See the article in its entirety here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-graffiti21-2008nov21,0,3090727.story

Cole Resident Sandy Douglas Recognized as one of "Denver's 150 Unsung Heroes"

From the Rocky Mountain News:

Sandy Douglas

The 24-year Cole neighborhood resident helped found its neighborhood association in 1999 and was integral in getting the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up contamination caused by old smelting plants in the Cole, Clayton and Elyria Swansea neighborhoods under the Superfund program.
Douglas was instrumental in launching the Central Denver Community Court and in developing the concept of restorative justice for youth offenders. For the duration of the court's existence, from 2003 to 2007, she managed the Youth Opportunity and Community Advocacy programs. Douglas also operates the Youth Development Partnership, a mentoring and leadership program, out of her home.
Douglas is also the outreach coordinator for the Denver Art Museum, connecting with underserved communities.

Congrats, Sandy, and thank you for all your hard work on behalf of North East Denver, and Cole.

Effective Policing, or Racial Profiling?

http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2543

Matthews Center Controversy Makes The News

http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2344

Another house improving on the block?

Workers just spent the weekend putting a fresh coat of paint on one of the remaining "problem houses" on our block. The owner of the home is trying to sell the house, in an obviously challenging market.

The paint job was much needed--Here's hoping it helps him sell the place to some responsible home-0wners that are yet another brick in the increasingly solid foundation of our neighborhood.

For those of you keeping score, that is five houses and a duplex that have been fixed up on our block since we moved to Cole in fall of '05... Very encouraging!

Just what we need... another homeless shelter...

Anyone else out there think Cole, Whittier, Five Points, Curtis Park, etc., have done our share in terms of hosting social services facilities? Anyone else think it's time they start building these facilities, though important, somewhere else in Denver?

Anyone out there aware of the Bo Matthews Center project to build a large residential facility for the homeless and ex-cons in our neighborhood?

You're likely not, because they (and the city) have been working on this project since last summer, without actively involving those that will be affected most by the project--The residents.

While it's true that the Bo Matthews Center is already operating social services at the site, (ex-con transition programs, I think, and transitional residences, I think) and they claim they will just be able to better house and serve the existing "customers" but won't be increasing the scope of their operations, in my opinion building a fancy new facility will just mean they'll be here forever--When I am hoping to see facilities like this begin to disappear as the neighborhood continues to change.

It's still a bit fuzzy what exactly happened--But it sounds like The Matthews Center was awarded approval for city funding last summer to build a 28- to 30-unit residential facility for the homeless and ex-cons, where their current center is at 3030 Downing. The facility currently has housing for veterans and recent releases from the department of corrections. This project allows them to build a proposed three story building at Downing and MLK--And better yet, with $$$ from the city!!!

How is this going to affect the revitalization of the Downing corridor? Think it will attract new businesses and residents? Yeah, right.

I attended a public meeting with the organization this past Saturday, and it was quite heated. Why? Because the vast majority of the folks in the room seem clear that nothing short of a net decrease in these types of facilities will be progress in the area. This are has long been the "dumping ground" for social services, and I have to say, I was excited to hear that I wasn't the only one that says ENOUGH.

The good news is that it sounds like they need to get a signed neighborhood agreement in order to obtain the city funding--Which at this point I don't know if they'll get. Additionally, I'm happy to say that it appears that our city Councilwoman Carla Madison didn't initially sign the approval for this property when it came up for discussion. Additionally, she has made it clear that she too opposes any new social services coming to her district.

Why we didn't hear about this sooner is still a mystery...

Want more information on the project?

matthewscenter@msn.com

And be sure to voice your opinion on the topic to our City Councilwoman, Carla Madison:

carla.madison@denvergov.org

And finally, be sure to contact the leaders of your neighborhood association to be involved in any future meetings...

Not just Blackberries, "Club Dynasty"?

Just found an article by Westword on the business(es) going in at the "old" Kiva and Tosh's building on Downing Street:

http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2008/10/from_toshs_hacienda_to_kiva_to.php

Interesting doesn't do it justice...

Also a good history of the building...

Kiva Restaurant is now Blackberries Bar and Grill

A friend stopped by our house today mentioning that he thought he saw some new "happy hour 4-7" signs on Kiva's building.

Wondering what the heck was going on, I headed over there tonight--To find the parking lot packed (at least Kiva packed). Bass rattled the windows of the normally serene Kiva dining room--And it was only 6PM. Yup, something had changed.

Still Kiva signs outside, but when you walk into their foyer, you see a "Blackberies Bar and Grill" menu where there used to be a Kiva one. Walk up the stairs, and you're greeted with a strobe light and a dance floor where the Kiva dining room once was. I bore right (as usual at Kiva) and headed for the bar.

Again, pretty crowded (at least Kiva crowded) and really, really loud (just like Kiva, turn the freakin' music down a little bit!!!) Sat at the bar and after a couple minutes began chatting with Deidre, the bartender.

Turns out Marty, the owner of Kiva (and Exdo), as I had heard he hoped to, had sold the building. Voila! No more Kiva, but something (potentially) better (we'll wait and see). Had no idea things would move this fast. Turns out tonight was their first night open.

Interesting menu--Bar food: Chicken fingers, Shrimp Tempura, Wings, etc., etc. A couple salads. Burgers. Fajitas. We'll wait and see what the final menu is like and how the food quality is.

I ordered tempura shrimp, but then learned they hadn't prepped any. So, Deidre offered me a free order of calamari. Though, OK, I guess...

It was a bit of a wait, but heck--First night, of course they're figuring things out--the calamari came out piping hot, of adequate quality (especially for their first try) and the marinara sauce on the side tasted above grade for what you typically get at bars, with a nice garlicky bite.

I left after that point, around 6:30 PM. Wondered how dead the place was going to get once the cheap drinks expired at 7PM.

Interesting to see what happens with this place. They're affiliated with Blackberries Coffee over on Welton. Have heard lukewarm things about that place, but never went there myself so don't know if that place was any good.

They're clearly ambitious, like Kiva--Open 10:30 AM every morning, and it appears they're going to try to attract a late night crowd with the dance floor. In Cole? Good luck...

Happy hour is decent. $2 domestics; $3 wine and wells, $5 Long Islands. Will have to see how the food quality stacks up, the service is, and of course, how deep the owners' pockets are to weather the storm necessary to get some momentum and profitability here.

Will I go back? Heck yes. We need businesses like this here. I'll give them my business and loyalty just like I did Kiva. Here's hoping their vision, and their sustainability eclipses that of their predecessors.

Please--Give 'em a try, and tell your friends of our newest local restaurant.

Just an observation...

Anyone else notice that the same locals here that can't afford a lawnmower to keep the weeds down, can't afford water to keep their trees from dying, and that don't care that their home is in a perpetua state of deterioration, can find money to pimp out their homes extravagantly for Halloween?

Downing Super Closing?

Just got wind of a rumor that the Downing Supermarket (or the "Down And Out Super" as I call it) might be closing!

This could be great news for the neighborhood if it's true! That is assuming someone else would move in... which I would think someone would have to...

I think the Cole Neighborhood Association is actively working on some sort of commerce feasibility study to help attract new businesses... Sure would be nice to see a Sunflower Market (probably dreaming here) or at least a King Sooper or something there. If you're excited about this prospect, I recommend contacting the CNA to make your voice be heard.

Folks in this neighborhood deserve better selection and prices than that store offers. Here's hoping the rumor is true.

Kiva Restaurant Closes down

Well, what has at times seemed the inevitable for over two years, Kiva Restaurant has closed. I rode my bike by the other Monday--Usually their busiest day of the week other than Drunk Kiva Sundays due to their quite inventive "parents night out" (where they provided free child care for parents dining out)--and was shocked to see no cars on the street or in the parking lot. On the front door, a brief note awaited: "Kiva has closed. Please see website for more information."

So, of course I headed home to learn more about what finally did them in. Here is the eloquently written notice I found:


"KIVA HAS CLOSED

Dear Guests,We would like to thank you for your ongoing support, unfortunatly we have made the decision to close the restaurant. If you have any questions regarding the buisness, tetentitive events, or are a vendor, please use the information page on this site or leave a message at the restaurant directly at 303-832-5482 and we will get back to you as soon as possible."

This message is so "Kiva." Just not right, like the way they terribly mis-managed their business the entire time their doors were open.

Don't get me wrong--I went there frequently and supported them in any way I could, as that building is such a blessing to the neighborhood, and we need an "anchor" business. And they were friendly enough; I truly wanted them to succeed--But they just never seemed to get it.

The food was uneven, largely unremarkable and occasionally substandard. The service even worse--the only consistent thing about their tenure in Cole Whittier. Again, friendly service, but it took forever to get service pretty much any time you were there.

They were running a new promotion every week it seemed--Free breakfast, fliering local bars, partnering with local organizations--But never seemed to understand that it didn't matter how many people you put in the restaurant for their first visit--You needed them to come back. And their service, consistently frustrating and slow, didn't do them any favors in this regard.

And their limitless discounting to put people in the door--$2 Kivaritas and free taco bar? $2 drinks on Sundays? How do you expect to stay in business when the only times you have a busy restaurant are during happy hour when you have cheap parasites sucking down drinks you don't make a dime on?

It always amused me when I'd walk in and see the "Best of Denver" signs claiming someone nominated them for "best happy hour" or "best tacos" in Denver, asking you to vote to help them win. I understand trying to promote your business to get some traction, but come on--No one but an employee would ever vote for Kiva for best anything.

We all went there because we wanted to love it, we wanted to love it so damned much, and wanted to help them become to be the neighborhood hangout they thought they were, and we wanted them to be. But if they weren't close, and weren't cheap, we wouldn't have gone as much as we did. Heck, even that wasn't often enough to get us to brave the imminent horrid, inattentive service and uneven food quality.

I need to let it go. No use worrying about why Kiva seems hell bent on shooting themselves in the foot now. So my last meal at Kiva will have been lunch on Tuesday of last week--When my wife and I waited 25 minutes for a couple of sandwiches, and then had to chase down our server to pay our bill in order to complete our dining experience in a timely manner. Farewell, Kiva.

What will happen to the building? Who knows. I can't imagine it will remain vacant, with how much potential it possesses, and how far the neighborhood has come in even the two years Kiva occupied it. I'm sorry to see them go, but hopefully someone that actually understands how to run a successful restaurant will replace Kiva as our neighborhood gathering place.

Denver Partners Against Graffiti Rules

Folks,

Do you hate graffiti as much as I do? I hate it so much I think we should consider implementing some sort of medieval or middle eastern punishment for graffiti painting. Cut off a gang-banger's hands and I'm pretty sure you won't be seeing his signature painted on a dumpster near you anytime soon. But that's another story...

I just wanted to share with the rest of the barrio that the folks at Denver Partners Against Graffiti (DPAG) have been just stellar as of late in addressing graffiti in our neighborhood. The Downing Street alley between Bruce Randolph and 35th has been particularly nasty in the last couple months (pretty sure it's due to a neighbor of mine and his little punk friends) and as such I've had to call DPAG at least four times to re-paint the dumpsters on that block. They literally get there within two days and get the stuff painted over.

They're even getting pro-active now in cleaning the stuff up--For example, when you used to call in a specific address, they'd come out and clean it up, but if there was graffiti right next to it on a dumpster or light pole, they'd ignore it. Not only that, they didn't even have an inspector to follow up on complaints--They just sent out a request for removal of the graffiti to the homeowner, and if they didn't respond, nothing happened. Not anymore.

Now, it seems that they're (finally) keeping their eyes open coming and going from specific addresses, and removing and documenting other graffiti when they see it. I know, it sounds obvious, but this is the city of Denver we're talking about and I'm darned surprised and thankful they're that on-the-ball now.

So there you go folks... can't blame graffiti on the city anymore. You've just got to call it in or report it through the DPAG website.

And while I have no life and in all honesty have a lot of time on my hands relative to most folks, I can't cover the entire neighborhood. If we each take our block (or two) and are diligent about calling in the tagging when it happens, we all win, by each doing our own little part.

And trust me, it's worth it--The faster you get graffiti removed, the less likely the little idiots are to come back and tag it again--It may take a few times, but you can win the battle and the war, at least on your block--But you have to be diligent, and call the stuff in.

Rain? Please?

Here we are in late July in the driest year on record in Denver proper. Cole Neighborhood, with its relative lack of mature trees, grass, and other vegetation, doesn't need any help looking barren and dry. When can we expect some freakin' rain?It sprinkled today--Honest. I was out watering the grass this evening and I felt a drop--one drop--on my arm. That was it.Pretty ironic to me that I moved here from Tucson to get out of the desert heat and dryness. Here's the kind of moisture Tucson has gotten recently from their monsoon.What I wouldn't give for a rain like that in Denver to green everything up.

Solving the homeless problem (for a weekend) in Denver

Have you gotten wind of the city's plan (apparently supported by the Colorado Coalition For the Homeless) to provide bus and movie tickets, even tickets to the zoo, to make sure when the world spotlight is on our wonderful city, people don't see the chronic homeless problem?Seriously--Tickets to the zoo--Don't believe me? Read more here.My favorite quote is this, from none other than the president of the Coalition, John Parvensky:"If they don't want to get caught up in the protests or demonstrations, we'll find other activities that will keep them busy."Yeah, right. You're acting to protect the homeless from the hubbub of the DNC. Not to hide the city's homeless problem, right?I'm an "evil conservative" but even I know that the last thing on the radar of the Denver homeless community is trying to find a quiet place to set up their cardboard box during DNC week. They don't know where they're going to get their next meal, or how they're going to turn their lives around people--A token trip to the zoo won't make one bit of difference in their lives. I'm pleasantly surprised to see that I'm not the only one that sees through this thinly-veiled strategy by the city.I mean, hmm... let me think, how else could we spend that ticket money? Perhaps for FOOD or MEDICAL CARE for these forgotten souls? Even a coupon for a free gut-buster Chipotle burrito would be a more meaningful gesture--That is, if you sincerely were acting with benevolence towards the homeless population.But it clearly isn't about making a real difference--It's never been about actually addressing the problem, despite annual grandstanding on the topic by the democratic mayor in office each year.This is all about PR. And perhaps, maintaining the facade of "the party of change." Makes me want to puke.While you're at it, why not buy all the gang-bangers, crackheads and dealers, and graffiti-painters a ticket to the zoo too?And while we're at it, why not buy them a bus ticket to El Paso or something? Why just hide 'em during the DNC? I'm sure Chickenlooper would be quick to call all the local press to bloviate about yet another self-perceived profound change he's championed in Denver.Is this "change you can believe in?"

Typical Dog Walk in Cole

Ahhh... the sights and sounds of Cole.Took the dogs for a walk late last night on what turned out to be more of the same as far as this neighborhood goes. A few highlights:
A bunch of nice people out watering their lawns. More and more folks are sprucing up their yards, despite the near-record drought we're experiencing.
A few folks sitting on their porch that were less-than-friendly and potentially unsavory characters. I say hi to everyone, but it's pretty interesting when someone won't even respond to efforts to be friendly.
Two kids on bikes that I'm pretty sure were gang-bangers or at least out looking for trouble
A couple of crowds of neighborhood kids (Cole has some of the best kids, at least until they get older) wanting to learn about the dogs. Really sweet kids.
A guy speeding through the neighborhood in his Lincoln Navigator with mariachi music playing so loud it made windows on the houses he passed rattle, stopping smack in the middle of the street to proposition me to breed my dogs with his. (Not a walk goes by without someone asking to buy or breed our dogs.)
My crazy neighbor, who happened to be visiting friends (or perhaps her drug dealer) that as usual yelled "Mind 'yo bidness!!!" when she saw me (because she thinks I'm out to get her and the only person on the block that calls the cops).

My neighbor said the other day that "there's always a story" that comes with going for a walk in Cole. True dat.

Just Visiting, or here for the long run?

We just got some "new neighbors"--figuratively (as many African-Americans in Cole/Whittier refer to white people) and literally.They bought the house right next door. Last year at this time we had nice Mexican neighbors that didn't take care of their house, and wouldn't call the cops when crime was occurring on the block. Today, we have nice white neighbors that take care of their house and have already called the cops when they witnessed some 'hood shenanigans. I'm not ashamed to say that I think we made out pretty well in that trade.Don't get me wrong, I loved our old neighbors--They were a very sweet family and had great kids and grandkids--The best on the block in fact--but their house was a blemish on an otherwise improving block. And while I feel bad that their home went into foreclosure, no one forced them to borrow $25k against their house in a risky ARM. Oh, the good and bad of gentrification.Our new neighbors are interestingly enough the second white family to move here from the mountains since we've lived here. Part of me honestly wonders "What the feck were you thinking leaving the peace and quiet of the mountains for the barrio?" But I know the answer. $4 a gallon gas and the promise of a 5 minute commute. Lots of what drew us here (though we actually were pretty forward thinking since we re-urbanized before it was chic to do so).The night before they moved in was a classic example of the drama you rarely see in the suburbs, but see quite regularly in the city. Still don't know exactly what happened, but it involved two Mexican families, a bunch of shouting of "East Side" and "South Side," one of the families emptying out of their rented house into the street carrying two-by-fours, and then no less than six police cars. And I had a front-row seat. You could pay money for this kind of entertainment in Vegas I'm sure, but I get it every week for free. It Cole's version of West Side Story. Historia del lado oeste perhaps.All I kept thinking when I watched it all unfold was "I'm sure glad they close on their new house tomorrow." And thank Chickenlooper, when they drove up in their yuppie-car caravan the next day to unload all their stuff, lo and behold, it was a quiet night in Cole.We love our new neighbors--They're really nice, they keep a good house, they're not selling the rock, you know, all the basics. But we do worry how much they can really take of Cole before they become at best disenchanted, at worst, "former" residents.Cole is changing, no doubt, but you couldn't pick much more of a contrast from the mountains. It's like eating tofu burgers for ten years and then suddenly switching to the Baconator.In the mountains they worried about bears; here they worry about gang bangers and crack dealers. There they awoke to fresh, cool air and the sound of wind in aspens; here they will quickly learn how to identify when the Purina plant is cookin' up horses (or whatever they put in their dog food) and the sound of the ghetto bird.You get the idea. How much will they be able to take before they, like me clearly, have soured on all the bullshit that comes with living in the city?I hope a lot. Because sure enough, the third day they were here, they saw our punk-ass neighbor kid selling rock with his "homeys". Welcome to the 'hood, neighbors.

More On The Daniael Lujan Apology

If you haven't watched the News 2 interview of Curtis Park shooter Daniel Lujan, you've got to.It just shows how twisted these idiot gang-bangers really are:
The kid says the shooting was "unintentional" and he's clearly remorseful about shooting the little girl. However, he's an admitted member of the Oldies 13 Mexican-Mafia affiliated gang that has no qualms about shooting anyone else. He was carrying a gun for a reason, and describes pulling out his gun to shoot as I would describe pulling out my cell phone to call someone. Who knows who this punk has already killed in his life? Who knows how many innocent and complicit people they as a group have killed in the last ten years?
He says "What was I supposed to do?" in justifying him pulling his pistol and spraying bullets at another gang-banger and hitting the little girl. What were you supposed to do? Well, for starters, not be in a gang. Second, not carry a gun. Third, not take your family over to gang-infested Curtis Park to chill with other idiot gang members that might shoot you. That's what you were supposed to do.
He now says he wants to help the family of the little girl. "I'll be her big brother," he says. Yeah, I'm sure there's nothing the girl's family would like better than to have an admitted gang banger and shootist take her under his wing and teach her about the world--In his twisted, violent, criminal understanding of it. Who says children today don't have role models?

What's happening in urban Denver? (From June 27th)

I just found out that my neighbor's cat, that I gave to him, was set on fire this morning while in his back alley. I can't even begin to describe how pissed and horrified I am right now. But it's just another incident in a very disheartening couple of weeks.June 15th an apparent gang-banger shot another gang-banger on 35th and Marion (less than a block away from my house).Two days later, I was sitting on my front porch when a thuggish-looking kid walking by threatened to shoot me (posturing as if he had a gun in his back belt) because my dog barked at him once.Then, last Friday, an 8 year-old girl got caught in the cross-fire of an apparent drug and/or gang-related shooting in Curtis Park. (The shooter, Daniel Lujan, gave a downright ridiculous apology: "I never meant to hit that little girl." Not to be confused with apologizing for being a little gang-banger punk up to no good and shooting his gun at the intended target at a public park.) He put himself and his family in jeopardy by being involved in drugs and/or gangs, otherwise he wouldn't have had to fire his gun in "self defense."Then, Early Sunday morning, there was another shooting in LoDo, where a guy involved in some sort of gunfight turned a shotgun on cops--Then, when he got shot by police, his buddy picked up the shotgun and took up where he left off. Of course, even though both the guys shot had criminal records (and were shooting at cops with a shotgun they had in their position in downtown Denver) one of their family members is pointing the finger at police for their death. Get frickin' real people.But it's all OK--Our impotent mayor Chickenlooper called the Denver media together to grandstand about how "violence won't be tolerated in Denver." Our cops are great, and are doing the best they can with what they have, but it's not working Mr. Mayor. We need help, or the city is going to spiral out of control.It's clearly going to be a very busy and deadly summer in metro Denver. (Though it's not just Denver, did you hear about the unbelievable drug-related shootout in Phoenix recently?)What do most of these incidents have in common (and the one in Phoenix)? Drug and Gang connections; and in many of them, illegal immigrants. What is Chickenlooper, the state government, or Jorge Bush, Juan McCain, or Nobama prepared to do about the pervasive gang problem in Denver and across the country?Or, in a more basic sense, What the hell is wrong with these people?Two houses on our block just got flipped and have new, responsible residents moving in. I see joggers, cyclists, and people walking their dogs more and more every week. Cole, Whittier, and Curtis Park have all been voted as "the next hot Denver neighborhoods". And, Chickenlooper is proud to point out that crime is down in Denver.But I've never been more concerned about the current state of our neighborhood's safety and crime situation.

Front Porch Ramblings

It's 12:30 PM and I should be in bed with my wonderful wife. However, something about the clear, calm Denver night inspired me to head out to our front porch to enjoy the evening weather.This likely won't be the most succinct, nor the most focused post of the history of this blog.Those of you that read the previous version of it, The Cole Neighborhood Memoirs, know I frequently headed down controversial roads. Roads that generated so many negative comments that I at one point deleted my entire blog and its history of posts.But, as mentioned previously in the offspring of that original Cole Neighborhood blog, I am back, and dedicated to continue to speak my mind in spite of the few critics that in the past I succumbed to.I don't think I'm a bad person... though there were some that read my accounts of life in Cole Neighborhood that thought otherwise. However, I'm the first to admit that I, like everyone, voice an opinion and depict an experience that has been shaped by my background. A background of spending my first 20 years in the sheltered and egocentric culture of rural Michigan. A community that had five African-American residents out of about 1200. A culture, like most, that was shaped by the experiences of its residents.I spent a year and a half at the University of Michigan, where I experienced my first dose of multi-culturalism. I experienced a microcosm of being part of a minority population still only at the campus rec center, where I fought for equality in terms of my basketball skills among the far more gifted blacks that clearly considered the basketball courts their venue to vent their subconscious bitterness and sense of latent oppression on me and my white friends.I don't say this to play any sort of victim card, only to explain my background.I then moved to Arizona, in search of warmer climates. 8 years later, and no more culturally educated, I relocated to Denver, where I now call home.Cole (and a stint in Highlands, before it became the Caucasian haven of urban Denver) has really been the institution that has educated me about the African-American and Latino cultures. And I'm the first to admit I'm still seeking proficiency and graduation; and that I am likely carrying a GPA of around a C-.Why am I writing this? I'm afraid I don't even know.I'm now 35, and very grateful for the opportunity I've been given to experience what I have in three very unique parts of the country. I look forward to what I'll be able to experience and learn in however many years I'll be privileged to stay on this Earth.As I think I've expressed in previous posts, I don't live in Cole because I think it's the premier neighborhood to live in in Denver. When my wife and I got to the point in life where we decided we should consider buying a home (back in 2005), we undertook an extensive and analytical search for where we should invest our money, and our energies.Trust me, if we had been in a better financial position, we likely would have moved to Lakewood, Golden, or some other area surrounding Denver proper. An area that would offer a more peaceful existence, without the challenges any urban resident can relate to.We bought in Cole for several reasons. One, because we saw what had happened in the Highlands, where we rented for several years. For the first three years there, we fought the same problems we do now: Graffiti, drug dealings, theft, and the occasional gang-related violence. For three years we worried about the cars that stopped in front of our duplex were there for unsavory reasons; then suddenly we were astonished at the number of Audis and Volvos that were drawn to the block as it was redeveloped. By that point, we had been priced out of the market.We moved to Cole out of selfish, though I feel legitimate reasons of buying a home that met out needs and our price range.However, in doing so, we turned back the clock three years to have to deal once again with being forced to be the watchdogs of our block: Fighting drug users and drug dealers that were accustomed to having the run of the neighborhood.We have made many friends, though some enemies, by making it clear that this type of behavior was unacceptable. The first year we lived here we had crack-heads knocking on our door seeking handouts; had individuals urinating on our front curb, crack-heads walking up and own our street whistling, seeking a "friend" to satisfy their addiction; and being singled out as the "white people that called the cops". We still hold that dubious distinction with a few of our neighbors.However, I constantly marvel about how far our block, and our neighborhood has come in the three years we have been here. When we moved here, we had the second nicest home on our block. (This is after the developers that we bought our home from had flipped a dilapidated crack-dealing home into the cute Victorian we purchased). Since that time, four out of 18 of the residences on our block have been completely renovated; and at least three of the other properties have changed ownership and become better managed and more valued properties.This all happened before the current energy crisis and trend of reurbanization had taken hold.What caused this regenesis of Cole? In all likelihood we purchased here when the first seeds of the current economic and urban climate were being sown, and we didn't even know it. Perhaps we were smarter than we thought we were in eschewing the patterns all our friends were taking in perpetuating the decades-long white flight to the suburbs, But now we find ourselves in a pretty good situation relative to many that bought homes during the famous "housing bubble" when property values were increasing at incredible rates and credit was available to anyone with a pulse.We still have a love-hate relationship with our neighborhood. We love the classic, historic architecture; the sense of history that often overshadows the other trials and tribulations; the diversity that makes Highlands Ranch and Cherry Creek look like some affluent or Caucasian exclusive country club development; and the relationships that we've forged with our Hispanic and black neighbors that have forced us to become better citizens.But I'd be lying if I told you that we haven't grown tired of being characterized as the "do-gooders" or the rich people on the block (who inevitably are the source for financial support, food, or assistance, regardless of the fact that since we bought our home 20 years after most of the residents here means that we likely have just as much month left at the end of our money as most of our more senior neighbors). Or having to be vigilant to police our block against the opportunistic parasites that seem convinced they can perpetuate the tradition of Cole as the place where you can sell drugs, solicit prostitution, or simply treat the neighborhood as some forgotten step-child of urban Denver where public drunkenness, littering, and crime are the norm.Why do I write about this? I don't know, actually. Maybe the reasons are two-fold. One, to paint an accurate picture of where Cole is now--In a profound transition. This isn't Highlands Ranch (Thank God!!!). If that is what you're looking for, but you're looking for a bargain price on a home, look elsewhere.However, I also write this as an advertisement to current and prospective Cole residents. To let you know that there is a committed, and growing contingence of residents that are going to ensure the continued progress of the neighborhood. Especially with today's environment of high energy costs and reurbanization, Cole is, and will be, for the right people, a fantastic place to live.We just need help. We need more residents (not just home-owners) that want to be a part of a historic change, even a regenesis, of this area. It has happened in other parts of Denver, and all over America, and it is happening now. White, African American, Black, Asian, whatever you are, if you are willing to put a little of your vitality and energy into the neighborhood in which you live, I can't think of another area in Denver that is a better place to live.But know when you move here, change doesn't happen by itself. Action and commitment on behalf of the residents of Cole is what will make it happen. Just moving here and expecting to sell your home in 2 years for a fat profit isn't only unrealistic, it is irresponsible. Are you prepared to help make this the neighborhood the wonderful place it can be? If not, look elsewhere. If so, we will welcome you to the neighborhood with open arms.As always, thanks for reading.

Today's Recommended Reading

Here are a couple of interesting articles that might be of interest to Cole residents.First, I found an article that is the best account of the recent history of Cole I've seen. Read it here.Second, my wife passed this article along about the emerging trend of reurbanization in America. Speaks very well for the future of Cole, and our investment here.Enjoy.

More On Big Dogs in the 'Hood

Owning big dogs in the 'hood
Just moved to the 'hood and starved for conversation? Feeling lonely? Get a big dog or two. My wife and I can't take our dogs for a walk a block away without getting some sort of interesting comment from folks in the neighborhood.Here are some gems:
Are they spaded?
Got any puppies?
Can I buy your dogs?
Them Rockwilers? (They are in fact Rottweilers)
Them is some big-ass dogs!
You must be pretty important, to have protection like that!
Them Pit Bulls?
Are they mean?
Do they bite?
Pretty much people either are deathly afraid of them, or want to buy them, or often both. Hard to convince them that we treat our dogs like people, and have carefully socialized them to be good neighbors and ambassadors for the breed.
We have "halties" or no-pull trainers for them, which people immediately think are muzzles. To which I say "No, they could still bite you if they wanted to..."
It's a shame that so many people here have only been exposed to big dogs that aren't socialized. Even though our dogs wouldn't bite anything but a pork chop, people immediately assume they're voracious man-eaters. Not that I complain about our house being known by the bad guys as the one with the two big dogs. Or that the occasional person that makes us feel a bit uncomfortable will cross the street rather than pass our dogs on the same sidewalk.
We actually finally got a security system for our home a few months ago. The next day a couple police officers were on foot patrol on the block and stopped by to say hello--They saw the security system yard sign and said "You guys don't need a security system with dogs like this!"
It is refreshing, however, that the neighborhood kids love our dogs. A walk doesn't go by without a crowd of kids (Cole has the sweetest kids, at least until they grow up and get polluted by the pervasive negativity here) gathering around the dogs, petting them, and asking all kinds of questions. They often can't believe that our dogs are like family, and even sleep with us in bed. Guess they're again used to dogs used only for protection, and left chained to a pole in the back yard.
I hope that at least in some miniscule way we're helping these children come to know that many big dogs are sweethearts.

At Least We Don't Have Cranes

Is it just me, or have there been like eleventy-billion crane accidents in the last couple years?I'm watching Fox News right now and they're talking about yet another crane accident, this one in Dallas, Texas. Think American cars are unreliable, what about our cranes?In fact, crane accidents are apparently so frequent that there is a website devoted exclusively to 'em. Forget Alaskan crab fishing; forget logging; I smell a reality show here (and yes, it stinks).So what does this have to do with Denver's Cole Neighborhood? Not a whole heck of a lot, honestly. But while we might have crackheads, gang bangers, and hookers, at least we don't have cranes. And based on the recent frequency of crane accidents, it seems like we should be pretty grateful for that fact. Be careful LoDo and Ballpark neighborhood residents! There are cranes everywhere downtown right now!Thanks for reading.

Good news for Cole

I'm sure most of you have already seen this, and I'm late in posting, but here is a recent article highlighting our own Cole Neighborhood in Denver.It's great to see the progress we've made over here be recognized, though in a very basic way.More meaningful posts to come. Promise.

I'm baaaaack...

After a six month hiatus, the Cole Neighborhood Memoirs is back.It's 11PM and I type as this speak as yet another crack head leaves the house across the street from mine.I took this blog down a few months ago because I grew tired of the constant criticisms from civil libertarians, whiners, and others that in my opinion take things far too seriously, portraying me and my views as narrow minded, racist, and overly negative about my Denver block and the Cole neighborhood in general.What I didn't anticipate was the word-of-mouth feedback that I have since responded and made it clear that I had more of an audience than I thought--And that I'm not the only one that simultaneously sees beauty, tragedy, potential, and humour in being a white resident in a largely black and hispanic, gentrifying neighborhood in urban Denver.Let's get some things straight for starters--I'm white and a college graduate (though I use that term loosely, since I hold a "degree" in liberal arts, which doesn't guarantee me any job but one at Starbucks or doing door-to-door sales for the local cable company) and I don't claim to have all the answers. I don't know what it's like to be a black or a hispanic in today's United States of America. I believe that while racial profiling and discrimination still exists today in Denver's police department (and elsewhere), I firmly believe that most of our police officers try to do their best in a very difficult job and an equally complex political environment. So if you're one of those folks that thinks that the Denver Police Department as a whole is a racist organization, don't bother posting comments, and move on to another site--You and I will never see eye-to-eye.I also see the future of Cole as one of cultural and economic diversity--That means we need more affluent residents to take an interest in and invest in Cole to make it a safer, more vibrant neighborhood.What is the purpose of this blog? Quite simply, to portray what living in this neighborhood is like for a resident of my "demographic". In the previous iteration of this site I admittedly found myself pandering hopelessly to those of opposing viewpoints--I didn't know whether I should speak my mind, convey current events in the neighborhood, or simply say what the "masses" thought should be said.No more. I'm happy to say that the Cole Neighborhood Association has enjoyed a regenesis of late, and as such, if you just want to become involved in the neighborhood, or learn what is new here, you have another source of information. What you'll read here is just my two cents, right or wrong. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, often useless, but it will always reflect what I see as the most accurate portrayal of life here from the eyes of a white guy from rural Michigan.Will I say some controversial things? Guaranteed I will. Don't like it? You don't have to read it. Have a comment? By all means share it, I may learn something from you. But if you're just out to be negative, or to flame me for having an opinion, don't bother.Like my point-of-view or not, I am invested in and committed to this neighborhood, and ensuring its progress. For those like me, and for those unlike me, but that are responsible and similarly committed to making it a great place to live (more on that later).Thanks in advance for reading.

Cole Neighborhood Association Holiday Party

...is this Thursday Nov. 29th from 6:00-8:00 at 3280 Downing Street in the US Bank Community room.

Anyone interested in more information about the CNA can contact Sarah Schultz, snschultz@gmail.com.

Also sounds like the next actual CNA meeting will be January 31st, in the same location and same time.

Crime data at Denvergov.org

Folks,

I've mentioned numerous times the great crime data that is available from the Denvergov.org website, and they've now taken it one step further, providing real-time (24 hour) updates, and the ability to zero in on your neighborhood and block and see first-hand where, when, and what type of crimes are occurring in your area.

Be sure to check it out!

And thanks again for reading, and for caring about Cole.

What WE can do NOW

I was thinking more about the comment that came into this site recently claiming that "the best way to fight crime in Cole is to oppose illegal immigration", and thought that I should elaborate on my point that there are many things we can do NOW to fight crime and improve the situation in Cole. Again, I agree that illegal immigration is a HUGE issue right now, and at the root of many of Denver's and society in general's various ills. But I think that ones energies can be much more productive by getting involved in your neighborhood TODAY with something very simple rather than waiting for Washington (or even the Denver State Capitol) to figure that complex issue out.

So, for what it's worth, here are my Action items for anyone living in a gentrifying, redeveloping urban neighborhood like Cole:

1. Get to know your neighbors! No matter how good the police in your area are, they can't watch your block 24/7. Only your neighbors collectively can do that. While I haven't been able to get enough of our block unified to create a neighborhood watch, I know at least 9 of our block households by name. How many of you can say that? Likely not many, because honestly, I wasn't good about doing it myself for over a year here. Do it sooner rather than later. Your neighbors and you might not see eye to eye on some things, but at the bare minimum you should be able to be on good terms with them and look out for each others' properties.


2. Get to know your police officers. Whether it's your neighborhood police officers (We have great ones in Cole, email me for their contact information) that can handle ongoing, chronic issues, the District 2 direct non-emergency number (720.913.1000) or just the Denver non-emergency dispatch line (720.913.2000) we've got a tremendous asset in terms of a police force that is active, approachable, and willing to assist residents with the issues that are important to them (us).


3. Befriend your neighborhood kids. It's a shame, but 99% of the crap that happens in our neighborhood I think is perpetrated by kids; in particular graffiti, vandalism, and just the stuff that kids do (as I did) like throwing rocks through windows and stuff. If they're not doing it, they probably know who is. Not only are you selfishly building relationships that could potentially again protect your "stuff", many of these kids unfortunately clearly don't have a supportive, loving home environment. Just saying hi to them by name, being friendly, and pumping up their football when they need it is making a positive contribution to their lives and to your block.


4. Clean up your block! If you wait for your neighbors to clean up their portion of the street, your block will always be dirty. I know it sucks picking up others' trash, but it's part of living in the city I've come to understand. And I don't care what the civil libertarians say, I've seen first-hand that if you pick up trash on your block, it sets a positive example for your neighbors and others in the area--Others will be less likely to throw trash, and less likely to commit more serious crimes simply because it's clear someone cares about and is watching over your block. I've seen it make a difference first-hand. Will it entirely fix the problem? Of course not. But it all helps.


5. Same thing with Graffiti. Contact Cole-Whittier Against Crime for dumpster paint or worst case scenario report the graffiti to the City of Denver and get that crap covered up as soon as you see it. Again, if you leave that crap up, the losers that put it there will learn which block they can do the deed without getting caught, or on which blocks they can tag where it stays up the longest.


6. Get involved with your neighborhood in a more global sense. (Here's where I've fallen short as of late due to a hectic home/work schedule and an unexplained apathy relative to "meetings") Participate in your local neighborhood association, crime prevention group, or neighborhood watch meetings. Cole and Whittier each have active neighborhood associations (http://whittierneighborhood.org/, Cole doesn't have a website yet that I know of) and of course there is Cole-Whittier Against Crime. There's no doubt we have to get more involved to ensure the success of our neighborhood than the average suburbanite--But I think that's a good thing.
7. Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to call the city. See someone selling crack up the street? Call the police. Abandoned house becoming a nuisance, or just overgrown with weeds? Call neighborhood inspection services. Or, as C-WAC writes today, notice that your corner store is catering to the bad guys by selling crack pipes? Talk to them about it, or call your neighborhood police officer to get their take and/or assistance.

But more than anything, do what you can, even if it's just one of the above points. The recent positive changes in this area aren't happening by accident--They're due to a growing number of engaged residents, and allies at the police and city, that are working hard to forge the future in Cole. If we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem.

Cole-Whittier Against Crime Meeting Wednesday, November 7th, 6PM, Mitchell Elementary

For those of you that have been asking for more neighborhood "news" and opportunities to be involved, here's your chance.

C-WAC, in my opinion, has made great strides in cleaning up this area, while increasing the cooperation between (reasonable) residents and the police department.

That having been said, they need more residents to be involved, and speak up about their concerns and needs.

So, please join them tomorrow, Wednesday, November 7th 2007 at 6PM at Mitchell Elementary in Cole.

New life for the Cole Neighborhood Association?

I got an encouraging email that I thought I should share on this site--It's from one of the new leaders of the Cole Neighborhood Association. I have been involved with the association in the past, but over time grew a bit frustrated at the lack of action--We always seemed to be long on talk about what we "should do" but never actually organizing any sort of true action. At some point I determined that I could get more done spending that hour on the phone with the city inspectors and/or police department to handle some action items in the neighborhood, than attending the meetings. A shame, but true. No doubt I should have stuck it out and been a more vocal and active member.

Now just to backtrack--A lot of credit for the association has to go to Loralie Cole, who used to run the association. Even as a busy mother and teacher, she poured countless hours into the organization. I know first-hand that it is a thankless job leading an all-volunteer organization, and she deserves a tremendous amount of credit for keeping the association alive.

I just think that with any organization, new blood is lifeblood, and am thrilled to see that there are new, equally engaged people participating. Hopefully Loralie will still be involved in some way to finally realize the fruits of her long, largely unrecognized labors. Thanks again, Loralie.

It will be interesting in what direction the association heads now. In the past, it seemed very conflicted about "the mission statement" and goals of the organization. Pro or anti redevelopment? How much effort should be spent trying to get largely apathetic neighborhood residents to participate? Can decisions that affect the entire neighborhood be made when the only active Association members are largely white middle-class residents?

Regardless, this email is very encouraging, and I hope it speaks for a new direction for our neighborhood. Sounds like it's time for me to plug in again. So here's the info:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to inform you that the Cole Neighborhood Association will be holding a mid-month planning meeting on Nov. 8 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at 3280 Downing, US Bank Community Room. The main purpose of the meeting is to set a Strategic Plan for the CNA. EVERYONE is invitied and encouraged to attend!! This is an ideal opportunity and an exciting time to get involved; share your voice and help shape the future of the CNA. If you haven't come to a meeting in awhile, we'd love to see you on the 8th!

We decided to schedule this meeting because during our regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 29th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. we will be having the CNA Holiday Party . More about the party at the end of this e-mail.

Details regarding the Strategic Plan:
(The first hour of the meeting will be dedicated to the Strategic Plan)

At our last meeting on Oct. 25, The Economic Development subcommittee presented a Strategic Planning questionaire consisting of the following questions:

1. Why do we exist?

2. What is our vision for Cole Neighborhood?

3. What is our mission statement?
We decided that the goal for the planning meeting would be to answer these questions, after we all answer them for ourselves at home prior to the meeting. Now, all of you can do the same. In addition to these questions, we would like to address the Needs, Goals and Strategies for the Cole neighborhood.
What needs do we see in our community that we would like to address?
What are our goals in light of those needs?
What strategies do we need to develop to accomplish our goals?
For these questions, we'd like to begin brainstorming by writing down any and all ideas that come to mind. Then, at the Holiday Party, we'll ask everyone to help prioritize the list so that we can set a plan of action.
Please start brainstorming today and bring your thoughts and ideas to the meeting on the 8th. A Microsoft Word document with the questions is attached.
Details about the CNA Holiday Party, Nov. 29th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
(after a quick break, we'll use the last 20 min of the mtg to plan the party)

Again, we'd like as much participation as possible so that we can make our Holiday party a success. Items to be planned:
Food and Drink
Content for a flyer
Flyer Distribution
Activities for the evening, etc.

We hope to see everyone, and your neighbor, at both of these events. Start spreading the word today!

Best,

Sarah Shultz
Communications Subcommittee
Cole Neighborhood Association

Tagged

I went out to the dumpster in our back alley this morning to find several dumpsters and the back of three residences (including ours) tagged with gang-related graffiti. I don't know (nor do I care) what exactly it all meant but is was some "East Side Tre Tre" bullshit. What a bunch of losers.

I've already painted over most of it, but I just wish these guys had better things to do than deface a freakin' back alley.

Does this mean there is new gang activity in our neighborhood? Who knows, it's been pretty tame lately, I know that. I don't think this activity was due to a few "wannabes" like one of our neighbors (who hasn't removed the similar graffiti from her house, despite the fact it showed up around three months ago) thinks.

But it's not like we're unique in our gang problem. I traveled this summer to Montreal and Vancouver and saw a lot of gang graffiti there. There was even a gang-related shooting in downtown Vancouver the night I was in town. Canadian gangs? I guess they exist too, eh.

Winterized

So our neighbors' house that went into foreclosure sold at auction--For $125k, much less than the $170k they owed on it. The low sales price at least makes me hopeful that someone will see an opportunity to fix and flip the house, since it will give them plenty of margin to invest in renovations, which it will need many of.

A guy came by today and winterized the place, so it doesn't look like they're going to be diving into any renovations any time soon, however. Guess we'll have to wait until spring to see what happens next.

Oh, the suburbs

Don't miss this hilarious blog poking good-hearted fun at the grandiose names being assigned to cookie-cutter suburban housing developments.

After reading this, I thought of some good options for Cole should we decide to re-name it, taking into account some of the local history and flavor of the area:

1. "The Resort at Industry Meadow Acres"

2. "The Sanctuary at Smelter Edge Gardens"

3. "The Haven at Vacant School Landing"

4. "The Manor at Squirrel-Infested Heights"

5. Or, perhaps "The Enclave at Stray Cat Crossing"

The possibilities are endless...

The tipping point?

Driving home the other night my wife and I passed a new art gallery over on Walnut Street, in a formerly abandoned and typically sketchy block. The house with tons of potential across the street has gotten some steady traffic, as has the home in foreclosure next door. Two historic-yet-neglected homes nearby have the huge, drive-up dumpsters in front of them, signifying a complete remodel (or "gutting"). Kiva Restaurant on 30th and Downing, while they're certainly not out of the woods yet, is hanging in there and seems to be getting at least marginally busier each time we visit.

Residents that were here before us seem to be taking a bit more pride in their homes, and the trash problem on our block is a fraction of what it was two years ago.

Two white guys drove by today in a BMW M3 Coupe and waived at me as I was chilling on the front porch--Not sure what to gather from that as I didn't know them...

Things seem to be changing FAST lately in Cole. Whether you think the change is positive or not, have we reached a tipping point?

Quiet night!

My wife and I spent the entire evening last night on our front porch--How quiet it was! No police helicopter, no sirens, no drug buyers or sellers, no hookers, no "drama", nothing! I don't even think we saw a police car all night.

Quite a change from what our block used to be like, and very welcome progress. And to be this quiet on a Friday? Amazing. I hope the evening was similarly quiet and safe for other blocks in the area.

Heck, it was way louder and sketchier than this over in Highlands (where we couldn't afford to buy a house)!

An interesting discovery

In grabbing a cup today for my morning coffee, I noticed something funny: On the inside of the cabinet door (one of the few remaining fixtures in the house from the previous owners) I found gang graffiti--The "E/S" (East Side?) moniker that residents of Denver are all to familiar with.

I guess it shouldn't surprise me, as we knew the house was previously owned by a drug dealer, but finding graffiti inside my kitchen cabinets still seems strange!

Another new resident in Cole

What a great day yesterday.

There has been an amazing little kitten hanging around our block the last couple weeks. She's tiny--Likely 3 or 4 pounds, black and white, and the kind of coloration that we non-creative humans often name things like "socks" or "boots". She is also incredibly sweet and friendly, approaching pretty much any person that comes by.

Well, as my wife will tell you, I'm one off those weird "animal people" that would take in almost any animal rather than turn it away knowing it will likely get euthanized. However, "there's no room at the inn" at this point as we've already got our hands full with two dogs and two cats, so we knew we couldn't keep her, no matter how fast we were becoming attached to her.

But some things have a way of working themselves out I guess. No sooner had I started asking neighbors if they knew anyone that wanted a cat, my friend from across the street said he'd take the kitten. As soon as I handed the kitten to him, I knew it was a good thing. He's a bit of a lonely older guy, not in the best of health anymore, but incredibly friendly and kind hearted. And his mother, bedridden, lives with him, and likely could use a little company like only a good cat can provide. I can't help but think that Marion, as I named her (he's going to call her Midnight), will make as much difference in their lives as they will in hers.

Homes for sale in Cole Neighborhood, Denver

OK, just to be up front, this is a completely selfish post, blatantly trying to sell real estate in Cole. No, I don't own any of these properties, nor do I stand to gain anything from their sale except hopefully adding another responsible neighbor to the area. But that's enough for me.

I just can't get over how many properties are for sale over here! Yet again, I found a home for sale in our Cole neighborhood this week. It's over on Marion Street, and appears to be very similar to our home--A late 1800's Victorian that has been largely refurbished. Asking price is in the ballpark of fair assuming it is as nice as they make it out to be in the listing, though I am at least a little skeptical because of the used-car-salesman-esque descriptions of the home in the listing ("This is truly the best...").

It does appear to be somewhat updated, and have some original moldings and nice wood floors. While the house could use a fresh coat of paint and landscaping, it certainly has good Victorian charm. (Far more charm than this more mundane listing a couple blocks away.) At least three other homes have been renovated on this same block over the past two years, so it is certainly changing more rapidly than some over here.

One could certainly find a cheaper home over here, but if you're like we were when we were looking and don't want a fixer upper, this might be a good one to look at.

I think it definitely has more to offer than this longtime resident on the MLS. I'm no expert, but after six months or so you might re-take your property photo so that it isn't so obvious that the home has been on the market at least since last winter. Oh, and there's another home on this block that's currently in foreclosure--It looks like a real fixer-upper, but I don't think anyone will be biting on it anytime soon, as it looks like the bank is asking $170,000 for it--When it seems more like a $125k property to me based on how much work will be necessary to get it fixed up.

I also found a couple rental properties on Marion, but I can't believe the asking price after looking at them, at least from the inside. Like $282k for this Vic-converted-into-apartments. There is also yet another residence, a duplex, for sale on this same block, though I can't find a listing for it.

Still shocking to me how expensive homes are over here given how far the neighborhood still has to come. It's not hard to realize why so many find it hard to buy a home. (Heck, we know first-hand, as we barely were able to purchase our own.)

With the yet-inflated prices over here, what must be wrong with this little home to be only 46k?

Anyway, thanks for reading, and come look at some homes in Cole, Whittier, Curtis Park or Five Points. We'd love to have you over here!

Momentum in Cole

I met a nice new neighbor we now have around the corner of the house. A nice woman about our age, renting out a newly-fixed up home on Bruce Randolph. She's super friendly and another important addition to the neighborhood. She's been in the house under a week and it's already clear she takes pride in her place.

There's a duplex up for sale on our block, and I'm wondering if there is a pending sale on it as there have been work crews patching up the fence and performing other small touch-up repairs this week.

The residents of the duplex next to it, that moved in over the summer, continue to improve their place, now painting it.

And there is a cute folk-Victorian on our block that is now up for sale. The asking price seems a bit high, but it has a ton of potential as it has exceptional character.

Add that to the house next door that is tied up in foreclosure, and potentially soon to be sold to a flipper or new family, and we seem to be experiencing some very positive momentum. Things are certainly changing around here, for the better.

Enough is enough

Great and encouraging news. The two problem houses on our block, that I write about often, have each improved dramatically recently.

The first, a house on the corner of Bruce Randolph and Marion, has been a consistent nuisance since we moved into the neighborhood. Mostly because the owners have left the home vacant, and haven't aggressively policed their property from the frequent drug users and dealers that have used that house, and the street corner adjacent to it, as their home base.

How this house cleaned up is simple--The police finally adopted a zero-tolerance policy for individuals illegally hanging out on the property, as well as frequently contacting individuals loitering in front of it. In these two actions, they not only arrested numerous dealers and users, but have set a precedent in the area that it is no longer "safe" to hang out and buy or sell drugs there. What used to be a magnet for criminal activity now is safe for the rightful residents of the neighborhood to pass by unharassed and unsolicited, as well as wait safely for the RTD buses.

The second house to show improvement is the one that I've described that houses a motley collection of brothers, sisters and cousins all living free in the home of their aging and failing mothers. I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying this, but the reasons why the residents have cleaned their act up I think is a perfect illustration of some of the principles evangelized by George Kelling and one of his key disciples, William Bratton (formerly chief of the New York City Police Department, now chief of the LAPD) in the Broken Windows theory. Namely, that if troublemakers realize that their disorderly and criminal behavior is no longer acceptable in a neighborhood, they'll either clean up their act or just move on.

Why do I say this? First, because the presence by the police has been so great on the block, the drug-dealing son has almost comletely moved his "operation" somewhere else--The end result being a dramatic reduction to the formerly ubiquitous stream of buyers coming by their house at all hours of the night. It was still happening over there, but very infrequently, instead of all the time.

But since day one, and even with the recent increased pressure by the police, the one straight son that we know of at the house, a guy that is in general a really intelligent, neighborly fellow, has looked the other way as his other family members buy, sell, and use illegal drugs and bring the criminal element into his yard and house.

But a couple weeks ago, as I was out watering the grass, I waived and greeted him as normal, and he came over to me to chat. The nature of the conversation was very interesting. Basically, that he had reached his breaking point and had told some of his family members "enough is enough". He sounded as tired as we were of the almost daily occurrence of drunken shouting matches, strangers coming by at all hours, family members bringing drug addicts over, and his family being arrested.

What had caused him to reach this crossroads? A family friend had come by one day and told him "Man, your mother's house is a nuisance." That apparently hit home for him, that their house--His mother's house--was viewed that way. And the fact that the city could take the house away from his mother, if it continued to be such a problem. The neighborhood had changed, and what used to be acceptable behavior on the block, was no more.

"I can't tell you what to do, because that's your business..." he said he told them, "but you're not going to do it here anymore, not in my mama's house."

Which is all we've ever wanted. Just law-abiding neighbors, that's all. Black, white, Hispanic, whatever. Just take care of your home and don't perpetuate the neighborhood's history of drugs, crime and violence.

He's always been a diamond in the rough of that household. He's super friendly, intelligent, and has welcomed us since day one. And I'm glad to have him as a neighbor, and friend. And 100% happy now that he's drawn his own line in the sand.

Another sign of the future of Cole

A few months ago returning from a bike ride on Walnut Street, I noticed a couple of "yuppies" (or "new neighbors", "loft people", or even white folk as some neighborhood residents call us) looking at the old abandoned warehouse at 33rd and Walnut. It occurred to me at the time, that it could be another set of lofts coming to the area.

Fast forward to tonight, again returning from a bike ride tonight riding up Walnut Street, I noticed scaffoldings up in front of the building--The renovation has begun!

I don't know for certain what's going in there, but it's probably lofts. Some will condemn this renovation as simple gentrification, but I don't see anyone living there now. I'll take any residents there, over an abandoned, run-down, graffiti-ridden warehouse. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy it will likely NOT be some sort of half-way house or mental health facility. We've done our share over here.

So I'm thrilled that the progress over in Ballpark is continuing to spread this way--Now only four blocks from us! I think it bodes well for the future of Cole.

Rain and Moral Ambiguity in Cole

Finally the heat has subsided here in Cole!

After the seemingly endless heat of late and the customary summer brown-out, we've had significant rainstorms 3 of the last 4 days. My admittedly irresponsible bluegrass front and back lawns greened up so instantly and completely that I awoke this morning to find three yuppies using our front yard as a practice green. When I pointed out their mistake, and that City Park Golf Course was a few blocks to the east, they were on their way, leaving me to my bucket-sized cup of coffee. No, this really didn't happen, but you get my point I hope. My only concern is that our bad-ass, west nile infected mosquitoes are likely enjoying this moisture as much as I am.

Sitting on our front porch this evening, enjoying a decidedly Michigan-esque summer evening, I learned that one of the two nice old sisters that own one of the homes on our block just passed away. I learned about it from my neighbor, the son and nephew of the two owners. I certainly feel sorry for her death, and for his family's loss.

Even though that house is the one problem house on our block. The one that is the magnet for any of the "old neighbors" that are seeking some crack. Basically, the two sisters own the house; only one of them has lived there for the last several years, while the other (the one that just passed on) lived in another state. It's all of their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews that have turned their otherwise beautiful old house into a true nuisance.

For me, one of the hardest things about living in this neighborhood is finding the right balance between empathy (because while this family is clearly troubled and perpetuating criminal activity in Cole, Whittier, and Five Points, they're real people just like me) and my intense desire to rid this area of the declining yet still present drug problem.

Sometimes it's hard to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad guys--I can only imagine how hard it is for the police department to constantly be walking that fine line between the effective police tactics to fight the true criminals, while still respecting the rights of the residents.

Then, when you have a likable neighbor like we do that deals drugs one day, then wakes up his neighbor the next to help her avoid getting ticketed on street sweeping day, it becomes quite the conundrum. "He doesn't deal drugs THAT much, right? Just every couple days or so. Maybe I'm being too hard on him, I mean, he's quiet, and very friendly, right? Wait, what are you thinking, he's a drug dealer!" Or the other guy, his cousin, that as far as I can tell doesn't do or deal any drugs, but certainly looks the other way when the rest of his family does. He's a really great guy, too, super friendly, very affable, and has always welcomed us to the neighborhood, from day one. But it still bothers me that he (and so many other residents) look the other way when someone they know is peddling drugs and perpetuating the problem.

The fact is that with this lady's death, God rest her soul, this problem house moves one step closer to possibly being sold to a more responsible family, and while I'm sorry about the circumstances, I'm not disappointed about that fact.

Imminent Chaos on Lawrence Street

I had heard that the city was planning on turning perennial area one-ways like Lawrence and Curtis into two-way streets to enhance the "neighborhood" ambiance as well as cut down on the ubiquitous speeding on these streets. Well, as of Friday, as I was returning from a bike ride, I headed down the newly two-way Lawrence Street.


My thoughts? I applaud the city for turning it into a two-way street. Since we moved to Denver back in 2001, it Lawrence always struck me as a street with symbolic importance. As the primary street for someone to utilize to get from downtown denver to our picturesque and urbane Cole Neighborhood, I have found myself each and every time spent driving its length contemplating what message it sends commuters.


First, even the most liberal Denver resident should agree that while necessary, the Denver Rescue Mission that greets drivers as they immediately exit downtown presents a siren-like indicator that they're "not in Kansas anymore". As a Curtis Park resident stated in one neighborhood association meeting as yet another organization was announcing yet another transitional living housing complex that was coming to the Curtis Park/Five Points/Whittier/Cole area, "We're glad to do our part, but when do neighborhoods like Capital Hill and Highlands start receiving their fair shair?" I continue to feel that Cole Neighborhood is and oft-overlooked gem in Denver urban living. But why look any farther for the reason why it is oft-overlooked than the first thing that greets people when they inevitably radiate from Denver's downtown to the NoDo neighborhoods like Cole?

Second, symbolically, Lawrence has always struck me as some sort of high-speed escape route for Rockies fans and LoDo revellers seeking least encumbered route out of downtown to I-70. What better than to provide these people with a one-way, two-lane street with no significant traffic lights or furniture, and heading through a forgotten wasteland of mixed industrial-residential Denver like Cole? Lawrence has historically been as much expressway as street.

So what does the new two-way configuration mean to Lawrence, and to Cole and its surrounding neighborhoods? Well, in a big-picture sense, it is a very positive change. The street does now have a very "neighborhood" feel to it, a lot like our old home's major street Zuni's path as it heads north from downtown and 32nd Avenue. It will certainly not be as appealing to "The Fast And The Furious" type juvenile hot-rodders as the previous iteration of Lawrence. (At least after they T-bone a car crossing one of the numerous cross-streets that now have the right of way, which is my next and final point).

So my only question is this--What dim-witted urban planner decided on the current configuration off the "new" Lawrence Street? In particular, who thought it was a good idea to take what used to be an urban speedway with no interruptions to its traffic to making it a street impeded by at least 4 cross-streets now with the right-of-way?

I may not be explaining this well--Basically now, there are several side streets that cross Lawrence that USED to have stop signs as they crossed this major street, but now have none (while Lawrence is now sporting a stop at each of these intersections). And not ALL of these streets now have the right of way, it's almost like they through darts at a dartboard to decide which ones were going to be changed.

Already, I've witnessed total chaos when two cars come to meet one another at one of these intersections. First, the person on Lawrence often barely stops in time for the stop sign. Second, the person on the side street, not having to stop by law, is still stopping (it's as if they're wondering if they are dreaming, or if they actually have the right of way). So, you end up with two confused motorists staring at each other in what is basically a four-way stop. Which I think it should be in the first place!

Mark my words--A bigger problem than the inefficiencies of people adjusting to this new configuration will be several gnarly accidents, as someone on Lawrence, drunk or just stupid, flies through one of those stops and tags someone on one of those side streets.

It's not if, it's just when, unfortunately.

Happy 4th Of July From Cole Neighborhood, Denver

Greetings from Cole Neighborhood, Denver Colorado on a simply splendid Colorado summer evening.

I'm writing again from our front porch, this time bombarded with the staccato sound and flashes of amateur pyrotechnics. Both my dogs, each of which are unabashed fans of the grass in our yard, have deemed the evening too noisy (or perhaps too perilous) and have since retired to the leather sofa and living room rug. While I am certainly enjoying the fresh air time will tell whether I should have listened to my dogs' judgement and retreated to the safety of our modest victorian.

While uneventful, the holiday was a pleasant one for me I guess. I enjoyed a 45 mile bike ride from my front door to the top of Lookout Mountain in Golden and back; had a tasty lunch with my beautiful, exceptional and largely undeserved wife at Kiva Restaurant, vegged out in front of my newly-installed digital cable (only installed for Le Tour de France), attended a barbecue at a friend in nearby Park Hill, and then enjoyed a sunset walk around the Cole and Whittier neighborhoods with my two dogs. My wife having to work tonight prevented it from being a perfect night.


Big news: It wasn't freakishly hot here today. HOORAY! It's too early to be this hot in Denver, that's for sure--But not only was I able to enjoy a cool, sunny, beautiful morning on the bike up in Golden, upon my return to metro D-town, I was shocked at how mild it was. Not pleasant at 4pm, mind you, unless you found some shade, but better than what we had become accustomed to lately.

And better yet, the afternoon storm clouds that consistently build over the west side of town in the summer, yet that have as of late been yielding no moisture, busted loose (relatively speaking) with some moisture soon after sunset tonight. Which means it's simply idyllic tonight.

Except for all the freakin' fireworks.