Wild night in Cole?

Came across this walking the dogs tonight.

Good article about the (slow) redevelopment of the nearby Welton corridor.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13107276

The Ice Cream Man

Well, with the city pools closed, kids back in school, and football season starting, it's clear that summer is fading into fall. And that means no more "ice cream man".

I grew up in a rural area, far from any city of any scale. So I have to admit I enjoy hearing the ice cream man come by all summer in Cole, as I didn't have that as a kid.

I have to also admit that every time I hear the ice cream man, it makes me think of Eddie Murphy's Ice Cream Man bit. If you haven't heard it, and aren't easily offended by Murphy's profanity-laden style of the time (this was 20 years before Doctor Doolittle, mind you), you should check it out:



Farewell, Ice Cream Man. See you next year.

3447 and 3449 Marion Street Are Ready For Sale!

I'm so thrilled to say that Darryl Nylund, the flip guru of Cole, has his new duplex at 3447 and 3449 Marion Street ready to go. They should show up on the listings in the next two days.

Yet another problem house fixed up and being sold to (hopefully) good new neighbors.

I don't have the specifics, but I think he's selling each side of the duplex for around $150k or so? Pretty much new throughout, 2br 1ba, each with a one-car garage and a deck on the back. Look pretty nice (especially the bigger one at 3447).

Interested? Or know someone looking in Cole right now? Have 'em call Darryl at 303.386.5549.

And tell him CNM sent you...

You know your house is a nuisance when...

Even Google's Street View tells the entire story of your property.

When your home is in such a state of disrepair (or "renovation" as the owner calls it) for four years, that this is the Street view photo the Google truck captures:



Or, if unsavory characters are loitering around, drinking, buying and selling prohibited substances, or soliciting prostitution frequently enough that said characters show up in the Google Street View:



This property is such a neighborhood gem. In fact, there was a Gang member on gang member stabbing at the property just two weeks ago. Too bad we couldn't catch that on Google Street View.

Can I get one of these parked on my block?

Essential Equipment For Life in Cole

Anyone else have a horrific fly problem right now? I don't know if it's the dumpster right out back of our house that frequently has chicken bones, other food, and dirty baby diapers dumped (sans bag) in it, or the fact that one of our neighbors is running a perpetual soda can recycling program out of their back yard, but the flies have been AWFUL around here since around a week after the 4th holiday.

This photo, mind you, is of a GALLON size fly trap that is almost full--in a week. Along with two quart sized ones, and one disposable one. Also filled up 3 fly tapes during the same period. So I've caught nearly two gallons of flies in a week. Yikes.

Welcome to Cole

Two folks I met through this blog (Shocked, actually, I guess I don't offend EVERYONE) bought an awesome home in Cole recently, and moved in a couple of weeks ago... and were immediately burglarized...

Yes, bummer. Not a great welcome to a couple of really nice folks willing to chance it in Cole.

Have we been burglarized in three plus years here? Nope, at least not yet. Have any of our friends? Yes... I guess... in a way.

Why do I say that? Because each time it included some very interesting circumstances:

1. A nice girl that lived across the street had her car stolen from right in front of her house. Turns out she had left her keys sitting out on the front porch overnight. (Incidentally, the guy on our block with "connections" to the local crack-heads was able to get her car to mysteriously re-appear within a couple days... interesting).

2. That same girl had a guy crawl in her doggy door. Yes, her doggy door was big enough for a man to fit through. Need I say more?

3. Ironically enough, this same girl, who just sold her house to move back to the midwest, came by a couple weeks ago to clean out her house for the new owners, and left her weed-whacker out unattended in her front yard, with the gate open. Poof! Weed-Whacker gone. Imagine that. Is this the city or something?

4. Our neighbors up the street had a pallet of sod stolen. Turns out they had parked it out back of their property in the alley, and in all honesty, in the 'hood, that means typically it's up for grabs. Now I wouldn't normally think anyone would give away a pallet of sod, but that is the custom around here. They ended up finding the guy in the next alley up the block laying the sod in his yard. He of course denied any wrongdoing, but they got it back, and it now grows happily in their back yard.

5. Our neighbors across the street had a Playstation and some other electronics stolen from their home. Someone actually kicked in their back door and stole the items, as if they knew exactly when they were gone, and where the items were. They initially blamed it on a kid up the street who is a bit shady--But we later learned that it was one of their nephews who had a drug problem.

My point? (And I'm likely jinxing ourselves by saying this...) We have a pretty darned good block, all things considered. Most everything that has happened here has a story behind it besides just random, urban crime.

And, thinking outloud, betting that the person that robbed these folks is right on their block right now, typing away on their laptop...

To my new friends in Cole, here's hoping it gets better for you guys, and definitely check out the Cole Neighborhood Association when you get settled.

Cheers,

CNM

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch On Crime

I stumbled across the following clip today that instantly made me think of Cole. Basically, how many of the "activists" or "organizers" in the neighborhood seem to downplay the crime and violence in the area--Suggesting that it isn't so bad, and doesn't justify the current level of police presence. Or, why residents become fearful, or that their attitude towards the neighborhood changes due to negative experiences. To which, I say, if you say that, clearly crime hasn't hit your home or family yet. You haven't cleaned up enough graffiti yet. Your son or daughter hasn't been assaulted or murdered. Your home hasn't been burglarized. Or you haven't become the victim of the drug dealing and related theft and violence that has long been part of Cole's history. But enough from me. Take it away, Ed...

The latest on the 38th and Blake redevelopment...

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/193/documents/38th%20and%20Blake.pdf

38th Annual City Park Bike Race This Sunday

One of the nicest things about living is Cole is our proximity to City Park. While still a bit sketchier and less gentrified than Wash Park (for better and for worse), it's arguably Denver's most beautiful park.

This Sunday the longest-running bike race in the state returns to City Park. Rocky Mountain Road Club, the second coolest team in the state (behind Twin Peaks Racing) is hosting the 38th annual City Park Criterium. While I won't be racing this year, it's one of my favorite races due to its pancake flat parcours, and fast, technical corners. It's a crit rider's dream!

It also makes for some great spectating, with the beautiful park in the background, and with the short laps making you always close to the action. I highly recommend you check it out.

Better yet, there is a charity cruiser race at the end of the day.

Hope to see you there.

They're at it again...

Anyone notice the recent upswing in "Oldies" gang-related graffiti lately? If you happen to see a kid on your block with black spray-paint on his hands, kick him in the gonads for me, OK?

It's going to be a busy summer for the little thuggitos, that's for sure.

Get your dumpster paint ready, and make sure DPAG's number is in your phone so you can call this crap in when you're out walking the Chiwoodle.

On Banjos

As I've mentioned before, living in Cole definitely has a musical component. Generally loud latin music booming from a slammed Ford F-150. More fun is the nostalgia I feel when I see someone walk by with a "boom box" or "ghetto blaster" from back in the 80's cranking some Cube. (Oh, as a pasty white kid, I used to burn through those D-batteries listening to my Huey Lewis and The News and Hall and Oates Cassettes.)

But things are certainly changing, as evidenced by my Saturday afternoon experience, when I saw my first-ever banjo in Cole. Followed no more than 5 minutes later, my second. Man, the neighborhood is really going down the toytee now.

The first one belonged to this new white guy that moved into the tri-plex on our block. Can't decide if he looks more hippy-ish or like he fell off a bottle of Kentucky Deluxe. (Perhaps the banjo and beard was making me think Deliverance when I should have been thinking Pearl Street). Either way, he sat on the curb in front of his house for about 1/2 hour picking his banjo as he spoke on the phone with a buddy.

The second banjo sighting was from a very goth-looking girl that came walking by, no doubt heading to the fixed-gear house up on the 3600 block. Six months ago I never saw another cyclist in the 'hood. Now, each and every day I see the folks from the house come and go, like some flock of vultures. I can only imagine what "The Collective" thinks of this wheeled (but brake-less), white invasion.

Yes, two--Count 'em, two banjos on my block in the span of 5 minutes. And to make it even more strange, they didn't even know one another! No acknowledgement of one another. No nod, no hellos, and despite my fingers being crosssed, no dueling banjos. I so wanted to hear what hippies and goth kids play on their banjos.

I still can't get my mind around the odds that two different, unaffiliated banjo-owners would come within five feet of one another--In Cole. The odds must be something close to two comets passing within 50 miles of one another, or of Al Gore buying a Hummer. Heck, Kenyon Martin winning a spelling bee might be even more probable than what I witnessed.

But it happened, honest. Not sure what it means, but it sure shows the neighborhood is rapidly changing. Perhaps we've hit some sort of critical mass?

I've heard that just before an area becomes yuppified, that's when the artists and urban fixed gear crowd moves in. Yup, "The Collective" is going to be pissed.

Ten Things I'm Excited About In Cole

I guess it's only fair to share some of the very cool things that are happening over here, to balance out my rather cynical bent as of late. So that the haters can't say I'm nothing but negative, here are ten things I'm excited about in Cole right now:

1. The CNA's recent energy--The CNA has been active for several years, but wow--The last 12 months seem to have brought a whole new vitality and energy to the organization. Kudos to Ashleigh Weatherill, current CNA president, Loralie Cole, the former president and (I think) current vice president, and all the folks that are participating.


2. The Dry Ice Factory and Casselman's Bar and Venue--Joining The Walnut Room and Blake Street Tavern as the latest beacons of hope for close-by shopping and services to Cole. Yeah, I know they're actually "Ballpark" neighborhood or something... but I'm so grateful to have them in North Denver. They are much-needed anchor businesses to tie our neighborhood to downtown's vitality.


3. The flip guru of Cole--Darryl whatever-his-name is, that fixed up the house next door to us, as well as three or four other homes in the area, and sold them to new, responsible Cole residents, is right now across the street fixing up his latest aquisition, an old brick duplex that has been vacant and a squatter-and-crackhead-haven for years. Darryl for president!!!


4. The fact that with this duplex renovated and being sold to first-time homeowners, that will make no fewer than 7 residences on our block that have been renovated significantly since we moved here three years ago. I know first-hand that there are many folks that would love to see that much progress on their blocks in that time.
   
5. The fact that no less than three people have emailed me through this blog in the past month (two in the past week), looking for homes here and seeking unvarnished information about the area. Hey, that's what I've always promised, and I'm glad to find that there are some folks out there that still appreciate a straight shooter. Oh, and of course, it's nice to hear the Cole neighborhood is such an attractor of new residents. (Unless you're part of the "Collective", which is a whole other topic.)


6. The exciting new plans for redevelopment of the barren, disjointed, largely industrial northwest corner of our neighborhood to make it more pedestrian friendly, improve traffic flow, and better connect it to the Platte trail.


7. The Denver Police Department for, well, you know for what.


8. Denver Partners Against Graffiti for, well, again, no explanation needed here.


9. That despite what must have been a hugely expensive failure with his Kiva Restaurant, the owner of the old Tosh's Hacienda building isn't giving up on this historic property yet, and is launching a new round of renovations. While I haven't agreed with all the choices he's made, I'm grateful to have his investment in the neighborhood, in Tracks, ExDo, and of course, whatever the Kiva/Tosh's building becomes.


10. And, finally, I'm very thankful for (some) of my neighbors. OK, most of them. Those that don't have a dog that barks all hours of the day and night (and even that family is good people otherwise); those that don't make 11AM Front Porch Happy Hour 7 days a week; and especially those that don't sell the rock or light cats on fire.
    
    While there are a good number of people here that I would have been perfectly happy never meeting (let alone dealing with them on a daily basis), overall we have some great people in Cole--Both new and old residents.
    
    There is no doubt that three years ago when we moved to the block, we were welcomed with open arms by the vast majority of the current residents of the block (those that don't sell the rock or light cats on fire), and that's a pretty special thing I think.
    
    And despite my cynicism, I truly hope that these neighbors are part of the future of the block, too.

The Official Beverage Of Cole Neighborhood

You don't have to walk far in Cole to trip across a "Kentucky Deluxe" whiskey bottle. Yup, many long-time Cole residents love their drinking, and they overwhelmingly choose Kentucky Deluxe.

And no secret why. The bottle reads: "A choice blended whiskey that possesses the character and taste a connoisseur desires and expects from a great whiskey." We apparently have a good number of fine whiskey connoisseurs in the barrio, because they won't settle for anything but the best... er... I mean... Deluxe.

Seriously, for those of us not named Trump, why spend 3 or 4 dollars a bottle for a jug of some high-brow whiskey when you can live deluxe--Kentucky Deluxe?

Dictionary.com defines "Deluxe" as: "Of special elegance, sumptuousness, or fineness; high or highest in quality, luxury, etc."

Of special elegance... Check; highest in quality... Check; luxury, Check. Yup, I can see why Kentucky Deluxe is the preferred beverage of so many Cole residents--From its plastic bottle, to the regal crown on the label, to the way your head throbs the morning after you drink it, it no doubt is the absolute epitome of deluxe.

So the next time you're going to go sit in the Down-and-Out Super parking lot and cat-call young ladies when they walk by; sit in your car alone and drink at City Park; when Tuesday morning happy hour rolls around again; or if you're just looking to start a drop-down, drag out family argument on your front porch, do it the Deluxe way. Kentucky Deluxe.

At a cash-only liquor store with bars on the windows near you...

CNA's latest dastardly doings

So there is an organization in Cole... they call themselves something like "Neighborhood Collective" or something (stating, "We're a group of color with some white allies", racism anyone?). They've apparently formed in opposition of the RNO's (registered neighborhood associations) like the Cole Neighborhood Association, claiming that the RNO's aren't "representative" enough.

Though last time I checked the RNO's weren't turning minorities away at the door (I wonder if white people are welcomed in the "Collective"?) and in fact welcomed the involvement of all residents. Heck, they even went to the trouble of printing up informational signs and cards in Spanish. Honestly, back when I was involved with the CNA, it always struck me that the only thing holding back the representation of "residents of color" was their own disinterest in attending meetings and getting involved (or perhaps, the efforts of the "Collective" to reinforce some sort of victim mentality and undermine the inclusiveness of the RNO's).

Now again, to be clear, I don't speak for the CNA, and honestly, many (or most!) of their members probably disagree with many of my opinions. I used to be more involved in the 'hood but at some point got tired of all the grief put forth by activist groups like the "Collective" towards white folks like me that got involved. While I know it would be the more mature and productive thing to do to stay active and not let it get to me, at some point I looked at my monthly mortgage statement and thought: "I'm paying this much to be so miserable sitting in endless meetings trying to improve the neighborhood, just to be portrayed as a villain." At some point I just decided to get back to the things I liked to do, and earn my keep simply keeping my block and back alley clean and safe. Not to mention doing so many others' work for them by reporting graffiti throughout the neighborhood that sits untended for weeks.

But again, I don't speak for the CNA.

In fact, I know that the "Community Organizer" (ala Barry Obama) at the center of the "Collective", let's just call her "Alisa", for our purposes here, is a really smart person (she'll tell you that herself), and so I wondered if the CNA had in fact morphed into some sort of extreme right-wing conspiracy as she makes it out to be. So, I thought I'd go under-cover to try to uncover the true evil nature of the CNA, as suggested by "Alisa" and her "Collective". I mean, the CNA must be evil--They're trying to get a Sunflower Market into the neighborhood. If that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is.

I got wind of yet another of the CNA's suspicious activities recently and thought I'd investigate: The CNA neighborhood cleanup and tree planting. Sounds innocent enough, but based on the opposition by the "Collective", it had to be a front for some pernicious operation to further displace minorities, perpetuate racial discrimination, and gentrify! But I would get to the bottom of this.

I needed a disguise--So that I could blend in, that morning I borrowed my friend's Subaru, and wore my Birkenstocks and Patagonia jacket and showed up at Wyatt Edison Charter School. Sure enough, nothing but evil white people all around! And they were drinking coffee! A taste wasn't sufficient to confirm whether it was Starbucks or not, but it certainly wasn't Shur Fine coffee from the Down and Out Super.

I saw a big stack of some sort of garden tools--My first thought of course was pitchforks... but they just turned out to be shovels. I guess for the tree planting. A box that looked like it might contain white hoods just turned out to be plastic bags for the neighborhood cleanup.

I was there for only a few minutes when I was shocked to see a Hispanic person show up for the event--Wait a minute, already "Alisa" and the Collective's wisdom was being challenged: Not all "residents of color" subscribe to the fear-mongering and victim mentality of the "Collective"! Very interesting.

I moved closer to a group of participants to eavesdrop. I hoped to get some "dirt" on what they had up their sleeves. Perhaps targeting specific properties to turn into coffee shops, displacing the local minority business owners? Identifying entire blocks to scrape so that more yuppie-friendly services like climbing gyms, luxury lofts, and art galleries can come in? Or maybe unfairly targeting section 8 housing facilities to harass the residents, because you know, white people just have a grudge against the poor.

But all I heard was a genuine love of the neighborhood, which I clearly lost at some point. Was it the day I got pan-handled three times in an hour and a half? Or perhaps when I got threatened by that gang banger? Or maybe when I had to clean graffiti out of my back alley for the third time in a week. Who knows.

But these folks still have it, as evidenced by their willingness to give up a Saturday to go out in the cold and mist and pick up other people's baby diapers, Cheeto bags, and Kentucky Deluxe liquor bottles. A genuine interest in making the area a greener, nicer place to live (for all) by planting street trees. And a belief that Cole's future looks very bright.

I was shocked to learn that there wasn't a lynching, or at least a cross burning planned. So much for listening to the "Collective". Just a friendly, productive neighborhood gathering, during which 10 blocks or so of the neighborhood were to be cleaned up, and around 20 street trees were to be planted. Hmmm.... seemed innocent enough.

Fast forward to later in the day, after all the evil cleaning and planting had been done, and I continued my surveillance while taking part in a free burrito provided by CNA. Incidentally, the food was donated from Wahoo's Fish Tacos--apparently they're involved with this extremist organization in some way--and I was surprised because I thought we white people only ate Chipotle. As I finished my meal, the group was joined at the last minute by an elderly Hispanic resident of the neighborhood. She had seen the group's members out cleaning up her block, and was excited to learn of the neighborhood association and their efforts.

Yes, excited. Here was a minority lady that had lived in the neighborhood 40 years and was thrilled about the recent changes (not scared, or threatened). As she ate her burrito, she shared with the group: "This used to be a good neighborhood...but I'm sick and tired of people who don't care..."

But wait a minute--The "Collective" makes it out that the neighborhood is perfect as-is except for the racial profiling of DPD and the white people gentrifying the neighborhood. That any progress--Be it cleanup, renovation, new businesses, engaged residents (unless they're minorities) dilute the "character" and diversity of the neighborhood, and should be opposed at all cost.

I left the event around noon, very confused. How can CNA, (or any other neighborhood association, for that matter) clearly a harmless and very beneficial force of positive change in the neighborhood, be so villified by "Alisa" and her "Collective"? Now, I know "Alisa" is a smart lady (and again, she'll be the first to tell you that), and has at least twice as many degrees as I, but I just don't get it.

I for one will support tree planting, cleanups, bringing healthier grocers and new, valuable (and job generating) businesses and services to the neighborhood. In fact, based on my undercover research, the only counter-productive, misguided organization I know of that is doing harm to minority residents of Cole just might be the "Collective". So, I'll support the Cole Neighborhood Association.

Which is likely good, as I don't know if the "Collective" and it's "group of color" has any openings for a "white ally" right now anyway. Or, in all reality, whether white people are welcome at all.

Exciting News For Cole

Wow, an exciting vision for the future of Cole, as it relates to the new 38th and Blake transit station...

Kiva's new theme: Urban Blight

So I shared that I had heard that Kiva would be re-opening at some point. Not much visible activity on that front until recently when I saw that there was a notice of zoning change on the building--Basically being re-zoned to allow for mixed residential and commercial I think. Makes sense, given how cavernous the building is. I just hope something opens up there again relatively soon.

But the big thing is the new paint job--Anyone notice that they tore down the cheery yellow awnings and re-painted the building...Uggh... Primer gray?

Nothing screams "Urban Blight" more than a huge building painted industrial, primer gray. Especially with an equally dismal gray building right across the street. Every time I pass by now I have to remind myself I'm not living in Flint, Michigan.

Maybe that's his new theme for the restaurant space--Urban blight. Maybe they'll hire some yuppy white artists to replicate some local graffiti on the building, park some extra dumpsters outside, and chain a few cannibalized old bike frames to the light poles. Hang some sneakers from the power lines and hire some actors to portray homeless people and sleep out front during the grand opening. Stick some of those fake-bullet-hole stickers on the front door to complete the look.

Maybe a soup kitchen theme? Tuesdays ladies drink (soup) free. That could become hip and trendy with the incoming Starbucks posse.

Perhaps it is in fact just a primer? I'm afraid it isn't, so I'm left wondering what Marty, the owner was thinking? Of all the colors in the rainbow, why did he choose battleship, primer gray?

Top Ten things I have learned about living in Cole

So I've lived here in Cole for almost 4 years now, and as a result I think I have a pretty good feel for the area. I was just thinking the other night, of all the valuable things I've learned, and thought I should share for any other new or prospective residents.

So, here are the top 10 things I have learned about living in Cole:

1. When you're budgeting for your mortgage, be sure to include some wiggle room for a self-storage facility. That quaint, historic house with so much character has absolutely no closet space, so you'll need to find a place to put all that stuff you accumulated in the 'burbs or your previous, modern or updated apartment.
2. As mentioned in a previous post, get a cell phone plan with unlimited calls to certain numbers, and make the Police, Denver Partners Against Graffiti, Neighborhood Inspection Services, and perhaps Animal Control all part of your unlimited calling plan. You'll be calling one or more of these agencies a lot. Trust me.
3. Collect your spare change in a "change jar" so that when you are out walking your dogs, and you get panhandled by the crack head up the street, or in many cases your neighbor, you can honestly say "I'd like to help, but all I have is fifteen cents."
4. Get a big, but harmless dog--German Shepherd, Rottie, or Dobie perhaps. Or, something that could pass for a pit bull (since pits are illegal, you shouldn't get the real thing). While your dog might be a big baby, every other big dog in the 'hood is unsocialized, neglected, and mean as hell, so they'll think the same thing about your dog and not mess with your shit.
5. Start listening to latin music--Really, really loud. You're going to be hearing a lot of it very soon, so you had better get used to it.
6. Get some windchimes, or perhaps a fountain or other water feature for your back yard, to help drown out the afore-mentioned latin music, your neighbor's incessantly barking ghetto "Rockweiller", "ghetto doorbell" (someone sitting in their car on the street honking their horn incessantly until their friend comes to the door), the frequent loud, extremely public domestic disputes from one or several of your neighbors, police sirens, police helicopters, gunshots, or the perpetual drunks on the front porch across the street.
7. Make sure you own some dark sunglasses, and wear them every time you leave the house. Makes it easier to watch the unsavory characters you inevitably encounter to see if they're selling drugs, or engaging in any other criminal activity without making it obvious you're observing them. Also helpful to get a read on the thuggish-looking kid walking towards you on the sidewalk. Gang banger, or just a fan of Allen Iverson? You be the judge.
8. Stock up on fly traps. Guaranteed one of your neighbors will fill your dumpster to the point of overflowing with dirty baby diapers and chicken bones.
9. As much as you'll eventually want to build a fifteen foot, sound-proof concrete wall topped with concertina around your house to help you block out the rest of the 'hood, city code won't allow you to. I looked into it.
10. And finally, this is a big one: If you're white, you might think you have a right to an opinion about the future of the neigborhood, but you're wrong. Only people of color and the indiginous crack-head population are entitled to an opinion. You're just an unwelcome invader.

You might live in the 'hood...

I just noticed something quite sad: Three of my "Fave 5" on my T-mobile plan are city agencies related to living in the ghetto.

If three of your "Fave 5" are the police department, graffiti removal, and neighborhood inspection services, you might live in the 'hood...