staging.rockymountainvoice.com

Denverite

What would Colorado’s tipped minimum wage bill do? And why does it impact Denver so much?
Denverite, State

What would Colorado’s tipped minimum wage bill do? And why does it impact Denver so much?

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite A proposal to cut wages for some restaurant employees is dividing Colorado Democrats and the restaurant industry. Many restaurant owners say that high labor costs are driving restaurants out of business, and they need a fix to what they say is a flawed law. Meanwhile, many workers and their allies say that HB25-1208 is going to punish hard-working restaurant workers who already can scarcely afford life in the city. At the heart of it all: the rules for how servers and other tipped employees are paid. Here’s what you need to know. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Downtown Denver set for $570M tax-funded investment in housing, jobs, culture, parks, mobility
Denverite, Local

Downtown Denver set for $570M tax-funded investment in housing, jobs, culture, parks, mobility

By Kyle Harris | Denverite The Downtown Development Authority is set to revamp the central city with hundreds of millions of dollars in spending. The authority previously funded the revitalization of Union Station and the surrounding area. Earlier this year, voters approved changes that will allow the organization to take on $570 million of debt and spread the spending across a broader swath of downtown Denver. On Monday, the Denver City Council approved more detailed plans for how the money will be spent over the next 13 years. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead
Denverite, Local

Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead

By Paolo Zialcita | Denverite Ilan Salzberg’s decades-long dream of building a private swim club in his neighborhood came to an abrupt end Monday after Denver City Council voted down a rezoning proposal for the project. Salzberg, a developer and West Highland resident, bought 3719 Wolff Street in the West Highland in November 2023 for about $2 million. The 33,000-square-foot parcel of land currently sits vacant, nestled between homes and across the street from a Sprouts grocery store. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Fmr. Denver Mayor Hancock now a lobbyist for companies that made hundreds of millions during his tenure
Denverite, Local

Fmr. Denver Mayor Hancock now a lobbyist for companies that made hundreds of millions during his tenure

By Kyle Harris | Denverite Former Mayor Michael Hancock has a new lobbying firm, Hancock Global, serving companies that do big business with the city.  He’s registered as a lobbyist in the City and County of Denver. While a few of his clients are obscure, many were major contractors on projects the Hancock administration oversaw, especially at the airport.  His clients have combined for hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts with the city, according to city data going back to 2017. Some have worked for the city for decades, long before Hancock took office. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
With 11% apartment vacancy rate, its a good time to be a renter in Denver
Denverite, Local

With 11% apartment vacancy rate, its a good time to be a renter in Denver

By Sarah Mulholland | Denverite Most Denverites have probably noticed all the apartment buildings being built in recent years. It turns out that those buildings are taking a while to fill — and that’s good news for renters. The vacancy rate for apartments in the metro Denver area was 11 percent as of October, according to real estate data company CoStar. That’s roughly double the vacancy rate of a few years ago, according to CoStar, which also owns Apartments.com, one of the biggest online rental portals in the U.S.  READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
She worked for Denver for 20 years. Now she’s suing Mayor Mike Johnston’s office and his chief equity officer
Denverite, Local

She worked for Denver for 20 years. Now she’s suing Mayor Mike Johnston’s office and his chief equity officer

By Kyle Harris | Denverite A City of Denver employee is suing the Mayor’s Office and the Mayor’s Chief Equity Officer. Jessica Calderon’s allegations include sex and national-origin discrimination, retaliation and violations of her constitutional rights to free expression and assembly.  She filed the complaint in August and her attorneys amended it this week. It addresses several years of grievances that span the administrations of former mayor Michael Hancock and Mayor Mike Johnston. The Denver City Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the complaint, and neither the Mayor’s Office nor Chief Equity Officer Ben Sanders have responded to Denverite’s requests for comment on the allegations.  READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Colorado bought a Denver railyard for $50 million. 3 years later, it could be sold
Denverite, State

Colorado bought a Denver railyard for $50 million. 3 years later, it could be sold

By Nathaniel Minor | Denverite When the state of Colorado bought Burnham Yard in 2021, it had big plans for the old railyard south of downtown Denver. The state expected the roughly 60-acre site could accommodate the expansion of Interstate 25, new RTD light rail tracks, and even the planned Front Range passenger rail line. "This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,” a high-ranking state transportation official said then. Fifty million dollars later, state transportation officials say they don’t actually need most of the land and are preparing it for sale. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Bridge security at DIA, once a top-secret checkpoint choice, is going away forever
Denverite, Local

Bridge security at DIA, once a top-secret checkpoint choice, is going away forever

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite Denver International Airport will soon close its bridge security checkpoint as the Great Hall construction project gets somewhat closer to completion. The bridge checkpoint has been a slightly secret option for some travelers, sometimes offering shorter wait times when the main hall is packed. It sits on the elevated building segment that connects the Great Hall, where passengers check in, and Concourse A, which is one of the airport’s terminals. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Voters supported Denver ballot measure 6A, but what will be done with $570 million?
Denverite, Local

Voters supported Denver ballot measure 6A, but what will be done with $570 million?

By Kyle Harris | Denverite Downtown Denver is about to see a significant cash injection. Roughly 78 percent of voters living near Union Station passed Ballot Measure 6A — a policy that will authorize $570 million of debt for downtown revitalization. Only around 2,500 voters were eligible to decide the matter.  The passage of the measure was a big win for Mayor Mike Johnston. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Denver changed the rules for homeless shelters this winter. This week is the debut
Denverite, Local

Denver changed the rules for homeless shelters this winter. This week is the debut

By Paolo Zialcita | Denverite Subfreezing temperatures have reached Denver, prompting the city to activate three cold weather shelters on Monday. The National Weather Service is forecasting overnight lows in the mid-20s through the week. Denver saw its first snow of the season today, with chances for more on Wednesday and Thursday. In response, Denver will activate three emergency shelters across the city, offering round-the-clock services for people in need. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE