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Neighborhood News and Announcements
Use of PrePaid Grocery Cards and Support UPark Elementary
Please consider buying a King Soopers, Safeway or Sunflower grocery card for you meal purchases! Cards are on sale at the school office. Please note that King Soopers, Safeway and Sunflower give our school 5% back on every $100 grocery card purchase that you make as a way to support our community.Call the school office for more information 303-756-9407.
Coyotes in our Neighborhood (10/31/11)
There have been several reports of coyotes in our neighborhood and the UPCC has been in contact with the City. Here is some of what we have learned:
Coyotes used to be found only in the central Midwestern plains states, but have actually benefited from human development and now can be found throughout North America. They are considered mid-sized predators (averaging 25-35 lbs), are built for speed (up to 40 mph) and are remarkably intelligent and adaptable animals. Unfortunately this adaptability and intelligence has led them to cities, which are rich in resources (food, water and shelter) and lacking large predators that would outcompete coyotes in more natural habitats.
Coyotes are skittish by nature, but constant contact with people, cars, pets, children and more have led to an increased comfortableness which is referred to as "habituation". Coyotes that live in the city are all habituated to varying degrees. While they usually still avoid human contact, our private property and pets are simply parts of their territory. We can, however, do things to decrease certain behavior and protect out pets. Often the owners of pets who are attacked are unaware that coyotes are even in the area. Making sure that their presence is common knowledge is the first step to protecting our pets. Then understanding that our presence is the best deterrent of an attack is critical.
When pets are with their owners coyotes very rarely approach. In Colorado only 6 people have been bitten while defending a pet, and all of those pets were off leash at the time and most commonly in a natural area or open space. There have been a total of 15 people bitten throughout the state, those not in defense of a pet were either trying to feed or pet the coyote, were nearby where others had fed coyotes and in one case, the coyote was sick. Feeding coyotes is the number one reason why a coyote would directly approach a person." Also, if you are approached by an agressive coyote, please report it to Kelly Uhing at Kelly.Uhing@denvergov.org.
Tips to Protect Your Pets:
- Whenever you see a coyote, never ignore or avoid it. Make eye contact, yell, scream, throw things, blow a whistle or use whatever you have available to be the biggest, scariest person it (or they) have ever seen. This reteaches them to avoid human contact.
- Keep cats indoors and small dogs attended when outside, especially after dark.
- Close dog doors at night and go outside with your pet. A coyote won't enter your home but may be waiting outside. (They are ambush predators, if you see a coyote out in the open it is not hunting)
- Coyotes can learn routines, vary the time you let your pet out or turn on lights and check the yard before letting pet outside. If coyotes are present, aggressively chase them away. They are built to run, not fight, and will not confront an aggressive person unless cornered. Use noise makers, spray them with hose, shoot with water gun, yell and even chase them out. They will quickly learn which yards and people they need to avoid.
- Never let dogs off leash in open space, this is where coyotes live and hunt.
- Short leashes are safer than long ones.
- Check your yard for things that may be resources for coyotes. Clean under birdfeeders and BBQ's, keep compost enclosed, pick up fallen fruit (they do eat fruit and bird seed).
- Keep noisemakers near doors to be quickly available if you see a coyote.
- Six foot fences are safer than shorter fences, but they can get over them. They do need to pull themselves over, so pointed pickets or adding something to the top of fence that would prevent them from being able to grab the top helps deter them. (a few inches of chicken wire sticking up or PVC pipe on a string that rolls when touched can keep them out of yard).
- Remove thick brush near homes
- Motion activated lights
- Secure garbage lids or keep inside
- Enclose compost bins
Washington Park Running Trail Improvements
Imporvements to the Wash Park Running Trail began 9/19/11 and should be finished by October 31st.
Buchtel Boulevard News (7/27/11)
- A City traffic study indicated that changes in traffic light timing will create longer gaps in vehicle traffic, making it a little easier and safer to cross Buchtel Blvd. in between S. Univ. and S. St. Paul, and between S. St. Paul and S. Monroe St. However, a pedestrian area sign will be added at S. Monroe.
- Coyote signs are posted along Buchtel Trail. The pups are out on their own now, so be careful. Small pets shouldn't be out without close supervision. Use the loud-scare technique to show coyotes they are not welcome, if they are in view.
- The Historic Buchtel Boulevard Trail sign at S. St. Paul will have panel added to it for PRAIRIE PARK.
- The Buchtel/Columbine intersection and Buchtel Centennial Park project needs only the hiring of an Inspector, and should get underway soon.
Neighborhood Wildlife (6/29/11)
You don't need to head to the mountains to spot wildlife. Recently, near Fillmmore and Milwaukee, a wild turkey and a screen owl were spotted. Check out these great photos by resident Paul Docktor of the screech owl.
Photo by Paul Docktor.
Photo by Paul Docktor.
Buchtel and Columbine Work (6/20/11)
Information was distrubuted about work near Buchtel and Columbine. Xcel is currently working there and the City will begin additional work in Mid-July. Read More about the project.
Update Buchtel Blvd Crossings (4/29/11)
The Buchtel Blvd./Pkwy Coalition met April 20, 2011 and continues to work with the city for safer crossings of Buchtel. It also discussed the plans for the reconstruction of Buchtel at S. Columbine Street, and the changes to adjacent Buchtel Centennial Park. This work will begin soon.
DU Working to Improve Safety on Asbury (4/28/11)
DU's plan for changes to East Asbury focus on ways to calm and slow down vehicle traffic as it goes through the campus from Josephine to High Street. This plan has been delayed by the City which is now asking DU for additional paperwork. DU has hired traffic consultants (Felsburg Holt Ullvig) for this project. They will also begin a dialogue with the City to improve the safety of the the crossing Asbury/University.
Disease Hitting Black Walnut Trees (4/2/11)
The City is conducting outreach about a disease called Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) that is affecting black walnut trees in Denver. They are anticipating that a large portion of the black walnuts will have to be removed in the next couple years as there is no known cure or treatment for this disease.
You may or may not know if you have a black walnut tree on your property. If you are not sure if you have a black walnut on your property, click here for info about what the tree looks like and the City has a map noting known black walnuts in our neighborhood.
The week of April 4th residents with identified black walnut trees will get a letter about TCD.
The City is working to secure minimal funds from the Community Block Grant which assists qualifying residents with the cost of tree work. However, in the mean time, they will offer a twelve month interest free payment plan for those who request assistance. For more information, visit the City website.
Read more about the disease.
Coyotes in the Neighborhood (4/1/11)
There have been reports of coyotes in and around Prairie Park/ Buchtel Blvd and missing pets in the neighborhood. The City is looking into putting a coyote sign up in the park. Please continue to spread the word to keep small pets attended by their owners and on leash when outside. This time of year, pups will be in dens so family groups will be staying in smaller territories to stay close, and may be more likely to go after easy prey (cats and dogs are usually not ready to protect themselves).
Also, people should haze/harass them when they see them to remind them to avoid contact with people. Here info on what this means. Kids need to be reminded not to try and feed or approach ANY strange animal, generally coyotes won’t initiate any contact.
Here is the City's brochure about living with coyotes in Denver.
Update on Left Turn Signal from Colorado to Iliff (3/2/11)
After the UPCC contacted the City about the possible installation of protected left-turn signal for northbound Colorado traffic turning west onto Iliff, a traffic study was conducted by the City. Here are the City's findings:
The following report is from David DiGiacomo, a Staff Engineer, Traffic Engineering Services for the City and County of Denver:
I observed the northbound left turns on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 7:30 - 8:30 am and 4:00 - 6:00 pm. During the morning time period for the northbound left turn, there were 93 vehicles waiting for a green indication, 88 vehicles making a left turn, and five vehicles that were held over and did not make it through the first cycle. During the evening time period for the northbound left turn, there were 172 vehicles waiting for a green indication, 146 vehicles making a left turn, and 26 vehicles that were held over and did not make it through the first cycle. In order to meet the warrant for a left turn arrow, 54 vehicles would need to be held over in a one hour period or 108 vehicles in a two hour period. This northbound left turn falls short of that volume during both the morning and evening peak hours.
A warrant based on accidents requires at least 5 correctable approach turn accidents in a 12 month period for the last three years. For the northbound left turn, there was one correctable accident reported within the last three years. Therefore, the accident warrant is not met.
We appreciate you bringing this intersection to our attention. However, a northbound left turn signal modification for this intersection is not warranted at this time. If you have any questions or need further information, you can contact me at 720-865-3166.
Left Turn Signal from Colorado to Iliff (2/4/11)
UPCC is looking into the potential installation of protected left-turn signal for northbound Colorado traffic turning west onto Iliff. Because Colorado is a state highway, the state owns the traffic lights but the city operates and maintains. A traffic study has been ordered and we should have results in the next month. If approved, it appears like most of the cost to install would be a state expenditure. Estimated costs to install the turn arrow would be $75-100k if the current light is pre-wired to accommodate the addition.
Get help with home heating costs
With the cold winter months upon us, you’ve probably seen an increase on your utility bill. The good news is there is a heating assistance program that helps people with their home heating costs and heating-related emergencies called LEAP. The program helps people who qualify get financial relief from winter’s high heat expenses. You may also be eligible to receive free furnace tune-ups, insulation and other weatherization services.
The LEAP application process is simple. Simply call 1-866-HEAT-HELP, request an application, fill it out, and mail it back to us. LEAP accepts applications Nov. 1 – April 30 each year.
To find out more, call 1-866-HEAT-HELP, visit www.DenverGov.org/leap or go to the Denver Human Services East office at 2855 Tremont St., Denver, CO.
Residents Honored
50 year Upark residents Ruth and the late Phil Perdew, were accepted in DU's School of Art and Art History Alumni Exhibition. The show will run from Sept. 30 until Nov. 14 at the Shwayder Art Building, 2121 E. Asbury Ave. This juried show includes examples of their pottery, painting and jewelry. Phil was a professor at DU's school of Education and Ruth was a local piano teacher, published composer and potter for many years. Both pursued art as very satisfying hobbies and outlets for their artistic creativity both before and after retirement. Ruth now resides at Brighton Gardens of Denver. The Perdew's daughter, Phyllis Ward, lives in University Park and is also an artist. She submitted her parents' work to the DU show, later realizing that she herself is an Art alumna and eligible to enter. The Alumni Show is presented every three years.
Neighborhood Home Seeking Landmark Designation (7/21/10)
The concrete house at 2340 S. Josephine St. designed and built by architect Eugene Groves in 1932 is on track for Denver local landmark designation. The Landmark Preservation Commission voted unanimously on July 20th to forward the application to City Council with a recommendation for approval. City Council will give final consideration to the application at a public hearing on August 16th. This small house sits back nearly 30 feet on a large 4 lot property. Named the "Holland House" (after original owner Mary Holland), it features a unique concrete dome - there aren't any others like this in our neighborhood!
Eugene Groves designed only four homes in the Denver area, each one featuring fabulous, somewhat quirky, elements. The owner of the home in University Park is thrilled that her house is being considered for this honor. Landmark status not only protects the house from being demolished, but it also makes it eligible for significant tax credits and grants to help fund work on the structure.
To learn more about this wonderful home, you can review the application.
City Councilman, Charlie Brown, Makes an Offer University Park Won’t Refuse: If the neighborhood raises $1,000 dollars for additional playground improvements, Charlie Brown will match it.
The neighborhood raised $173 dollars during the Playground Grand Reopening Party. “The progress toward the $1,000 match is fantastic. We are confident the neighborhood won’t let a penny of Charlie’s generous offer go unmatched,” said University Park Mothers Club President, Jennifer Engleby. Please send donations in the form of a check made out to UPCC, and designate it for Playground Renovations.
Checks can be mailed to Jennifer Engleby, 3401 East Asbury Avenue, Denver, CO 80210. For more information, e-mail park@uparkmoms.org.
Update on coyotes in the neighborhood from Ashley DeLaup, Wildlife Ecologist for Parks and Recreation (ashley.delaup@denvergov.org)
May 20, 2010: Coyote pups are now starting to venture out of their dens, so family groups are watching closely for any potential danger to their offspring. Be extra cautious in or near natural areas or in areas you know they have had pups before when walking dogs, if they think you are too close they will often show themselves and may raise their fur and hiss. Typically they won’t really follow but may watch until you leave area. Once they feel the threat is far enough away they should disappear. If a coyote seems unusually resistant to hazing that means pups are probably close and for now its better to just leave the vicinity. By July, the pups will be big enough to travel and coyotes will go back to using their whole territory.
The coyotes are also staying pretty close to pups at this time so you may either not see them at all or see them more often depending on the den location. This means they are hunting CLOSE TO HOME, they may give up preferred prey if it is farther away and take advantage of whatever is close by including small, unattended pets. Keep close tabs on small pets especially after dark.
And finally, coyote pups do not look like the adults, but can be mistaken for puppies, some one brought me one already this year. If you see a “lost” brown puppy- leave it alone if possible! If it is in an unsafe location with no adults apparent you can move it to a safe spot nearby, loosely secure it under a milk crate or laundry basket and leave it. An adult can easily find and retrieve it. Mom or babysitter is probably close by and will retrieve it once people are gone.
UPark Elementary Launches New Website
UPark Elementary has launched a new website at www.uparkelementary.com.
The new website has a comprehensive up-to date calendar, faculty and staff contact info, weekly bulletins and notices, lunch menus, a discussion forum, and information about fundraising, year-round enrichment programs, PTA, CSC, and much more. The website is simple to use, whether you are looking for information, actively posting information, or joining a discussion forum. Because of its ease of use, there are plans for teachers and students to post information about their classes on the website. We also will be using the website to market our school to prospective families with school-age children.
The site will allow us to use less paper, communicate more effectively, and archive all of our important information. Please visit our new website and let us know your thoughts. (4/7/10)
Denver Compost Collection Continues
While Denver can no longer offer compost collection at no cost, the city is able to continue this service for a fee of $87 annually to selected residences. Only homes currently participating in the composting pilot are being invited to continue service. Additional households will be invited to participate if space becomes available.
If you are not currently a compost customer, but would like to participate in the program, check the Website or call the city for more information. If you are a composting customer, payment must be received by April 15, 2010, in order for your service to continue. If payment is not received, your compost cart will be retrieved in April.
For more information about the program, visit their Website at: (updated 4/6/10) (back to top)
DU’s Community News is now available on-line at http://du.edu/today
(updated 4/6/10) (back to top)
Dog Park Master Plan Recommendations
Dog Park Master Plan Recommendations have been posted. Click to review the Dog Park Master Plan Recommendations. Please send questions or comments to denverdog@denvergov.org. (back to top) (updated 2/23/10)
2010 SPRING STREET TREE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Details of Program can be found here. Trees are $25 each for Denver residents and deadline for applications is February 15.
For applications, visit www.theparkpeople.org, or call 303-722-6262. Tree pick-up is April 17. (back to top)
Grocer Cards to Support UPark PTA
Grocery cards for use at King Soopers, Safeway, and Sunflower Market can be purchased at University Park Elementary School. If you buy your groceries with our grocery cards, the store will donate 5% of your purchase to the school – at no cost to you. To purchase grocery cards, please stop by the school office, or call Terri Allsup at 303-550-0831, or e-mail terriallsup@gmail.com. (back to top)
Observatory Park Playground Final Plans
The final concept plan for the renovation of the Observatory Park playground has been posted. This playground project is part of the ‘Better Denver’ Bond Program, approved by Denver residents in 2007. Construction is expected to be complete by mid-2010. (back to top)
Plans for University Boulevard high-rise taking shape
Richard Chapman
February 18, 2009
Two hundred high-end rental apartments above three restaurants, a coffee shop and a boutique food market on the ground floor of an 11-story building.
That’s developer Phil Caplan’s vision for what is now being called the Shops and Apartments at Observatory Place, a bold transformation of the southeast corner of Evans Avenue and South University Boulevard.
Gone as soon as late fall would be the structures there now, in particular the two-story, red-brick Wesley Apartments at 2100 S. University and the five properties directly south that the developer owns. In their place — and open as soon as late 2010 — could be a high-rise apartment containing a food emporium on the order of Whole Foods, Marczyk’s, Tony’s Market or Cook’s Fresh Market. All are under consideration, Caplan says.
“We want the best combination of restaurant and retailer we can find,” he says, noting that he already has four letters-of-intent from restaurants eager to open in the building.
“I’m more worried about filling up the apartments than the retail,” he quipped during a Feb. 11 briefing before the University Park Community Council. Neighbors peppered Caplan with questions reflecting concerns from how the project would affect parking and traffic to whether Caplan could land a Trader Joe’s store for the site.
The developer patiently answered all queries, noting that the project still has a lot of unknowns. Chief among these is financing, which is not in place yet, and design, which is envisioned to be masonry, glass and “as much brick as we can afford.”
The building design is being put together by Shears Adkins of Denver, the architectural firm that designed University Lofts on the northeast corner of Evans and University.
Also unclear is the scope of the project. Caplan and partner David Elowe have acquired six lots on University, from the Wesley Apartments south to the former Pioneer Apartments at 2156 S. University Blvd. The contract to buy Pioneer fell through, Caplan said, but it is being renegotiated.
As that unfolds, key decisions are being made. Among these is that the project will not be designed as student housing. It will be higher-end rental units marketed to “young professionals, couples, DU faculty and staff, empty-nesters and seniors.”
Units will be 70 percent studios and one-bedrooms and 30 percent two-bedrooms, with rents in the $1,700 to $1,900 range. Residential parking will be on three interior floors above the retail shops, with 100 retail parking spaces below ground. The main entrance will be from the alley between Josephine Street and University Boulevard.
“This is totally flexible, drawings on a computer,” Caplan emphasized. “But we’re gonna do the best we can to make it look nice.” (back to top)
Prairie Park (Land along Buchtel Boulevard Trail) Update:
Fences have recently been erected in Prairie Park. The "good" grass is inside the fences for protection. Outside the orange fences there will be grading, revegetation, berms, and some crusher fine pathways. The black plastic fencing is to keep the dirt from blowing and the fox den area is being handled very carefully. (back to top)
Public Art Installation
Learn more about the public art installed at the corner of University and Evans. Read More.
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Renovations to Chamberlin Observatory Nearing Completion
Imagine a time when Denver’s mass transit system consisted of horse-drawn streetcars; The Denver Post didn’t exist; Colorado’s population barely exceeded 400,000; automobiles were merely an eccentric hobby; women’s right-to-vote was 30 years in the future; telephones were a rarity; and, airplanes were viewed as folly.
Against this backdrop, forward-thinking individuals at the University of Denver initiated the design of the Chamberlin Observatory in 1888 and opened the building for astronomy instruction in 1894. While the Observatory still boasts its original 28-foot-long refractor (lens type) telescope -- installed by a Boston lens maker -- other parts of the building have not fared as well over the past 120 years.
The much-needed renovation has included reconstruction of 40 windows; restoring doors; tuck-pointing; replacing gutters, downspouts, and roof flashing; and, installing a new fire alarm system. This portion of the work was funded by the State Historical Fund, which awarded a $200,000 grant in January 2006 for the project. Matching funds were provided by the University of Denver ($65,000), University Park Community Council's Chamberlin Observatory Restoration Committee ($13,000), and the Denver Astronomical Fund ($10,000). In addition, the University of Denver has contributed another $116,000 to pay for upgrading the electrical system, replacing lighting, refinishing floors, painting the interior, and replacing the south balcony railing.
Chamberlin’s renovation will ensure that University of Denver students, the University Park neighborhood, and many others will continue to enjoy -- well into the future -- the many learning opportunities and traditions afforded by this magnificent landmark.
Perhaps a century from now, those who have the good fortune to experience the Observatory’s benefits will find our 2008 lifestyle as difficult to fathom as it is for us to imagine life in 1888.
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