LAKEWOOD INFORMER

Guest Post from Joan from Lakewood Week of June 1 – personal update on homelessness and immigration housing. So this week I was invited to two different meetings with two different perspectives on homelessness, immigration, and affordable housing. This is my perception of both meetings. Meeting number one 6/4 was the Common Sense Institute (CSI) meeting, titled Egg and the Economy. The CSI is a non-partisan issues researching group that has been on the scene of Colorado politics for the last year. Their breakfast was held at the AMG Dome in Greenwood Village. There was a presentation on CSI latest research on migrants and homelessness by CSI’s Director of Policy & Research, DJ Summers and then he moderated a fascinating panel with Adam Paul (Denver Mayors Office), Paul Scudo (Step Denver) & Heidi Williams with (Metro Mayors Caucus). The panel presented two diffing views on homelessness. Step Denver stated that 70 percent of homeless are substance addiction victims. There were other  fun facts from a report that CSI had released. You can see this report at Common Sense Institutehttps://commonsenseinstituteco.orgCommon Sense Institute and then go to the menu and choose local issues. Look for the report “A Snapshot of the Metro Denver Homeless Ecosystem in 2023”. and the fact that stood out to me was that between 2021 and 2023 the amount spent on a homeless person grew from $30,000 per year to $60,000 per year. And that in fall of 2023, Denver was ranked #5 in the nation with fifth largest homeless population. The panel was quite lively and one point that came...

Lakewood agreed to an interest-free loan for up to $2.75 million, for Texas-based developer Artesia Real Estate Investments. The money will be used to demolish the old Sears buildings at 10785 W Colfax Ave. The Lakewood Reinvestment Authority (LRA) Executive Director Robert Smith says the rampant crime at this vacant property justifies using city funds for private property demolition. The number and cost of service calls could not be stated but apparently, Lakewood has desired to demolish these buildings for years. The developer was not present to answer any questions and Lakewood did not ask anything in return, such as affordable housing or even a credit check. Lakewood will spend about 67% of the available redevelopment funds on this project but high property taxes could refill the coffers soon. The loan could also be forgiven completely in return for something like affordable housing units later. LRA Executive Director Smith argues that this loan helps Lakewood because Lakewood will have lower crime due to being a vacant property, rather than a vacant building, for approximately 18 months that it otherwise wouldn’t have. The crime reportedly comes from homeless residents occupying the property. The justification seems to be that demolishing the building is a high-priced equivalent of sweeping a homeless camp. The loan also helps the developer. Smith reports that developers are hesitant to eliminate buildings on their own because it might lower the mortgage value of the property.  There was no word on how a city loan will not lower the...

Cross-post from savebelmarpark.com Proof that there is already more than enough rental housing for everyone in the metro area and in the country! Decimating our environment and wildlife habitats to build unneeded high-rent housing is bad policy. Oft cited supply-and-demand slogans have minimal relevance because real estate is NOT a commodity. Read the Full Report – Denver has over 9 Vacant Homes per Unhoused Resident

Lakewood still publicly denies any interest in purchasing Emory Elementary but that’s not stopping plans from moving forward. The plan still seems to be for Lakewood to act on behalf of the Action Center. The Action Center has not responded to repeated requests for comment. Lakewood residents know more about what Lakewood is doing from Jeffco Schools than from their representative government or the recipients of government efforts and/or funds. Given the amount of public interest in this process and the lack of transparency, the following seems to be a fair summary: The opaque City of Lakewood is working with the unaccountable Action Center to buy a closed public school without gathering resident support for their plans. According to the School Board, “Given where this is in the process, now would be an appropriate time to use that link” for community input. https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/services/facilities/property-disposition Residents of Lakewood might appreciate a public comment period through Lakewood before Lakewood even makes the offer but that does not seem to be considered. From Jeffco Schools Property Disposition Update dated May 20: “Earlier this year Jeffco added a “municipal interest process” to its Property Disposition Process, following feedback from city leaders within the district. This additional step allows time for Jeffco and the city or county to discuss and evaluate the proposed use of the property before it is marketed for sale. The City of Arvada has expressed interest in the Parr property, and Jeffco will move forward with the municipal process to allow the...