From savebelmarpark.com

Update 3/19/25: Permits were straightened out (very quickly) and demolition on track

Greetings Supporters of Save Belmar Park,

This is an update on the attempted demolition of the Irongate Campus we told you about yesterday.

The top image is 777 S Yarrow Street in Lakewood, CO after 24 hours of illegal demolition.

We now know that Kairoi Residential had moved forward with the attempted illegal demolition without obtaining proper permits.

Kairoi Residential attempted to illegally demolish the Irongate Office Campus at 777 S Yarrow Street.

Local activists intervened and the city ultimately had to shut down the illegal project.

So please consider this.

If you happen to be in the construction business, obtaining permits is standard operating procedure.  At least for any business that intends to obey the law.

Even if you want an electrician to install a circuit in a residence, you need a permit.

The idea a company that has been involved in the construction industry in Colorado and other states for many years does not know how to properly permit the demolition phase of a project raises some questions.

Especially considering that their own civil engineers at Kimley-Horn prepared a large document titled: “EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL REPORT” that included great detail on the topic: “SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES”

The first listed responsibility in the Kimly-Horn document is:

“The city does not authorize any work to be performed until the City Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control Permit has been issued.”

Did Kairoi bother to obtain a grading permit?  NO.

Did they plan to intentionally proceed with this illegal major demolition project?

Given these facts, it seems quite possible that their bad behavior was intentional.

But it also could be that they are so incompetent, they really do not know what they are doing in the first place including not knowing about the permitting process?

Because the Planning Department certainly seems that incompetent.  The Planning Department even proclaims today on their website that:

“Demolition of the existing building has begun under a demolition permit issued by the city.”

Obviously, either the City Of Lakewood has no clue about properly permitting a project or they conspired with the developer to intentionally approve an illegal demolition project.

Which is it?

And we live in a city that is more likely to arrest citizens for clapping at a city council meeting than they are to slap a fine on Kairoi.

And a city where they city attorney tells city council they cannot discuss a proposed ordinance because they are only ‘administrative officers’ and are not even allowed to talk about it.

Basically, a city with more clowns than the circus.  To be diplomatic about it.

Why would any well-run city want such a rag tag developer doing anything within the city limits?

Stay tuned and thanks for listening,

Steve

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