WHAT DO YOU THINK? READ, THEN POST YOUR COMMENTS!
We Need your opinion!!
An opinion poll is being distributed to residents of the Whittier, Cole and Curtis Park neighborhoods after a meeting Tuesday night to discuss plans to build a residential facility for the chronically homeless at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Downing Street.
The Whittier, Cole and Curtis Park neighborhood associations have asked the property owner, Bo Matthews, and his development team to expand the project from one that focuses on concentrating the homeless in a 28-unit facility to one that includes apartments for a mix of incomes along with retail/commercial space below. The neighborhood associations feel this expanded development would better serve the community and the residents, turning a project of concentrated poverty into one that could be an attraction to future development in the area.
WNA President Linda Dowlen emphasized that the three associations are not opposing aid to those in need and are not asking that the Bo Matthews Center to abandon the project. They are asking the developers to use the site to its full potential and create something of benefit to everyone.
A poll was taken of those who attended the meeting asking if they supported the project as currently proposed, if they wished to see it expanded as a residential/retail/commercial space or if they completely opposed the project. At the request of the neighborhood associations, those who did not attend the meeting also will get a chance to weigh in on the issue. Results of the poll will be used to help Councilwoman Carla Madison determine if she should continue to pursue financial assistance for the Bo Matthews Center to expand the project or not.
Members of the WNA board will also be going door-to-door on Saturday, Dec. 20 to share information and get opinions. You may find one of them on your doorstep!
4 comments:
Bo Matthews has owned property on Downing for many years and has always used it for seemingly god purposes as some kind of ministry. However, he has always done things on the cheap and it appears he long term purpose with the property was/is as an investment.
For many years, due to the neighborhood, there was not much real opportunity for using the property for profit and he was able to keep it active and free fom vandalism with the uses it has had.
There is little doubt Mr. Matthews' heart was in the right place; however, since he no longer lives in Denver, it appears he wants to sell the property.
The proposed use will do nothing to improve the neighborhood. In fact one of the serious issues Whittier and adjoining neighborhoods have been facing for the past two years has been the release back into the community of a number of gang members. Bringing more convicted criminals into the neighborhood only increases to potential for recruiting by gangs; especially since there are not jobs available in the immediate area. Without a detailed plan that can be reviewed by the neighborhods impacted, I do not believe it should be given approval.
Merely providing a "Good Neighborhood Agreement" means nothing and has no teeth, as we have learned from the 29th Avenue Liquor Store situation. Based on past history, it is naive to expect better communication from these folks or any real improvement in the property.
It seems to me that a potentially more lucrative investment for the future property owners that would also provide a greatly needed service to the existing community would involve a more diverse development including grocery, a little retail, and a few mixed-income residences. This development model would also seem to more accurately complement similar light rail infill projects that have been so popular around town. Is there any chance that the Cole neighborhood's attempt to bring in a Sunflower Market could be harmonized with an attempt to redevelop this parcel at the southeast corner of Downing and MLK?
Oh Well, this blog needs serious update, because, as of this writing, a residential development exists at the southwest corner of MLK and Downing, half, if at all occupied and looking "runned" down already after less than a couple of years, and this Bo Matthews is paid and long gone!
It just goes to show that "community" input no matter whether it's on a small or large scale matters none. Persons planning and wanting to do what they want to do in our neighborhood are going to "git her done" regardless of "community" input, request, position, etc..
Howdy! We just learned of this from the last Whittier Spotlight - we bought our house on April 1st last year, and they have now broken ground on construction for this housing center. Hoping you can provide an update to this blog, and maybe have some conversations about it. :)
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