Old San Rafael Neighborhood Organization

San Rafael Neighborhood Needs Your Help Now!!

Nov 15, 2007

URGENT NOTICE:

San Rafael Neighborhood Needs Your Help Now!!

Our effort to protect the historic character of the neighborhood from new construction that is inappropriate in height and bulk is at a critical point! Our application for a protective OD-9 overlay zoning district goes before the Denver Planning Board on:

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, at 3:OO p.m.
Webb Municipal Office Building
201 West Colfax Avenue, Room 4.F.6 and 4.G.2

Please participate by doing each of the following:

1. Come to the Planning Board for the public hearing. This is crucial! Our power is in our numbers, and they need to hear from YOU! Bring any Denver residents along, too.

2. Write to the Planning Board in SUPPORT of San Rafael?’s application, # 20071-00055 (and send a copy to Carla Madison). Address you letter to: Denver Planning Board, City and County of Denver, 201 W. Colfax, Dept. 205, Denver, CO, 80202.
3. E-mail our City Planner in support of the application at ellen.ittelson@ci.denver.co.us.
4. Call or meet with Carla Madison to share your views. Her support is uncertain at this time and she needs to hear from you! Carla Madison, City Councilwoman, District 8, 2713 Welton Street,80205, Cell: 303-587-6543, Office: 303-298-7641, Carla.madison@ci.denver.co.us
Our application is threatened by two potential developers.

First, Hope Communities is contemplating the demolition of the four buildings at the south end of the 2300 block between Emerson and Clarkson, and the construction of between 50 to 75 rental units, an increase from the current 18 units. The current R-3 zoning will allow a structure of four or more stories that will adversely affect the heart of San Rafael. Hope Communities is threatening to stop our application at the Planning Board meeting.

Second, the owner of the partially-boarded-up Downing Street Liquors building is trying to block our application or exclude the northeast corner of Ogden Street and E. 22nd Avenue across from the old Scott Methodist Church, a Denver Landmark, now the Sanctuary Lofts. This vacant corner is on the same block with the Gebhard Mansion and the McBird House, two Denver Landmarks.

Please act now before it is too late! This opportunity to protect our homes, our neighborhood and our quality of life may not come again!

Call 303-863-7061 for more information!