Celebrating the freedoms that we Americans normally enjoy is just around the corner. Taking the time to contemplate and fully appreciate what this date means in our country’s history is most significant this year, given all that is happening at the national level.
Our Constitutional freedoms are under attack both directly and indirectly and there isn’t much we can do about it. Yes, we can protest in gatherings and marches throughout the land. While that will demonstrate the opposition many of us have to President Trump’s policies and actions, it will hardly stop what he is ordering to be done. While he talks about a “regime change” in Iran, such a dramatic action is not in the cards for America during Trump’s tenure.
What is in the cards for us is the mid-term election of Congressional members. The current slim margin of Republican control in both the House and the Senate makes the Republican position quite vulnerable. Democrats need to get their act together, reorganize and run solid candidates focusing on victory in November 2026. It is the best opportunity “we the people” have to overthrow the tyranny and lack of recognition of our Constitutional rights.
In the meantime, we must be vocal and protest by contacting Republican members of Congress seeking their opposition to not only the “Big, Beautiful Bill” but also other ill-conceived legislation that compromises our rights.
Funding for the 73rd Avenue Tavern, aka Barque Restaurant
For better or worse, the almost $4 million funding from Westminster taxpayers’ taxes has been approved by the Westminster City Council via a councilor’s bill to rehabilitate the former Rodeo Market into a tavern (both food and beer). The vote was 6-1, with Council member Ireland voting no.
Subject to the council passing the ordinance on second reading, WCG Construction, Inc. will be awarded the Construction Management/ General Contractor contract for the rehab project at a net cost of $3,966,375. This does not include the previous $900,000 spent on the building for numerous years.
In two separate city surveys, they have highly favored a restaurant in this building. While the business operator is not planning on a restaurant per se, they see such a use as an economic stimulus for the 73rd Avenue commercial area and bringing vitality back to the area.
Points to ponder on the Barque Restaurant decision
I would venture to say that the decision on investing approximately $4 million of city money in the Rodeo Super Market building is one of the toughest decisions this city council has faced. However, I would speculate on how much influence the November election had on those who are either seeking election or re-election.
Yes, the city owns the building and has not been a responsible landowner/landlord. Why the city chose to purchase the building in 2004 is not clear to me, but the city has irresponsibly treated the building and site.
OK, that all is history. Now, let’s look at the deal with Barque Restaurant.
Councilmember Ireland was right on with her remarks that the parking problem has not been solved. Other developments don’t get away with a “we will fix it in phases as problems come up.”
The site plan calls for five off-street parking spaces yet the city’s parking requirements call for 42 spaces. When the Rodeo Supermarket was in operation, there were approximately 40 spaces available to customers. There was no detailed return on investment study done on this deal.
Staff did point out in the staff memorandum that it would take a projected 22 years to recover approximately $1,392,552 in rent and $2,319,196, which is close to the $3,966,375 to be invested in the building. No bank would have even come close to making such a loan.
A final point to address is the historic value of the building and the importance of this investment in giving the 73rd Avenue a “positive shot in the arm.”
Believe me; I want the 73rd Avenue commercial area to survive. I have friends who have businesses in Historic Westminster. However, I don’t think this deal is the solution to the area’s needs. It’s bigger than any one business.
I hope Barque Restaurant is a huge success and I will be a customer there. Let’s hope it can beat the odds of still being in business in five years.
The possibility of selling Western States public lands
The Republican-controlled Congress is seriously considering selling off various public lands in our Western states, including Colorado. The motivation is to help pay for the huge tax break to very wealthy people, dramatically increase funding for immigration control and increase military spending.
The Senate version of the bill revives and expands a public land sale proposal which had been in the initial House version, but was dropped thanks to pressure from Western states’ representatives.
Specifically, the Senate version would require the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to sell between 0.5% and 0.75% of the 438 million acres the two agencies manage across the West. The upper end of that range is nearly 3.3 million acres or more than 5,100 square miles – about 12 times the land area of our beloved Rocky Mountain National Park.
The pretext of the public land sales is to increase the opportunities to build affordable housing. I can hardly keep from laughing when Republicans came out with that justification. The whole reason is to raise money to help fund the huge tax cut for the friends of the King.
The Senate version would exempt lands that include national monuments, wilderness areas, national conservation areas, national parks and national recreation areas. Public lands with grazing, mining, drilling or timber leases would not be sold.
The public land sales portion of the “One big, beautiful bill” needs an all-out attack to delete it like what happened in the House version. Our public lands really do not need to be sold off to wealthy people who want to pick prime land sites for their 3rd or 4th summer home. These lands are a part of what makes America so special. Let’s not lose these assets!
But there is good news! The Senate Parliamentarian ruled on June 23 that the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management property falls OUTSIDE the scope of the rule for the drafted reconciliation bill. This means proponents of the sale of land must either attempt to rewrite the provision so it fits Senate rules or drop it from the budget bill.
It’s a temporary reprieve. I bet the Republican Senators will modify the budget bill to include such land sales. We will see.
Exciting possibilities for the City of Northglenn
It’s always exciting and energizing to plan for the future. The Northglenn City Council is currently involved in the third phase of its Civic Center visioning. Earlier phases have included their recreation center and Parsons Theatre and their dynamic city hall.
This segment focuses on the city-owned land for private development. Recently staff and planning consultants presented two development scenarios for the total site. As a reminder, their 2017 master plan goals and objectives for the entire site included the following: enhance stronger community identity; integrate a vibrant mix of land use; evaluate the best location and design of municipal facilities; provide public gathering places; leverage the success of adjacent development and strengthen connections.
Two scenarios were presented and analyzed. Both concepts included townhomes, apartments, live-work and commercial/retail.
A part of the difference in the two has to do with where the commercial/retail is placed – either fronting on Community Center Drive or tucked in the southern area adjacent to City Hall.
Other differences were the mix and location of townhouses to apartments/condos and dropping the live/work space in Scenario two. Also, there are 60 extra parking spaces in Scenario #1 versus 132 spaces in Scenario #2 for the recreation center.
The city plans a community outreach program over the summer. Ultimately, the real test of this thorough planning and analysis will be the master developer’s reaction to the plan. Staff had noted the need for some flexibility to give the developer some “wiggle room.”
It will be fun to see what the process produces.
Bill Christopher is a former Westminster city manager and RTD board member. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media. You can contact him at bcjayhawk68@gmail.com.