Staff Writer

The proposed noise wall for MLK Blvd. east of Ironton was defeated last week with almost three-quarters of residents voting against the concept. Residents were concerned with poor routes for pedestrians, blocked views, potential for graffiti, and just the overall tackiness of the project. “I don’t want a wall in my backyard,” said resident Nikki Dove. “It just looks really trashy. It’s like building a golf ball barrier but not being able to see the golf course.” Resident Cori Focht expressed similar concerns. “I found myself thinking we would always be wondering, ‘what is going on on the other side of that wall,’” said Focht. “I’m sure, like most people in this area, we will complain about not having one in five years, but for now, I’m glad the measure didn’t pass.”

[Read more…] about Noise Wall Dead; Bullet-Proof Wall Now On Table

It’s not unusual to see anyone in Stapleton walking with a dog. Stapleton has an abundance of dog owners and walkers. However, Eastbridge residents have noticed one man’s dog walking habits which are a little unusual. The unidentified man takes his smaller, mixed breed dog on a lot of walks. Lots and lots of walks. I mean, an inordinate amount of walks. Some residents even believe the guy is a professional dog walker. “I would see this same guy walking around F-15 park all the time,” said area resident David Meeter. “He was always walking a dog, so I assumed he was just a professional dog walker. But, I eventually noticed, it was the same dog every time. He can’t be a professional dog walker for just one dog, can he?” Laura Campbell noticed the same thing. “He is always by himself, walking a dog five to seven times a day,” said Campbell. “I’m a stay at home mom, so I’m often at the park with my kids. What’s this guy do? He has to be a professional dog walker. But, after a while, I noticed it’s the same dog.” Both Meeter and Campbell also recognized the man doesn’t seem cheerful. “If it is in fact his dog, and he’s not a professional dog walker, he’s not very happy to be walking that dog,” said Meeter. “He just seems really uptight for a dog owner,” said Campbell.

[Read more…] about Eastbridge Resident Possibly Professional Dog Walker of Own Dog

Residents who frequent Stapleton’s variety of aquatic options have several things in common: they like to drink beer, they like to bring their kids, and they don’t like to get wet. To even the most casual observer, Stapletonians lounging around the pool are curiously dry and seem to have a cat-like aversion to water. This has recently manifested itself in myriad complaints to the MCA and the lifeguards it employs that they do not like being splashed by the scores of children romping, playing, and laughing in the water.

[Read more…] about Stapleton Pools Drained After Complaints

Eastbridge residents finally have the grocery store they were promised ten years ago. Less than a month ago, King newSoopers opened its doors in Eastbridge and residents were welcomed by Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen. McMullen was there to give a positive boost and hopes to rebuild the image King Soopers has come to have in Stapleton. More than anything, he was there to apologize. “I thought it was important that a top level person such as myself was there to let the residents know we are truly sorry for what we have put them through,” said McMullen. “We know it has been a very rough several years of us blocking other stores from coming in, delaying the project ourselves, and then just having to deal with the Quebec Soopers. I mean, I have been there myself twice, and let me tell you…just not an overall positive experience. We really want to get some positive momentum going and keep it going.” McMullen stood for over four hours, shaking hands and listening to built-up frustration over years from residents.

[Read more…] about Soopers Grand Opening: Kroger CEO Individually Apologizes to Eastbridge Residents as They Enter Store

The first residents began moving into homes south of 26th Ave. in Aurora where open park space had originally been planned. Aside from losing the original open park space, residents are generally happy. “I’d rather have people as neighbors than prairie dogs,” said Eastbridge resident Sarah Mason. “Plus it blocks the otherwise direct view to Aurora, which is typically unpleasant.” Bob Morrow agrees. “Anything is better than the empty lot we have been staring at or running by for the last decade,” said Morrow. “Looking forward to having some new neighbors.” Most all Stapleton residents have no issues with the new build going on in Aurora, except for one major issue; its naming. As of now, the neighborhood is being pegged as “Stapleton-Aurora” and it is not going over well with residents. “We have done everything, I mean everything to distance ourselves from Aurora,” said Stapleton resident Seth Gibbons. “And now, there is going to be a name that directly ties Stapleton and Aurora? I just don’t like it one bit.” Shanley Dawley is also upset about the name. “Stapleton Aurora?” questions Dawley. “Are we Stapleton-Denver? Or Stapleton Classic? Maybe Stapleton should have just been Park Hill East. Is there a precedent for a neighborhood crossing city lines? Ridiculous.” Many residents like Pat Westwick are demanding the neighborhood change its name. “I don’t care if the property is the same or the developer is the same,” says Westwick. “Stapleton is a Denver neighborhood, not an Aurora neighborhood. This is bullsh*t.” Residents are already at work putting together a list of alternative names for Aurora to consider for its newest neighborhood.

[Read more…] about Stapleton Residents Demanding Name Change to “Stapleton Aurora”

Crime warning signs are not new to Stapleton, but the highly diverse neighborhood has had challenges with the linguistics on previous signs. “Not everyone who lives in Stapleton speaks fluent English,” said resident and activist Kyle Weber. “So, when the city has posted these warning signs, at least 20% of our population is unable to understand what they are saying.” Stapleton resident Marcos Hernandez told the Stapletonion through a translator that, “seeing the signs is very frustrating. I can read some English, but I can never read the signs quickly enough. The large Spanish speaking community in Stapleton deserves to have the same urgent information as the English speaking population.” Emilio Garcia agrees (also through a translator). “The information they are sending out should be for everyone,” says Garcia. “Not just English speaking or Spanish speaking residents, but all of us. We are one community. One big, incredibly diverse, beautiful community.”

[Read more…] about Bilingual Warning Sign Speaks to Highly Diverse Stapleton

With the hot Colorado summer upon us, air conditioners seem to be constantly running. Everyone keeps the air running in Stapleton, it’s just a question of what temperature. And although there are Stapleton couples who get along and agree on most everything, no couple ever completely agrees on what temperature the house should be at a specific point in time. “I love my wife,” said resident Tom Hickey. “But, she thinks it’s okay to sleep in a house that’s 75 degrees. That’s just not possible. So, after we go to bed, I sneak down, and crank that thing down to 71 or maybe 72 at the highest.” Tom will sometimes wake up later in the night to find himself burning hot on top of the covers. “I’ll head back downstairs and see that it’s back up to 75,” said Hickey. “I know she changed it.” This same situation happens all over Stapleton every night. The most fascinating thing about it is that it is never spoken of. “Morning comes and I never speak a word about it,” says ‘thermostat sneak attack’ victim Wendi Reynolds. “It’s ‘good morning, honey, how did you sleep?’ Neither of us ever admitting to the other that we know of their late night undercover antics.” Some people are considering escalating these silent wars. “I’m looking into getting an app which will allow me to control it from my phone,” said resident Steve Ayala. “The best part is I could lock her out of it. She wouldn’t even know where to start.” As technology continues to advance, and precision temperature control devices are built, there is a chance wars could escalate to the uncomfortable area of conversation. “Obviously, that is the last place any of us want these wars to go,” said Hickey. “Talking about it, or really anything, could blow our relationship apart. It’s mutual assured destruction.” Many couples will continue to just use guerrilla warfare tactics waiting for cool fall days, windows open, known as ‘détente season.’ “I look forward to openly discussing keeping the windows open or closing the windows,” said Reynolds. “This sneaking around is really hard on my conscience. Obviously, just talking about the thermostat stuff. Nothing else.” 

Less than a week after the Eastbridge Soopers opened its doors, another big announcement was made. Sprout’s Farmer’s Market is planning on opening a 30,000 square foot space in the 3500 block of Central Park Blvd. as part of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The plan is to open as soon as the fall of 2018. Stapleton residents were overjoyed at the announcement, many of whom took to the streets in the North Central Park Neighborhood to celebrate. “What a great day for our community,” said resident Eric Dunn. “We have been asking for this for so long, and Forest City had continually told us it couldn’t be done. This is just incredible.” A tearful Mariel Taylor exclaimed, “an organic grocer is coming here! An organic grocer is coming here. This is amazing!” The announcement came on the heels of the opening of the Eastbridge Soopers and at least for a moment, shifted excitement and momentum away from the store opening. “I’m glad there is an Eastbridge store which is supposed to be better,” said Laura Victoria. “But we’re talking about a Sprouts. This is a much bigger deal comparatively.” Even Soopers spokesperson Kaela Gordon was annoyed by the timing of the announcement. “We hadn’t even been open for two weeks,” said Gordon. “But Sprouts and Forest City thought this was good timing? It’s like standing up to tell your friends and family you are engaged and then a minute later your younger, better looking, and more well liked sister stands up and makes the same announcement. People quickly forget about what you just said.” Regardless of how the Soopers folks feel, Stapleton residents look forward to the Sprout’s opening. “Stapleton has seen so many great things,” said Angie Gray. “Train openings, The Stanley, new schools…and now to finally get a natural grocer. It’s really great for the community.”