Issue 96

Responding to concerns and suggestions by Stapleton residents, Forest City has recently proposed a plan to completely realign the focus of the troubled Northfield shopping center. “Stapleton neighbors have long made it clear that they want to see different retail and dining options at The Shops at Northfield,” says Janelle Ayers, Forest City spokeswoman. “Even though Stapletonions represent only 20% of our consumer base at Northfield, they are very vocal and energized, and they also represent a key demographic, so we are looking into providing more upscale options. As we started to analyze their suggestions, we realized that we might be able to make some changes that would benefit all our customers.” The first order of business, Ayers said, will be to eliminate some of the corporate chain restaurants, such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Toby Keith’s. Ayers noted, “Even though customers come from as far away as Green Valley Ranch, Montbello, and Aurora to enjoy meals at these establishments, and there are often long lines to prove it, we realized that working-class folks have just as much right to and interest in more sophisticated dining choices. In fact, as many Stapleton neighbors have pointed out, we feel it is our duty to help diners of all classes improve their health and our environment by providing them dining choices that are organic, locally sourced, and made from scratch.” With that goal in mind, Forest City is looking to add several new restaurants, such as “Barge & Swain,” “Steel & Slough,” and “Sow & Kale.” Pascal said that restaurateurs interested in opening at Northfield are welcome to use any of those names, or to make up one of their own, so long as the names include ampersands and allude to artisanal, agrarian, or industrial themes of yore. Envisioning Northfield as “Cherry Creek East,” Pascal also confirmed that more high-end retail and independent boutiques would soon be replacing other businesses in the open-air mall. “Affluent Stapletonions, as well as their aspirational counterparts from surrounding communities, should stop buying such trashy clothing from places like Charlotte Russe and Charming Charlie,” says Ayers. With new choices like Ann Taylor, Talbots, and Banana Republic, Pascal noted that shoppers from all walks of life can try to improve themselves by wearing more posh clothing, or, says Ayers, “If they simply must buy tawdry clothing, they can at least do so from more upscale retailers like Bebe, Abercrombie & Fitch, or True Religion, where a pair of skin-tight, metallic jeans can be had for $228.” Finally, Forest City is hoping to improve the bar and nightlife scene at the mall. “As many Stapleton residents have complained, there is a preponderance of cheesy sports bars and places where Jägermeister body shots are available,” Ayers remarked. “These establishments encourage people to drink cheap, mass-produced beer and engage in the type of drinking that will lead to painfully debilitating hangovers, as well as making them look like asses when they order drinks like ‘Smurf Farts,’ or ‘Hot Buttered Balls.’” Pascal says that Forest City, inspired by the success of the Stapleton Tap House, aims to bring the craft beer and liquor movement home to Northfield so everyone has the opportunity to appreciate small-batch whiskeys, double-IPAs, and $20 martinis made from at least five ingredients, preferably including St. Germain elderflower liqueur, crème de pamplemousse rose, botanical rye, absinthe and any kind of bitters. Forest City, a company that tends to take an altruistic view of things, says that the changes coming to Northfield will help ensure that east-side residents no longer have to travel downtown or to Cherry Creek to reap the health, well-being, and social approval benefits that come from participating in the modern, boutique economy. As Pascal noted, “If we see a decrease in revenue for a while, well, that’s OK, because it really isn’t about profit. It’s about doing right in the world. And upscale consumption really improves the lives of communities as a whole.”]]>

Forest City is in the early stages of constructing a massive four story building which will sit on 25 acres of land on Northfield Blvd. The building will be used as a “safe house” for Stapleton residents in the event of bad weather including another major flood, tornados, hail, or even an earthquake. However, the most likely use of the shelter will be a sanctuary from a potential attack from Aurorans. [Read more…] about Forest City Building “Safe House” for Stapleton Residents

The MCA has announced that they have plans to finally install a chairlift at the Central Park hill commonly used for sledding in the winter. “We have wanted to do this for years,” says MCA President Liza Kampstra. “It is something the community clearly wants, and it appears the hill is getting more and more popular for those outside of Stapleton, so we want to create a better, more structured environment.” Residents shouldn’t get too excited for 2015 sledding opportunities, however. “We plan to begin building it in April, in hopes that it will be completed by late next year, in time for the busy sledding season.” [Read more…] about MCA to Build Chairlift At Central Park Sledding Hill

Aside from rainy days or cold winter days, it is typically not too difficult for gym-goers to grab a treadmill, EFX, stair stepper, etc. at the Central Park Rec Center. Many Stapleton residents are runners, others practice yoga and of course there is a massive crossfit contingent, so this keeps our local rec center somewhat quiet, depending on the hours you attend. Except, of course, in January. [Read more…] about Central Park Rec Center Regulars Endure “Resolution” Lines for Equipment

Stapleton continues to be at the top or near the top of every Denver ranking. However, this ranking is one we can’t brag about. In this month’s issue of the Front Porch, there is an article which discusses the problem of preventable crime in Stapleton. According to police statistics, Stapleton reports a far higher number of these types of crimes than adjacent neighborhoods. These types of crimes include theft through unlocked garages, homes, car doors, and open garages. [Read more…] about Stapleton Number One Again; Ranks Highest in Preventable Crime

School choice is coming up at the end of this month, and you can already feel the anxiety in Stapleton. “We have our top two choices finalized, but we are not sure about our third, fourth, and fifth choices,” says concerned parent Abby Trebon. “We of course are hoping to get into our number one, but if we don’t, we are a little concerned about the future of our little one.” Trebon isn’t alone, as hundreds of new kindergartners will be introduced to the Stapleton, Denver school system. “There are so many things to consider,” says Christine Kleese. “We are trying to figure out what will be the best fit for our daughter, and there are so many different options. When I was a kid we just went to school. There weren’t five or six different styles of schools.” [Read more…] about The Truth About School Choice: Only 80% of You Will be Happy

The traffic on Central Park Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd. continues to increase, and this becomes more and more evident as accidents on the corner pile up and traffic continues to congest, especially during peak hours. “If you are near that corner around 5PM, bring a book,” says resident Steve Mason. “It is ridiculous how long you have to wait. Plus, there are people who don’t understand the rules of turning onto a one way, so that makes the wait even more painful.” [Read more…] about Traffic Update: Denver Explores Installing Large Roundabout at CPB and MLK