Issue 149

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.” 

The anticipation for the new Soopers has been overwhelming since its announcement. Residents have been clamoring for a grocery store that more fits their needs, even if the brand name is the same. When the new Soopers opened less than a month ago, Stapleton residents from all over flocked to the new store to check it out. “We were so excited,” said resident Angela Brody. “I took the kids there the day it opened. The place was packed. Just a lot going on and a lot to see.” Many residents waited in line to be one of the first to see the historic moment as if it was a new ride at Disneyland. “It was really something,” said Michelle Davis. “I mean, it just felt totally different. It was more of an experience than a grocery store. We took lots of pictures. I will never forget that day.”

[Read more…] about Excited Resident Forgets to Put Car in Park at New Soopers

North Central Park Resident Shane Hill and his wife occasionally get out of the house without their kids. Last Friday evening was one of those times when the two of them attended the Avett Brothers concert at Red Rocks. “We had a great time,” said Hill. “Great concert, and we went with some friends. Always great to get out of the house.” As usual, the couple needed to find a sitter for their seven and five year olds. “We found a sitter we haven’t used that much, but knew it would be totally fine,” said Hill. “And, she did great, but since we haven’t used her much before, I had no idea what I was supposed to pay her.” Hill says he sometimes asks sitters, but they respond with things like, “whatever,” or “whatever works for you,” or any number of unspecific responses.

[Read more…] about Stapleton Dad Still Has No F#cking Idea How Much to Pay Sitter

With the “Shortcut to Stanley” opening soon to help drivers get a more direct route to Stanley, pedestrians and cyclists are now getting a boost from the city with the addition of the “Stanley Stop.” The newly added stop sign on Clinton and 26th adds a much needed crossing area for people to get on the Stanley hill and head over to the Stanley. “We ride our bikes there all the time,” said Eastbridge resident Justin Yagla. “That is always the intersection where we cross, but sometimes it can be a little dicey. So, getting a stop sign there is going to make our trek to get great food, beer, ice cream, and going shopping that much easier.” Dawn Lighthall is equally pleased with the addition of the stop sign.

[Read more…] about “Stanley Stop” Put in at Clinton and 26th