It has been over a decade since Eastbridge residents were first promised a town center. Community outcry, broken promises, and red tape continue to delay the project. Hundreds of people have been involved with the project including Forest City, developers, architects, community organizers, traffic officials, etc. Yet not one shovel has hit the ground to begin the project. Meanwhile, a team of three (now five) was able to propose a plan for an abandoned building and empty space, purchase that space, get necessary support from the City of Aurora, and procure letters of intent from an array of businesses for that space. “We were able to work together, and most importantly, the City of Aurora was excited and willing to work with us,” says one of the leaders of the project Mark Shaker. “For us, we don’t feel like we are competing with the Eastbridge Town Center. This is simply a vision we feel will serve the needs of NE Denver and Aurora. So, when we look at it, we are not comparing Stanley to the Eastbridge Town Center.” Maybe because there is no comparison. Consider the following:

• Time to develop and open projects: Stanley Marketplace = 1 year, Eastbridge Town Center = 10+ years
• Number of King Soopers projected to be on site: Stanley Marketplace = 0, Eastbridge Town Center = 1
• Number of gas stations projected to be on site: Stanley Marketplace = 0, Eastbridge Town Center = one, 14 pump station
• Square footage for retail space: Stanley Marketplace = 140,000 square feet, Eastbridge Town Center = 22,000 square feet
• Letters of intent for space: Stanley Marketplace = 47, Eastbridge Town Center = 0 (including King Soopers)
• Planned restaurants for space: Stanley Marketplace = 3 lunch/dinner restaurants & 1 breakfast restaurant, Eastbridge Town Center = nothing specific in plans
• Hours of operation: Stanley Marketplace = 18 hours a day, Eastbridge Town Center = ??
• Number of Stapleton people complaining about development: Stanley Marketplace = 0, Eastbridge Town Center = about 50%

Whatever the Flightline folks are doing, residents hope it continues. “It seems that they are doing things the right way, but at the same time, getting things done,” says Dave Saar. “I know a lot of people are looking forward to the opening, and hope that all the businesses thrive.” Other community members agree. “The fact they have been able to look at a place with endless possibilities and get a specific vision for it is very impressive,” says Sandy Retzlaff. Heck, with everything moving so well with Stanley, who needs a town center. ]]>

The annual Stapleton Winter Welcome is this Friday evening, and parents are encouraged to bring their kids to enjoy the festivities. The Stapleton MCA has made an effort to make sure residents of all religious backgrounds feel welcome. “The event is intended to be a fun time for people to celebrate the beginning of the holiday festivities, no matter what that might mean for each person,” says MCA President Liza Kampstra. “Hundreds of people show up each year, so we must be doing something right.” [Read more…] about Stapleton MCA “Winter Welcome” this Friday—but C’mon, It’s About Christmas

SUN recently sent an open letter to Forest City which was published in the Front Porch. The letter basically draws major contrasts to the current plan for the Eastbridge Town Center and what was laid out in the Stapleton Rules and Regulations portion of the Green Book. Much of the letter focuses on the contrasts between the existing plan and the Green Book in regards to parking lots and pedestrian access. The letter uses specific sections from the Stapleton Rules and Regulations which conflict with the current iteration. Furthermore, the letter includes community research data in regards to what residents are looking for in a town center, and how it is not jibing with the plan currently on the table. “We are not sure if it will make any difference, but we want to make sure that the voice of the residents was heard,” said SUN President Mike Victoria. [Read more…] about Forest City to Residents: “Green Book is ‘Working Document’”

The frigid temperatures brought about a lot of complaining from Stapleton residents as well as quite a few colds. They also brought some wildlife very unique to the area, as some Stapleton residents spotted a moose walking around Stapleton’s Central Park. “It was really cool,” said resident David Gaies. “We were driving past Central Park admiring all of the snow, and there it was. We didn’t believe it, so we drove back and parked and got a few pictures. It was incredible.” [Read more…] about Moose Spotted in Stapleton’s Central Park

Photo by Pilcher Photography[/caption]The Stapleton MCA had a big gaffe recently when they released a 2015-16 calendar featuring Stapleton’s cutest kids. The MCA had hoped the calendar would be appreciated the same way the dog calendar is, but it did not go over as planned. “We thought that with the dog calendar being so popular, why not introduce a calendar about what Stapleton is most known for; kids,” claimed MCA President Liza Kampstra. “It was meant to continue to keep people involved, and to put out a really fun calendar for community members. We did not realize there would be so many angry parents, in regards to who was included and who wasn’t.” [Read more…] about Stapleton’s Cutest Kids Calendar Draws Ire of Community

In what school officials are hoping will be a jump start to the turnaround of a Northeast Denver School, all K-5 Ashley Elementary students received iPads. The iPads were part of a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The iPads will help educators pinpoint learning challenges for students and provide them each with the best tools to overcome the challenges. “It’s really an exciting program,” said Ashley parent Jill O’Malley. “It can help the kids with their learning as well as teach them responsibility. It’s great to see that Ashley and the school district are taking an initiative to make this school great.” Not to be outdone, the Stapleton public elementary schools including Isabella Bird, Westerly Creek, Bill Roberts, and Swigert, decided to provide each student at the respective elementary schools with fully loaded Microsoft Surface Pro 3s. “Someone heard the rumor that Ashley would be doing this, so the PTAs all got together to see what could be done,” said Westerly Creek PTA President Jennifer Christin. “We decided to work together and find a solution to the technology gap we were up against with Ashley. So, we found one of the best laptops on the market, the Surface Pro 3, and just ordered them up.” The laptops do not come cheap, however. Compared to an estimated $250 cost of an iPad, the Surface Pro 3 retails at about $1300, over five times more expensive than the iPad the students at Ashley received. “We kind of figured Stapleton kids are at least five times more important than other kids,” said Swigert PTA President Rose Mason. “Why not get them the best? Besides, money is really not that big of a factor with what we are raking in each year.” The Stapleton schools have no set plan as to how they will capitalize on the newly added technology. “It’s great that the kids have this access,” said Swigert Elementary Principal Chris Llewellyn. “But the struggle is that we make our lesson plans based on what we believe we will have coming into the year, and these were not in the plan. Now, in a sense, the PTA and parents have essentially created a whole new process for us. And we have to use them or parents will go nuts. I mean nuts.” Stapleton’s High Tech Elementary was not included in the Surface Pro purchases as those students already had their own laptops as well as several other yet to be released technology items which are still in beta. “We have a deal with our laptop company,” says High Tech Principal Jim Morningstar. “We trade them in every four months, as they become outdated as to what we are looking for. It’s cute that these other Stapleton elementary schools jumped on the technology train, but we are on a technology rocket ship, leaving everyone behind.” The other Stapleton elementary schools hope to have a strong plan of use for the Surface Pros by winter break. “We should have a good strategy by the second half of the school year,” said Principal Llewellyn. “It will take a lot of extra hours from the teachers and our staff, but the students are worth it.” Yes, five times worth it. ]]>

For those who have lived in Stapleton for six or more months, the rampant Stapleton crime shouldn’t be news to you. No matter what reliable source you use, whether it is block captain emails, Facebook, Big Tent, Next Door, or random people at the Berkshire, you are aware of the crime pitfall of Stapleton. “It seems like every other day you hear about someone’s garage getting broken into,” said Stapleton resident Mike Stone. “And of course, you have the random sightings of potential troublemakers.” [Read more…] about Sign at Central Park Blvd. and 29th Warns Drivers of Stapleton Risks

According to data from Movoto, Westword recently reported that the 80238 ZIP in Denver is the most desirable. Factors used in the study included median household income, average commute time, median house worth, and families below the poverty line, among other data points. Of course, this data isn’t new information to Stapleton residents or real estate agents. “Aside from just living here and knowing how great it is, houses don’t stay on the market very long,” says resident Nicole Lance. “And usually the people moving, simply move to another Stapleton house.” [Read more…] about 80238 Denver’s Most Desirable ZIP Code—But We Already Knew That