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WEST SIDE RECORDER Volume 6—Number 6 What Is Auraria? Auraria is old, old Denver north of the West Side—from Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue to the railroad tracks along Sixth Street and Wazee Street. It covers about 40 blocks on 169 acres. There is argument about how many people are now living on the Aurara site, but the best estimate is that there are between 650 and 800 people of all ages, in families or living alone, mostly low-income Hispanos. This number does not include the residents at St. Rose's who would be taken care of elsewhere if the building were torn down. Last May there were 264 registered voters in the area. There are about 60 Auraria families active in St. Cajetan's Catholic Church, and about 10 in St. Elizabeth's. In both churches, most of the people live in other parts of Denver. The Denver county assessor's records last May showed 134 buildings used for residence. Most recently University of Colorado Design Center students have found 176 apartments and houses in use in the area. Twenty-four of the homes are owned by the people living in them. Almost 80 percent of the rental properties cost less than $75 a month. The Auraria site contains two churches, both with schools; the Ave Maria Clinic, the Tivoli brewery property which is a landmark in excellent condition, the Casa Mayan restaurant, the Emanuel Chapel which is the oldest synagogue building and one of the oldest places of worship in Denver, and many other properties ranging in condition from good to neglected. There are 240 businesses. Monthly Newspaper of the West Side, Denver, Colorado October, 1969 Why Auraria? West Side Power Saves Santa Fe West Side power. Immediate action. Everybody working together. That's what won the West Side fvictory over the Victory—over the attempt to move nude movies and "girlie" shows from the former downtown Victory Theater to the neighborhood Santa Fe Theater which was to be renamed "Victory." The West Siders won something else, too, by their wholehearted protest. As a result of the action and the publicity that went with it, City Council passed a resolution that no neighborhood theater in Denver should be used for such films. The problem now is that the Santa Fe is closed up tight and Norman Pacheco of the Atlas Corporation which operates it says "nothing definite" is planned for it. Charles Yeger is the head of the Atlas Corporation. The former manager of the Santa Fe Theater, Abel Gallegos, says he did not have a lease on the movie house but if he had the opportunity he would operate it again and show Mexican family-type films. Mr. Gallegios said, "There wasn't much profit in the theater—I didn't operate it lor that. It was enough to meet expenses —it was a hobby to me. "Sometimes we had 400 to 700 kids in the theater. I let them in free if they were with their parents; otherwise they paid a quarter. "I could do this because the Azteca Distributors I got the films from did not charge for the kids. "I hope to have a chance to open a theater for the same purpose again in the West Side community," Mr. Gallegos said. The city, Metropolitan State College, Denver Community College, Denver Center of the University of Colorado, and the State Commission on Higher Education are sharing arrangements for use of the Auraria site as campus for the two colleges and for some of the activities of the Denver Center of the University. In order to serve all city students well, the schools must be easy to reach by public and private transportation, easy to serve with all forms of public utilities, near as many jobs as possible, and the schools must be where the action is. In today's city, the action—especially jobs and opportunities to learn and to be involved in real life— is downtown rather than in outlying areas. Three selection surveys were made in 1966-68 of about 20 different sites before Auraria was chosen as meeting the requirements. Some people feel the surveys of different locations were poorly set up and then done in a way that made Auraria come out "right." Now the Auraria site has been recommended to and approved by the federal government for a large share of the financing necessary to vide land for the campus. Both Metro State and Community (Junior) College were started to provide low-cost, open-admission higher education in the city for Colorado residents. The cost to the student now and at least in the near future is set below $500 a year. Metro State says it will continue to admit anyone with a_high school diploma or its equivalent and with the ability to succeed in a four-year program even if he needs to be on a probationary status for a time. Metro College always has had an open door policy although there was a false report recently that it had changed to admitting only the top two-thirds of graduating classes. The suggestion was made by the State Commission on Higher Education that the policy should be made more strict in 1971, but Metro students, faculty, and adminstra- tion overwhelmingly petitioned the Commision not to enforce the proposal and it was dropped. Community College admits anyone who shows promise. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS ISSUE OF THE WEST SIDE RECORDER (BASIC COST, $490) Catholic Archdiocese of Denver ......$200 Colorado Printers .... 10 First Avenue Presbyterian Church 10 First Bethany Lutheran Church First Mennonite Church .. Inner City Parish St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church 10 10 10 10 St. Joseph's Catholic Church .... 10 Under $5: West Denver Community Church of God in Christ (Holiness). And a special* thank-you to Adolph Coors Co. PHOTOGRAPHY: Bill Baker and KR Graphics, Inc., Barbara Baker. Pledges for this issue: St. John's Lutheran Church $10 Wesley United Methodist Church 10 What Happens to Auraria? If Denver's registered voters give their support in the bond issue election Tuesday, Nov. 4, the city will be authorized to raise $6,000,000 to start buying and clearing the land. Then the federal government will provide $10,600,000 on the purchase plus $2,000,000 to relocate residents and businesses now in the area. The State of Colorado then will have to provide $6,000,000 to buy the land from the city and an estimated $75,000,000 to put up the buildings. Plans now are the state's budget for higher education. It is important to know that if the bond issue is approved, no buildings are to be torn down before this time next year—October, 1970. It will take that long for all legal and financial arrangements to be made. Under federal requirements, a full and open public hearing must be held by City Council before the Urban Renewal Authority can go ahead buying any properties or moving any residents or businesses. This public hearing on the Auraria site probably will be held in January or February. During the first year after the uond issue vote— if it passes— Denver Urban Renewal Authority is bound by law to help find satisfactory housing and business space for all persons in the area. The payments will vary. Renters will get some money to move and in some cases will get payments for relocation adjustment. Home owners will get a fair market price plus possbile relocation adjustment payment i*r u5to~$5,oou imi^Tnm^ifif^To^^" up to $200. Businesses will get as much as $25,000 and possibly property loss coverage. Federal laws will not allow the federal money to be given to Denver for the higher education complex unless and until every family and individual forced to move out of the area is located where they want to be, in housing that meets their needs. Where can Auraria residents go? Only one or two are willing to go into city public housing projects. There is some possibility of new rent-subsidy housing in the Skyline area. The real problem is that there is not enough low-cost housing in Denver anyway and none is being built at this time. What If We All Vote No? Metro State now is renting class space in 10 buildings at a cost of about $860,000. With its expected growth in enrollment ment and in costs, it might be paying more than $2,000,000 rent five years from now if it does not have buildings of its own by that time. Denver Community College now has classes north and west, but there are no state^supported junior college classes downtown because the college has no place there. What will happen to the Au- rari site if the bond issue does not pass has not had much publicity. The number of housing units in the area has gone from about 800 in 1940 to less than one-fourth as many now, while the number of businesses and industries has increased and probably will grow more. A check of the business and industrial properties shows that some have "absentee'1 options on them for development if the campus does not come in. There is no coordination of planning for private development of the area, nor any plan for other public improvement. Auraria What will it mean to West Siders if Denver residents vote to get started on making the Auraria site north of Colfax into a campus for Metropolitan State College and Denver Community College? The election on buying the land—which would be done through a city bond issue—will be Tuesday, Nov. 4. All registered voters in the city and county of Denver can vote on the bond issue. They do not need to be property owners to vote. It is very important for West Siders to get all the facts they can and to make up their own minds about the election and what it might mean. The whole question is big and complex. It also is very important for West Siders to realize there are good and not-so-good on both sides of the question. With all the interest on the subject, there are a lot of rumors, and there have been some serious misunderstandings. The WEST SIDE RECORDER has gathered material from many places in an effort to give as complete a picture to West Siders as possible. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ALL WEST SIDERS TO HAVE IN MIND, NO MATTER HOW THEY VOTE, IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AND DECIDE TOGETHER WHAT THEY WANT FOR THE WEST SIDE. THEN THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT. NO MATTER HOW THE BOND ISSUE ELECTION COMES OUT, THIS IS TRUE. What About the West Side? In recent months representatives of Denver Urban Renewal Authority, Model Cities, and the City Planning Office have spent many hours talking with West Siders, particularly directors of ~ tRe^WestiSideH^^ sociation and persons attending WSIA meetings, about the possible future of the West Side area. Nothing has come out of aU these visits to the West Side by city officials except frustration for West Siders—so much talk and no plans, no action, nothing concrete. However, there is much will power and willingness to learn on the West Side to get improvements, to protect family values and family homes, to keep the community from being exploited by outsiders, and to keep Hispano culture strong in the area. The biggest threat felt by West Siders right now is that high-cost housing might replace at least part of their low-cost housing. There is concern that the West Side retail area might change—in merchandise and in prices. A study made for Denver Urban Renewal Authority in December, 1968, said: "Aproximately 200 low-rent, privately owned residential units exist in the area immediately south (of Auraria) which could be brought up to a suitable standard for student housing, adequate to supply the limited initial demand anticipated. Increased future demand could be met through redevelopment of 'soft areas' (the West Side) for modern housing units for students, to be provided by others than the college (itself)." Three to five students could go together and rent a house now occupied by a family at a much lower total rent. On the other hand, many students will live at home to save money, and commute as students do now at the Denver Center (CU) and Metro State. Some large urban schools in other cities such as Detroit have not brought many students to live in the campus area. A Neighborhood Development Program, such as in Model Cities, or a Community Development project such as can be (Continued on page %)*) Are Changes Possible? The final decision on plans for the Auraria site and the education complex will T>e made by the State Commission on Higher Education. Plans are far from complete and there is time to eongidcr alternatives. Some people are proposing that some of the Auraria properties be rehabilitated rather than destroyed, which would save some housing. Some people are working on the possibility of building low-eost, cooperative housing to be owned and managed only by Hispanos. Whole new transportation methods and arrangements are under study for all of Denver. St. Elizabeth's will not be torn down. Although St. Cajetan's was marked for destruction it may survive. Auraria can be developed in either of two ways if the bond issue passes. The Commission on Higher Education can permit Denver Urban Renewal Authority to sweep through the area and leave nothing but St. Eliza- beth's. Or the education complex can be integrated with the community by selective clearing, rehabilitation and change. As a study project, a group from the University of Colorado and the Denver Design Center has been exploring possible ways to develop the Auraria site for the higher education complex. The students have talked with many residents and businessmen in the Auraria commuity so their opinions can be worked into the planning. Some of these people think the construction of the proposed Skyine freeway would not be de- sirable. They believe the present railroad track area is where the Auraria site could expand the most naturally—for any need. This prospect ties in very well with the South Platte redevelopment project. If some of the existing housing and other buildings could be kept and rehabilitated, it would provide a smooth blending of the higher education complex with the surrounding community This and other possible plans for the Auraria site are being studied, always with the thought that resident participation wm be the factor that will make the result satisfactory to all concerned.
Object Description
Call Number | Auraria archive |
Title | West Side Recorder Volume 6 No 6 |
Creator | West Side Recorder |
Date | 1969 October |
Summary | Newsletter dedicated to community life in the Auraria neighborhood prior to the construction of the Auraria campus |
Description | 6 p. |
Is Part Of | Auraria Neighborhood Collection |
Subject | Community newspapers--Auraria (Denver, Colo.) |
Geographic Area | Auraria (Denver, Colo.) |
Format-Medium | Document |
Rights Contact Information | Property rights are held by Auraria Library Archives and Special Collections, Denver, Colorado. |
Reproduction Available for Purchase | No |
Description
Call Number | Auraria archive |
Title | West Side Recorder Volume 6 No 6 |
Creator | West Side Recorder |
Date | 1969 October |
Summary | Newsletter dedicated to community life in the Auraria neighborhood prior to the construction of the Auraria campus |
Description | 6 p. |
Subject | Community newspapers--Auraria (Denver, Colo.) |
Geographic Area | Auraria (Denver, Colo.) |
Format-Medium | Document |
Reproduction Available for Purchase | No |
Full Text | WEST SIDE RECORDER Volume 6—Number 6 What Is Auraria? Auraria is old, old Denver north of the West Side—from Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue to the railroad tracks along Sixth Street and Wazee Street. It covers about 40 blocks on 169 acres. There is argument about how many people are now living on the Aurara site, but the best estimate is that there are between 650 and 800 people of all ages, in families or living alone, mostly low-income Hispanos. This number does not include the residents at St. Rose's who would be taken care of elsewhere if the building were torn down. Last May there were 264 registered voters in the area. There are about 60 Auraria families active in St. Cajetan's Catholic Church, and about 10 in St. Elizabeth's. In both churches, most of the people live in other parts of Denver. The Denver county assessor's records last May showed 134 buildings used for residence. Most recently University of Colorado Design Center students have found 176 apartments and houses in use in the area. Twenty-four of the homes are owned by the people living in them. Almost 80 percent of the rental properties cost less than $75 a month. The Auraria site contains two churches, both with schools; the Ave Maria Clinic, the Tivoli brewery property which is a landmark in excellent condition, the Casa Mayan restaurant, the Emanuel Chapel which is the oldest synagogue building and one of the oldest places of worship in Denver, and many other properties ranging in condition from good to neglected. There are 240 businesses. Monthly Newspaper of the West Side, Denver, Colorado October, 1969 Why Auraria? West Side Power Saves Santa Fe West Side power. Immediate action. Everybody working together. That's what won the West Side fvictory over the Victory—over the attempt to move nude movies and "girlie" shows from the former downtown Victory Theater to the neighborhood Santa Fe Theater which was to be renamed "Victory." The West Siders won something else, too, by their wholehearted protest. As a result of the action and the publicity that went with it, City Council passed a resolution that no neighborhood theater in Denver should be used for such films. The problem now is that the Santa Fe is closed up tight and Norman Pacheco of the Atlas Corporation which operates it says "nothing definite" is planned for it. Charles Yeger is the head of the Atlas Corporation. The former manager of the Santa Fe Theater, Abel Gallegos, says he did not have a lease on the movie house but if he had the opportunity he would operate it again and show Mexican family-type films. Mr. Gallegios said, "There wasn't much profit in the theater—I didn't operate it lor that. It was enough to meet expenses —it was a hobby to me. "Sometimes we had 400 to 700 kids in the theater. I let them in free if they were with their parents; otherwise they paid a quarter. "I could do this because the Azteca Distributors I got the films from did not charge for the kids. "I hope to have a chance to open a theater for the same purpose again in the West Side community" Mr. Gallegos said. The city, Metropolitan State College, Denver Community College, Denver Center of the University of Colorado, and the State Commission on Higher Education are sharing arrangements for use of the Auraria site as campus for the two colleges and for some of the activities of the Denver Center of the University. In order to serve all city students well, the schools must be easy to reach by public and private transportation, easy to serve with all forms of public utilities, near as many jobs as possible, and the schools must be where the action is. In today's city, the action—especially jobs and opportunities to learn and to be involved in real life— is downtown rather than in outlying areas. Three selection surveys were made in 1966-68 of about 20 different sites before Auraria was chosen as meeting the requirements. Some people feel the surveys of different locations were poorly set up and then done in a way that made Auraria come out "right." Now the Auraria site has been recommended to and approved by the federal government for a large share of the financing necessary to vide land for the campus. Both Metro State and Community (Junior) College were started to provide low-cost, open-admission higher education in the city for Colorado residents. The cost to the student now and at least in the near future is set below $500 a year. Metro State says it will continue to admit anyone with a_high school diploma or its equivalent and with the ability to succeed in a four-year program even if he needs to be on a probationary status for a time. Metro College always has had an open door policy although there was a false report recently that it had changed to admitting only the top two-thirds of graduating classes. The suggestion was made by the State Commission on Higher Education that the policy should be made more strict in 1971, but Metro students, faculty, and adminstra- tion overwhelmingly petitioned the Commision not to enforce the proposal and it was dropped. Community College admits anyone who shows promise. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS ISSUE OF THE WEST SIDE RECORDER (BASIC COST, $490) Catholic Archdiocese of Denver ......$200 Colorado Printers .... 10 First Avenue Presbyterian Church 10 First Bethany Lutheran Church First Mennonite Church .. Inner City Parish St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church 10 10 10 10 St. Joseph's Catholic Church .... 10 Under $5: West Denver Community Church of God in Christ (Holiness). And a special* thank-you to Adolph Coors Co. PHOTOGRAPHY: Bill Baker and KR Graphics, Inc., Barbara Baker. Pledges for this issue: St. John's Lutheran Church $10 Wesley United Methodist Church 10 What Happens to Auraria? If Denver's registered voters give their support in the bond issue election Tuesday, Nov. 4, the city will be authorized to raise $6,000,000 to start buying and clearing the land. Then the federal government will provide $10,600,000 on the purchase plus $2,000,000 to relocate residents and businesses now in the area. The State of Colorado then will have to provide $6,000,000 to buy the land from the city and an estimated $75,000,000 to put up the buildings. Plans now are the state's budget for higher education. It is important to know that if the bond issue is approved, no buildings are to be torn down before this time next year—October, 1970. It will take that long for all legal and financial arrangements to be made. Under federal requirements, a full and open public hearing must be held by City Council before the Urban Renewal Authority can go ahead buying any properties or moving any residents or businesses. This public hearing on the Auraria site probably will be held in January or February. During the first year after the uond issue vote— if it passes— Denver Urban Renewal Authority is bound by law to help find satisfactory housing and business space for all persons in the area. The payments will vary. Renters will get some money to move and in some cases will get payments for relocation adjustment. Home owners will get a fair market price plus possbile relocation adjustment payment i*r u5to~$5,oou imi^Tnm^ifif^To^^" up to $200. Businesses will get as much as $25,000 and possibly property loss coverage. Federal laws will not allow the federal money to be given to Denver for the higher education complex unless and until every family and individual forced to move out of the area is located where they want to be, in housing that meets their needs. Where can Auraria residents go? Only one or two are willing to go into city public housing projects. There is some possibility of new rent-subsidy housing in the Skyline area. The real problem is that there is not enough low-cost housing in Denver anyway and none is being built at this time. What If We All Vote No? Metro State now is renting class space in 10 buildings at a cost of about $860,000. With its expected growth in enrollment ment and in costs, it might be paying more than $2,000,000 rent five years from now if it does not have buildings of its own by that time. Denver Community College now has classes north and west, but there are no state^supported junior college classes downtown because the college has no place there. What will happen to the Au- rari site if the bond issue does not pass has not had much publicity. The number of housing units in the area has gone from about 800 in 1940 to less than one-fourth as many now, while the number of businesses and industries has increased and probably will grow more. A check of the business and industrial properties shows that some have "absentee'1 options on them for development if the campus does not come in. There is no coordination of planning for private development of the area, nor any plan for other public improvement. Auraria What will it mean to West Siders if Denver residents vote to get started on making the Auraria site north of Colfax into a campus for Metropolitan State College and Denver Community College? The election on buying the land—which would be done through a city bond issue—will be Tuesday, Nov. 4. All registered voters in the city and county of Denver can vote on the bond issue. They do not need to be property owners to vote. It is very important for West Siders to get all the facts they can and to make up their own minds about the election and what it might mean. The whole question is big and complex. It also is very important for West Siders to realize there are good and not-so-good on both sides of the question. With all the interest on the subject, there are a lot of rumors, and there have been some serious misunderstandings. The WEST SIDE RECORDER has gathered material from many places in an effort to give as complete a picture to West Siders as possible. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ALL WEST SIDERS TO HAVE IN MIND, NO MATTER HOW THEY VOTE, IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AND DECIDE TOGETHER WHAT THEY WANT FOR THE WEST SIDE. THEN THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT. NO MATTER HOW THE BOND ISSUE ELECTION COMES OUT, THIS IS TRUE. What About the West Side? In recent months representatives of Denver Urban Renewal Authority, Model Cities, and the City Planning Office have spent many hours talking with West Siders, particularly directors of ~ tRe^WestiSideH^^ sociation and persons attending WSIA meetings, about the possible future of the West Side area. Nothing has come out of aU these visits to the West Side by city officials except frustration for West Siders—so much talk and no plans, no action, nothing concrete. However, there is much will power and willingness to learn on the West Side to get improvements, to protect family values and family homes, to keep the community from being exploited by outsiders, and to keep Hispano culture strong in the area. The biggest threat felt by West Siders right now is that high-cost housing might replace at least part of their low-cost housing. There is concern that the West Side retail area might change—in merchandise and in prices. A study made for Denver Urban Renewal Authority in December, 1968, said: "Aproximately 200 low-rent, privately owned residential units exist in the area immediately south (of Auraria) which could be brought up to a suitable standard for student housing, adequate to supply the limited initial demand anticipated. Increased future demand could be met through redevelopment of 'soft areas' (the West Side) for modern housing units for students, to be provided by others than the college (itself)." Three to five students could go together and rent a house now occupied by a family at a much lower total rent. On the other hand, many students will live at home to save money, and commute as students do now at the Denver Center (CU) and Metro State. Some large urban schools in other cities such as Detroit have not brought many students to live in the campus area. A Neighborhood Development Program, such as in Model Cities, or a Community Development project such as can be (Continued on page %)*) Are Changes Possible? The final decision on plans for the Auraria site and the education complex will T>e made by the State Commission on Higher Education. Plans are far from complete and there is time to eongidcr alternatives. Some people are proposing that some of the Auraria properties be rehabilitated rather than destroyed, which would save some housing. Some people are working on the possibility of building low-eost, cooperative housing to be owned and managed only by Hispanos. Whole new transportation methods and arrangements are under study for all of Denver. St. Elizabeth's will not be torn down. Although St. Cajetan's was marked for destruction it may survive. Auraria can be developed in either of two ways if the bond issue passes. The Commission on Higher Education can permit Denver Urban Renewal Authority to sweep through the area and leave nothing but St. Eliza- beth's. Or the education complex can be integrated with the community by selective clearing, rehabilitation and change. As a study project, a group from the University of Colorado and the Denver Design Center has been exploring possible ways to develop the Auraria site for the higher education complex. The students have talked with many residents and businessmen in the Auraria commuity so their opinions can be worked into the planning. Some of these people think the construction of the proposed Skyine freeway would not be de- sirable. They believe the present railroad track area is where the Auraria site could expand the most naturally—for any need. This prospect ties in very well with the South Platte redevelopment project. If some of the existing housing and other buildings could be kept and rehabilitated, it would provide a smooth blending of the higher education complex with the surrounding community This and other possible plans for the Auraria site are being studied, always with the thought that resident participation wm be the factor that will make the result satisfactory to all concerned. |
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