Developing the North End of Town

*Golden Eye Candy – Angela Schwab – Additional Scenery at the Billboard – click to enlarge*

Virtual Events

8:30-9:25AM Silver Sneakers Classic
10AM Call In: Mid-Morning Meditation
10AM Virtual: Google Docs
10:15-10:45AM Virtual: Preschool Time with the Library
3-5PM Virtual/Call In: Hard Times Writing Workshop
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Real World Events

10AM-5PM Holiday Art Market @ Foothills Art Center (through December 29)
10AM Golden Women in Business Return on Membership (ROM)
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
11AM-12:30PM Golden Community Table @ First United Methodist Church
6PM Fun Run @ Runners Roost
6-9PM Mini Paint Night @ Golden Game Guild
6:30-8PM Golden Area 5^th Grade Orchestra Concert @ Bell Middle School
6:30PM Economic Development Commission Meeting
7:30PM A Christmas Carol @ Miners Alley Playhouse

Live Music

5-8PM Shawn Nelson Duo @ Goosetown Station
6PM Bottlerocket Hurricane @ New Terrain Brewing
6PM Open Pick Night @ Over Yonder Brewing
8PM Karaoke @ Rock Rest Lodge

Golden History Moment

*Rubey Clay Property Before Development – Photo by Bill Robie – click to enlarge*

41 Years Ago
The December 9, 1980 Golden Transcript announced plans by the Adolph Coors Co. to develop 300 acres. The area in question was north of Highway 58 and west of the city limits. Coors had purchased the property, formerly known as the Rubey Clay property, in 1979.

The Coors representative told City Council that they envisioned “very nice houses” in that area. Mayor Frank Leek said he wanted to see condominiums, apartments, and houses,, designed to house a range of income levels. He wanted the new area to be designed on a grid, like the rest of the city.

Councilor Jim Brown said he wanted to preserve the essence of Golden and would like the new development to have tasteful, curved streets. Mayor Leek said he wanted to make sure the new area had adequate access for emergency services. He mentioned that Arvada is hard to get around “with streets designed like cow paths.”

Planning Commission member Charlene Pazar commented that “Golden is a small community with an identity; we want to retain that.” Fellow Planning Commissioner Bo Bowers commented that Golden is “a jewel in a natural setting.”

Former Rubey Clay Property – Now Canyon Point – Google Satellite Image – click to enlarge

Coors did develop the area to include “very nice houses.” The entire project is known as “Canyon Point,” and the residential neighborhood west of Highway 93 is called “Mountain Ridge.” The streets are not a grid; they are winding, but presumably wide enough to accommodate fire trucks.

*City of Golden Population, 1860-1990 and Map Showing Residential Annexations – click to enlarge*

Golden had seen considerable growth since World War II. The Canyon Point development–located as it was on a high, very visible spot–was the final straw for some residents. They successfully launched a citizen’s initiative to limit growth to no more than 1% a year.

One important design consideration for that property was leaving space for a Highway 93 bypass. Prior to Canyon Point, Washington Avenue was Highway 93. This resulted in a lot of traffic–including gravel trucks and semi tractor-trailer trucks–going through the center of town.

Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!