WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GOLDEN TODAY?
6-6:55AM Dynamic Circuit (Virtual)
8AM Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup @ Golden History Museum
8:30-9:30AM Power Training (Virtual)
10-10:55AM All Levels Yoga (Virtual)
10:15-10:45AM Discovery Play @ Golden Library
10:15-10:45AM Let’s Dance @ Golden Library
1PM Wild West History Tour
2-3PM Active Minds Mondays (Virtual)
4-4:30PM Kids Martial Arts Class (Virtual)
SEE THE COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
GURA BOARD MEETING
6:30PM GURA Board Meeting @ City Hall
Tonight, the GURA board will discuss the 2016 Urban Redevelopment Fairness Act. The was a legislative change that came along after our current set of urban renewal areas were established in 2014. It doesn’t apply to them unless we “substantially modify” them. If we create a new URA, the change will apply to the new area.
This is my understanding of how Urban Renewal Areas work. (If I receive any corrections, I’ll let you know.)
Urban renewal areas can be a great deal for the city and for the businesses in the area. Businesses that choose to invest in an URA can be rewarded by receiving reduced taxes (Tax Incentive Financing agreements). If the area improves and becomes more economically healthy, the city ends up with a bigger tax base.
The down side to this is that–during the 25 years that an URA is in effect–other taxing entities are not benefiting from that bigger tax base. For 25 years, the county, the schools, the library, and any special districts are being shorted.
This is why the “Fairness Act” was introduced. If a new URA is formed or any of the current ones are expanded, we would be required to expand the board to included representatives from the County, the school district, and any special district. Those entities would also be required to approve any new tax incentive agreements.
I would guess that the city is considering new or expanded URAs, and that is why the 2016 Urban Redevelopment Fairness Act is being discussed tonight.
The other major topic of the night will be changes to the City’s affordable housing policies, as requested by City Council. Council has asked city staff to introduce the following changes:
● Exempt affordable housing from our 1% growth limit
● Seek voter approval of that exemption on this fall’s ballot
● Reduce parking requirement to one space per household
● Eliminate the 25% commercial requirement for affordable housing projects
● Create a rental registry program in the city
● Look for grants to offset the cost of energy efficiency elements in affordable housing
In other GURA news, the Planning Commission recently approved a project to redevelop 17270 West Colfax Ave (map). They are expecting to receive a case for 17200 West Colfax Ave (map).
TRIVIA
7-8PM Colorado Trivia League @ Morris & Mae
GOLDEN HISTORY MOMENT
162 Years Ago
In 1905, George West recalled his arrival in Golden on June 12, 1859:
…an anniversary of more than passing interest to the writer of this article, as just forty-six years before he arrived for the first time upon the sedgy banks of Clear creek, then known as Vasquez fork of the South Platte. The remarkable pellucidity of its waters, filled as they were with myriads of trout, and the banks skirted with countless pensile willows and waving cottonwoods made it the admiration of all, and it was voted an ideal spot for a camping ground, a veritable haven of rest after more than two months journey with ox teams across the arid plains from St. Joe., Mo.
Our immediate company, known as the Boston company, which made the journey together, comprising seven members who had left the “Hub” late in March, crossed the Missouri at St. Joe on April 1st… Upon our arrival here there were perhaps half a dozen small outfits encamped along the banks of the creek, some of them already preparing to push farther on into the mountains, packing their belongings upon ponies, and even upon the backs of their oxen, as at that time no roads had been opened into or through their rugged fastnesses. This circumstance struck us at once as evidence that if the mines which had at that time been discovered should amount to anything, this as a location for transfer of goods, would be just the place for a town.
Lots were selected by the Boston company and a party sent to the mountains to prepare the timbers for a substantial building, as there was at that time no lumber to be had in the country. Logs were cut and hewn and hauled to the site selected, and a substantial log building, two stories in height was erected as rapidly as possible. It was the first business house to be completed and occupied in the town, and as an evidence of its merit it is standing today, in good repair…all the windows intact with their 10×12 glass the largest to be had when the structure was built…..
In an earlier description, written in 1877, General West reported that their campsite had been “upon the ground now occupied by Fitzpatrick flouring mill.” Today, that spot at 11th and Washington is occupied by the Golden Hotel.
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!
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