Comments for My Blog http://www.theurbanvoice.org Just another WordPress site Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:53:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on It’s the development plan, not the store itself by dsm7 http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/02/03/it%e2%80%99s-the-development-plan-not-the-store-itself/#comment-162 dsm7 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:53:06 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7138#comment-162 Hopefully Walmart will succeed where the awful Lake Side Mall and Targhetto failed. 44th & Sheridan is in dire need of anything. A Walmart isn't an ideal improvement, but any development is better than total blight. Given the current economic environment, I think some expectation attenuation is in order. Although the neighborhoods are wonderfully mixed socioeconomically, Sheridan does represent not only a change in county and architecture, but also to some extent, demographics. While Berkley, Highlands and Sloans Lake have enjoyed bullish gentrification with avid supporters of the great Sunflower Market, there are many in the area who are just trying to survive. The new Target at 20th & Sheridan was a significant improvement over the old store attached to the dead mall at 44th. Placing a Target right on that line was a smart move for Target. It attracts shoppers of multiple income levels from Edgewater, Sloans Lake, Highlands, Lakewood, Berkely and Wheat Ridge and certainly improved the property values for Edgewater. The same will happen at 44th & Sheridan with a Walmart and will certainly improve the Mountain View property values. A Walmart can hold its own and will attract customers. Although Colfax still needs a lot of help, the Walmart at Wadsworth & Colfax was an improvement and it's always packed. Good for Lakewood. It also attracted other businesses. Now I can get something to eat after getting my car washed at Octopus and before stopping by the little Home Depot on Colfax. We can now expect more of the little businesses to attach themselves to a Walmart at 44th & Sheridan. I don't see any businesses along Sheridan or 44th that a Walmart will adversely impact. It's pretty much dead space except for Lake Rhoda. [Did anyone else not realize there is a lake behind all that junk? I really try not to look in that direction.] Other businesses have found it beneficial to attach themselves to Walmart locations, so maybe it will work for Look Optical and Firestone. Walmart doesn't sell coins (L&L Coins) or Bongs (Freaky's). Those businesses don't look very prosperous and if they went away, would you really miss them? I mean is this really "the character of the neighborhood"? I'm sure Regis students would rather bike or drive over to Walmart than shop at crummy stores on Federal (Dollar Tree?). Perhaps with the increased tax revenue, the police won't have to set up their Mountain View speed traps just to make their paychecks. Walmart is always a good anchor. 44th & Sheridan will never be like Cherry Creek North, just as Federal or Colfax will never be like 32nd Ave. I would have liked better development, but despite being just west of Berkely, a Walmart is a good improvement for the area. Sunflower's organic shoppers can still bike to that store carrying their own shopping bags and lower income families can shop at Walmart. Everyone gets what they need at the price they can pay. The person who buys groceries from Walmart, generally doesn't shop at Sunflower so good for Sunflower. We will all continue to endure the blighted areas of Federal, Colfax, 38th Ave. and Sheridan. At least 44th & Sheridan is getting some much needed development and that's not bad for anyone's property values. Hopefully Walmart will succeed where the awful Lake Side Mall and Targhetto failed. 44th & Sheridan is in dire need of anything. A Walmart isn’t an ideal improvement, but any development is better than total blight. Given the current economic environment, I think some expectation attenuation is in order. Although the neighborhoods are wonderfully mixed socioeconomically, Sheridan does represent not only a change in county and architecture, but also to some extent, demographics. While Berkley, Highlands and Sloans Lake have enjoyed bullish gentrification with avid supporters of the great Sunflower Market, there are many in the area who are just trying to survive. The new Target at 20th & Sheridan was a significant improvement over the old store attached to the dead mall at 44th. Placing a Target right on that line was a smart move for Target. It attracts shoppers of multiple income levels from Edgewater, Sloans Lake, Highlands, Lakewood, Berkely and Wheat Ridge and certainly improved the property values for Edgewater. The same will happen at 44th & Sheridan with a Walmart and will certainly improve the Mountain View property values. A Walmart can hold its own and will attract customers. Although Colfax still needs a lot of help, the Walmart at Wadsworth & Colfax was an improvement and it’s always packed. Good for Lakewood. It also attracted other businesses. Now I can get something to eat after getting my car washed at Octopus and before stopping by the little Home Depot on Colfax. We can now expect more of the little businesses to attach themselves to a Walmart at 44th & Sheridan. I don’t see any businesses along Sheridan or 44th that a Walmart will adversely impact. It’s pretty much dead space except for Lake Rhoda. [Did anyone else not realize there is a lake behind all that junk? I really try not to look in that direction.] Other businesses have found it beneficial to attach themselves to Walmart locations, so maybe it will work for Look Optical and Firestone. Walmart doesn’t sell coins (L&L Coins) or Bongs (Freaky’s). Those businesses don’t look very prosperous and if they went away, would you really miss them? I mean is this really “the character of the neighborhood”? I’m sure Regis students would rather bike or drive over to Walmart than shop at crummy stores on Federal (Dollar Tree?). Perhaps with the increased tax revenue, the police won’t have to set up their Mountain View speed traps just to make their paychecks. Walmart is always a good anchor. 44th & Sheridan will never be like Cherry Creek North, just as Federal or Colfax will never be like 32nd Ave. I would have liked better development, but despite being just west of Berkely, a Walmart is a good improvement for the area. Sunflower’s organic shoppers can still bike to that store carrying their own shopping bags and lower income families can shop at Walmart. Everyone gets what they need at the price they can pay. The person who buys groceries from Walmart, generally doesn’t shop at Sunflower so good for Sunflower. We will all continue to endure the blighted areas of Federal, Colfax, 38th Ave. and Sheridan. At least 44th & Sheridan is getting some much needed development and that’s not bad for anyone’s property values.

]]> Comment on The wall is coming down by Margie Domingo http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/03/04/the-wall-is-coming-down/#comment-165 Margie Domingo Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:24:56 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7434#comment-165 First of all, thank you Elisa Cohen for printing the article about Donna and her concern with the covering of the mural. Although she has lived through the obstacles of the wall coming down, and has experienced negativity and disrespect from those who she thought she could count on, I'm sure her daughter is looking down on her with pride that her Mother has not given up the hope that her prayers will be answered someday. One can only hope that those who are in charge will realize someday that "egotism" and "power" are not part of the meaning of spirituality. First of all, thank you Elisa Cohen for printing the article about Donna and her concern with the covering of the mural. Although she has lived through the obstacles of the wall coming down, and has experienced negativity and disrespect from those who she thought she could count on, I’m sure her daughter is looking down on her with pride that her Mother has not given up the hope that her prayers will be answered someday.
One can only hope that those who are in charge will realize someday that “egotism” and “power” are not part of the meaning of spirituality.

]]> Comment on Pure Barre: ballet, pilates, weight training by keithlewis http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/02/17/pure-barre-ballet-pilates-weight-training/#comment-163 keithlewis Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:36:54 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7234#comment-163 This is from my wife: I have a friend who teaches at a pure barre in Colorado. I often go to the gym with her and she told me that I should try pure barre. I am four months pregnant and she said it is the perfect exercise for pregnant women because there is no bouncing, jumping etc. I read testimonials online from pregnant women who had taken the class and I decided to buy a groupon for three classes to try it out. I went this morning to my first class and filled out the form which asked if I was pregnant and what my due date was. When I handed the form to the Andrea at the front desk I pointed out that I am four months pregnant so the instructor would know. Suddenly she told me that I couldn’t do the class without a doctor’s note. If I had known that I would have brought a doctor’s note instead of wasting my time showing up for a class I couldn’t take. But it doesn’t say that anywhere – not on the website, the groupon, nowhere. She continued to berate me in front of about 15 people about how I could not take this class. I felt horribly embarrassed. I left in tears and haven’t stopped crying since. I will never walk through the door of a pure barre again in my life. I am a perfectly healthy pregnant woman. I go to many fitness classes, yoga classes and work with a personal trainer and to be told in front of 15 other people that I an incapable of doing a simple exercise class really hurt. I just wanted my money back but they refuse to refund my money. And I feel so embarrassed by the entire situation that I will never ever walk into a pure barre again in my life. Please change your website so that other women do not have the same experience. This is from my wife:

I have a friend who teaches at a pure barre in Colorado. I often go to the gym with her and she told me that I should try pure barre. I am four months pregnant and she said it is the perfect exercise for pregnant women because there is no bouncing, jumping etc. I read testimonials online from pregnant women who had taken the class and I decided to buy a groupon for three classes to try it out. I went this morning to my first class and filled out the form which asked if I was pregnant and what my due date was. When I handed the form to the Andrea at the front desk I pointed out that I am four months pregnant so the instructor would know. Suddenly she told me that I couldn’t do the class without a doctor’s note. If I had known that I would have brought a doctor’s note instead of wasting my time showing up for a class I couldn’t take. But it doesn’t say that anywhere – not on the website, the groupon, nowhere. She continued to berate me in front of about 15 people about how I could not take this class. I felt horribly embarrassed. I left in tears and haven’t stopped crying since. I will never walk through the door of a pure barre again in my life. I am a perfectly healthy pregnant woman. I go to many fitness classes, yoga classes and work with a personal trainer and to be told in front of 15 other people that I an incapable of doing a simple exercise class really hurt. I just wanted my money back but they refuse to refund my money. And I feel so embarrassed by the entire situation that I will never ever walk into a pure barre again in my life.

Please change your website so that other women do not have the same experience.

]]> Comment on The wall is coming down by perro http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/03/04/the-wall-is-coming-down/#comment-164 perro Fri, 04 Mar 2011 23:31:28 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7434#comment-164 obviosly you are such a R B you don't even know the real story, how ever you may to speak to one of the parishioners at OLOG, i understand you just want to make new, because you can't probable work for a better news company, but at leat you can be a little bit more honest, it talks a lot from someone whos say the truth. tell the truth!! and sugest your boss to improve the credibility of your news letter, a pice of trush!!! Vieja descarada obviosly you are such a R B you don’t even know the real story, how ever you may to speak to one of the parishioners at OLOG, i understand you just want to make new, because you can’t probable work for a better news company, but at leat you can be a little bit more honest, it talks a lot from someone whos say the truth. tell the truth!! and sugest your boss to improve the credibility of your news letter, a pice of trush!!! Vieja descarada

]]> Comment on It’s the development plan, not the store itself by DebLCurtis http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/02/03/it%e2%80%99s-the-development-plan-not-the-store-itself/#comment-161 DebLCurtis Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:22:13 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7138#comment-161 I couldn't agree more Joe Kitterman. Build a store that looks inviting and people will shop there. I would rather make the trip to shop at the I-70/Tower Road Walmart Supercenter--you have to do a double take to recognize that it's a Walmart--than the one at Colfax/Wadsworth. The Colfax/Wadsworth store attracted the same old retail stores (Payless Shoes, GNC, T-mobile, etc.). The Southlands Mall is, in my opinion, the nicest outdoor mall in the greater Denver metro area and then you see mismatched Walmart Supercenter. What happended there? Does a Walmart at Lakeside really need to be a supercenter store? Who really wants to spend a half-day walking around Walmart to get a few items? Why not a smaller store like the Youngfield/38th Avenue store without the food center? Or, a smaller store with less of everything? Walmart should be considering that eventually the economy will recover--they do their best business during a bad economy--and people will go elsewhere for change? That's called forward thinking. Walmart also needs to consider the fact that they are moving into an area where people are a little more conscientious about on what they spend their money. We are willing to spend a little more to get a little less because we feel we are bringing home quality. We shop organic and fresh, and we like to buy Colorado made and grown when we can. We are the people walking and peddaling to and from our stores with reusable bags. Walmart produce will never be able to compete with Sunflower produce, or King Sooper and Safeway for that matter. We shop for clothes at consignment stores, or we sew our own. The site sits next to Lake Rhonda and has the most beautiful views of the foothills. It's a site more befitting a park, or a Southlands-type outdoor mall, than a big box store. Walmart has an opportunity here to do it right. Let's hope they seize upon it. Debbie Curtis I couldn’t agree more Joe Kitterman. Build a store that looks inviting and people will shop there. I would rather make the trip to shop at the I-70/Tower Road Walmart Supercenter–you have to do a double take to recognize that it’s a Walmart–than the one at Colfax/Wadsworth. The Colfax/Wadsworth store attracted the same old retail stores (Payless Shoes, GNC, T-mobile, etc.). The Southlands Mall is, in my opinion, the nicest outdoor mall in the greater Denver metro area and then you see mismatched Walmart Supercenter. What happended there?

Does a Walmart at Lakeside really need to be a supercenter store? Who really wants to spend a half-day walking around Walmart to get a few items? Why not a smaller store like the Youngfield/38th Avenue store without the food center? Or, a smaller store with less of everything? Walmart should be considering that eventually the economy will recover–they do their best business during a bad economy–and people will go elsewhere for change? That’s called forward thinking.

Walmart also needs to consider the fact that they are moving into an area where people are a little more conscientious about on what they spend their money. We are willing to spend a little more to get a little less because we feel we are bringing home quality. We shop organic and fresh, and we like to buy Colorado made and grown when we can. We are the people walking and peddaling to and from our stores with reusable bags. Walmart produce will never be able to compete with Sunflower produce, or King Sooper and Safeway for that matter. We shop for clothes at consignment stores, or we sew our own.

The site sits next to Lake Rhonda and has the most beautiful views of the foothills. It’s a site more befitting a park, or a Southlands-type outdoor mall, than a big box store. Walmart has an opportunity here to do it right. Let’s hope they seize upon it.

Debbie Curtis

]]> Comment on Know thy neighbor and the neighborhood by butchm http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2011/01/20/know-thy-neighbor-and-the-neighborhood/#comment-160 butchm Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:04:57 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=7031#comment-160 This is why we need AZ-style immigration laws in CO. Great work Jackie! Butch McCann This is why we need AZ-style immigration laws in CO. Great work Jackie!

Butch McCann

]]> Comment on Super Walmart to come to Lakeside by claudiahel http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2010/12/15/super-walmart-to-come-to-lakeside/#comment-159 claudiahel Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:57:02 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=6700#comment-159 One of my favorite pictures is still on a shelf It was ca. 30 years ago. I am young and smiling big. On my lap is a baby leopard. My small daughter and I were at the Lakeside Mall visiting a petting zoo at christmas time. Seconds after the shot the leopard knocked my glasses off of my face. I was thrilled. Being already surrounded by 3 WalMart's, this next one is the nail in the coffin for me. Yes, I used to spend my money at WalMart, had a credit account and all that. But not one memory that I would like to keep, let alone take a picture of and keep for so long. At first it seemed oddly unamerican to stop shopping there, (in a perverse american/chinese way). Let me assure you, I find everything I need or want in North Denver without going to WalMart. One of my favorite pictures is still on a shelf It was ca. 30 years ago. I am young and smiling big. On my lap is a baby leopard. My small daughter and I were at the Lakeside Mall visiting a petting zoo at christmas time. Seconds after the shot the leopard knocked my glasses off of my face. I was thrilled. Being already surrounded by 3 WalMart’s, this next one is the nail in the coffin for me.
Yes, I used to spend my money at WalMart, had a credit account and all that. But not one memory that I would like to keep, let alone take a picture of and keep for so long.
At first it seemed oddly unamerican to stop shopping there, (in a perverse american/chinese way). Let me assure you, I find everything I need or want in North Denver without going to WalMart.

]]> Comment on Does Jesus want scandal at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church? by Margie Domingo http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2010/12/15/does-jesus-want-scandal-at-our-lady-of-guadalupe-church/#comment-153 Margie Domingo Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:29:13 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=6683#comment-153 Thank you, Steve W. It's nice to see there are others out there who believe Our Blessed Mother is our intercessor, and her presence should never be forgotten or dismissed. Thank you, Steve W. It’s nice to see there are others out there who believe Our Blessed Mother is our intercessor, and her presence should never be forgotten or dismissed.

]]> Comment on Super Walmart to come to Lakeside by rodderboy http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2010/12/15/super-walmart-to-come-to-lakeside/#comment-158 rodderboy Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:42:51 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=6700#comment-158 Perhaps my argument will seem irrational to some readers but I have a real problem with Walmart. I grew up in a small town in NE Colorado where small (locally-owned) businesses thrived and were an integral part of the charm of the city. When Walmart came, these small businesses could not compete and were forced to close one by one. Old Main street is practically a ghosttown and now the only hub of cultural activity is Walmart. Perhaps nostalgia for the color for small town America has gotten the best of me but I can't seem to let go of the resentment. Down with Walmart. Perhaps my argument will seem irrational to some readers but I have a real problem with Walmart. I grew up in a small town in NE Colorado where small (locally-owned) businesses thrived and were an integral part of the charm of the city. When Walmart came, these small businesses could not compete and were forced to close one by one. Old Main street is practically a ghosttown and now the only hub of cultural activity is Walmart. Perhaps nostalgia for the color for small town America has gotten the best of me but I can’t seem to let go of the resentment. Down with Walmart.

]]> Comment on Super Walmart to come to Lakeside by mudman67 http://www.theurbanvoice.org/2010/12/15/super-walmart-to-come-to-lakeside/#comment-157 mudman67 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:13:17 +0000 http://www.northdenvertribune.com/?p=6700#comment-157 Ok liberals it's time for a new argument on why Wal-Mart is bad. Chinese products, pollution, traffic????? This site once had a Target on it but did not receive that same negative attention? And if memory serves me right that both sell similar products. What it’s really about is unions and union money isn't it? Frankly a Wal-Mart is welcome and needed and remember some of the great American products they sell like Coke, Frito lay and many Johnson & Johnson products so again a lot of talk with very little facts. Let's talk about the many entry level jobs for the youth in this community created by this store. I see no problem and many on my block welcomes Wal-Mart expect as pros as cons so please report all sides of our community. Ok liberals it’s time for a new argument on why Wal-Mart is bad. Chinese products, pollution, traffic????? This site once had a Target on it but did not receive that same negative attention? And if memory serves me right that both sell similar products. What it’s really about is unions and union money isn’t it?
Frankly a Wal-Mart is welcome and needed and remember some of the great American products they sell like Coke, Frito lay and many Johnson & Johnson products so again a lot of talk with very little facts. Let’s talk about the many entry level jobs for the youth in this community created by this store. I see no problem and many on my block welcomes Wal-Mart expect as pros as cons so please report all sides of our community.

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