Stories

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New & Next: On Begging

Denver activist PJ D'Amico advocates for a humane approach to homelessness in the city.

Feature Story arts society list

Across Colorado, funding the arts, lifting society

The Arts in Society grants back projects that aim to make the state a better place for all, bringing together the region's biggest funders of culture: the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, SCFD and the Hemera Foundation.

Feature Story cci change tanya

Faces of change: Supporting leaders, building crucial networks in Colorado's creative sector

A special report on Colorado Creative Industries' Change Leader Institute.

Feature Story grand junction list

Special Report: In Grand Junction, connecting creativity to all aspects of civic life

Grand Junction has plenty of sculpture on its downtown streets, but what other kinds of creativity can move the remote Western Slope city forward? Change doesn't always come easily in Colorado's more rural and remote places.

Feature Story grand lake list

Special Report: In Grand Lake, building year-round momentum powered by creatives

Grand Lake wants to build on its tradition of supporting creatives by providing them with economic opportunities and - if things go as planned - affordable housing. Can the town keep its warm weather spirit going over the long winter?

Feature Story Redline

Not Exactly: What Home Means to Those without One

Is an art exhibit capable of ending homelessness? No, not exactly. But RedLine's newest exhibit may very well spark discourse by authentically and tactfully capturing the experience of living without shelter. Not Exactly opens at the nonprofit art lab June 1.

Feature Story Marijuana

The High Cost of Growing Cannabis

Cannabis cultivation uses as much as 10 percent of Denver's electricity, and there are no best practices for sustainable growing. A number of startup businesses and organizations are looking to change this.

Feature Story Grid

A Tale of Two Grids: Confusion Aside, Diagonal Streets Distinguish Downtown Denver

The street grid Denver was born with in the 1850s became the exception to the rule as the city grew around it in the subsequent decades. The askew layout has both drawbacks and benefits. 

Feature Story Barnum

Barnum Dodges Brunt of Denver Boom, with Mixed Results

Even as most of Denver's urban neighborhoods have seen an influx of development that's pushing real estate prices higher, not much has changed in Barnum, one of the city's last bastions of affordability.

Feature Story Racial Inequality

Building Equity in the Arts in Denver

Denver's downtown performing arts scene draws visitors from across the region every year, but African Americans and Latinos are typically not among them. Amid changing demographics, institutions are challenged to create authentic diversity.

Feature Story farewll list

Confluence Denver Ceases Publication

Today's retrospective issue is the last, at least for a while. The website will remain active allowing access to a deep library of stories addressing the city's pressing topics.

Feature Story livewell elderly list

Colorado's hidden hunger story: The elderly

How can communities make sure their older citizens are fed? Amplify messages about available food services, and slay the stigma against asking for help.

Feature Story ridgway list

Space to Create Ridgway: Taking the squeeze off creative entrepreneurs

For tiny Rigway, Colorado, population 960, the goal of an affordable housing complex is to keep artists and others living locally.

21 new buildings join Doors Open Denver this year

Twenty-one buildings that have never been part of Doors Open Denver join the list of sites this year, including MSU’s Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Buidling.

Feature Story dha qanda list

Confluence Q & A: The Future of Public Housing with Ismael Guerrero

As Confluence Denver wraps up its six-part series on the Denver Housing Authority, the organization’s executive director, Ismael Guerrero, discusses his agency's strategies for a rapidly-growing city.

WORKNOW connects more than 200 people with jobs

With a focus on family sustainability, WORKNOW provides individuals and families impacted by regional economic development projects the opportunity to connect through career coaching, skills development training, peer-to-peer mentoring and employment support resources.

Too many apartments in downtown Denver? Not according to this report

A new report from CBRE that examines the ratio of jobs to apartment units — the economic measure of the balance between apartment supply and demand — reveals that downtown Denver is, in fact, underserved and additional supply is needed.  

Feature Story diverse boards list

One tough question for arts nonprofits: Why aren't boards more diverse?

The boards of Denver's arts and culture nonprofits sometimes don't match their audiences. That often proves a stumbling block to equity and inclusion.

Development News market station list

17 of 28 cranes in Denver are for residential projects

Market Station, a $200 million complex of retail, residential and workplace buildings, is on track to revitalize the Lower Downtown neighborhood.

CHFA creates affordable housing fund

Funding for the new Capital Magnet Fund comes from a $7.1 million grant recently awarded to CHFA by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

Denver cracks top 10 on ranking of tech talent

Denver has a tech talent labor pool of 99,760, or 6.2 percent of its total employment, placing it among the top 10 most-tech-concentrated markets and well above the national average of 3.5 percent.

Feature Story Westwood Thumb 2

A Vision for Westwood

Re:Vision got started in southwest Denver's Westwood neighborhood with urban agriculture initiatives aimed at quenching one of the city's driest food deserts. Now the nonprofit has moved into creative placemaking to plant the seeds for an art district.

Innovation News cat list

Exercise and medical programming facility to open in Catalyst HTIWEL.aspx

WEL delivers care across multiple sites in Denver and across the United States.

Development News rino list

RiNo Made to celebrate Warhol's 90th birthday

In August, RiNo Made is presenting a group show inspired by Warhol’s works.

NAVA to develop condos in Uptown neighborhood

The building, designed by Davis Partnership Architects, will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans.

Feature Story paonia list

Space to Create Paonia: A small town bets big on creatives

The Western Slope municipality edged out its neighbors to win Colorado's backing for affordable housing for artists and other creatives. Can it build a sustainable economic model for rural areas across the state?

Feature Story colorado sun list

Here Comes The Sun: How a Cryptocurrency Company Plans to Save Local Journalism

By Labor Day, Denver’s latest online newspaper will be live, thanks in large part to funding from a blockchain company with its own cryptocurrency. With start-up costs covered, one big question remains: Will Coloradans rise to the challenge of supporting The Colorado Sun’s ad-free, independent journalism?

Affordable senior housing set for City Park West

The Neenan Co. has started work on transforming historic Tammen Hall into 49 rental apartments for income-qualified seniors 62 years or older.

Development News birdseed list

New mural to be painted at History Colorado-inspired Center

The first “We Are Colorado!” activity will feature “Self-Preservation,” a mural by local artist Anthony Garcia Sr. Garcia creates imaginative works on canvas, as well as mixed media, silk screening and urban art installations.

Large donations enable JCC to purchase its campus

The JCC Denver will be able to repay the $14.3 million in debt it has accumulated since the 1990s and put aside reserves for deferred maintenance needs

Feature Story walsenburg list

'Vulnerable' Coloradans demand affordable recreation

Despite elected officials’ best intentions, sometimes change only happens when activated citizens step up.

Feature Story idealab youth list

At IdeaLab, making art, losing the fear

More than 40 youths showed up for the recent IdeaLab at Denver's Youth on Record. They got real-world advice on art-making, hands-on instruction, and a chance to show off what they learned.

CU Denver seeking development partner

CU Denver has hired JLL to consult on how to leverage existing real estate assets and realize master plan priorities, including building a new first-year residence hall and dining facility to meet the needs of its growing student body.

Development News denver flea list

Denver Flea returns to Denver Rock Drill

Vendors will set up shop at the Denver Rock Drill, 1717 E. 39th Ave., alongside food trucks and six pop-up bars serving great Divide beer and special Flea craft cocktails.

Nominations sought for Mayor's Design Awards

Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, exterior design and place making.

Feature Story space trinidad list

Colorado's ambitious Space to Create experiment stakes its claim in Trinidad

The project, which broke ground this week, will bring 41 affordable rental units for creatives to the city. It's a testing ground for a program that will spread across the state.

Craft brewery to open at STEAM on the Platte

Founded by three Latino business partners, Raíces Brewing Co. will also have 3,500 square feet of patio space on the South Platte River and an additional patio to the north of the existing structure that will have views of the Denver skyline.

Development News raw list

Three Denver installations honored during arts convention

The honors are part of the Public Art Network Year in Review program, the only national program that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art chosen by a panel of public art experts.

School of Mines joins Catalyst HTI

The Colorado School of Mines plans to open a 1,700-square-foot office inside Catalyst HTI in early fall.

Feature Story yor list

Turning young people into artists, for an afternoon or for a lifetime

Youth on Record gives teens access to the coaching and equipment they need to make music and other kinds of art and helps them explore the possibilities of creative careers. It's the setting for the next IdeaLab, a youth-only event scheduled for June 13.

VALOR loan program has helped 16 veterans

The VALOR program was created last year to support U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families in Colorado.

Development News sundae list

Cool class for kids: The Science of Ice Cream

The summer-break gatherings, designed for children between the ages of 5 and 14, are intended to bridge the gap between food and science.

Development News dancer list

Luckyleo dances into STEAM on the Platte

Luckyleo will occupy 3,253 square feet of space on the first level of STEAM, which is a short walk to two light-rail stations at Decatur-Federal and West Auraria and has easy access to Interstate 25 and Interstate 70.

Innovation News commons list

Commons on Champa helped create 47 companies

The Commons on Champa is a nationally recognized public entrepreneurship center led by the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Feature Story livewell lunch list

Healthy Kids: School food is changing, and Colorado is setting the pace

More Colorado students are eating fresh, whole foods at school thanks to a team of chefs on a mission.

Development News beer garden list

Summer suds: Downtown's Skyline Beer Garden opens June 8

The 40,000-square-foot beer garden will feature live music every Friday and Saturday.

Denver condo market finally heating up; 40-unit project to break ground in LoHi

The building will be constructed of steel and concrete.

Development News petes list

Bohemian Foundation, Illegal Pete's partner with Colorado Creative Industries

Bohemian Foundation and Illegal Pete’s will contribute funds for the upcoming Career Advancement Grant cycles with submission deadlines on June 2 and Nov. 1.

Development News beer garden list 2

Cheers! Downtown's Skyline Beer Garden opens June 8

The 40,000-square-foot beer garden will feature live music every Friday and Saturday. It's at 16th and Arapahoe streets.

Feature Story meow list

Reinventing the Art Museum: Everything You Need to Know About Meow Wolf's Big Move to Denver

When a group of Santa Fe artists couldn’t find a gallery to exhibit their offbeat body of work, they built one. The exhibition was a howling success — and now it’s slinking into Denver, prompting development in one of the city’s rare untapped neighborhoods. 

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