Re: Rezoning Application of 1532, 1540 Monroe and 1551 Garfield

[Marjorie Parkis]

Council Members, Neighbors,

 

This letter is in regards to the Rezoning Application of 1532, 1540 Monroe and 1551 Garfield.

 

Point 1: I support my neighbors who want a grocery store in our South City Park neighborhood.

 

Point 2: I signed the petition of opposition to this project despite my enthusiasm for a grocery store, my recognition of its desirability and my respect for the efforts of Sean Mandel’s team to make it as palatable as possible.

I did so to give volume to the voice of my near neighbors, since the enthusiastic endorsement of the project by our farther-away-neighbors threatens to drown them out. It is not a big surprise that more people support this project as it stands, than oppose it; far more people do not live next to it than do live next to it.

 

A way of looking at the stance of those who signed the petition is: If someone offers you a free brand-new couch for your empty living room, you may be tremendously enthusiastic initially, but your enthusiasm may be dampened later when you discover that it will fill your entire living room and it comes with a brother-in-law who sleeps on it every day. You’d like to discuss this a bit more…

 

The concerns that I share are:

1.     There is no statement in the MOU that the tenant would limit operating hours (i.e., forgo the option of 24/7 operation). 24/7 operation would really have a negative impact on the neighborhood.

2.     Uncertainty over length of lease/continuity of grocery store as tenant, especially in light of:

·         The history of commercial property in the area being left empty and attracting vagrants

·         Loss of residential properties

·         The current uncertainty over a Sunflower-Sprouts merger and its potential impact on the lease

3.     Lack of a commitment in the MOU regarding lead & asbestos hazards/vermin eradication before demolition of existing buildings.

4.   Uncertainty of Public Works’ willingness to allow variances and act on traffic mitigation requests to make this development less of a burden on the residents adjacent to it.*

 

I hope that these may still be addressed, and that as City Council members, you could help bring that to pass.

 

I have spoken with Sean Mandel and understand the forces that have led to this proposal instead of others that might be more palatable to near neighbors (e.g., a grocery store with smaller footprint). I found Sean to be sensitive to the neighbors' concerns, and know he has worked hard to find a tenant who will enhance the neighborhood. I understand the sacrifices the Rosen Property Group is making in bringing THIS project, and not other, less desirable, but more lucrative tenants, into the neighborhood.

I really appreciate the efforts Sean and the architect Al Colussy have made in making a large commercial project as aesthetically pleasing as possible. I applaud their commitment.

 

* I also recognize that some of the concerns that neighbors have are not ones that the Rosen Group or Evergreen can address on their own, and appreciate their statement of commitment in the MOU to work with Neighbors to get mitigations form Public Works. We hope that that City Council's awareness of these will help.

 

To summarize, I remain 100% optimistic that the project can be brought closer to win-win, but I consider the vote on it premature. Most of those who signed the petition against this project do not want to kill the project. Rather, we have a sense that the project is moving forward faster than we can get resolution on issues that could be deleterious to our quality of life.

In other words, we would like reassurance that the brother-in-law will not always be sleeping on the couch before we bring it into our living room.

 

I hope that if you vote for this project, your vote is a commitment to endorse Public Works actions that will help mitigate the negative side of this plan, for those who will feel its impact on a daily basis.

Very sincerely,

Marjorie Parkis

1557 Garfield St.

Denver, CO 80206