Sunflower Market on Colfax moves one step forward

08-Dec-2011 On December 7th at 5:30 pm the Denver Planning Board voted unanimously to support the rezoning request by Rosen Properties, Klipp Architecture and Evergreen Developments to ultimately put a Sunflower Market in the BlueBird District on Colfax.  The first of several hurdles for this project brought out neighborhood support from seven surrounding zip codes totaling over 1,050 support letters and over 300 emails to the planning board.  An extra thanks to the residents immediately surrounding the site for their ongoing cooperation with the Rosen's efforts to create a project that is considerate of the rich residential dynamics in the area.

Rosen Properties representative, Sean Mandel and his development team has done a fantastic job communicating with all of the neighbors by holding 8 meetings to discuss project impact and how to minimize disturbances to neighbors as much as possible.  Because of this neighborhood effort, and the overwhelming amount of support expressed by residents and business owners in the area, the Denver Planning Board ruled in favor of the rezoning.

The main consideration to the rezoning was the potential of setting a precedent of encroachment on neighborhoods by developers.  In this case however, the Rosen Family has owned the properties under review for more then 30 years, and it was determined that the community need being met by bringing a natural grocer to the area made this project unique and justified the rezoning of the property.

In 2007, Colfax on the Hill was awarded a grant from the city to begin the discussions of what the BlueBird District wanted to be when it grows up.  A survey was sent out to about 1,000 people made up of residents, property and business owners.  The top of the wish list from over 300 responses was a grocery store.  This week local residents certainly came to the table in unprecedented numbers and should be commended as a community for being informed and active in the decisions that shape our common future. 

 Please check out the project website RosenDevelopments.com >

Thank you all,
Don Novak
President
Colfax on the Hill Inc.

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