Janelle Walston

I wanted to share with the Colorado Springs community about a wonderful grant program that is available to business and property owners downtown. The Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority is offering a "Challenge Grant" for those who want to do improvements to their property that will benefit the public in some way. Grants will be awarded in accordance with the City's Imagine Downtown Plan, and match funds up to $25,000.

We are applying to put a mural on the blank side of the Giddings Loft building. Many communities in the United States have urban art programs, and Colorado Springs should be no exception. We have already gotten underway with the VAS (Visually Aesthetic Spaces) program that places art in empty retail spaces. Now, let's get some permanent beautification happening! Even my hometown of Huron, South Dakota (with a population of about 25,000 or so) has begun a mural project! We have a good start on this--the "Mozart @ 200" piece on the side of the Cheyenne Building is by the same artist we are proposing to use.

So, wish us luck. And if anyone else has a potential project that would qualify, I would strongly urge you to apply. This is a great opportunity to have your dollars go further and do something positive for the community. More information about the grant is available at: www.downtown80903.com

Everyone in downtown Colorado Springs is buzzing about the opening of two-way Tejon Street. We are converting our downtown main drag from a one-way street to allow for two-way vehicular traffic again. There has been much debate about how this will affect retailers, pedestrians and drivers--so, we're all excited to see what happens!

In support of this event, we are opening the doors of our lofts on Tejon Street to the Downtown Partnership and local media outlets. News crews will have availability to some of the nicest views of Tejon Street, from our lofts! We are excited to be able to host this event in honor of the conversion and we are all anxious to see its outcome.

For those of you here locally, keep an eye on the news over the next couple of weeks!

Any community trying to develop a thriving downtown area must necessarily learn how to balance the great mixture of people and uses in a small amount of space. Downtown Colorado Springs is no exception, and we are at a very critical turning point in deciding what type of downtown we will have. The right mixture of residential housing, services for residents, retail, museums and entertainment must be reached. In a small geographic space with high density, it is especially important that all of us be good and considerate neighbors--part of a highly functioning and tight knit community.

Unfortunately, much of the press about downtown Colorado Springs of late has revolved around the problematic and rapidly expanding nightlife. Our ratio of nightclubs and bars to residents has risen far above maintainable levels as evidenced by the over-worked police force, the frightened residents and visitors and the recent crime wave. It hasn't done much in the way of promoting neighborliness downtown.

This is not intended to alarm, but rather draw attention to a problem that has been addressed in many major metropolitan areas, and can be adequately handled in Colorado Springs. The Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), of which I am a board member, was formed to promote positive growth downtown for the benefit of business owners (including bars) and residents. If the balance between all the elements for a successful downtown has not been struck, it is our job to ensure that we work with local officials to find that balance.

There are a number of ways concerned citizens, business owners, downtown committees, government and residents can be positively involved.

1. We must look at our zoning code and City ordinances to see if they provide adequate protection regarding the density of the downtown districts and nightlife. If not, we must work with other local government entities to enact these ordinances that protect the welfare and safety of everyone downtown.
2. We must continue to encourage growth in other sectors--not just nightlife. We need more housing for permanent residents especially. And then, we need to provide supporting services and a helathy mix of retail and entertainment for them.
3. The city must provide adequate security for a densely populated and heavily used urban area. Conscentious residents, volunteers, and business owners must work with local police to ensure the safety of their neighborhood. Some of these programs have already begun, and further cooperation will only ensure their success.

The growing pains in downtown Colorado Springs do not present insurmountable problems, however, we must continue to have an open dialogue about how to best promote the needs of all our downtown neighbors.