Oct. 19, 2004 - 21:18 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Contemporary Obfuscation

News seems to be printed on assumption that certain things are actual facts -- or will be so. It seems to me. Here in our area there has been a succession of news items -- usually buried in the paper somewhere inconspicuously. Recently this has been the case with the area around what was once Fitzsimons Army hospital since vacated by the government. Quite a few little snippets show up now and then. There are two articles just recently, which I shall quote: first is on October 17

BRIEFING

"Aurora to pick developer for Fitzsimons-area retail

"Aurora officals on Monday will choose one of two firms for a re-development project at East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street."

"The city wants a "high-quality" shopping plaza, featuring a grocery, restaurants and small retail stores, on the 17 acres that are now home to auto-repair shops and vacant storefronts."

"The area is across from the multibillion-dollar Fitzsimons campus and is where the city wants Fitzsimon's western gateway."

"The plan created a stir with existing merchants, who don't want to move or are worried they won't get enough relocation money."

"The city says the project probably will involve taking private land through the power of eminent domain." "Negotiations with owners of the sites existing 27 businesses will be held November through January."

"A panel has recommended the city choose Regency Centers, which wants to build 173,122 square feet of commercial space, including a mix of offices and retail shops and a grocery store."

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The second article is by Hector Gutierrez, of the October 19th issue and goes this way:

Fla. company to head East Colfax redevelopment

Aurora -- "The city's urban renewal authority decided Monday to negotiate with Regency Centers on what it plans to develop on a blighted section of East Colfax Avenue near the former Fitzsimons Army hospital."

"Its the second time Regency Centers, based in Florida, has been chosen by city officials to head the redevelopment of 17 acres on the south side of Colfax Avenue, between Peoria and Nome Streets."

"A Westfield Development Inc. of Denver plan also was considered. Regency Centers had been partnered with Denver Holdings Inc. to redevelop the property, but those plans were scrapped when Denver Holdings went into bankruptcy."

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First thing in my mind is that the area mentioned, south side of Colfax Avenue from Peoria to Nome Street proceeds west from the intersection of Peoria and Colfax and includes a Jewish cemetery - the Fitzsimons campus runs from Peoria east, it doesn't seem feasible as the western entrance to the Fitzsimons campus as the actual western entrance to the campus has always been Montview Boulevard - five blocks north, unless the powers that be on the campus intend to build a diagonal entrance at the Colfax - Peoria intersection and I can imagine the traffic boo-boos that would cause. Which I haven't heard of being discussed yet.

In the second article the (forbidden thing to think of I guess) eminent domain thing was not mentioned. In earlier articles the push was on to move out the businesses on Peoria Street which runs from Colfax Avenue (15th) to Montview Boulevard (20th) Avenues. And eminent domain was used as a scare tactic there too.

Looks to me that Aurora has dollar signs in its eyes and minds. "Man look at all the sales tax we could get from some of these high end places !" is what I think is the seed which is growing.

Looks like Aurora plans to haggle with owners from November '04 through January '05. Seems to me that if the owners settle for what they are offered they will be losing too much and won't be able to re-locate with the funds given them. That seems to be the usual outcome of things like that in other cities.

I also think as I have written before, eminent domain is for highways, pipelines, power lines, streets & highways and most any other needed thing - EXCEPT - to push out people and businesses who own the land the government wants to oust so that they can move other profit motivated businesses in. I think that is a vicious abuse of human rights. And will say it again and again. Sure the city wants to make that area upscale now - they have ignored it for as long as I have known the area. When I was a kid, east of Peoria on Colfax was where the countryside began, man I was out of town from there east. Aurora has truly struggled to improve itself all the time. When we were first married in 1943 there was no curb and gutter from Denver limits on Colfax to the east. But eminent domain to enable business to come in and make money and contribute sales taxes to the city ? At the expense and sacrifice of the present owners ? In a pig's patootie it seems to me.

So there will probably little items in the paper from now 'til the end of the so-called negotiations end in January. And I expect we will never be told how the owners of the land came out on the negotiations. Wish I could be one-a-them high octane lawyers who would pro-bono come in and fight for the little people.

For a while, now and then, more will continue in the papers on the (local) Contemporary Obfuscation . . . . . . . . .

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