ULC’s Urban Update is a bi-monthly newsletter that highlights stories you may have missed! As we find ourselves in the midst of summer , there have been many opportunities to highlight our place based real estate investment projects, as well as the great work that our partners are doing in our communities. ULC has stayed very busy this year both internally and externally. With another affordable housing development grand opening and the Ours to Own two year celebration in just a few short weeks, we can’t wait to see how the rest of the summer unfolds!

To stay up to date with all things ULC related, sign up for our blog, Talking Denver, by clicking here and make sure to visit our website to read all of ULC’s announcements.

Community News

Thanks to all of you who were able to attend ULC’s late Board Chair, Myrna Hipp’s Celebration of Life on May 12th. It was a great way to honor her life as over 200 friends and family came to the Su Teatro Cultural Arts Center. She touched the lives of so many in the Denver region and her legacy will be cherished for generations.

PC’s for People Donates Laptops to New Legacy Charter School’s First Graduating Class

Here at ULC, we love seeing our partners interact and build lasting relationships that provide strength and support within our community. On June 8th, a significant milestone was reached by the first graduating class of students at New Legacy Charter school as nine students crossed the stage and received a high school diploma. As NLCS’s premier graduating class, many community members took note of the charter school’s success. PC’s for People, one of ULC’s tenants at the Social Enterprise Foundry, recognized their great accomplishment and donated a laptop to each graduate.

Vickers Boys and Girls Club Hits Full Capacity for Summer Months

Each year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America serve nearly four million youth across the country. Now operating in over 4,100 facilities worldwide, the Nancy P. Anschutz Center joined the ranks in September of 2013. The club, located in ULC’s Holly Square property in the northeast Park Hill neighborhood, was previously a shopping center that burnt down in 2008 due to gang retaliation.  In partnership with the Holly Area Redevelopment Project (HARP), the City of Denver, The Denver Foundation and ULC, a new vision for the vacant land emerged. With a sizable grant from the Anschutz Foundation, the Vickers Boys and Girls Club became a reality.

Three years later the club has seen a great deal of change take place in the surrounding neighborhood as revitalization efforts pave the way for a safer and stronger community. ULC sat down with Jason Torrez, the club’s Site Director, and learned that not only has violence in the area decreased, but more and more students apply to join the club each year. This summer they are at capacity with an estimated 220 daily attendees. Congratulations the the Vickers Boys and Girls Club, and thank you for all you do for youth in the community!

Colorado Construction Institute Offers Project Based Learning, Combats Labor Shortage

The Urban Land Conservancy had the chance to sit down with CEO and co-founder Michael Smith to learn more about the Colorado Construction Institute’s impact on the Denver metro area. CCI has been one of ULC’s nonprofit tenants since their inception in 2013. They recently made the move from our Tramway Nonprofit Center in the Cole neighborhood to our warehouse space at 48th and Race Street in the Elyria neighborhood, which offers thousands more square feet for the organization’s growing business.

One of CCI’s main goals is to combat Denver’s labor shortage while simultaneously offering tuition free and construction based programs. Early on, Smith recognized the potential problem of losing strong working class within city limits due to displacement. “We have a massive problem in Colorado,” Smith said. “We can’t grow unless we build. And we can’t build unless we have a strong working class. And we don’t have a strong working class because we are moving them out of the area.”

To learn more about CCI’s labor based programs and the positive impact they are making on the community, read the full article here!

Events and Happenings

Ours to Own Celebrates Two Year Anniversary!

The Urban Land Conservancy is thrilled to announce the two year anniversary party celebrating the success of the Ours to Own initiative in metro Denver. An imitative of The Calvert Foundation, Ours to Own allows community members to make small investments that directly impact their community, while earning returns. Please check out the invitation below to see how you can get involved in building a better metro Denver. We hope to see you on July 20th at the Social Enterprise Foundry from 4-7!

Plans for 303 Artway Urban Trail Underway, Seeking Local Artist

On Saturday, May 7th, ULC joined forces with local community partners including the Mental Health Center of Denver and Northeast Transportation Connections and introduced the proposed 303 Artway to the community. The nien mile long pedestrian and bike friendly urban trail will connect areas of Northeast Park Hill, and offer colorful painted landscapes created by local community artists.

Fast forward almost two months, and plans for 303 Artway are underway. In partnership with PlatteForum and Northeast Transportation Connections, we are seeking local artists to create artwork near the 40th and Colorado RTD station on the A Line commuter rail, which is also the starting and stopping point of the urban trail. To learn more about the significance of this art, culture and heritage trail, click here.

Partner Spotlights

ULC Celebrates Accomplishments of our Partners

Our June Partner Spotlight of the Month was another tenant that focuses on youth education, Family Star Montessori. While Family Star has been in Denver for 25 years, their relationship with ULC began in 2011 when we partnered to find them a new space for their rapidly growing education center. ULC’s acquisition of the Curtis Park Community Center allowed Family Star to expand their services and operate in a newly updated facility. Today, Family Star works with over 200 children in the Denver metro area and is making a significant impact in the early childhood education arena. In the past nine months, both Family Star facilities have received gold stars by the National Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Way to go Family Star!