* The public hearings on the plans to create metro districts to
fund both Littleton Village (former Marathon property) and
Littleton Promenade (Green Valley Turf Co. on South Santa Fe
Drive), which were scheduled to be heard by Littleton City Council
on Aug. 15, were both postponed. The city’s financial adviser had
not finished reviewing the Littleton Village plan, so that hearing
was rescheduled for Sept. 5. The developer of Littleton Promenade,
Chicago-based Landmark Properties, has partnered with New
Orleans-based THF Realty and has withdrawn its service plan for the
time being to regroup.
By By:
Latest Developments
* The public hearings on the plans to create metro districts to
fund both Littleton Village (former Marathon property) and
Littleton Promenade (Green Valley Turf Co. on South Santa Fe
Drive), which were scheduled to be heard by Littleton City Council
on Aug. 15, were both postponed. The city’s financial adviser had
not finished reviewing the Littleton Village plan, so that hearing
was rescheduled for Sept. 5. The developer of Littleton Promenade,
Chicago-based Landmark Properties, has partnered with New
Orleans-based THF Realty and has withdrawn its service plan for the
time being to regroup.
* Developer Johnathan Miller wants to replace the
90,000-square-foot St. Mary’s School property on South Nevada
Street with 68 multifamily units. He proposes underground parking
for all residential units. The development review committee will
see the proposal on Sept. 7. The planning commission and DRC will
be the final authorities on the application.
* Real Architecture wants to demolish the three houses on .69
acres at 5848, 5858 and 5868 S. Rapp St. and build a mixed-use
project called Littleton Lofts. Proposed are four live/work units
on the first level and 56 residential units on the second to fifth
levels. The building would be 70 feet tall and about 86,500 square
feet. The development review committee is scheduled to review the
plan on Sept. 14, and a planning commission hearing will be set
after that.
* Exquisite Salon wants to build a 7,000-square-foot salon
behind Home Depot at 5140 S. Federal Blvd. The application is
scheduled to be reviewed by the development review committee on
Aug. 31.
* Dr. Jan Leo wants to add on to the building at 5579 S. Curtice
and renovate it into a medical office building. The existing house
is 995 square feet. A two-story, 1,044-square-foot addition is
proposed for the west side of the building. A public hearing will
be scheduled for the planning commission after staff review is
completed on Sept. 28.
* Steve Kurtz wants to build a retail/office center between
South Prince Street and West Belleview Avenue.
* Main Street Tavern has submitted a proposal to demolish the
building and replace it with a two-story mixed-use
development.
For more information, call Littleton Community Development at
303-795-3748.
News Tracker
Jackass Hill Park
Last We Knew: Legend has it that during World War I, an
enterprising young man decided to corner the market on mules, with
the idea he would sell them to the Army and get rich. But the war
ended and he was stuck with mules by the score. He left them to die
near the lane that used to run from South Prince Street west to
South Santa Fe Drive, on what would be known thereafter as Jackass
Hill. The land was rezoned for housing in the early 1990s, and
about a hundred homes went up. The city retained 17 acres of open
space that most people call Jackass Hill Park, though it had never
been officially named.
The Latest: Littleton City Council voted unanimously Aug. 15 to
make the name official. Dr. Reed Johnson grew up in the area and
still lives there. During the public hearing, he told council that
after his grandparents bought property there in 1902, his family
called the hill “Indian Lookout” because of all the arrowheads and
other artifacts they found there. He supports the name Jackass Hill
Park.
What’s Next: South Suburban Parks and Recreation District will
place a sign at the park bearing its new name. Council members hope
it will include the history of the property.
What They Said: “I think that really, indeed, we are referring
to four-legged animals, not two-legged animals.”
– Councilwoman Pat Cronenberger, on why she feels it’s important
for the sign to explain the history of the hill.
“We assumed that the Indians would be up there making arrowheads
while at the same time looking out for game or other
tribes.”
– Dr. Reed Johnson, who has lived near the hill all his
life.
Get Involved: South Suburban Parks and Recreation District,
303-798-5131.
Government
Matters
* Jim Thelen, the city’s director of codes and inspections, is
asking Littleton City Council to reduce the posting time for weeds,
rubbish and derelict vehicles from 10 days to five. That means
anyone who gets a notice to clean up their property would have five
days to remedy the situation. Council will conduct a public hearing
and vote on the changes on Sept. 5.
* South Suburban Parks and Recreation District has hired Cecily
Mui as the parks department resource specialist. Mui has more than
10 years of experience in conservation work. Her responsibilities
will include wildlife monitoring, restoration programs and weed
control, with a focus on citizen participation. She will also
assess new properties for viability as wildlife habitats and
monitor the balance between human and wildlife use.