An Interview with Greg Sherwin, Founder of Boulder Creek Community
by Osman Parvez ---- Boulder Creek Community is the brain child of Greg Sherwin, a long term Boulder resident. We happened to catch Greg one early morning and sat down to ask him a few questions. Q. What gave you the idea to create a co-housing community in Boulder? A few years ago, I examined my life and wanted to know if my purpose was something more than what I had been doing. I had been a successful real estate broker, owner and rental manager for 30 years and was just starting a new career in psychotherapy. But after all [...]
Profile: Boulder Creek Community
by Osman Parvez ---- Launched in 2007, Boulder Creek Community consists of 13 units within Gold Run, an established town home and condo development. It's a cohousing community, unique because it features privately financed affordable housing and isn't a new build development like many other cohousing communities. Located in central Boulder along Boulder Creek, the Boulder Creek Community is the result of a year long vision quest and more than two years of development. There is nothing else like it in Boulder, possibly nothing else like it in the country. KEY BENEFITS Healthy blend of community living and personal privacy An answer to [...]
The “New Hill”: 2009 Edition
by Osman Parvez ---- On Monday, the Daily Camera reported on the efforts of “The New Hill Co.”, who has created a future vision of the University Hill area. Walsh and Riggle make up The New Hill Co. For the past three years, they’ve worked as consultants for two property owners on the Hill: Boulder Hilltop Properties, which owns 1143 and 1155 13th St., and 1314 COEU, whose principals own property between 13th and 14th streets and College and Euclid avenues. The report the company produced — “The Hill Commercial Context Study” — envisions University Hill anchored at the north [...]
The Price of Pearl
by Osman Parvez ---- It's no secret that you'll pay a premium to live in Boulder. The city’s limited growth policy creates scarcity, and the natural beauty and lifestyle of the city win awards, year after year. However, on top of that, downtown Boulder carries an additional premium. Condos along Pearl start at $700-800K for 1,300 square feet and top out at $2-3 million for 2,500 square feet. Just take a look at The Walnut or 1505 Pearl. Location, location, location. Is it worth it? As I’ve pointed out before, work is a key factor in choosing a neighborhood, and [...]
Washington Village Update
by Osman Parvez ---- Here's another chance to speak up and get involved. Boulder's Planning Board is hosting a public hearing on the revised Washington Village site and use review application. It will be held at 6pm on Thursday, January 8th at the Municipal Building (1777 Broadway). City staff have reviewed the revised applications that were submitted by the developer on Nov. 17, 2008. The applications are now required to go to the Planning Board. If you can't attend the public hearing, feedback on the application can also be provided to Karl Guiler at 303- 441-4236 or guilerk@bouldercolorado.gov. ---- ---- [...]
Boulder Development Map and Photos
by Osman Parvez ---- Here's a quick note to highlight a few of the development resources we have provided with the help of Google and Flickr. Boulder Development Map (link) This has been mentioned a few times on the blog. It's a custom Google map that shows development projects in Boulder. Click on one of place markers, or browse through all of the locations on the left column of the page to select an individual project and see more information. The map contains a ton of information, including addresses and descriptions for each project, as well as a small, recent [...]
No Surprise, Council Moves to Kill Downtown Development
by Osman Parvez ---- From the Daily Camera The City Council voted 7-1 late Tuesday night to ask the city’s planning staff to start working in the second half of next year to come up with possible changes to the circumstances in which developers are allowed to exceed 35 feet and go up to the 55-foot ceiling. Completely ignoring soft market conditions, City Council continues to do their best to damage the real estate market and end the downtown renaissance. And I thought President Bush was clueless. Elected leaders, she said, should change the way they think of the space [...]
Council Pushes for New Building Height Limits
by Osman Parvez ---- Looks like City Council is continuing their effort to destroy your property value in Boulder. From the Daily Camera: Builders now are allowed to go up to 35 feet in much of downtown Boulder. Building higher than that — up to the 55-foot limit set forth in the city’s charter — requires permission from the city’s Planning Board. Planning officials considering those requests take into account sketches of the proposed buildings, how the projects will fit in with their neighbors and what kind of contribution they’ll make to pedestrians and “usable open space.” Thus far, the [...]
“We Should Have Changed the Code Months Ago”
by Osman Parvez ---- Is City Council Against Property Rights? The Camera is reporting on City Council's efforts to block the redevelopment of 1580 Canyon, formerly Robb's Music. Council voted yesterday to review an already approved decision to allow the property owner to build a 54 foot tall building on the site. From the article: Developers received approval from the city's Planning Board last month to tear down the existing building on the site and put the four-story, 54-foot-tall structure in its place. Before yesterday's meeting, Councilwoman Susan Osborne sent an email (on a public list) to colleagues rallying support. [...]
BluePrint Boulder 2008 – Saturday, November 8
by Osman Parvez ---- What: Blueprint Boulder 2008, an urban planning forum for Boulder's future Where: The Boulder Municipal Building (City Hall, 1777 Broadway, on the S.W. corner of Canyon and Broadway) When: Saturday, November 8, 2008, from 9am to 3pm Who: All members of the public, especially those interested in the future of Boulder's Neighborhoods Cost: Free Contact: Scott Rodwin, 303.204.8556 or scott@rodwinarch.com Blueprint Boulder 2008: In Search of a Common Vision for Blueprint Boulder 2008 will host an open public forum. Blueprint Boulder is a free, privately organized, non-profit, grass-roots event rooted in the questions "How do we [...]
Pop and Scrape Survey Now Due
by Osman Parvez ---- Just a reminder to Boulder residents. The Pops and Scrapes Community survey must be postmarked by tomorrow. Or you can deliver it personally to RRC Associates, 4940 Pearl East Circle, Suite 103. Property owners in affected neighborhoods should have received this a few weeks ago via postal mail. If you have plans to improve your property, care about the impact of development on our community, or simply want to protect your property's value, I strongly encourage you to fill-out and return the survey. For those curious about the contents of the survey, I scanned my copy. [...]
The Pops and Scrapes Survey
by Osman Parvez ---- If you own property in the City of Boulder, check your mailbox. You've probably just received your Pops and Scrapes Survey. To protect the potential use of your property and its future resale value, it's very important to respond. However you feel about the issue, it's critical for city officials to hear from a representative group of homeowners, not just those with strong feeling about home expansions. I've been to the workshops and meetings about this issue. City Council intends to move on it as soon as possible. Your survey must be postmarked by November 7th. [...]
Seven Broomfield Hotels Still On Track
by Osman Parvez ---- Everyone seems to be talking about gloomy economic times, but you may be surprised to find out that many projects are still striding forward. Seven hotels are scheduled for completion along US 36 by 2012, when ConocoPhillips is expected to open up shop at the former StorageTek campus. Denver Business Journal reports: “Obviously all of the major lenders have pulled out of the market, and no one on Wall Street is going to finance $100 million projects,” said Steve Hennis, director of Hospitium, a hospitality research firm based in Arvada. “A lot of those projects on [...]
The Peloton – An Owner’s View
by Osman Parvez ---- So what's it like to actually live at the Peloton? An owner sent us the following: Hi House Einstein - I was reading some of your blogs about The Peloton. If you'd like the views of an actual resident . . . My wife and I moved there in June, and we adore it. The Community Center is awesome. Our neighbors are wonderful and we are "gelling" into a very caring community. The HOA dues, while expensive, cover almost everything - and electric bills are minimal. Overall, cheaper than the cost of utilities and a club [...]
Washington School Development – What’s Next?
by Osman Parvez ---- This just in from the City... ---------- Wonderland Hill Development Company (WHDC) will host a public open house to present the Washington Village revised site design from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, at Washington School, 1215 Cedar Ave. Representatives from WHDC will be available to answer questions after the presentation. The city will begin its review of the site review application on Monday, Oct. 6. At that time, city staff will post the revised site review application on the city Web site for public review. Interested parties will be able send comments to [...]
