While other businesses are suffering, they have loyal, longtime customers willing to maneuver the mess. But the Velvet Banjo was starting out fresh. "They've been doing a majority of the work right in front of us for the last few months," says co-owner Scottie Sindelar, who estimates that construction has led to at least a 17 percent decline in business. Since it wasn't open all last year, though, it can't document that number...and so it's not eligible for a Business Impact Opportunity Fund grant from the city, designed to help mitigate the losses.
In their comments on the Westword Facebook post, readers debate the value of this Colfax project. Says Aaron:
Change is hard. When Olde Town Arvada and Tennyson changed, all the old places were forced out. Now they are thriving, safer and easier to navigate. It sucks, but it happens everywhere eventually.Counters Daniel:
Denver is not compensating these business owners. These business owners can prove how much money has been lost and they are doing not enough. They are ruining our town.Adds Derrick:
I am convinced the city is doing this intentionally to push out small businesses and allow big developers to take over. That's why the police do NOTHING about the violent criminals in that area. They want the property values to drop during construction so Black Rock can buy up all those plots and build high-rise condos just in time for the new bus lanes to finish.Responds Ray:
I have lived near Colfax and Downing for seventeen years. I remember when rents began to increase on apartments and shops, and suddenly there were cops in the neighborhood, in cars and on foot and even on horseback. I can't remember the last time I saw a police car in the neighborhood except traveling on Colfax. It's been several years. And the construction goes on and onOffers Van:
As someone who lives right off Colfax in one of the worst blocks (Franklin), I'm thrilled for the change with two lanes of traffic and rapid buses. I would, of course, have much preferred some cool old trolley, but apparently that was three times or more the cost. I do think the city could do more to support businesses on a few fronts, but also know these sorts of massive projects take time and inevitably negatively impact businesses next to them. Cities need to evolve and change or they die. This is an important infrastructure project that should be celebrated and if the downsides can be mitigated, more should be done. I’m also grateful the horrible Burger King and awful Family Dollar on my block went under. Anything other will be better. I’m hopeful that the new fax will be more pedestrian friendly with slower traffic and hopefully lots of new businesses, but it going to be a slog for 18-24 months.Suggests Zack:
Happy to have left the Denver restaurant scene....Denver seems to have put all its restaurants in a burlap sack, and tossed it into the Platte River.Concludes Rogers:
I think Broken Arrow jinxed that corner for a minute...but it's the hill and it will ALWAYS be the hill!!! Mind your business and stay on point and I promise...you will be just fine! I can speak on this cuz I was raised in the area since '78!Have you been on East Colfax lately? What do you think of the construction impacts? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].
