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COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— March 16-April 5, 2016
Economic Development News
Construction is underway on
Olde Town Arvada’s five-story
Hilton Garden Inn.
The hotel, which will create
60 to 80 Arvada jobs, will fea-
ture 139 rooms, 3,000 square
feet of conference/event space
and a full-service restaurant.
The hotel will be located on
Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, at
the former site of Brooklyn’s
and the Vineyard Church.
Work is slated to be complete
in early 2017.
Brinkman Partners is the
lead developer on the project
being built by Brinkman Con-
struction. The hotel is being
co-developed and managed by
Renascent Hospitality.
s
The Downtown Denver Part-
nership joined Mayor Michael
B. Hancock in announcing that
the city has finalized plans for
the installation of 182 new street
lights along the 16th Street Mall.
The project would be funded
through Downtown TIF funds
distributed by the Denver Urban
Renewal Authority. The propo-
sed purchase order of $1.9million
recently was introduced to the
Denver City Council Finance and
Services Committee for consid-
eration, where they voted 6-0 to
move the contract to the full City
Council.
The new lights will replace
aging fixtures currently in use,
as well as lights that have been
removed over time because of
vehicle collisions. Lights also will
be added in critical locations,
restoring the original distribution
and balance of pedestrian light-
ing along the mall, according to
the DDP. The new fixtures, which
will replicate the original iconic
ones, will use LED lighting to
reduce energy usage and costs.
The new lights also will dis-
tribute light more uniformly or
evenly across the mall, especially
on the sidewalks, enhancing the
sense of safety for all mall users.
“With more people moving in
and out of downtown every day,
it is critical that we constantly
work to keep the heart of our city
a welcoming place to live, work
and play,” Hancock said. “These
new lights will enhance the expe-
rience of our uniquemall and cre-
ate a brighter and more inviting,
safe space for everyone to enjoy.
I thank our partners for working
to implement this critical effort.”
The lighting project is one of
the many core initiatives that the
partnership and the city have
co-championed to enhance the
vitality of the 16th Street Mall.
Enhanced mall lighting was also
one of the recommendations
within the Downtown Securi-
ty Action Plan, which outlines
actionable recommendations to
enhance the feeling of safety and
security in the downtown area.
“The 16th Street Mall is one of
our most vital connectors and
important public spaces, and as
the mall ages we recognize the
importance of improving mall
infrastructure while maintaining
important elements of its iconic
design,” said Tami Door, presi-
dent and CEO of the Downtown
Denver Partnership.
Installation of the new lights
is planned to occur from May
through September.
s
Kevin McCasky resigned as
president and CEO of the Jeffer-
son County Economic Develop-
ment Corp.
His resignation was effective
March 2.
“Kevin has served the EDC in
that capacity for over five years.
Under his leadership the orga-
nization launched the successful
Forward JeffCo Initiative,” said
John Moore, board chair. “Kevin
worked in the interest of the Jef-
fCo EDC for years as a member
of our executive committee while
a county commissioner prior to
taking this role. We thank him for
his service.”
The executive committee has
implemented an interim plan
for the management and restruc-
ture of the JeffCo EDC and will
begin a search for new leadership
immediately.
s
The Metro Denver Economic
Development Corp. named Heidi
Morgan, manager of government
affairs for Black Hills Corp., to
a leadership role in its industry
affiliate the Colorado Energy
Coalition.
Morgan will serve a two-year
term as co-chair of the CEC, join-
ing current Co-Chair Chris Han-
sen, founder of Hansen Advisors,
and succeeding outgoing Co-
Chair John Armstrong, CEO of
Enserca LLC.
With more than 20 years of pro-
gressive public policy experience
in the energy industry, Morgan
focuses primarily onutility andoil
and gas issues at BlackHills Corp.
“The CEC embodies the diverse
energy culture that is the live-
lihood of Colorado’s economy,”
said Morgan. “I look forward to
working with the members of the
coalition in support of economic
success for the entire energy sec-
tor, which is so vital to our state’s
long-term prosperity.”
With her background in the
energy industry, Morgan has
been highly engaged in the CEC
as a member the Public Policy
Committee. This working group
drafts the Federal Policy Brief on
Energy, an annual document that
provides Colorado's federal dele-
gation with data and information
on energy issues, as well as a call
to action to create a coherent and
stable national energy policy.
“The depth of knowledge and
counsel Heidi has brought to the
CEC’s Public Policy Committee
has positioned our Federal Policy
Brief as a valued document to
our congressional delegation as
they develop policy that supports
energy innovation and job cre-
ation in Colorado,” said Hansen.
“I am excited to work with Heidi
on various CEC initiatives that
will expand Colorado’s role as a
vital contributor to the worldwide
energy economy.”
Morgan holds a Bachelor of
Arts in international studies from
the University of South Alabama
and a Master of Arts in American
government from the American
University.
s
Adams County Economic Development
Arvada Economic Development Association
Aurora Economic Development Council
Town of Berthoud
Brighton Economic Development Corporation
City and County of Broomfield
Castle Rock Economic Development Council
City of Centennial
Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance
City of Commerce City
Denver Office of Economic Development
Denver South Economic Development Partnership
Downtown Denver Partnership Inc.
City of Englewood Community Development Dept.
Town of Erie
Federal Heights Redevelopment Agency
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
City of Greenwood Village
Jefferson County Economic Development Corp.
City of Lafayette
Lakewood Economic Development
City of Lone Tree
Longmont Economic Development Partnership
City of Louisville
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.
City of Northglenn
Northwest Douglas County EDC
Town of Parker
Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority
City of Thornton Office of Economic Development
Town of Superior
Westminster Economic Development
City of Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge 2020
Town of Windsor
For information regarding appearing in the EDC Profile
Section, please contact Jon Stern at 303.623.1148
