Bluebird District 2018 Budget
You can review and download the annual budget for the Bluebird District for 2018 here.
Get Ready for Boo ‘n Brew 2017
It’s that time of year! The Bluebird District is proud to announce the 11th annual Boo & Brew family friendly scare fest Saturday, October 28 from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., allowing Colfax denizens to enjoy the tricks and treats of their favorite local haunts.
Bluebird Call for Artists: Now Open!
The Bluebird District is looking for a local Denver artist to design and install functional art in the district. Functional Art will serve a community need, such as seating or bike parking, and also be a creative and engaging artistic element on Colfax Ave. Please see the document for more details and the deadline to submit.
Let’s Get Colfax Improvements Built: Speak Up Now!
Colfaxians recently helped the Colfax Collaborative secure $500,000 in 2017 city funding to design streetscape and safety improvements along the corridor. However, this is only the beginning. General obligation (GO) bond funding is needed to get the improvements built. There are many more projects than dollars to fund them and we need your support now more than ever.
You can help get Colfax on the 2017 bond list by providing input at upcoming meetings to discuss GO Bond priorities. Here’s why we believe Colfax deserves funding: Great Cities have Great Main Streets: We should too! Please speak up and support your main street at one of the following meetings:
Tuesday, December 6, 6-7:30 p.m.: Bruce Randolph School, 3955 Steele St.
Thursday, December 8, 6-7:30 p.m.: South High School, 1700 E. Louisiana Ave.
In addition to the community meetings, you can show your support with comment cards at Denver Public Libraries and recreation centers across the city until December 21, 2016. Or email your thoughts to 2017GOBond@denvergov.org.
Who is the Colfax Collaborative: The Colfax Collaborative is made up of four business improvement districts located along the corridor. From East to West they are: Colfax Mayfair, Bluebird, Colfax Ave. and West Colfax.
They are working together on common challenges and opportunities on Colfax, including the safety and comfort of those living, working, shopping and socializing in each area.
More information:
Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District
Colfax Ave Business Improvement District
4 business districts band together to improve Colfax
A group of four business improvement districts along Colfax Avenue is appealing to Denver City Council and mayor’s office to add money to the city’s 2017 budget to benefit the corridor.
The West Colfax, Colfax, Bluebird and Colfax Mayfair improvement districts have teamed up to form the Colfax Collaborative and is asking for $500,000 in next year’s budget to get the ball rolling on improvements that would help pedestrians navigate the corridor. The four districts span a little more than 9 miles of Colfax between Sheridan Avenue and Yosemite Street.
Sign the petition for Colfax!
We often hear how crossing Colfax is dangerous and difficult and a major concern and priority for those who live and visit the Bluebird District. We are working on this and need your help. We have submitted plans to the City and County of Denver to improve crossing conditions for pedestrians and an opportunity for receiving funding in the 2017 budget would allow us to be one step closer to improving conditions on Colfax. This petition will let City Council and Mayor Hancock know that you support investing in Colfax. You can see the proposed designs here. Please support investments in Colfax and sign today!
Improved Colfax Crossings: HDR Engineering Plans Show New Cross Section for Bluebird
Proposed Street Designs and CIP Funding: From a number of planning processes and surveys, most notably outreach for the BBID Small Area Plan, Bluebird BID has repeatedly heard that crossing Colfax is a major issue. This year we invested in developing designs to show how the infrastructure on Colfax be improved. Working with a local engineering firm HDR and the City, we completed concepts for enhanced crossings at key intersections in the district. We are pleased to say that Denver Public Works is in support of these designs and has submitted a capital improvement project (CIP) funding request for 2017 to develop the design for the concepts. The request includes the BBID as well as the other Colfax BIDs in the Colfax Collaborative. We hope to receive CIP funding continue to finalize designs so we are close to build-ready. With near build-ready projects in the district, we hope to receive bond funding to complete the engineering process and construct a new cross section for Colfax. We are thankful to have the support of Public Works in these efforts. Click the image to enlarge.
This representative sectional plan shows pedestrian bulbouts on the north and south side of Colfax Ave to assist with safe crossings and reduce crossing distance, widen the sidewalk and provide additional visibility for pedestrians and vehicles. The median islands will offer pedestrians a safe refuge midway through crossings, while not impeding business access. Pedestrian crossing signals will be enhanced to include a leading pedestrian interval and pedestrian crossing countdown timer. All of these elements together create a safe pedestrian crossing experience while not unnecessarily stopping the flow of traffic.
Crosswalk Art Adds More Color to East Colfax
Crossing East Colfax Avenue just got a little more interesting. Denver Public Works made part of the street car-free over the weekend so people could paint the crosswalks at Steele and Adams with birds, guitars, musical notes, and a stylized design of the word “Colfax.”
The project is a collaboration between the Bluebird Business Improvement District and Department of Arts and Venues, which manages the “P.S. You Are Here” grant program, “a citywide creative placemaking and neighborhood revitalization program that cultivates collaborative, community-driven, outdoor projects in Denver’s public spaces.”
In the spot light…Chris Swank!
In the spotlight…
Photo Credit: Jill Locantore
Chris Swank is your Bluebird District man for music, food and entertainment! He has been a presence in the Bluebird District since 1994 when he purchased with Bluebird Theater to revive this neighborhood icon and breath life into the theater. With the help of the Office of Economic Development and the City, Swank and partners were able to renovate and restore the theater as a music venue.
Three decades later the iconic Bluebird still anchors the district and brings in amazing shows. Chris has moved his focus across the street and to creating great places to eat and socialize in the district. In 2014 Swank purchased the Goosetown Tavern business and updated the space. His efforts have continued this year with the completion of renovations at Mezcal. These two local establishments have new life and will continue to contribute to the unique local flavor of the Bluebird District.
Photo Credit: Jill Locantore
Mezcal’s recent reopening includes decor updates, a brand new kitchen and and updated menu. Swank’s wife, Loris Venegas, headed up the restaurant concept, which pays tribute to the chicano movement and classic Mexican theater. The new menu includes a masa tamal with roasted poblano pepper and caramelized onions, steamed in a banana leaf and garnished with blistered raisins and roasted poblanos.
Mezcal offers Spanish happy hour every Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
2016 Notice as to BBID Proposed Budget
NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2016 has
been submitted to the Bluebird Business Improvement District (“District”). Such proposed
budgets will be considered at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be
held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17th, 2015 at 3121 E. Colfax Ave, Denver,
Copies of such proposed budget for fiscal year 2016 are available for inspection by the
public at the offices of the District, 3121 E. Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado, and at
www.bluebirddistrict.org. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final
adoption of the proposed budget for the ensuing year 2016, file or register any objections thereto.
Dated October 20, 2015.
BLUEBIRD
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
By: /s/ Tom Secrist, Secretary/Treasurer
The budget is available for download here: 2016 BBID BUDGET rev