Cory Merrill Neighborhood Association Newsletter Spring 2009
Annual Cory Merrill May
General Meeting
— by Dave Robinson
Greetings neighbors. Hopefully contributions. You may send those to Cory
this newsletter is reaching all of you — Merrill at P.O. Box 101713, Denver, CO 80210.
approximately 4,100 residents, according This is my final year as president after
to a recent survey, which is about an eight five years and it has been a great experience.
percent increase from a 2000 census. The Community service is rewarding in many
survey also reveals that within the city of ways. Your neighborhood involvement not
Denver, we are a comparatively affluent and only benefits you personally, but just a small
educated neighborhood offering many
advantages regarding location, schools
and current zoning definitions.
For those of you who attended meetings
I hope that many of you will find
time to attend our general meeting
in the past, you will be happy to hear
on May 20 at 7pm at “The Kirk,”
(our affectionate name) located at
Charlie Brown will be giving away tomato
the corner of Arizona and Steele.
The meeting typically lasts about plants again this year. If you want to take
one and a half to two hours, at the
most. Charlie Brown, our city council one home, bring a small container.
representative, will say a few words as
well as Cari Jimenez, our Community Resource commitment of time protects and enhances
Officer from D3 police. We will also discuss the value that Cory Merrill has achieved and is
two zoning possibilities that might affect Cory envied by many Denver neighborhoods.
Merrill. We can’t cover the entire zoning code Thanks to all of you who make a difference
changes that will be occurring, of course. Public including our board officers who attend
meetings cover all of the zoning changes. Check city and Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation
denvergov.org. meetings (neighborhoodlink.com/denver/
We will also elect officers and invite new inc) collecting and distributing information;
members to join the Cory Merrill Board. Keep volunteers delivering the newsletter four times
in mind that you are welcome at all of our per year; the newsletter creators; our newsletter
monthly board meetings and you all have a advertisers who sponsor the newsletter; the
vote on every topic or issue. You can obtain graffiti removal volunteers and our web site
valuable information at corymerrill.org. We volunteers.
are a very democratic Registered Neighborhood It has been my pleasure to serve Cory
Association (RNO) and exist on voluntary Merrill.
FREE
Summer Movies
Come out and enjoy a beautiful summer night underneath the
stars and watch a great movie on the Infinity Park JUMBO TRON.
This is a fun time for people of all ages and the perfect opportunity to
unwind after a long Monday!
Gates open at 7:30pm, movies start at 8pm. There is no
admission fee. You can bring blankets and food for a picnic, but no
alcohol or dogs (or any other pets).
Infinity Park is located in the heart of Glendale. The park is just
two blocks east of Colorado Blvd. at E Tennessee Ave. and S. Cherry St.
2009 Monday Movie Madness Schedule:
June 1 Happy Gilmore
June 15 Raiders of the Lost Ark
July 6 Best in Show
02 July 20 Top Gun
August 3 Kung Fu Panda
August 17 Mamma Mia
For more information, visit infinityparkeventcenter.com
FOR YOUR FAMILY,
YOUR BUSINESS,
YOUR FUTURE.
Steve Moats
financial representative and Cory Merrill neighbor
The Cunningham Financial Group
• personal needs analysis
• business needs analysis
• estate analysis
free
TOMATO PLANTS
• retirement solutions
• employee and executive benefits
Come to the May 20
• long-term care insurance Cory Merrill Neighborhood Association
meeting and get a free tomato plant
from Councilman Charlie Brown.
The Cunningham Financial Group
707 17th Street, Suite 3700 • Denver, Colorado
7pm at The Kirk
303-390-5750 BRING A SMALL CONTAINER!
steve.moats@nmfn.com
Zoning Code Update
corymerrill.org
— by Don Tressler
Denver’s Zoning Code Update is going or “Areas of Stability.” Those who are opposed
to illicit city wide lively debate. At our annual to redevelopment are claiming that “stability”
Cory Merrill meeting on May 20, we are going means no change from what is there now.
to focus on two subjects that have significant That is the argument that was used to
importance for us. Those are 1) accessory rezone the three neighborhoods last year from
dwelling units and 2) a building form that R-2 to R-1. Even though the block was zoned
provides some winter sunshine protection to R-2 for over 50 years, because there were mostly
the neighbor to the north, when a larger house single family homes on the blocks, they said no
replaces a smaller house. new duplexes should be built. This passed.
It appears that accessory dwelling units Some are using the same argument in
are being defined as a separate structure over areas such as Cory Merrill to say that “stability”
a garage, on the back of a lot, or a basement means that our small houses should not be torn
apartment. Potentially they could become legal down and replaced with larger houses. They
in any Denver neighborhood. want new zoning that does not allow the larger
Sunshine protection (solar access houses.
protection) would only effect new construction. A sunshine protection might be a rational 03
Cory Merrill was described as an area of reason to accept some reduction in maximum
stability in Blueprint Denver. The “stability” size for houses in our neighborhood. How
designation might create pressure to reduce the much of a maximum size reduction would we
maximum size of houses under the new code. accept?
In 2002 Denver adopted a master plan Come to our annual meeting to get
for the city called Blueprint Denver. This involved in these discussions and learn more at
identified neighborhoods as “Areas of Change” newcodedenver.org.
The first of three rounds of public meetings are:
Tuesday, May 12, 5:30pm Tuesday, May 19, 6:30pm
Denver Convention Center Denver School of the Arts Concert Hall
700 14th St. 7111 Montview Blvd.
Wednesday, May 13, 6:30pm Thursday, May 21, 6:30pm
Place Middle School Auditorium Abe Lincoln High Auditorium
7125 Cherry Creek Drive North 2285 S. Federal Blvd.
Thursday, May 14, 6:30pm
Lake Middle School Auditorium
1820 Lowell Blvd.
Your neighborhood connection to health and wellness!
We offer:
• personal fitness training • senior fitness
• pre/post natal fitness • career exercise rehab
• yoga and spinning classes • therapeutic massage
Mad About Fitness
2626 E. Louisiana
Louisiana & Clayton
303.871.8661 • madaboutfit.com
Organic Lawn
Care
— by Karen Hoglund
It’s spring and lawns are turning green earlier than
normal this year. Taking care of your lawn organically isn’t
that much harder than the conventional chemical route.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Aeration
This is the time of year that you see everyone aerating
their lawn and it is a great idea. After you aerate, you will
have plugs of dirt all over your lawn. Go one step further
and add a half-inch or more of compost and rake it into
the holes left by the aeration. If you have compost bins
in your backyard, this is a great use of the compost you
probably made from last fall’s leaves. If not, no big deal,
you can buy compost at the garden center or from Denver
Recycles on May 2 when they sell the compost made from
04
last fall’s leaf drop. Compost enriches the soil and helps
grass roots retain their moisture. You should also dig
compost into the soil before you lay sod or seed a lawn.
Fertilizer
The next thing you will want to do is fertilize your lawn. Make sure to pick a natural or
organic fertilizer. Conventional (chemical) fertilizers frequently pollute waterways with excessive
nitrogen and phosphorous, and are petroleum based. Conventional fertilizers can also be
detrimental to soil organisms. Country Fair Garden Center and Groundcovers Greenhouse are
two garden centers that are nearby and both
have very helpful staffs that can help you pick
Get rid of weeds growing in your out an organic fertilizer. One brand that they
both carry, Richlawn, has been manufacturing
sidewalk and driveway cracks by organic fertilizers for over 30 years in Colorado.
They contain trace elements and micro-
pouring boiling water on them. nutrients not found in conventional chemical
fertilizers, which are slowly released over the
entire growing season. Another good choice is
Concern Weed Prevention Plus which contains corn gluten meal, that works as a pre-emergent
weed killer, preventing weeds’ roots from developing so the new seedlings quickly die. This
product replaces the traditional “weed and feed” fertilizer. Don’t use a pre-emergent fertilizer
before planting seed or laying sod because rooting will be restricted. If you prefer ordering online,
gardensalive.com has some very effective fertilizers as well. A big bonus is organic fertilizers are
safe for children, pets and wildlife. On a side note, I find it helpful to limit my dog’s time outdoors
after I put down organic fertilizer because they like to eat it. Even though it is not harmful, it’s an
awfully expensive pet treat.
Weeding
If you have existing weeds, the best method is to just pull them out. Once you have them
under control, you won’t have to do it very often. An old-fashioned dandelion pulling tool is
inexpensive. Going forward, use an organic pre-emergent to prevent new weeds from sprouting.
Corn gluten meal is the active ingredient in most organic pre-emergent fertilizers such as Concern
Weed Prevention Plus and it’s very safe. It was commonly used as a supplement in hog feed until
a Iowa State researcher noticed, by accident, that it was a natural herbicide. Here’s another weed
tip: If you have weeds in the cracks of your sidewalk, you can use boiling water to kill them. Don’t
continued
use this approach on the lawn because it will “cook” the corymerrill.org
grass too, but it works like a dream on sidewalk cracks.
Boiling water is essentially free so why pay for scary
chemicals?
Mowing
Grass grows faster in the spring. Mow frequently
so that no more than one-third of the grass blade
is removed in a single mowing. A lawn may require
mowing every three to five days during the spring and
early summer. During the summer months, mow as
high as practical (height of two-and-a-half to three
inches). This will help shade any weed seeds that are
trying to sprout. Use a mulching mower to let grass
clippings fall back onto the lawn. Grass clippings
decompose quickly and provide a source of recycled
nutrients and organic matter for the lawn.
Watering
Water deeply and not too often. Learn how your
sprinkler system works so you can water properly.
Todd W. Young
Watering is an art here in Colorado since we get so little Financial Advisor 05
rain. Check out lawn watering tips at denverwater.org.
Last but not least, be realistic about your lawn.
It’s more important for your lawn to be safe for you
and your family than it is for it to be a perfect golf
course. Hopefully, we’ll see less of those ominous
yellow pesticides-applied flags around Cory Merrill this
summer.
Member SIPC
You are welcome!
All neighbors are invited to attend the
monthly CMNA meeting — Kirk of Bonnie 1288 South Clayton Street
Brae Church, 1201 S. Steele, @7pm on the Denver, CO 80210
first Wednesday of the month.
T: 303-715-2383
Zoning code updates are on the agenda at todd.young@edwardjones.com
every meeting. www.edwardjones.com
Bonnie Brae
Flowers
747 South University Boulevard
303.744.1091
Q More than a century ago, who introduced public schools to our
neighborhood?
A John Babcock
Babcock’s Vision
— by Scott Takeda
In 1886, the eastern edge of Cory
Merrill was a forty-acre gardening
community called Coronado Heights.
Developer John Babcock established
the area’s first school on the corner
of Jackson and Florida, calling it
Coronado School. William Thompson
was the teacher of the single-room, red
brick schoolhouse. In his first year, he
06 taught nearly 40 students ranging in
ages from 5 to 21.
Nearly 70 years later, Merrill Junior
High School opened its doors two
blocks west of the original schoolhouse ▲ Coronado School at Jackson and Florida (1911). Later
on Monroe Street (originally named when a house replaced the school building in the 1930s, the
Babcock Street after John Babcock builder reused some of the schoolhouse bricks and flagstone
himself). The gleaming, ultra-modern slabs. (Photo courtesy of Anna Varga)
school had nearly 800 students (grades
7 through 9). Famed architect Temple H. Buell designed the building in the trendy International
Style, and gave the school notoriety when its plans were profiled in the March 1951 issue of
Progressive Architecture. His addition was built the following year and created space for an
additional 680 students.
Built for $1.3 million, the school was named after Louise A. Merrill (1874-1940). She began
teaching in Denver in 1897 and became a pioneer in junior high education. She was the first
principal at Byers Junior High when it opened in 1921, serving until her death in 1940.
In 1982, Merrill Junior High was converted to a Middle School, serving grades 7 and 8. Later
administrators added the 6th grade (its current configuration). Its highest enrollment was 2,100; it
now serves more than 600.
▲ Merrill Junior High
opened in 1953 at Monroe
and Florida. (Photo courtesy
of Denver Public Library)
▲ Merrill Junior High’s first student council, May 1953. (Photo courtesy of
Merrill Middle School)
corymerrill.org
Family owned and operated since 1967
Mark and Kacey Copeland
1465 S. Colorado Blvd.
Colorado & Arkansas
303-758-9222 07
holidayautocare.com
Electronic Recycling
The program is the latest addition to the
comprehensive programs offered by Best
Buy to help consumers find easy ways to
recycle, reuse or trade in products at the
end of their life.
Consumers can bring up to two units per
day, per household, for recycling at any
Best Buy store.
THEY WILL ACCEPT:
• televisions and monitors up to 32”
• remotes
• computer CPUs and notebooks
• small electronics
• VCR and DVD players
Gary Sever • phones
Broker Associate • computer mouse and keyboards
mobile: 303-941-0535 THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT:
garysever@att.net • televisions and monitors larger than 32”
• console televisions
1st Real Estate Group, LLC • items containing Freon (air conditioners,
dehumidifiers, mini-fridges, etc.)
25 W. Dry Creek Cr., #200 • microwaves
Littleton, CO 80120 • appliances (call Best Buy’s appliance
office: 303-794-8900 haul-away and pick-up programs)
fax: 303-794-0039
Community Service
Projects at Cory
— by Elizabeth Friesen Birky, Cory 5th Grader
All Cory 5th graders are given the assignment to choose and then complete a community
service project of some sort over the course of the school year. It is a great way to learn about the
needs of other people. Some kids choose to do projects that help people in our neighborhood,
our city or even around the world! Here is a sampling of some of the Cory 5th graders’ projects:
• volunteering at the Dumb Friends League
• spending time at a local retirement center
• volunteering for Juvenile Diabetes and raising money at a neighborhood night at
Noodles & Co. restaurant
• collecting sports equipment for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Denver
• volunteering to work during this year’s election
• organizing a winter coat drive
• learning about kids around the world in need of school supplies and organizing school kits
08 to be sent to Iraq
• hosting a community shredding event to recycle important documents safely
It’s nice to learn about all the ways you can help your community. We hope you might be
inspired too!
You do the packing,
let your trusted neighbor
make all the arrangements!
Ruth Neubauer, MSW
Psychotherapy
for individual adults and couples
240-432-4080
Judy Swerer, cruise specialist rneubauertherapy.com
720-313-6868 retirementorwhatnext.com
judy.swerer@protravelinc.com
SIZE DOESN’T MATTER
35 of your fellow Cory Merrill neighbors have
selected Ryan Homes, Inc. to construct their
Poptop, to build their Scrape Home or
finish their Basement Project.
No matter how large or small your constuction
goals, Ryan Homes, Inc. should be on your list.
Our company’s stability is as strong as ever.
We are here to assist you in exploring the
future possiblities, to make your existing home
a better fit for your expanding family.
Visit us today at www.ryanhomescolorado.com
and contact us for a personal consulation at
(303) 904-0564
Ask for Chris Sublette
owner and operator of Ryan Homes, Inc. since 1997
A Custom Home Builder
Cory Merrill Neighborho
od Association Newsletter
Winter 2009 Fresh New Look
— by Lori Allred
Zoning Code Update
— by Don Tressler
On February 11, phase one
of the Zoning structure.
The city has been evaluate
d in terms of
I’m sure you’ve noticed our Cory Merrill Newsletter is
ed to the Zoning Code is determined by
Code Update was present
Task Force. A written release
planned for late April.
for the public is
the public and
existing “context.” Context
block patterns, building
patterns of use, parking
placement, diversity of
and access. The names
Cory Merrillmay change but at present the contexts are:
Neighborhood Association Newsletter Spring 2009
not only bigger (12 pages up from eight) but has a brand
The meetings are open to
those of us attending certainl
of what it will be like. Peter
y get a flavor
Park Director of
Community
Suburban Residential Neighb
edge Neighborhood, Urban
orhood, Urban-
Neighborhood,
, Urban Center
new look. We hope you find the new layout easier to read
General Urban Neighborhood
CONTEXTS: Annual Cory Merrill May
Planning and
Development Neighborhood and Downtown. In addition
will be Special Districts (hospita
ls,
and the information useful. We will continue to look for
Suburban Residential General Meeting
stressed that this there
is in draft form cultural, campus, civic).
s are organizing and not
regulating
Urban-Edge
and we by Dave Robinson Context However, zone districts will be
—
should
expect changes
comes
in themsel ves.
regulating. Right now, for
single-family zone
before itGreetings neighbors. Hopefully three possible zone contributions. You may send those to Cory
articles pertinent to our neighborhood and how we live.
districts, there will be
Urban
this newsletter is reaching all of you —
to the public.
What will
approximately 4,100 residents, according five within the Urban final year as president after
be the a recent survey, which is about an eight
to major
districts in Suburban Context
Urban Edge context and
, four withinat P.O. Box 101713, Denver, CO 80210.
Merrill the
This is my
five years and it has been a great experience.
Here’s how you can help…
General Urban context.2000 census. The
Write:
changes from
percent increase from a districts areCommunity service is rewarding in many
Single
old code? Examples thezone of
the survey also reveals that within
of
city ways. Your neighborhood involvement not
s of Two Unit, and
Urban Center Unit A to E, several version
Existing R-0 are a comparatively s of Multi Unit. (There will also you personally, but just a small
Denver, we
educated neighborhood version many
several offering
affluent and only benefits
and R-1 zoning and they will be
be commercial zone districts
Downtown For those of you who attended meetings
Special Districts
requires a
advantages regarding location, schools
minimum lot size released
and current zoning definitions.
I square
of 6000 hope that many of you
in phase II.)
contexts and zone districts
Within will
in the past, you will be happy to hear
g forms. They will include
will be If you have suggestions or would like to submit and
find a single- allowable buildin
feet fortime to attend our May general and row house. Single-
Thirty percent of the R-0
and R-1
family house. May 20 at 7pm at the “The g forms will include 1
meeting on duplex, townhouse,
properties in family allowab
le buildin
Kirk,” (our affectionate name) located maximum allowed. Yes,
story up to 3.5 story
Charlie Brown will be giving away tomato article for the newsletter, please e-mail me at Lorikayallred@
Denver are on lots less than plants again this year. If you want to take
6,000 square feet. of Arizona and Steele. there could be a one-story
at the corner
zones districts of varying most. Charlie
it does appear that
single-family typically lasts for about
The meeting
The new code will have several one andsizes. to two hours, at the areas and a
minimum lot a half
restriction in some
one and one half
one home, bring a small container.
story restriction in others.
be single-family Brown, our city council be Design Standards
yahoo.com.
Another big change will a few will
also
Advertise:
Accesso representative, will say There words as context that will involve
ry Dwelling
zone districts that allow established for each
yet been defined in Jimenez, our Community Resource commitment of time protects and enhances
well as Cari
Units. A.D.U.’s have not
that they could be in a police. We will also discuss
Officer from D3 continue page 2
the valuedthat Cory Merrill has achieved and is
terms of size. We are told
edtwothe existing
to zoning possibilities that might affect Cory envied by many Denver neighborhoods.
separate structure or connect Merrill. We can’t cover the entire zoning code Thanks to all of you who make a difference
changes that will be occurring, of course. Public including our board officers who attend
meetings cover all of the zoning changes. Check city and Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation
If you would like to advertise in the newsletter, contact
denvergov.org.
We will also elect officers and invite new
members to join the Cory Merrill Board. Keep
meetings (neighborhoodlink.com/denver/
inc) collecting and distributing information;
volunteers delivering the newsletter four times
Dan Chapman at danmchapman@msn.com.
in mind that you are all welcome at all of our per year; the newsletter creators; our newsletter
monthly board meetings and you all have a
vote on every topic or issue. You can obtain
valuable information at corymerrill.org. We
advertisers who sponsor the newsletter; the
graffiti removal volunteers and our web site
volunteers.
Deliver:
We would like to thank the many volunteers who deliver
are a very democratic Registered Neighborhood It has been my pleasure to serve Cory
Association (RNO) and exist on voluntary Merrill.
this newsletter to your doorstep. If you would like to help
10
deliver the newsletter, contact Rachel Lyons at rlyons91@
gmail.com.
Letter to the Editor: Donate:
And to help pay for the printing costs always, we
Hi Lori! welcome donations to the Cory Merrill Neighborhood
The Winter 2009 issue of the Association. Mail your contribution to:
Cory Merrill newsletter is the CMNA
first time I’ve seen the new PO Box 101713
format. It looks GREAT! Good Denver, CO 80210
information, nice layout and I
really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for your hard work!
Merrill Linton,
Biscayne resident
Denver’s Victory Garden
corymerrill.org
History
— by Dana Miller
In 1943 Eleanor Roosevelt took the bold initiative to plant a vegetable garden on the White
House’s South Lawn. She called it a Victory Garden and started a campaign for Americans to
grow their own food. During World War II, over 20 million Americans answered Eleanor’s
call to action. At the height of the Victory Gardens campaign approximately 40 percent of the
country’s produce came from our own yards. School groups and scout groups cleaned up vacant
lots and planted community gardens. Factory workers transformed empty lots adjacent to
their work places into vegetable gardens that were tended during work breaks. Americans were
involved because they wanted to support the troops while saving some money at home.
The City of Denver was a prominent participant in this effort and responded quickly to
the campaign by immediately establishing a Victory Garden Office. On March 28, 1943, just
months after Eleanor Roosevelt’s call to action,
Mayor Stapleton dedicated Denver’s first Victory
Garden. Stapleton said, “The City of Denver believes Visit growlocalcolorado.org for
this is the most important community project
that we have ever undertaken.” The community more local gardening tips. 11
garden was located at East 8th Avenue and Elizabeth
Street (now Congress Park). The City Council proposed that the Denver Board of Water
Commissioners provide free water for “home front” gardeners.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, editor Jack Foster said, “No other city has stepped
out with the vigor that Denver has in answering the government’s call for Victory Gardens.”
Denver’s slogan was a “Victory Garden on Every Lot.” Denverites did their part by planting
41,500 gardens that first season and by 1944 over 50,000 Victory Gardens were spread across the
city. Denver’s Victory Gardens were valued that first growing season at $578,125. To help
Denverites start up a backyard plot, the city of Denver devised a “Model Victory
Garden.” A list of vegetables that did best in our
climate was provided as well as
soil preparation and planting
instructions. Colorado State
College (now Colorado
State University)
provided the
“technical advice
necessary to insure
success.”
A Rebirth of Victory Gardens
“Grow Local” is a new campaign to promote growing
local food, local community and local economy. The goal is to
establish greater community resilience and vibrancy by growing
food and building community together.
The web site growlocalcolorado.org was launched in April.
This will be a resource hub for information and expertise in
establishing a food garden at one’s home, business or public space.
Growing food in our communities leads to greater food security and
reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. Growing community around
food creates safer, more connected neighborhoods and cities.
The web site will support the campaign by providing a
community calendar featuring events, films, classes and workshops
about growing locally. For more information visit growlocalcolorado.
org or call Ellen Rosenthal at 303-377-6150.
Replacement Window Products
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• clad exterior for a maintenance-free option or all wood
1201 S. Steele Street exterior for historic presentation
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for more information, contact Jen
303-783-9300
jfundingsland@solarglass.com
Post Office Box 101713 • Denver CO 80210-1713 • corymerrill.org
2009 Cory Merrill Neighborhood Association Board Members
David Robinson, president Don Tressler, zoning chair Charlotte Morris
daverobinson@ecentral.com donaldtressler@comcast.net chardarbre@aol.com
Dan Chapman, vice president Scott Takeda, communications Rachel Lyons
danmchapman@msn.com Scotty@sirkit.com rlyons91@gmail.com
Markus Thamm, treasurer Lori Allred, newsletter Jay Reed
markusthamm@hotmail.com Lorikayallred@yahoo.com kilbie@hotmail.com
The Cory Merrill Neighborhood Association newsletter is published four times a year and
delivered free to all residents. To place an ad, contact Don Chapman at danmchapman@msn.com.
To suggest a feature or submit an article, contact Lori Allred at lorikayallred@yahoo.com.