Hi there. Today's news roundup is heavy on development news, from the construction of the I-70 project to the potential for a city-wide land bank for Denver. Here's everything that caught my eye this morning.
Things to do:
You can drive a Tesla and a bunch of other electrics today at Civic Center. Even if you can't make it, you can read my impressions (and our readers') of driving an EV around Denver. (Denverite)
Corey Jones has a guide to the Biennial of the Americas, from Havana Nights to a symposium with a LinkedIn co-founder and... Dave Eggers? It's happening this week. (CPR)
Development:
The state of Colorado is coordinating all the various cities' bids to attract Amazon's second headquarters. One developer says that the land near the Pepsi Center and Elitch Gardens would work, as would the old Kmart on South Broadway and potentially some RiNo spots, as Aldo Svaldi reports. (DP)
CDOT and Denver are putting $3.75 million toward installing air conditioning and new windows to protect homes from the construction dust of the Interstate 70 project, as Erica reports. (Denverite)
A city-wide land trust could be a part of Denver's master affordable housing plan. I reported on why people are excited about that. (Denverite)
A sizable development in Lowry will include the city's first Lucky's Market grocery store, Adrian reports. (Denverite)
It's looking like neighborhood advocates won't get the full two votes they wanted on the new National Western board, unless Mayor Michael Hancock steps in. Erica reports. (Denverite)
Drugs & health:
More people died from overdoses than car crashes in Colorado in 2016. Heroin overdoses are ten times higher than in 2001. John Daley goes in detail. (CPR)
An influential U.S. Senate Committee wants to create national testing protocols for marijuana, including both black-market and state-legal marijuana. (Forbes)
A woman in Castle Rock is suing Europtics, a Denver glasses merchant, over allegations that it gave away eclipse glasses that didn't properly protect her eyes. Europtics says it got the glasses from Amazon, as Kirk Mitchell reports. (DP)
Sports & the outdoors:
U.S. cities are gearing up for potential 2026 Olympics bids. The AP reports there's a little interest in Denver. Previously, Denver rejected the 1976 Olympics. (Denverite)
The Broncos did not lose, thanks in large part to C.J. Anderson. Christian reports. (Denverite)
The Rockies won. (AP)
Allen Best outlines the scarily subtle signs that appeared before a woman died of elevation sickness near Aspen. (Independent)
Michael Roberts has an interview with a climber who nearly fell off the same side of Capitol Peak as several other people this year. Even if you know your routes, it's easy to get disoriented and stuck on a dangerous descent, people. (Westword)
Shop talk:
We hired Kendall Smith, former director of The Underground Music Showcase, to be our vice president of sales and events here at Denverite. I'm very excited to see how the next year shapes up here in the office. (Denverite)