Hi. I read too much news, but at least you're here to share it with me. Here we go, from lots of development updates to the rise of immersive theater.
Development:
Erica has the breakdown of Denver's emerging plan for affordable housing, from land purchases to rental assistance. Read it and respond, because none of this is set in stone. (Denverite)
Remember those 40-story condo towers that were proposed for downtown? The developer who unveiled the plans has dropped out, but investors say the plan for "Paradise Living" is pushing ahead, as Amy DiPierro reports. (BusinessDen)
Eight acres of RiNo across the street from Industry just sold for $38 million. Hell of a profit, as Aaron Kremer reports. (BusinessDen)
Here's a lovely story by Gregory Daurer about the history of Sakura Square and Japantown, as well as the plan to raze and redevelop it. (Confluence)
Megan gathered a few interesting stats on Montbello, which may be protected to an extent from gentrification by homeownership. (Denverite)
Transportation:
RTD has once again told the feds that it has fixed problems on the A and B lines. The agency says the G Line will definitely be running in 2018, as Jamie Leary reports. I sit in traffic and daydream about that train just about every day. (CBS)
RTD says it needs $2 billion to finish the four unbuilt projects in the FasTracks program. Boulder, for one, is still waiting. (DP)
New technology will automatically vary the speed limit on Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon between 30 mph and 60 mph, depending on conditions. (Post-Independent)
ICYMI: I wrote about the freeway plan that would have blown up Lower Downtown. (Denverite)
Politics:
The state GOP votes this weekend on a big question: Will they allow up to 1.2 million unaffiliated voters into their primary, or will they only let the party hardcore choose candidates? Chairman Jeff Hays expects and hopes that the party will keep its primary open to the unaffiliated. (CPR)
TABOR places strict limitations on Colorado's tax spending. Lawmakers have gotten around that by instituting "fees" instead of "taxes." Brian Eason expertly profiles the looming legal battles over that strategy. (DP)
Immigration:
Chris Walker has a big story based on a pile of records he got from ICE. He found that ICE protocol only encourages agents to make courthouse arrests for specific, serious cases, but agents still seem to be picking up alleged unauthorized immigrants on misdemeanors near Denver courtrooms. Denver officials and advocates say this is scaring immigrant communities away from the justice system. (Westword)
Culture:
Daliah Singer reviews the "immersive" theater style, which is becoming popular in Denver. (5280)
An exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls -- yes, the actual scrolls -- is coming to Denver. (Denverite)
Drugs:
A company in Aurora just started shipping medical cannabis to Germany, which is the first country to pay for medical weed through its national health system. It obviously could be a huge new market. (Marijuana Business Daily)
I take you inside the legal deliberations over Denver's largest annual 4/20 celebration, which were a little surreal but didn't feature enough weed puns for my liking. (Denverite)
Las Vegas is considering legalizing weed use at businesses, but they're going to let Denver go first. (Denverite)
Sporting:
The Rockies lost, and it's putting their playoffs possibility in danger. (Denverite)
