Westwood's D3 Arts, a non-profit promoting community health through arts and culture, received a cease and desist order from the Denver Fire Department for improper zoning.
Now, in order to be listed in city records as a Place of Assembly and secure a permit to operate as an event space, the organization is asking the community to help raise $18,000 to primarily help pay for a commercially licensed fire alarm system.
"We are asking for your help to get our space up to code so we can continue to serve the community as an official event space for the months and years to come," a statement on the GoFundMe. It has raised a little more than $8500 from 181 donations as of Thursday afternoon.
Executive director and co-founder Santiago Jaramillo said the incident is a blessing in disguise for the non-profit.
"We are still growing so we are always learning what stuff we need," Jaramillo said. "It's been a blessing in disguise because now we can get up to code."
With the help of Councilwoman Jamie Torres and the support of the Denver Fire Department, D3 has managed to secure an event permit for shows hosted in the space for the next year until it obtains a permanent new zoning license in order to remain compliant with the city of Denver.
The building on Morrison road is currently listed with the city as a Repair Garage, something that Jaramillo admits he did not know prior to the order.
"It is important to have a safe, sober space to play a show," Jaramillo said. "The fire department has been amazing in helping us get to code. We one hundred percent want it to be accessible to anyone in this community."
Funds will be used to cover costs for the estimated $15,000 alarm system and the additional $3000 for a handicap accessible bathroom, additional doors, locks and an upgraded sound system.
As a regular contributor of Westwood community events such as Pozole Fest and Festival de Mole and Frida Kahlo celebration, D3 Arts has become a crucial partner in Westwood's efforts to preserve culture and diversity in the face of gentrification.
The organization offers programs and services that facilitate recovery for those in need. Among other community events, it regularly hosts 12-step program meetings and displays art representative of the Morrison Road creative district. It has also served as a DIY space for the music community, hosting punk rock concerts in the space for local artists, becoming a safe haven for the punk rock scene in Westwood.
"It has helped reinforce why we do this," Jaramillo said, noting the donor turnout the non-profit has seen in recent days.
