Three preschoolers gathered to plant flowers in a demonstration garden at the future site of Feed  Denver

Councilwoman Carla Madison, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Michele Wheeler, President of the Northeast Park Hill Coalition and Aaron Miropol, President of Urban Land Conservancy, plant flowers at site of New Holly Shopping Center

May 20, 2009:  It was a perfect spring day in Denver - warm and sunny.  Three preschoolers gathered to plant flowers in a demonstration garden at the future site of Feed Denver, an urban farm and market, while dozens of neighbors, community leaders, and government officials assembled to discuss a bright new vision for the corner of 33rd and Holly in Northeast Park Hill.

May 20, 2008 offered a vastly contrasting scene at that very same corner.  On that day the smell of smoke permeated throughout the Park Hill community and the residue of what was the Holly Square Shopping Center, just two days prior, lay mangled in a pile of ashes--gang activity suspected for the center's demise and for the overall malaise overtaking the entire neighborhood.  Hope seemed lost for many residents later that year when the suspicions were confirmed.  Nine area gang members where indicted for burning down the shopping center, known to its Park Hill neighbors as "the Holly."

Those gathered at the Holly this May had come to hope again.  Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), a nonprofit supporting organization to The Denver Foundation which uses real estate as a tool to benefit urban communities, purchased the Holly on April 8th.  ULC President Aaron Miripol had called the community together along with Mayor John Hickenlooper; Councilwoman Carla Madison; Michele Wheeler, President of the Northeast Park Hill Coalition; and Terrance Roberts, Executive Director of Prodigal Son Initiative.  Together, these community leaders announced the purchase and thanked the 450 residents, led by Marge Gilbert, who signed a petition blocking the development of a liquor store originally planned across from the site.

In his address to the crowd, Mayor Hickenlooper likened the Holly to a phoenix rising form the ashes and encouraged the community to come together after what had been a very difficult event and "Think Big" about future developments for the site.  He stated that the City's Office for Economic Development (OED) offered $200,000 in funding for the project - a $100,000 grant from Community Development Block Grant that is restricted for use in blighted areas as well as a $100,000 loan from OED's Business Improvement Fund.  ULC is funding $550,000 of the cost of the project.  "With the confidence in a vision set forth by the community, the character of the site will be transformed bringing new uses which build on existing community assets such as the Public Library, the Hope Center, and Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center," the Mayor states.  He also expressed hope for the addition of an educational structure.

Councilwoman Carla Madison recalled the day, one year prior, when she received a phone call informing her that the Holly was ablaze.  "I felt a great deal of distress that day," the Councilwoman stated.  "But in retrospect, it may have been the best thing that could have happened to this community."  Madison says that she puts full faith in ULC and that whenever she has a question about real estate development, they are who she calls.

For many residents, the Holly provided a backdrop for fond memories during their younger years.  Terrance Roberts of Prodigal Son likened losing the Holly to losing a good friend.  He encouraged stakeholders to restore it and the Park Hill Community to its former state of elegance - one that birthed such stars as Chauncey Billups, Pam Grier, and Phillip Bailey.

The community will be encouraged to offer input into the plans for the new development.  A stakeholder group is being assembled in partnership with the community and neighboring property owners and will be facilitated by The Denver Foundation's Strengthening Neighborhoods Program.  For more information about the process, please contact Patrick Horvath, Manager of Strengthening Neighborhoods at 303-300-1790.