OPED: Preserve our Federal Center open space
Open Space at DFC Belongs to Taxpayers
Crews work at open space site on Southeast corner of Federal Center (Photo courtesy: C. Jones)
SUBMITTED BY: C. Jones
Tax-paying citizens are the rightful owners of the 62-acre open space located on the southeast corner of the Denver Federal Center (DFC). The United States General Services Administration (GSA) and The City of Lakewood do not own the land. GSA and The City of Lakewood need to be reminded that they work for taxpaying citizens
A democratic government’s mission is to represent its citizens and not act with the corporate self interest of private developers. The Federal Center Master Site Plan identifies land along the southeastern corner of the DFC as potential open space/wild life habitat due in part to numerous citizens making their concerns known for preserving the existing site. Despite strong citizen support for keeping the southeast corner of the DFC as open space, GSA and The City of Lakewood are in the planning stages for developing the last remaining section of open space and wildlife habitat.
GSA stated in the July 8, 2010, Lakewood Hub article “After Sixty-Nine Years The Denver Federal Center Continues to Evolve” that they had received “more than 330 individual comments” and that the “comments covered a wide range of topics from open space, to traffic, to site security”.
However, nowhere in the article does GSA mention saving and preserving the natural habitat. Instead, GSA admits to exterminating hundreds of prairie dogs living in colonies stating “to date, there are no more prairie dog colonies on the campus”. GSA has eliminated the prairie dogs to silence the critics in order to develop the land with little or no opposition.
Not everyone cares for prairie dogs, but many citizens are concerned about open space and retaining natural habitat. The southeast corner of the DFC has remained virtually undisturbed for sixty-nine years. GSA even created a “nature” trail throughout this acreage for hiking and biking in the summer of 2009. With St. Anthony’s Hospital and the Light Rail line construction well under way, contaminated soil has suddenly been discovered in the area, requiring soil cleanup in preparation for undoubtedly more unwanted and unnecessary development.
Even GSA’s own site plan states: “One of the key components of the 20 year redevelopment of the DFC site plan includes preservation and enhancement of natural systems and open spaces”. Clearly, GSA is ignoring this key component of their plan, and instead is focusing on rapid development of virtually the entire DFC. GSA is proving once again that they have no interest listening to or serving citizens.
Tax-paying citizens demand this land be preserved and saved as open space. The beauty of natural habitat must not be compromised and spoiled by development of any type. The peace and tranquility felt while walking through open space cannot be equaled by development in a constantly expanding city. Please help save and preserve this beautiful open space by contacting the people below before it is too late.
Please contact GSA, Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy, and the Lakewood City Council members and let them know that citizens wish to preserve the last remaining parcel of natural habitat located in the southeastern corner of the DFC!
CONTACT LIST:
GSA: Sally Mayberry, Public Affairs Officer, Denver Federal Center 240, DENVER CO 80225-0000; Phone:(303) 236-8000 x2322; Fax: (303) 236-3606; Cell: (303) 941-7637 Blackberry Pin: 30E2ADC6 Email: sally.mayberry@gsa.gov
Bob Murphy: Mayor’s Office: 303-987-7040 bmurphy@lakewood.org
Thank you for this article. The Federal Center master plan also calls for “A stepped-down density pattern from the north to the south of the Federal Center site approaching Alameda Avenue, and from the west to the east approaching Kipling Street, integrating new uses with existing development;” This federal development seems to go against all adopted plans. Does the author know specifically what is planned for the northwest corner of Kipling and Alameda?