Lakewood Informer

Crime, Homeless, Migrants Do you feel like we are losing Lakewood? Have you tried talking to City Council but don't feel heard? Are you concerned about these issues: Crime on the rise A potential, additional, new homeless shelter in a school Recommendations to ease migrant fears Development that IS NOT seamlessly integrated Come discuss the...

Putting someone in jail for a low-level municipal offense is an unsatisfactory answer for people who believe jail is ineffective or harsh. Since jail is often the mandated penalty, Lakewood may take the "compassionate" route and dismiss the case if the alleged offender visits Community Outreach Court. The de facto penalty is then talking to...

Cross-Post By SaveBelmarPark.com (updated to correct "by Save Belmar Park Community Action") Metro Denver apartment rent inflation has outstripped income gains by a higher margin than in any other major city in the U.S. since 2009, according to a study from Clever Real Estate subsidiary Real Estate Witch.   From 2009-2021 rents in the Denver area have...

The development near Belmar Park, on 777 S Yarrow, has brought into focus the "fee in lieu" provision of Lakewood, Colorado's Municipal Code L.M.C. 14.16.010. These fees have not been reviewed, or changed, since 2018, resulting in potential under-compensation to the city. Historically developers have had to provide park land for their residents to use....

Lakewood, Colorado may decide to lessen deportation fears for migrants as part of its affordable housing strategy. The single sentence from the study suggests "proactively addressing fears in the community about public charge and deportation." From Lakewood Strategic Housing Plan, pg 26 (highlight added) Presentation explained that this means lessening deportation fears, so that people...

Correction, Jan 18, 2024: The unnamed, closed Jefferson County school was not proposed as a homeless shelter but as a new location for the Jeffco Action Center which offers hardship services. Increased housing for the homeless would then be available and Lakewood would have a presence in two Action Center buildings. Plans are not final,...

Newly elected Lakewood City Council Member Isabel Cruz says increasing housing supply has led to higher rents and gentrification of her area, Ward 2.  However, Lakewood’s Strategic Housing Plan (SHP) says the opposite will happen in the future, that increasing overall supply will decrease rents, especially in areas of high homeless population such as Ward...

One recommendation from Lakewood’s Strategic Housing Plan (SHP) is to incentivize development with city funds. A variety of costs and methods are discussed. Specific spending decisions have not been made but City Manager Hodgson says staff is ready with a proposal to work with  the Community First Foundation  in a donor-advised fund. Funds could be...

Guest post from Alex Plotkin A recent article by RMPBS calls out the effects of the failed policies of the Colorado local and state politicians, but it incorrectly singles out the cause of the issue.  It’s not just the affordable housing, but a whole slew of factors which have set up some of the Colorado communities...

Guest post from Joan from Lakewood So the progressive Leadership of Lakewood maintained its position after the November 7 election. Congratulations Mayor Strom. But there is a crack in the smooth surface in Lakewood. An unknown politically naive man with no name recognition or political history came in second with 30 percent of the vote. This...