Tag Archives: renovation

Boulder News: Arapahoe Ridge ‘Rock’ Park Renovation

News and Insights, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A renovation effort put forth by the Parks and Recreation Department began on May 1st of this year ‘Rock’ Park in Arapahoe Ridge.  The aim of this renovation is to improve the park as a whole by installing new infrastructure and upgrading playground equipment to meet current standards.  The project has just begun, but is scheduled to be completed by the fall of this year.

The first step in this renovation project is the removal and pruning of trees in the park and by public streets.  By removing any potential obstructions beforehand, the installation of new infrastructure is expected to go much smoother.  This also keeps the park from being closed at a later date, and is most cost effective.

Along with pruning for tree health, one notable tree in Arapahoe Ridge will be removed.  An Ash tree has become infested with Emerald Ash Borer, and will be removed to keep the infestation from spreading.

The park itself is not going to be closed off to the public during the renovation period, however.  The city has stated that they will make an effort to keep their impact low, although the public should be aware that some amenities may not be available during certain periods of the renovation.

The local community was integral in the planning phase of this renovation, with feedback on the rock structure itself being very strong.  With that in mind, the Parks Department moved forward with a plan that would have the least impact on the structure as possible.  The plan states that they will install a support to ensure the main cave area remain structurally sound over time, install a rubber surface to replace the pea gravel, and secure the boulders on the main structure through re-grouting.

Once complete, ‘Rock’ Park will be home to a brand new playground meant to highlight the rock structure the park is known for.  The Parks Department is also planning on hosting a celebration event for the completion of the project when that time arrives.  Further updates on the project can be found on the Arapahoe Ridge Park page on the city’s website.

Denver News: Home Renovation soar in Denver

News and Insights, , , , , , , , , ,

2017-02_CONews

In 2014 and 2015, almost seven out of ten Denver homeowners made a home renovation.  That figure put Denver at the number one spot out of 25 cities for home improvements. Over the two years since then, that amount maintained its position  at 69.3 percent according to the American Housing Survey.  It is thought that the cause is rising home prices providing  more equity to homeowners to use on renovations.

The study relates this renovation increase to  job and population growth.  “Both Colorado and Utah have been attracting capital in the technology segment and rapidly adding tech workers.  People tend to do more home improvement projects when they move,” said the spokeswoman for the Home Improvement Research Institute Pam Heidel.

A difficult market could be another cause.   Homeowners may be opting to improve their homes instead of finding a new home which may not be as easy as it was previously.  Also, Denver’s shortage of appraisers could still be a continuing factor.  At the same time, low interest rates would make borrowing  less expensive.

In addition, a study by Lawnstarter suggests Denver homeowners are very satisfied with their dwellings.  They place Denver homeowners as the third happiest in the country.  The only two cities ranking higher being San Francisco and Los Angeles.  This high level of happiness could be a direct result of the increased renovations.

The amount of home renovations Denver is seeing is even pushing estimates for spending on home improvements in the west.  2017 is expected to grow 6% in the mountain region, with Colorado being the driving force.  The other top cities for home improvement include Portland, Phoenix, Kansas City, and Detroit.