Posts tagged library
Boulder County to celebrate opening of Josephine Commons, named for a mine owner AND a human rights activist
Oct 11th
Boulder County, Colo. – Just one year after its groundbreaking, project managers, elected officials, and residents will gather on Thursday, Oct. 18 to celebrate the grand opening of Josephine Commons, one of Boulder County’s largest affordable housing developments.
The grand opening celebration will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Josephine Commons, 455 N. Burlington Ave. in Lafayette. Congressman Jared Polis and the Boulder County Commissioners will be among those who will speak. There will be tours of the buildings and property, and the public is invited to attend.
Planning, construction, and operations of Josephine Commons are being overseen by the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), a division of the county’s Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS). The county received a Certificate of Occupancy in late August for Phase I of the project, and had leased all of the apartments within five days. “The very quick lease-up is certainly a testament to the need for low-income housing in Boulder County,” said Frank Alexander, who is director of both the BCHA and BCDHHS. “It’s heartening to know that this project is helping boost the self-sufficiency and dignity of so many of our seniors.”
Phase I of Josephine Commons features 74 units on 3.4 acres of county-owned land in east Lafayette. This includes 70 apartment-style units in a mid-rise building. The 78,000-square-foot three-story main building also features a library, great room and large commercial kitchen. The project’s Phase II, Aspinwall at Josephine Commons, will feature 72 additional townhomes and duplex units for low-income seniors and families, and will break ground in mid-2013.
Funding for the $17.9 million Phase I of Josephine Commons has come largely from private investors through Low Income Housing Tax Credits arranged by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Significant support also came from Boulder County taxpayers through $400,000 in Worthy Cause funding. And $550,000 in Colorado Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds were provided by the Colorado Division of Housing. Other business support included a $12 million construction loan from Citibank.
Josephine Commons is named afterone-time owner of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, which once ran a coal mine where the development now sits. In the early 1930s, Roche stood out as a champion of workers’ rights, instituting the highest wages in the mining industry, fighting against child labor, and inviting unionization of her mines.
Also significant is the fact that the retired coal mines were used as renewable energy for Josephine Commons. Geothermal wells were drilled to depths of 400 feet, passing through the old mine shafts. Pipes were then installed to feed the heating and cooling systems, a process that greatly reduces the energy required for temperature control in the buildings. The project also features more than 100 kilowatts of rooftop and carport solar panel electricity generation.
Six puppies test positive for Parvovirus in Boulder
Aug 1st
The Boulder Police Department’s Animal Control Unit is notifying dog owners about potential Parvovirus (also called Parvo) among some dogs in the city.
At least six puppies have tested positive for the virus, and one has died. The others are undergoing veterinary treatment. The infected dogs were in the area of 9th and Canyon, near the library and municipal building.
Boulder’s Animal Control Unit says vaccinated dogs are at a very low risk of contracting the disease. If your dog is not current on vaccinations, there is a higher risk of exposure. Talk to your veterinarian if you have concerns or questions about whether your pet is current on shots.
Parvovirus is a serious viral disease. It is extremely contagious and the risk of exposure is a year-round issue. Parvo is most often an intestinal disease, but the virus can also infect the heart muscles. Sometimes an infected dog doesn’t show any symptoms of the virus, although it generally presents itself quickly (sometimes as soon as 12 hours) after a dog has been exposed.
Signs of intestinal Parvo include:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea (usually bloody and foul-smelling
- Fever
- Intussusception– this is when a section of the animal’s intestinal tract telescopes into itself. This is an emergency which requires immediate veterinary attention.
There is no cure for Parvovirus. Veterinarians can give fluids orally if the infection is mild, or subcutaneously (under the skin) if dehydration is more extreme. Anti-vomiting medications, antibiotics and blood/plasma transfusions are also used in treatment.
Parvo is spread by dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces. People can carry the virus on their hands and clothes if they pet an infected dog or touch the leash or collar of an infected dog. The virus can also be carried on the bottoms of shoes if a person steps on feces or contaminated dirt, and can be transmitted from shoes to homes, workplaces and other areas.
The virus can remain “live” for up to seven months, so it’s important to properly disinfect areas which may have been exposed to the virus. Household bleach is the best disinfectant for surfaces like countertops and floors, or the bottoms of shoes. The dilution formula is one part bleach to 30 parts water. (Be careful with fabrics). Never, ever use the bleach solution on an animal. For people who are sensitive to the smell of bleach, there are commercially-available Parvovirus disinfectants which don’t smell as strong.
The best way to prevent your dog from becoming infected with Parvovirus is to vaccinate against the disease. Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions or need recommendations for your pet.
CIP bonds building a head of steam
Jul 28th
Just six months into the implementation of the Capital Improvement Bond, three projects have already been completed and 13 more are currently under construction. The community projects are funded by the voter-approved bond, a citywide initiative to address significant deficiencies and high priority infrastructure improvements throughout Boulder.
The city first completed a missing sidewalk link on Gillaspie Drive, along the border of Harlow Platts Park, between Greenbriar Boulevard and Juilliard Street. Next, a new pedestrian crossing was installed at the intersection of Canyon Boulevard and 21st Street. In addition, all of the city’s traffic signalincandescent lamps have been replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.
“Replacing all of the city’s traffic signals with LEDs is a significant improvement that will make our transportation system more energy efficient and will require less frequent maintenance,” said Director of Public Works for Transportation Tracy Winfree. “Each of the LED lamps will use approximately 80 percent less energy, which will save the city thousands of dollars per year.”
During the next three years, the city will continue to utilize Capital Improvement Bond funds to implement 89 individual projects throughout the community. The projects include roadway reconstruction, park facility upgrades, critical software updates, police equipment needs and a renovation of the Main Boulder Public Library.
The 89 individual projects are grouped into 26 categories and three status types. Three projects have been completed, 13 are under construction, and 73 are in the planning and design phase. Since 85 percent of the bond money must be spent within three years, the city will provide the community with continuous project updates and regular reports on progress toward overall completion.
Other construction project updates include:
- Police equipment replacements are underway, including the assembly of a bomb robot.
- Park shelter replacements and improvements are ongoing at Valmont Park, Palo East Park and Valmont Dog Park.
- Substandard traffic signs are being replaced throughout the city.
- A new multi-use path connection is being constructed on Baseline Road from the Bear Creek Path to U.S. 36.
- Renovations and replacements of existing Parks and Recreation facilities are in progress at Canyon Park, Columbine Park and Palo East Park.
- The South Boulder Recreation Center gym floor and racquetball courts have been replaced and are now being upgraded to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements.
- Deteriorating road pavements are being reconstructed and repaired throughout the city.
- The Columbia Cemetery is being upgraded and enhanced, including irrigation system improvements, new fencing and headstone repairs.
- A new sidewalk is being built on the east side of Folsom Street from Arapahoe Avenue to 200 feet south of Arapahoe Avenue.
“The Capital Improvement Bond is allowing the city to make some significant investments in the community,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “These investments help to maintain our valuable existing assets and will improve our quality of life in Boulder.”
Keep an eye out for projects around town!
Capital Improvement Bond signs are posted on site as construction begins so that the community can identify the projects that are funded by the bond. The community can also track the progress of the bond implementation online at www.bouldercolorado.gov/bondprojects.
Boulder’s Capital Improvement Bond
In the November 2011 election, Boulder voters approved a ballot measure that allowed the city to leverage existing revenues to bond for up to $49 million to fund projects that address significant deficiencies and high priority infrastructure improvements. Because the bond was paid for using existing revenues, the measure did not raise taxes.
The bond sale was completed on March 22, 2012. The $49 million bond has a 20-year payback and 85 percent of the total is required be spent by March 22, 2015. As of July 2012, 10 percent of the total funding towards the 85 percent goal has been spent.
For the latest information on construction traffic impacts associated with the bond projects, visit www.boulderconezones.net.
Capital Improvement Bond video series
The website hosts an online video series that highlights what the community can expect to see during the next few years as a result of the Capital Improvement Bond. Each video focuses on different types of investments that the bond will allow the city to make, including transportation, parks, parking, library and downtown. Watch the Capital Improvement Bond videos.