We need YOUR help!
Please help us urge City Council / Lakewood Reinvestment Authority to support for our building renovation.
We are asking our community of supporters to send emails and letters before the August 9th to City Council in support of our building renovation. We need overwhelming support! (See key points below and a letter template, too.)
Email your letter to: CityCouncilMembers@Lakewood.org and copy us at info@40WestArts.org.
OR share your letter at: https://lakewoodspeaks.org/items/106
This project will help support a historically underserved community by facilitating a “forever home” for Lakewood’s state-certified creative district.
WHAT IT WILL DO
It will eliminate blight and allow for the adaptive reuse of a meaningful building (the old Drumstick Restaurant Building).
WHY IT MATTERS
It is an opportunity for the group of affiliated nonprofits serving the Lakewood West Colfax community to achieve a dream of controlling real estate in the district as part of its long-term sustainability to serve this diverse, traditionally underserved community.
Key Points & Sample Letters
Thank you in advance for your support! Below, we have provided a list of key points for consideration in your letter or public comment. (The images below are concepts assembled for planning purposes and represent possibilities for the building.)
Once fully activated (approx. 9-10 months for renovation), this building will enable expanded programming for youth and seniors and provide affordable facility to better serve the community by providing:
Free Arts Experiences
Youth & Senior Art Classes
Space for Nonprofit Coop Galleries, including Lakewood’s oldest art organization, Lakewood Art Council
Group art activities for the whole family
Free meeting space for local nonprofits and civic groups
Affordable space for meetings, classes, and pop-up events, and overall providing a community hub to help provide facilities for community-service organizations and local neighborhood associations.
Affordable retail space for creatives, allowing them to stay in Lakewood
Incubation space for new creatives enterprises, supporting start-ups that will add to Lakewood’s future economy
The activation of this building support local small business and will contribute to sales tax generation for the city.
The local business improvement district (the BID) led the acquisition of the building on behalf of 40 West Arts. The BID has already closed on the building and has committed to service the debt on the loan, and 40 West Arts, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, has committed to raising the funds needed for the building improvements. Together, they have raised nearly $500,000 for improvement to date. The support by the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority is critical!
Please support this effort to improve the quality of life in the West Colfax corridor. The purchase and improvement of the property at 6501 W. Colfax will manifest a dream for the West Colfax creative community. It will activate a long-dormant building, improve the image and appearance of the area, create a new, inviting creative destination, and generate ongoing revenue for the district.
This a good use of LRA funding. We urge you to support this and approve this funding that will accelerate the renovation of the building, support local creatives, help drive patronage to local businesses, and provide Lakewood residents with a unique creative experience. Thank you for your consideration.