Late last week, there were two news stories reporting on important developments for real estate in the Denver area. Given the continued state of the economy and commercial real estate, I was pleased to see these reports. While actual development resulting from these events may be some time off, important ground work is being laid
Urban Renewal Authority Voted Down, But Why
Residents of the northern Douglas County City of Castle Pines North, or Castle Pines as it’s now known, voted on Tuesday to abolish the City’s recently established urban renewal authority. The yes votes on Question 300 outnumbered the no votes by almost 2 to 1. In abolishing the City’s urban renewal authority, residents decided not
Colorado Supreme Court: Liberal Rules for Petitions and Admission of Evidence in Condemnation Cases.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s October 18, 2010 decision in Bly v. Story clarifies two issues with respect to condemnation proceedings in Colorado. Bly involved a private party’s condemnation of an easement for a private way of necessity over a neighbor’s driveway. The court, construing C.R.S. § 38-1-102(1), held that a metes and bounds legal
A Good Time to Pursue Entitlements
Despite today’s economic reality, real estate developers should consider the unique opportunities of pursuing land use entitlements now. While there is expense entailed in pursuing annexation, zoning, subdivision and related approvals, many jurisdictions are experiencing a significant drop in tax and fee revenues due to reduced development activity. Accordingly, developers who are able to pursue
Amendment 61 Will Have Serious Impact on Real Estate Development
If Colorado voters approve Amendment 61 in November, it is likely to eliminate the primary tool used by real estate developers to finance the installation of infrastructure in new developments.
Amendment 61, together with its sister initiatives, Amendment 60 and Proposition 101, has recieved a lot of attention here in Colorado as we approach the November election. While many believe that