This week, the City and County of Denver revoked a short-term rental license for the first time, after a hearing before the Department of Excise and Licenses revolving around whether the host actually did meet the “primary residence” requirement.  This action comes just before the new rules for short-term rentals, covered in an earlier blog post, take effect on April 10.  Among other things, those rules give Denver broader rights to revoke or deny short-term rental licenses for “good cause.”

With the 72nd General Assembly in full swing at the state capitol, we’ve selected ten bills (out of 261 proposed, as of January 27) that may be of interest to property owners and real estate developers.  They run the gamut from landlord-tenant law to campaign finance, special districts, and reform to the state’s conservation easement program. Continue Reading 2019 Colorado Legislative Update

Update: Since the drafting of this post, the below rules were approved and adopted. The final rules will take effect on April 10, 2019.

Homeowners operating short-term housing rentals in Denver will soon have a few more boxes to check prior to renting out their homes on popular hosting platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.

While operators of short-term rentals are already required to be licensed by the City and County of Denver, new rules regarding the operation of short-term rentals in Denver are expected to be enacted next month, according to the Department of Excise and Licenses. Continue Reading New Rules Expected in February Impacting Denver Short-Term Rentals

Law is what we do and a part of who we are, but our lives are fully immersed in the people, places and perspectives that create Denver’s identity.  Deeply entwined with our legal practice is our love of place.  This is our opportunity to share our personal insights.

An impressive number of Denver’s best restaurants are located in the Highlands area, attracting diners from across the Denver metropolitan area and beyond.  Although there is always a new restaurant to try, there are others that lure you back, time and time again.  Here are five of my favorite Highlands restaurants (in no particular order)

  1. El Chingon

El Chingon is a trendy, yet intimate restaurant located in a converted house on Tennyson Street, serving modern Mexican dishes with bold flavors and fresh ingredients.  There is always a fresh ceviche on offer as a starter, along with crowd-pleasing dishes like the enchiladas verdes and chiles rellenos.  Not to be confused with Troy Guard’s Los Chingones, El Chingon is run by executive chef David Lopez and his grandmother, Gloria Nuñez, and is owned by Lopez’ uncle Lorenzo Nuñez, making it a full family affair in the culturally rich Berkeley neighborhood.

  1. Wolf’s Tailor

Located on Tejon Street, perhaps the quietest commercial strip in north Denver, Wolf’s Tailor brings an unexpected energy to the Sunnyside neighborhood.  The main entrance is around the back, through the welcoming outdoor patio, and you walk past the fiery open kitchen in order to enter into a striking, minimalist dining room.  Chef Kelly Whitaker weaves together Italian and Japanese cooking techniques in innovative ways (without treading into the “fusion” category), establishing Wolf’s Tailor as both a neighborhood spot and a foodie destination.  The menu is ever-changing and optimal for sharing, creating an amalgamation of delicate crudos, binchotan-grilled skewers, house-made pastas, and family-style protein dishes.  Best suited for open-minded diners, Wolf’s Tailor offers an adventurous dining experience that is filled with culinary surprises.

  1. Sushi Ronin

For a landlocked city, Denver has a surprising number of great sushi restaurants.  Sushi Ronin further differentiates itself with melt-in-your-mouth fish and a curated list of sushi rolls, mingled with a standard soundtrack of old-school hip hop and laidback atmosphere.  One of the servers attributes the high-quality sushi to Chef Corey Baker’s innate ability to select the freshest fish.  Sushi Ronin always offers a cool and delicious night out in LoHi.  For my money, Sushi Ronin is the best sushi that the Mile High has to offer.

  1. El Five

A sultry penthouse with panoramic views of downtown Denver and Instagram-worthy interiors, El Five could thrive simply on its looks.  However, the Mediterranean-style cuisine and delightful cocktails soar at similar heights.  Come with a group to indulge in shareable cocktail pitchers, paella, and a dozen or more tapas.  As the sister restaurant to Highlands favorites Linger and Root Down, El Five will certainly be a mainstay of the Highlands restaurant scene as well.

  1. Spuntino

Spuntino’s modest façade near the corner of 32nd and Clay could lead you to assume it is just another standard Italian eatery in a historically Italian neighborhood.  However, the unassuming little restaurant consistently exceeds expectations.  The creative Italian dishes, using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, are executed to perfection.  The friendly staff, extensive wine list, irresistible desserts, and inviting atmosphere provide for a perfect date night in West Highland.

Denver’s ban on source-of-income discrimination took effect on January 1, 2019.

The ordinance, which the Denver City Council approved back in August, prohibits a wide range of conduct in real estate transactions “based upon … source of income.”  Protected sources of income under the ordinance include government housing assistance, Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, student loans, legal settlements, and court-ordered child support and alimony payments.  The income source must be both “lawful” and “verifiable” to be eligible for protection.  The new law applies to landlords, real estate agents, property managers, and mortgage lenders.  Property owners who rent a single unit are specifically exempt. Continue Reading Denver Bans Source-of-Income Discrimination in Real Estate Transactions Beginning January 1