Might as well admit it – I’m addicted to historic preservation. Born in 1940, I grew up in a house in the 1500 block of North Tejon Street. In those days, it was a somewhat shabby middle-class neighborhood. Our neighbors were lawyers and doctors, young families with lots of kids, apartment dwellers, investment advisers, booksellers, […]
One of the attractions of Old Colorado City and the historic Westside is the absence of defined and exclusionary boundaries. We live a few blocks from the historic buildings at the heart of OCC, but according to Wikipedia, we’re definitely in it. “The approximate boundaries are U.S. Highway 24 to the south, 32nd Street to […]
As the first issue of the new Colorado Springs Independent hit the streets, I was reminded of the little rag that debuted on Aug. 8, 1993. It was all of 24 pages — spirited, contrarian, fun, feisty and original. John Weiss, the publisher and co-founder (with Kathryn Eastburn) of the original Independent, figured that there […]
Sunday night in our creaky old house on West Bijou Street began calmly and hopefully, as do most Sunday evenings. The incessant rain had finally stopped, Monday’s weather was forecast to be sunny and mild, and our three young dogs were behaving reasonably well. We sat at the dinner table, opened a bottle of wine […]
Dear granddaughter — We are delighted to hear that you’re taking this next step in your life. I have been mentoring students as a college professor and college president for several decades. Here is some advice that may be helpful: Set high expectations for yourself, yet reward yourself for reasonable achievements. Take what you do […]
What do we most need on the historic Westside? Lots of answers come to mind. We need better road maintenance (especially in alleys and side streets), better snow removal, more street trees to replace those that have been blown down or withered away, better park maintenance, fewer homeless encampments and less through-traffic on two-lane residential […]
Do you like to gamble? Like to take risks? Do you think that one of these days you’ll hit a big jackpot on the slots, on the tables or in a card game? For the first 50 years of my life, I never gambled. I knew that casinos were for suckers and slots were implacable […]
Reading the annual report from downtown Colorado Springs, one thing was abundantly clear: Compared to Old Colorado City and the historic Westside, downtown is the big dog. Under Susan Edmonson’s extraordinary leadership at the Downtown Partnership, our once-scruffy and underperforming city center has become a billion-dollar juggernaut, home to thousands of new apartment dwellings, hundreds […]
We have published Corey Hutchins’ article on the Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal this week because we feel it is the most balanced news and reporting currently available on this important breaking news story. It also gives Corey and our readers an opportunity to connect with each other. He is one of the best […]
Howard Brooks has been the CEO of the Energy Resource Center for the past 15 years. During his tenure, ERC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has grown from one office (in Colorado Springs) and 15 employees to five offices across the state employing 120 people. The work provides free energy-efficiency upgrades, including furnaces, insulation, refrigerators and water […]
Recently, we’ve had weather that would be delightful in April, let alone January and February. It’s a reminder that we’re lucky to live in Colorado, where subzero misery often precedes sunshine and warmth. Alas, it’ll be gone by the weekend — no more sitting on the porch and getting a sunburn. No more long walks […]
The city of Colorado Springs communications department rarely misses a chance to brag about our fair city — so here’s one of the latest updates. “The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recently released a report showcasing the significant economic impact of the parks and recreation system in Colorado. According to the report, Colorado’s parks […]
The Manitou Music Foundation turned 5 years old in September 2023! It’s been a good ride, despite the bumpy road the pandemic created for two of those years. We are engrained into the Manitou Springs and the Old Colorado City communities. MMF is very much a community organization of musicians, music fans, workshop attendees, local […]
Compared to planned neighborhoods like the North End and post-war planned suburbs from Bonnyville to Briargate, Old Colorado City and the historic Westside neighborhoods that surround it are a hot mess. The houses, the streets, the architecture and the landscaping have never been constrained by high-falutin’ planners. Streets abruptly curve, dead end and loop around […]
It’s staggering how much difference a year makes. It’s been almost a year since the Pikes Peak Bulletin was brought under the umbrella of Sixty35 and most of the content was shifted online. In today’s world, it made sense. After all, most news is consumed on some kind of digital device and it seemed to […]
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, our City Council voted unanimously (three times!) to sign contracts on behalf of Manitou’s beloved Carnegie Library. With the hiring of the architect, construction company and owner’s representative, the final pieces are in place for the expansion and ADA-compliance of the Manitou Springs Carnegie Library! It’s a true Christmas miracle! That […]
At this time 12 months ago, everyone involved with Creative Alliance Manitou Springs thought 2023 would bring all kinds of challenges and opportunities. Looking back now over the past 12 months, those expectations were on target. For those who need a primer, the Creative Alliance — or CRANE, as the organization likes to be known […]
Small local newspapers were abundant in 19th and early 20th century Colorado. Every town, however small, boasted its own weekly or semi-weekly. News, gossip, cheerful advertisers and compelling stories kept them afloat. Few survive. Many, including the Colorado City Iris, the Colorado City Argus (1909-1921), the El Paso County Democrat (1906-1921) and the Colorado Springs […]
On a bright and cheerful morning last week, I drove a few blocks from our Westside house to the Old Colorado City History Center at 1 S. 24th St. It’s an all-volunteer organization, so it’s open only 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Over the years, the OCC History Society has published/sponsored several books about […]
The latest gigantic downtown high-rise apartment building scheme debuted a few days ago, and was duly saluted by a front-page headline in our daily newspaper. It’s a fascinating read — both in size, amenities and cost, the 36-story building is a big city project. In effect, the builders are bidding a not-so-fond farewell to what […]
