Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Bank of Colorado, a family-owned community bank that has served Colorado communities since 1978. With 45 locations statewide, it’s committed to helping individuals, families and businesses thrive. Learn more.
Leading today: Boulder’s NAACP may be on the path back. Nearly a year after the local chapter effectively dissolved amid a bitter dispute with the national organization, about 90 residents gathered Friday to explore reviving it. The meeting revealed strong community support for restoring the chapter, but a state NAACP leader said key questions remain unresolved pending guidance from the national organization as a federal lawsuit against former branch leaders continues. Brooke Stephenson reports.
If you’re not yet subscribed to Culture Club and Nibbles, you’re missing two great ways to stay connected to Boulder. Last week, McKenzie Watson-Fore explored why a downtown Boulder arts experiment came to an end while rounding up more than 40 things to do. John Lehndorff took readers inside Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg’s new restaurant, Morso, and shared the latest food and dining news. Click here to subscribe to Culture Club or here for Nibbles, and stay connected to Boulder‘s news, food and culture.
In BRL Opinion: A local perspective on a national ruling. Boulder County resident and retired constitutional law professor Stuart Lord explains why the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship decision reaffirmed the purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- Heat advisory: Mid-90s expected through Wednesday.
- Airport fuel: Boulder celebrates first unleaded aviation fuel fill-up.
- Hotel proposal: Busy downtown lot could be redeveloped.
- Nonprofit grants: $3 million in city grants available for nonprofits.
- Road redesign: New South Boulder Road designs to be unveiled.
- Safer landscape: Wonderland Lake project targets flammable junipers.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Bank of Colorado is a family-owned, community-focused bank that has been serving the needs of Coloradans since 1978. Throughout our 45 locations across the state, our values of honesty, integrity and clarity guide our every decision. We’re deeply rooted in Colorado’s history and fully invested in its future. Strong, Stable & Local Community Banking – reach out today to experience the best service in banking 303-476-7282.
Boulder residents weigh reviving the Boulder County NAACP after a year of turmoil
About 90 people gathered to explore rebuilding the Boulder NAACP, but state leaders said key legal and organizational questions must be resolved before the chapter can return. Continue reading…
ICYMI: Boulder experiment in affordable downtown art space comes to an end
A Pearl Street storefront became an informal test of whether below-market rents could help artists while filling vacant commercial space. Then a market-rate tenant arrived. Continue reading…
Boulder heads into a scorching stretch
Another stretch of intense summer heat is on tap for Boulder, with highs in the mid-90s through Wednesday. Monday’s high is expected to reach 96 degrees, followed by 95 on Tuesday and 94 on Wednesday. Overnight lows will remain in the mid-60s, offering little relief.
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Boulder County below 6,000 feet from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, warning that hot temperatures could increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. Boulder County Public Health urges residents to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, spend time in air-conditioned spaces if possible and check on neighbors, friends and family members who may be more vulnerable to the heat.
Boulder Airport celebrates launch of unleaded aviation fuel
Aviation enthusiasts, local officials and community members gathered Friday at Boulder Municipal Airport to celebrate the arrival of unleaded aviation fuel, marking another step in the airport’s transition away from leaded gasoline.
Boulder is the third airport in Colorado to offer UL94, an unleaded aviation fuel compatible with an estimated 70% of piston-engine aircraft. City officials hope the new fuel will reduce airborne lead emissions while encouraging a broader transition as more aircraft become compatible with unleaded alternatives.
UL94 can be used by an estimated 70% of piston-engine aircraft. At Boulder Municipal Airport, that includes about 100 fixed-wing aircraft. Of the 187 aircraft based at the airport, many remain unable to use the fuel until newer formulations become available. The fuel is stored in a leased skid-mounted tank that provides full-service fueling and is available to both Boulder-based pilots and visiting aircraft.
A state grant is subsidizing the cost of UL94 so it matches the price of leaded aviation fuel, encouraging pilots to make the switch. Boulder Airport is also offering rent credits for aircraft certified to use unleaded fuel. Read more on BRL.
City moves ahead with plan to replace downtown parking lot with hotel
The City of Boulder has reached a tentative agreement with Midnight Auteur LLC to redevelop the surface parking lot at 2121 Broadway downtown.
The proposal includes a high-end 110-room hotel, ground-floor commercial space offered below market rates to certain local businesses and public gathering areas. The project is intended to support tourism and economic development while expanding hotel capacity ahead of the Sundance Film Festival and other major events.
The lot is the city’s busiest surface parking lot, but a parking analysis found nearby garages could absorb the displaced parking. City staff have also said existing garage capacity remains underused.
The Downtown Management Commission will review the sale agreement July 14 before it goes to the city council for final approval in August.
Application window reopens for community resilience tax grants
The City of Boulder has reopened applications for nonprofits seeking capital project funding through the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Tax grant program, giving organizations additional time to submit or revise proposals. Applications are due by 5 p.m. July 22 through the Foundant Grant Management System.
The city expects to award $2 million to $3 million for projects that help nonprofits improve or expand facilities serving Boulder residents. The funding comes from the city’s 0.3% Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety sales tax, which voters extended indefinitely in 2025.
County to unveil plans for South Boulder Road improvements
Boulder County Public Works will host a virtual public meeting Thursday, July 16, from 7 to 8 p.m. to share preliminary designs for improvements to South Boulder Road between Manhattan Drive and Cherryvale Road. Attendees must register in advance to receive the meeting link.
The proposed project includes a roundabout, underpass improvements, a pedestrian-activated crosswalk and replacement of the road’s aging concrete. The work will be funded by the county’s Transportation Sales Tax.
Wildfire resilience landscaping project coming to Wonderland Lake
A wildfire resilience landscaping project will begin this fall at Wonderland Lake, where the City of Boulder will replace highly combustible junipers in five areas along the access path south of Orion Court.
The Juniper Removal and Replacement Pilot Project will replace the shrubs with native trees, shrubs and flowering plants that are less flammable, require less water and provide better habitat for local wildlife.
Commentaries are opinion pieces from community members and newsmakers. They reflect the views of the authors, not BRL. Want to submit one? Here’s how.
Stuart C. Lord: What birthright citizenship was always meant to protect
The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling reaffirmed why the Fourteenth Amendment was written in the first place. Continue reading…
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