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| |  | What’s happening to Lake Huston? (Bree Davies / City Cast Denver) |
| Is Huston Lake Drying Up For Good? | Huston Lake, which is located in Athmar Park just a few blocks east of Federal Boulevard, is almost completely dried up. At a time when the normally lush, beloved community landmark should be full and vibrant, it’s little more than a puddle, and drought conditions have neighbors fearing for the lake’s future. So what gives? | | We asked Denver Parks and Rec: A spokesperson for the department told us there are several factors at play 👇 | - Salisbury Lateral: The lake’s main supplemental water source, the Salisbury Lateral canal in Jefferson County, was shut down early last year due to a leak, so Huston Lake went into the winter season with an already unusually low water level.
- A historically dry, warm winter: Colorado’s uncharacteristic lack of snow and moisture in recent months has left Huston Lake — and many other lakes and reservoirs — woefully unreplenished.
- Sediment build-up: As a storm water-fed lake, Huston has naturally accumulated significant sediment build-up over the years, making it a rather shallow body of water as is, at only 4 feet deep when full most recently.
| | What’s being done? Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is currently working to repair the Salisbury Lateral leak, anticipating a mid-May completion, upon which the lake will begin to refill. | - In the meantime: The normally green shore is desperately dry, and what fish remain in the lake are dying. Parks and Rec officials say they are committed to avoiding fish kill and will “continue monitoring” the situation, while removing any dead fish that appear. They also note the majority of the fish that inhabit Lake Huston are an invasive carp species not good for water quality.
- A similar story: Sloan’s Lake in North Denver has been battling low water levels, toxic algae, and mass fish kill for years. In fact, Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, who represents the district that covers Athmar Park, says Huston Lake is far from alone in its troubles:
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| What Denver's Talking About |
|  | The historic Peabody-Whitehead Mansion at 1128 N. Grant St. is purportedly one of Denver’s most haunted landmarks. (Google Street View) |
| 👻 Would You Live in a Haunted Apartment? | One of the “most haunted” buildings in Colorado is seeking residents to sign a lease … if they dare! The Peabody-Whitehead Mansion in Capitol Hill underwent a $3 million renovation over 13 years, and is looking for tenants for the eight luxury apartments that now make up the historic house. [Westword] | - Inside: The remodel leaned into the haunted past of the building, with vignettes of creepy dolls and a collection of prosthetic limbs (an ode to the first owner of the mansion, a doctor who amputated countless appendages).
- The scariest part? These 800 to 1,300 square foot apartments are renting for $3,200 to $3,800 a month, not including utilities.
| | 📣 Sheridan Teachers Strike Still Going Strong | A negotiation session between union representatives and the Sheridan School District superintendent ended in a stalemate last weekend, but the teachers on strike aren’t budging. Though most schools in the district reopened this week, striking staff and faculty are prepared to hold the picket line as long as it takes for the district to take them seriously, union leaders said. [CPR] | - What are the teachers asking for? The union is asking the district to reinstate the local teachers union’s collective bargaining agreement and to recognize “education support professionals,” such as bus drivers and janitors, as part of the union.
- Meanwhile: The district appears to be upping the incentive to get substitute teachers in the door. [CBS]
| | 🏢 Setback for Another Residential Conversion Project | The Denver Downtown Development Authority recently declined a local developer’s $29 million request to help fund the conversion of the16-story tower at 465 17th St. into residences. Separately, a $17 million residential conversion project at the Symes Building (820 16th St.) also fell apart after the property was foreclosed on in February. [Denver Business Journal 🔒] | - What’s the reality? We sat down with an urban planner to get the scoop on how — or if — office-to-residential conversions could really come to fruition in Denver. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
| | 💸 Denver Sheriff Deputies Get Some $$$ | Denver sheriff deputies will get a 4% pay increase, including backpay starting from the beginning of this year, after Denver City Council approved a long-awaited union contract for the deputies this week. The sheriff deputies are receiving a smaller raise than Denver Police and firefighters, which both received 5% for 2026. [Denverite] | | 👽 Why Denver Makes Such a Good Setting For Sci-Fi | Season two of Hulu’s dystopian thriller “Paradise” dropped recently, and Denver has a starring role. So, what makes the Mile High City — and our airport — such a prime setting for sci-fi books, TV shows, and movies? We dig into the history of Colorado as a location for apocalyptic futurist scenarios, and what it says about our identity as a place. [City Cast Denver 🎧] | | | |
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| | We’re back with more recommendations from City Cast Denver Neighbors about their fave local people, places, and organizations in the Mile High, so they can become your favorites too 💚 | | 📣 Forrest T. is giving a shoutout to Push Gym — locally owned and operated for 20 years — for being an “open and welcoming community of all ages, shapes, and sizes.” | | 📣 Katie O. recommends checking out YellowDog for creative design, print, and marketing. “Local, loyal, woman-owned, and filled with dogs.” | | Become a City Cast Denver Neighbor today to share your own shoutout in this newsletter and on the podcast. | | |
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A tip to-go: Did street sweeping season get the better of you? Trade your parking ticket for a free coffee at Hearth 🥹 ☕ Because some heroes wear barista aprons. |
| — Peyton Garcia | Olivia Jewell Love helped write today’s newsletter. |
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