🌱Water Action Drought + 16th Street Mall Rethink +Marshall Fire Homes

Hey, everybody. It's Friday in Denver and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. Today you'll find these stories and more:

• State lawmakers largely ignored the water issues facing the west as the 2023 session wraps up with nearly no actions taken during the 5-month session.
• Nearly 500 homes have already been permitted for construction after the Marshall Fire.
• 16th Street Mall forced to rethink its vision for downtown Denver.

Friday's weather: A stray afternoon shower. High: 58 Low: 43.

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Here are the top stories in Denver today:

1. Metro Denver building activity hits COVID-era lows. Construction in the metro Denver area has significantly slowed down, reaching levels not seen since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the specific types of homes that local and state leaders aim to promote. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of monthly building permits in the Denver area had been on the rise throughout 2021 but has experienced a significant year-to-year decline since the beginning of 2023. (FOX31)
2. Marshall Fire homes rebuilt at double the speed of national post-disaster average. Building experts attribute this accelerated progress to the proactive measures taken by local authorities, who have streamlined regulations, prioritized Marshall Fire victims, as well as the expedited the rebuilding process. As a result, out of the 1,096 homes lost, 495 have already been approved for reconstruction. (KUNC)
3. Colorado lawmakers' inaction dominates water agenda for the year. The legislative focus on water in Colorado this year revolved primarily around the actions that lawmakers chose not to take, highlighting their inaction on key water-related issues. (CO Sun)
4. Denver embraces change: 16th Street Mall adapts to a revised downtown vision. The 16th Street Mall in Denver is unlikely to return to its pre-pandemic state, and for some, that's exactly what the plan is. Downtown is at 59 percent of its pre-COVID levels, but the hope is that new businesses will emerge as part of a deliberate initiative to reshape the area. (CBS4)
5. Gold King Mine damage results in $5 million payout from the feds. The State of Colorado recently announced a $5 million settlement to address the damages caused by the Gold King Mine accident and its associated mining activities in the Bonita Peak Mining District. (Journal)

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Today in Denver:

• CWCC Women of Influence & Impact Leadership program. (8:30 a.m.)
• Live Music in the Alley: Dairy Block. (5 p.m.)
• Mark Brut solo: At Revive Bodyworks. (7:30 p.m.)
• Here's four things to do: This weekend in Denver. (Denverite)

From my notebook:

• Here's a list of where you can find the best Indian food in Denver. (5280)
• Follow along for a day with the civilian team that enforce Denver's urban camping ban. (9News)
• The Yacht Club in Denver is considered one of the best bars in the America. (Axios)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Featured events:

• Spring Horseshoe Market on Saturday, May 13! (May 13)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (May 16)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update! — Brad K. Evans

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Denver Patch newsletter? Contact me at denverdaily@yahoo.com