Wheat Ridge Was Treasured For It's Small Town Feel

My memories of Wheat Ridge - open spaces, horses (many horses), farms with wheat fields and alfalfa fields, green houses, sunrises and sunsets without high rises in the view, making a left turn onto Wadsworth from a side street without much stress, areas to sled in the winter (more open spaces)...

I think it important for those making decisions about the future of the Lutheran Hospital Campus to consider that so many of us who have lived in Wheat Ridge for decades moved here in fact for the atmosphere that existed. I realize there is a huge opportunity to monetize at the expense of the city and it's citizens. But as we build up every last open space in the city with apartments and condos we might do well to remember that our roads are becoming more congested, there are fewer places to walk, jog and bike safely, wildlife is being dispelled into our neighborhoods creating conflicts, and in general we are crowding over. We will never get those open spaces back. The small town feel is draining away quickly.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against renewal and improvement. But I am not sure that high rises and dense population is considered an improved living condition for everyone. Many of us loved the feel of Wheat Ridge a decade or so ago before the explosion of building. Our neighborhoods maintained privacy and Wadsworth, Kipling, and 38th harbored most of our larger businesses. We've been able to see the Tower of Memories from most points of our city without high rises shading our back yards and blocking out sunrises and sunsets.

If we must add more high-density housing might we consider keeping it along those main streets going through the city? And could we consider capping the height of these buildings to ensure that the neighbors surrounding the campus can maintain some privacy and still have a view of the sky?