Hey neighbors,

A reader wrote in Wednesday afternoon to ask about the scaffolding she noticed under the Santa Fe-to-470 East ramp while driving east on 470. Short version: it's holding up the bridge. Longer version below, because it's a real story and she was right to notice.

Two other things worth your attention this week. Peyton Manning's name is attached to a $28 million restaurant-plus-event venue proposed for the corner of Santa Fe and Mineral, and the city is deciding whether to put $2 million in. And on Monday night, the Planning Commission takes public comment on a proposal to rezone a commercial parcel at the TrailMark front entrance for 27 new single-family homes. Smaller number than the rumor. Still worth the hearing.

Peyton Manning, Gastamo Group, and a $28M ask at Santa Fe & Mineral. The Gastamo Group (the Denver hospitality outfit behind Park Burger and Perdida) wants to build 1st Street Farms on the vacant RiverPark parcel at Santa Fe and Mineral. A Peyton-Manning-branded restaurant, an event venue, a community football field, and landscape amenities. Total cost: $28 million. The ask from Littleton: a $2 million forgivable loan (down from the $4 million the developer originally wanted), structured as an advance on future sales tax, plus a five-year sales tax deferral, meaning the city collects no sales tax on the site for its first five years.

City staff presented at the April 14 study session. No final vote. Councilmember Robert Reichardt was the candid one: "giving you money, $2 million, sounds like a bad idea." He said he's excited about the project and reluctant about the cash in the same breath. That's the whole story in one quote. City staff say net positive revenues start year eight. Staff keep negotiating. [Full council coverage at Littleton Independent.]

That scaffolding under the Santa Fe → 470 East ramp. A reader spotted it and asked. What she saw are shoring towers, temporary supports holding up the bridge beams while CDOT repairs the pier cap and column at Pier 7. The project started February 2. Contractor is Ames Construction, budget is $2.5 million, completion target is fall 2026. Phase 1 wrapped around April 18 and Phase 2 is being scoped, which is why you might see shoring but no workers some days. The lane closure on the C-470 westbound off-ramp to northbound Santa Fe stays for the duration, and the bridge has an overweight-vehicle restriction.

The official line is "to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public." Translation: something on that pier showed up during inspection that they didn't want to leave alone. If you see something structurally interesting from the driver's seat, hit reply. You are my best reporter.

Shea Homes goes to Planning Commission Monday night. The proposal: rezone the last undeveloped parcel at the TrailMark front entrance (7.68 acres at S. Wadsworth and W. Trailmark Parkway, currently zoned Corridor Mixed / Planned Development Overlay) to Small Lot Residential for roughly 27 single-family homes (plus potential accessory dwelling units). That requires a Future Land Use Map amendment from suburban commercial to suburban residential, and a Chatfield Activity Center CDP amendment raising TrailMark's total unit cap from 805 to 850. (Which is where the "850 units" number you may have heard comes from. It's the cap, not new construction.) Case numbers: REZ25-0003 and AMF25-0001. Public hearing is Monday April 27 at 6:30 PM at the Littleton Center, 2255 W. Berry Ave. Postponed from March 23. City planning contact: Teri Whitmore, 303-795-3787.

Saturday April 25: 9th Annual South Platte River Clean-Up, 9 AM to noon. Meet at the Riverside Downs lot on the Mary Carter Greenway, near Pedal Bike Shop. Gloves and bags provided. SouthPlatteRenewCO.gov/RiverCleanUp.

Saturday April 25: Bemis Library Earth Day cluster: Spring Plant Swap (10-11 AM, bring cuttings or houseplants), Seed Starting Workshop with CSU Extension (11 AM, plant one to take home). Two hours, one library, free.

Saturday April 25: Pokémon GO Gigantamax Battles, 1:45 to 4 PM, Bega Park then Downtown Littleton. Full calendar in the Niantic Campfire app.

Saturday April 25: War Memorial Rose Garden Pruning Workshop. Free, register at Register.SSPRD.org. Time on the registration page. SSPRD hasn't posted it plainly yet.

Sunday April 26: Littleton is for Locavores! (4th annual Earth Day event), 11 AM to 4 PM at 5641 S. Nevada St. Local food producers, makers, educators. Free. Bring reusable bags.

Monday April 27: Planning Commission hearing on the TrailMark Shea Homes rezoning. 6:30 PM at Littleton Center, 2255 W. Berry Ave. See Big News. Expect rain.

Wednesday April 29: Pokémon GO Raid Hour. 5:50 PM at the Clement Park skate park, walking the park until 7. Standing weekly event.

Friday May 1: Historic Downtown Littleton Walking Tour, 6 PM. Meet at the Depot Art Gallery, 2069 W. Powers Ave.

Saturday May 2: Sheep to Shawl at the Littleton Museum, 10 AM to 3 PM. Costumed interpreters turn wool into clothing in real time. Free, and a hit with kids.

Grace Farm & Gardens opens Mother's Day weekend (May 9-10) in West Littleton, off 470 & Bowles. New organic farmers market and flower farm run by Lynda Drum. If you need a Mother's Day gift that isn't from a big-box garden center, this is your answer. Full coverage next week. Flagging now so you can plan.

The Revitalization Incentive Grant closes next Wednesday, April 30. Reminder, not news. Issue #3 covered this. $100K in city money for storefront improvements, up to $20K per project as a 50% match. If you've been sitting on a façade or signage plan, you have a week. Contact Jamie Crout at 303-734-8094 or [email protected].

National Small Business Week runs May 3-9, and the Open Rewards app boosts cash back to 10% at participating Littleton businesses. VisitLittleton.org/Open-Rewards.

Waterton Canyon closes to the public weekdays from Monday April 27 through Friday May 8 for Denver Water's annual dust mitigation project. Weekends stay open. Your access windows are this weekend, May 2-3, and the weekend after. Colorado Trail users should seek alternative trailheads during the closure. CDOT doesn't run Waterton; Denver Water does. Full release at denverwater.org.

Rattlesnakes are out. Prairie rattlers are active now through September across the foothills. Sturdy shoes, long pants if you're off-trail, and don't reach into rocks you can't see behind. If you get bit, call 911. Don't try the TikTok cures.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for unincorporated Jeffco run through August 1. No campfires outside permanent grates, no open burning, and charcoal grills only if you're more than 30 feet from undeveloped land. Bears are still active, same advice as last week.

Jeffco concrete and ADA work is starting in Aspen Meadows, Quail Ridge, The Spread, and The Settlement, off Sangre de Cristo and Continental Divide. Contractor is Silva Construction. Notices are being mailed to affected properties. Expect intermittent sidewalk and driveway access closures. Plan routine trips accordingly.

Drought rules still apply. Colorado is in Stage 1 and the 20% reduction target is real. The April precip we've had is nice; it does not end the drought. Same even/odd watering rules as last week. Don't water between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Sewer and stormwater rates come to council May 12. The city's running a rate study, last set in 2021. Expect news pre-meeting.

The March 2026 Redfin numbers for 80127 are the latest close: median sale price $699,900 (+4.0% YoY), median days on market 35, sale-to-list ratio 99.1%, 119 homes sold (down from 135 a year ago).

The week's actual sold data tells the real story. Same ZIP, same week: 12609 W Glasgow Pl sold for $844,400 after listing at $944,400, 11% under list, 77 days on market. Down in Columbine Knolls at 80123, 9623 W Prentice Ave went 14% over list in 26 days. Priced right or sit. That's the market right now.

Best deal of the week goes to 10433 Red Mtn, a 5-bed, 4-bath, 3,262-square-foot house that sold at list for $500,000 in 32 days. Five beds under $500K in 80127 is genuinely rare. Somebody won something.

Friday (today): Sunny, high 69, wind gusts to 28 mph. A good day to get outside.
Saturday: High 67, 30% shower chance after noon. River clean-up finishes before the rain.
Sunday: High 64, showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Locavores will still happen. Bring a rain jacket.
Monday: High 61, showers likely and a possible thunderstorm. The TrailMark hearing is indoors, which is fortunate.
Tuesday: High 70, chance of afternoon showers.

No Red Flag Warnings in effect. Cover nothing this week.

Two weeks ago a reader pitched a section called Meet Your Neighbors: profiles of the quietly exceptional people in 80127. Her example was a neighbor who, during the fall 2025 federal furlough, set up outdoor shelves stocked with food and household basics so anyone who needed help could come take what they needed. Exactly the kind of thing that never makes it into local news.

I said I'd launch it. This is the launch.

If there's someone in 80127 who does a quiet exceptional thing for the neighborhood (a one-person effort, a small recurring act of decency, a kid who started a business, a retiree who organized something that worked), hit reply and nominate them. Two rules: tell me a specific thing they did or do, and include a way to reach them. I'll take it from there.

One profile per issue, starting as soon as I have a yes from the first nominee.

Before I go: the Faith in the Foothills directory is close. Five churches in, one more verification to run. Looking at Issue #5.

Forward this to one person who lives here. That's still how this grows.

Joey

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