URBAN UPDATES
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
November | 2021
ULC Acquires Citywide Building for Equitable Redevelopment on the East Colfax Corridor
ULC is excited to announce that we have purchased the Citywide Bank Building on the East Colfax corridor in Aurora. We plan to lease existing office space to nonprofits and other mission-minded organizations at below-market rates and anticipate partnering with a developer in the future to add affordable housing opportunities on the underutilized south lot of the property. We purchased the building with help from Nesbitt Commercial Group and our revolving loan source, Metro Denver Impact Facility. 

This East Colfax Corridor site joins ULC’s seven other affordable office properties across the Metro Denver Region. It will help further equitable redevelopment efforts promoted by Impact East Colfax (IEC) a community-focused initiative that ULC co-leads along with The Fax Partnership. As a driving component of IEC, steering committee members have been organized through a broad community outreach effort. They will guide and inform the use and future development of this site, as well as an additional East Colfax site located within the city of Denver. To learn more, click here.
CREW's Newest Trailblazer Award Recipient
ULC is proud to congratulate Erin Clark, our VP of Master Site Development, on her achievement of receiving The Trailblazer Award from the Commerical Real Estate Women (CREW) Network. The CREW Network, founded in 1989, exists to transform the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally. They bring together women involved in the many aspects of commercial real estate to exchange information, develop business contacts, and help each other succeed professionally. The prestigious Trailblazer Award honors a dynamic woman who has positively impacted the commercial real estate industry through her leadership, deal-making, connecting to other CREW Denver members, commitment to diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, or other unique and remarkable achievements. We are thrilled for Erin!
Partner Spotlight: Watson Wenk Group
When you first meet Darrell Watson and Michael Wenk, you can’t help but notice their enthusiasm for all things related to community. Michael, a former English teacher and administrator, and Darrell, with a background in finance and wealth management, change management, and onboarding, say they found themselves constantly guiding their organizations through equity-centric work during their former careers. These experiences highlighted a real need in the marketplace and prompted them to launch their own consulting firm to help organizations through justice, equity, diversity, and inclusionary journeys. 
Darrell Watson
Michael Wenk
In 2018, Darrell and Michael started the Watson Wenk Group (WWG), a boutique, minority-owned consulting firm that plans, facilitates, presents, listens, and leads organizations through equity work. With over 50 combined years of service working in schools, community groups, nonprofits, and government organizations, Darrell and Michael have facilitated and created meaningful strategies to help organizations excel in completing their missions. WWG excels in facilitation and engagement within BIPOC communities and has nurtured strategic relationships with many civic, educational, business, and nonprofit organizations along the Front Range.

“We employ a unique blend of culturally relevant and culturally representative training practices that empower communities to assert ownership of their justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity journeys,” said Michael. “We help organize people so they can develop individual skills and knowledge that they can immediately apply to their work, while also uniting people to proactively reform institutional practices in ways that enhance the mission and programming of the organization.”

Rose Community Foundation Supports
Park Hill Campus Placemaking
ULC acquired the former Johnson & Wales campus earlier this year with a goal of repurposing the campus to better serve the community, along with several partner organizations. Our focus now is the work to transform the campus from a collection of buildings to a vibrant, community-serving hub. 

We are grateful to Rose Community Foundation for recognizing this important task of placemaking and awarding ULC a grant that will support our capacity to build a bridge between the buildings and partners, programs, and people to activate the campus into a multi-cultural and generational hub for economic security and well-being. Thank you, Rose Community Foundation! 
Policy Corner
ULC took official positions of several on the November 2nd ballot initiatives: Yes on 2B – Denver Housing and Sheltering Systems Bonds, Yes in 2C – Denver Transportation and Mobility System Bonds, and No on 2F – Safe and Sound (Repealing Group Living Ordinance). We are happy to report that Colorado voters agreed with our positions! Click here to learn more.