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Development Threatens Another Landmark

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Contributed by: Brian L A Wess on 1/7/2008

For anyone who has been stationed in Germany while in the Military; has German heritage; has lived in the Historic South Downtown, Bott or Ivywild neighborhoods of Colorado Springs; or just occasionally enjoys good German food and culture, the Grindelwald German Delicatessen, next to the Old Heidelberg Bakery on the corner of South Tejon and West Las Vegas Streets, has been a Colorado Springs landmark for over 21 years.

Unfortunately Grindelwald's grandmotherly owner, Ingeborg Pauley ("Connie" to her friends), was informed that she will have to find a new place to move her business to or close up shop because the land and building in which she has been located for 21 years has been sold to a developer. Sadly, the Old Heidelberg Bakery right next door is in the same situation.

And for what great monument of our city's progress do these landmark businesses have to move or perish? According to information obtained, yet ANOTHER Starbucks coffee shop...ONLY the 3rd on Downtown Tejon Street... bringing it's over roasted, over priced, over commercialized coffee to the masses.

These businesses are not being threatened because they haven't been successful or able to compete, quite the opposite. They are being threatened because the recently completed I-25, Nevada/Tejon overpass improvements have supposedly made their location more valuable. Far too valuable to continue leasing the properties at reasonable rates to small neighborhood businesses that epitomize what used to be a more thematically and culturally diverse Downtown Business Community.

Originally having only till January 15th, 2008 to find a new suitable location, Connie now says that Griffis-Blessing have given her a small reprieve until January 31 to find a new location that meets her business needs.

Connie says she must find a commercial business space of approximately 800 square feet with an area set up for a small kitchen somewhere in the southern part of town for less than $1000 a month. If she cannot find a new location in time, Connie says she will have to close up and consider placing her business into bankruptcy. She has been looking for a new place since she was notified with the help of her Realtor, Judy Trout, and asks that anyone knowing of a commercial business space that meets her needs contact her at 719-475-1414 or Judy at719-332-8811.

Like making a constricted Tejon Street two ways again, building the 22 Story 256-foot Cooper Tower and Pikes Peak Place buildings next to Historic City Hall The Historic City Auditorium and the Historic Downtown Post Office...along with other plans that seek to "Denverize" and make Colorado Springs just another American clone city...the destruction of businesses like the Grindelwald German Delicatessen and the Old Heidelberg Bakery in favor of more cookie cutter franchises, characterless glass and concrete boxes and phantom profit potentials only serve to make Colorado Springs less. Less unique, less inviting and less than the broad avenues with stunning vistas that were the designs of the city founders. Less of what Colorado Springs has been consistently at the top of lists of the best places to live in the United States for.

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Submitted By: Mame Shroyer

posted on 1/18/2008 @ 2:25:46 PM

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I have wondered about this: In my almost 7 years in COS, I have noticed that this city is very hard on mom and pop restaurants. I find one I like and within a year it is gone! Very disappointing.

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Submitted By: Dave Gardner

posted on 1/10/2008 @ 8:47:01 PM

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I couldn't agree more with Brian's assessment of the situation. Instead of embracing locally owned businesses our city is being led by the nose toward the holy grail of BIG PROSPERITY. The local hardware store with great service is replaced with Home Depot - try getting knowledgeable service and high quality there. Goodbye Nemeths, Chinook, Hathaways; hello Wal-Mart and Taco Bell. So long, Sencha; hello Arbys. At an informational meeting the developer of Cooper Tower, Ray O'Sullivan, had no clue how full the schedule is of his next door neighbor, City Auditorium. And yet we are to believe he will supoort and promote it as his development towers over it? I'm afraid our town is selling out. Oh, and to see how this BIG PROSPERITY thing is working out, check out our city and county budgets. Dave Gardner www.savethesprings.org

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Submitted By: Theresa Null

posted on 1/9/2008 @ 11:28:49 AM

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Oh Brian, today (Jan 9) I saw a picture of this 22-story Cooper Tower downtown in the Gazette. It's ghastly! I'm so sad that Colorado Springs city council wants to turn our town into a city like Denver, NY, or Philadelphia: cold concret with no trace of human warmth. Let's move to Manitou!

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Brian L A Wess

Colorado Springs , CO

Brian L A Wess has posted 72 stories and 8 comments since joining on 12/8/2006. Brian L A Wess 's average story rating is 4.86.

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