Belonging to Our Cities
How we can make Denver (and others) innovative 21st Century cities — alone and together.
Back in March, I published an article here called “Denver’s Missed Opportunity” in which I expressed my concerns over the Mile High City’s rapid, luxury growth, rising rents and its failure to create a unifying culture between transplants/newcomers and current residents. The article exploded — reaching more than 20,000 views and more than 7,500 reads. The response was overwhelming. The survey included with the article has received more than 650 responses (as of this posting). Clearly, Denverites agree with my concerns about affordable housing, growing rents, lack of inter-city public transit, and the need for a culture outside of business. Just look:
Throughout the original piece’s brief virality, I got to experience the joy of retweets, and DMs. I got to connect with people from Denver — and all over the country — who had similar feelings. I was left with the distinct sense that a lot of us don’t feel any real ownership over the places we live. As residents of a place (and for my generation, resident renters) we feel like consumers rather than community members. Our cities grow via influxes of business and money and new building, and we are prey to the changes in economic conditions, whether they are ostensibly fair or not.
When people in Denver cry out that they love where they live but can no longer afford to live here, it’s a problem. When people in Austin, TX and Asheville, NC say the same thing, it’s an indication that the way we do cities in the United States is broken. What I heard in response to Denver’s Missed Opportunity, was a resounding agreement that cities need to put their citizens before their growth. We seem to agree that chasing profit over people is a dangerous proposition.
“Cities need to put their citizens before their growth” [Tweet this].
There’s no one right answer, no one political party to invoke, no one business to back. But I think each of us, individually, can begin making an impact right now, if we want to. Simply put, it’s time to treat our cities and neighborhoods and communities like they are ours. Even if we don’t know how long we’ll stay there. For a long time — my twenties — I avoided the attachment because I didn’t know where I would go, but in reality I lost a decade in which to make my needs known. It’s hard to choose your place. It’s hard to invest in a place and choose community over selfish individualism. It has taken me years to do it — not because I’m inherently selfish, but because I spent my twenties figuring me out. Now it’s time to figure us out because we are the cities we live in.
When I see new construction has signage, I’m going to find out who’s building, what they’re building, and send an email. I’m going to create petitions. I will spend four hours every week following local government — not just the sexy issues, but all of them — and I’m going to email my city council members. I have always and will always vote for city council, mayor and all local offices. They matter. When something upsets me, I’m going to make a phone call or two. I’m going to volunteer with organizations that specialize in Denver. But, even easier, I’m going to take a moment to pick up the stray trash on the sidewalk, and say hello to my neighbors when I pass them, and smile at people. If you all join me, we’ll create the culture we want by living it. United, we’ll identify, share, and solve the problems we see in our communities.
What can you do? Ask for mixed use development. Go to a meeting of Warm Cookies of the Revolution or a similar group in your city. Email RTD and ask for inter-city rail. Ask your city council members for the kind of place you want to live in. I will invest my time and myself to make Denver better. You can do the same, for Denver, or for wherever you are. But make no mistake, it is an investment, and if we choose to sit idly by and hope for the best, we’ll be trusting our futures to a small minority. I pledge to be willing, able and active in my community. Join me.
Check out the new publication, Inventing Denver and submit your own stories to keep the conversation going.
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Nate Ragolia is a Colorado native, 7-year Capitol Hill resident, nonprofiteer, freelance writer & editor, and the author of There You Feel Free. You’ll often see him walking in Uptown, Cap Hill, Cheesman, and Congress Park. He will ask to pet your dog.
