Gazette
SIDE STREETS: Homeowner shocked to find crawl space a party place
Katie Hamilton had heard noises at night recently and assumed she had deer in the backyard of her Pleasant Valley home. Then her dogs started going nuts in the dark. Again, she assumed it was wildli...Full story

Side Streets Blog

Bill Vogrin has covered the Pikes Peak region since 1994 and is a lifelong neighbor.

Have an idea for a Side Streets column?


Side Streets

building-planned-mayhem-h
SIDE STREETS: Dentist gets red carpet after abortion protesters, Slurpees
Chuck Leggett found out recently a dentist is moving her practice next door to his Westside home. He expects traffic from patients might spill in front of his little home and take up his parking space. And he is prepared for other hassles assoc... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Blur of black and brown steel represents peace of mind
To most motorists flying through the intersection of Vindicator Drive and Rockrimmon Boulevard, the new guardrail along the east side is just a blur of black and brown steel. And, to be honest, that’s why it was installed. Most drivers are go... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Springs Ranch residents say no go to Kum & Go
The Springs Ranch Community Association did everything right. And lost. It organized a core group to draft convincing arguments to oppose a concept plan to build a Kum & Go convenience store and gas station, fast food restaurants and shops on 5.... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Canturbury HOA off life support as neighbors rally
Canterbury has a pulse after all! I’m shocked. In fact, it seems the little neighborhood of 55 homes within Ridgeview at Stetson Hills may recover and be healthier than ever. We’ll know in a couple weeks. I’ll be honest. I thought... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Neighbors locked in ugly war on Silverado Trail
It was like watching a train wreck. Residents of Silverado Trail in Stetson Hills east of Powers Boulevard came before the City Council last week and lobbed ugly names at each other. "Pedophile." "Pervert." "Obsessive." "Irresponsible parents." It... Full story
homeowners-association-sp
SIDE STREETS: Springs leads state in HOA complaints
Hello, neighbor! Wait. Don’t adjust your computer or tablet or phone or whatever device you are using to read this. I know you didn’t expect to see me here until Monday or Thursday. Well, I’ve got so much neighborhood news I can ... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Rustic Hills trashy just one day a week
Rustic Hills is doing something I think is a no-brainer for every neighborhood. In fact, I can’t understand why it hasn’t spread citywide. It’s so simple, it’s brilliant. What makes Rustic Hills a bunch of Einsteins? Its vo... Full story
truck-inspirational-messa
SIDE STREETS: Can I get an 'Amen' for Preacher Lewis?
Last Tuesday, much of the world paused to celebrate the 70th birthday of Muhammad Ali, once the most recognized man on the planet and perhaps the greatest boxer ever. At a west-side nursing home, the milestone went unnoticed in the room of Fred... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Next big snow will trigger angels! Are you one?
Amy Filipiak is watching for the skies to turn white. When they do, if all goes according to plans, teams of Snow Angels will emerge to clear sidewalks within at least 1,500 feet of a half-dozen schools in the region. Filipiak and a group of neighb... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Wounded warriors, arthritic seniors, poor kids all lost when Aquatic Center closed
Deb Barry wasn’t terribly surprised to learn a private company was hemorrhaging money trying to run three city swimming pools. Deb was Colorado Springs’ aquatics director 22 years until her retirement in 2009. She was responsible for two... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Experts say Fillmore Street bridge is safe even as its notoriety grows
The Fillmore Street bridge over Monument Creek is becoming famous. But as Charlie Sheen taught us, fame has its drawbacks. In a June 2009 column, I introduced you to the bridge, which is 288 feet long and five lanes wide and sits just east of Inters... Full story
springs-springsgov-websit
SIDE STREETS: Chestnut Street bypass at Fillmore to be unveiled
In September, city engineers riled up residents of Parker Street in the Mesa Springs neighborhood when they unveiled plans for rerouting Chestnut Street to unclog a dangerous intersection with Fillmore Street and Interstate 25. Back to the drawing b... Full story
Balancing act: Iconic rock destined to fall, but when and how?
Ever wonder what will happen when Balanced Rock — the iconic 700-ton red sandstone ballerina perched on its tiptoes in the heart of the Garden of the Gods — no longer lives up to its name?It is, after all, inevitable that the 290-million-... Full story
SIDE STREETS: Sol's was lost, but historic organ donation arranged
I’m so disappointed. I didn’t get there in time to save old Sol’s life. By the time I raced to 632 N. Prospect St. on Tuesday in the Middle Shooks Run neighborhood, a Bobcat had chewed right through old Sol’s concrete-and-bri... Full story
SIDE STREETS: HOAs, blight, death made 2011 an interesting year
The first column of the new year is a good time to reflect and anticipate! And there’s plenty to consider as 2012 gets underway, so let’s get started. The last 12 months produced plenty of neighborhood controversies, a few ongoing dispu... Full story
ADVERTISEMENT 
Featured Events

 
  • Find an Event
ADVERTISEMENT 
gazette.com on Facebook
Featured Categories
Poll