Fight over future of Glendale Persian rug store heats up
“An ongoing urban-redevelopment dispute in Glendale intensified recently after city leaders passed a series of emergency measures aimed at keeping construction on schedule for a $175 million dining and entertainment complex.
The ordinances, passed by the City Council on June 16, set a special election for Aug. 4 to create a Downtown Development Authority. The authority would have the ability to issue bonds to help finance construction of the project, dubbed Glendale 180.
Nasrin Kholghy, co-owner of Authentic Persian & Oriental Rugs, worries that the city’s move leaves her and her family even more powerless regarding the future of the 42-acre redevelopment site on the banks of Cherry Creek. The Kholghys own 6 acres where Glendale 180 is slated to be built but were carved out of the proposed Downtown Development Authority zone.
“We’re just disenfranchised,” Kholghy said. “By excluding us, we cannot have any say in any of it.”
She said creation of the authority allows the city to move ahead with Glendale 180 — which would feature 260,000 square feet of food, beverage and entertainment space and 42,500 square feet of retail — and possibly condemn the Kholghy’s property later through its urban renewal authority.”
Aguilar, John. Denver Post 9 July 2015.