Q&A with Denver City Council District 8 candidate Brad Revare

Briefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.
The skyrocketing cost of living in Denver for families and seniors is the single most urgent issue facing Denver. We need to address this issue by focusing on lowering the cost of housing, transportation, utility bills, and other essential parts of residents’ budgets so we do not displace more families, and make sure that Denver is open and accessible to our children when they inherit this city.

What should Denver leaders do to address the city’s lack of affordable housing?
I believe we need to build more affordable housing in District 8 for young families, seniors on a fixed income priced out of their homes, and everyone else who isn’t a millionaire. We need to listen to community and find innovative ways to solve multiple community needs with limited land. Denver should incentivize and streamline the transformation of empty parking lots into mixed use projects backed by the community, like FreshLo, which will combine a grocery store, retail, community services, and affordable housing. Or like the Rose on Colfax, which will have an ECE center on the first floor and affordable housing above it. We can solve multiple challenges for Denver families if we replicate these projects all over District 8 and Denver.

Do you support redevelopment at the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
All Denver families deserve a home we can afford, healthy food, and parks where our children can get fresh air. As the proud dad of two little girls, I know how important each of these things are.

But that’s not the reality in Park Hill right now, as I’ve learned after listening to longtime Park Hill families in District 8. Housing prices are out of control, grocery stores have long since vanished, and there isn’t enough real park space where kids can safely play.

The good news is that there’s a solution. The Park Hill Golf Course has been sitting empty for years since it closed in 2018. But there is now a plan I support to deliver a 100-acre Denver park, 1000+ new trees, 550+ permanently affordable for rent and for sale homes, and space for a grocery store. It’s the right thing to do.

What should Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
Three actions:
– Activate downtown by making it safer and easier to get to and travel around downtown by walking, biking, and taking the bus.
– Convert commercial buildings into residential and transitional housing where possible.
– Create gathering places for families, downtown workers, and visitors to Denver to stay for more than a few hours.

What is Denver’s greatest public safety concern and what should be done about it?
The greatest concern I hear from District 8 voters is the increasing average 911 response times. We need to ensure our public safety professionals are appropriately resourced to respond to urgent, high-priority calls quickly in every part of the city.

Should neighborhoods help absorb population growth through permissive zoning, or do you favor protections for single-family neighborhoods?
I believe neighborhoods should be able to better advocate for the positive changes they want to see around zoning, whether it’s more space for locally owned businesses you can walk to, affordable housing for seniors and families close to parks, transit, and grocery stores, or more unique community-generated ideas for spots that cater to the community’s needs.

Should the city’s policy of sweeping homeless encampments continue unchanged? Why or why not?
Denver should be focusing on ensuring we have adequate low-barrier to access shelters, Safe Outdoor Spaces, transitional housing, and permanent affordable housing, all with wraparound supports needed to build trust and relationships to help reduce the number of people camping on our streets and getting the services they need.

Should Denver change its snow plowing policy? Why or why not.
Denver’s snow plow policy and decision making should better take into account the weather after a snowstorm so we don’t accumulate the ice that stayed recently, which is so dangerous to people walking, biking, taking the bus, and driving.

What’s your vision for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to help the city get there?
My vision for Denver and District 8 in 20 years is one in which you don’t need to be a millionaire to live in. One where we have abundant housing for all at various income levels, where everyone has green space nearby, and it’s a place where families can thrive. We can get there if we listen to and learn from the community, ensure we have responsible development, and execute a smart plan for the future of Denver.

How better can city officials protect Denver’s environment — air quality, water supply, ground contamination? And should the city take a more active role in transit?
Denver should continue to empower the CASR office to develop innovative programs that make our housing, buildings, transportation, and living spaces greener. I believe Denver should take a more active role in both quickly developing the infrastructure for bus rapid transit lines throughout District 8 and our City, as well as expand the Denver Connector (formerly known as Montbello Connector) to all NEST neighborhoods. Eventually, every neighborhood with the challenge of “last mile” transit accessibility should get a Denver Connector-type service so that everyone can get around sustainably.

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