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1290 Williams Street
Denver, Colorado
80218-2600
(303) 830-1651
(303) 830-1782 Fax
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History CHUN’s beginnings lay rooted in the desire to improve the Capitol Hill community. In 1969, a group of young Capitol Hill residents took a hard look at what was happening to their neighborhoods in light of the urban flight and civic indifference, and decided something had to be done to stem further deterioration and disrespect of this historic but tarnished and neglected center city jewel. As community organizers they were a talented and experienced cadre. Many came from the ranks of the turbulent 60’s protest generation. Their initial grass-roots resistance was to stand in opposition to the city’s plan to add more invasive and divisive one-way streets through the Capitol Hill neighborhoods (specifically 11th and 12th avenues). Reverend Bob Musil of Warren Methodist Church organized the concerned neighbors to fight the proposed conversion of East 11th and 12th Avenues into one-way streets. The group was successful in this endeavor.
Encouraged by this success, the Capitol Hill Congress evolved, later to become Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods. From their first victory, the organization began to address issues of land use, zoning, housing and transportation. A more formal organizational structure was instituted and the geographical boundaries were expanded to their present limits (from 1st to 22nd Avenues and Broadway to Colorado Boulevard).
In 1974, CHUN agreed to take responsibility for running a relatively modest event called the Capitol Hill People’s Fair, which had been coordinated by the Police Storefront & Community Services Committee. Under the direction of CHUN, the People’s Fair has become a citywide gala event, drawing more than 250,000 people to its spring celebration of urban living. The People’s Fair has become the mainstay of CHUN’s financial existence, enabling a paid staff. Additionally, a percentage of the Fair profits are funneled back into the neighborhood through grants to community organizations; so far over $660,000 has been returned to the Capitol Hill community through the CHUN Grants Program. These funds have even helped to form new community-based organizations, such as Urban Peak and the Center for the People of Capitol Hill; both began as programs funded solely by the People’s Fair, and both are now thriving, independent community organizations capable of funding their own programs.
In more recent years, CHUN has sponsored the Denver Police Department District 6 Halloween Event, the Haunted House Tour, the Victorian Holiday House Tour, and other fundraising parties and campaigns to boost CHUN’s financial base and support neighborhood causes.
In the late 1970s, CHUN continued to address issues of neighborhood concern, and grew in support and organization. In 1978, a half-time office staff person and half-time People’s Fair coordinator were hired. Opening an office in the Capitol Hill Community Center marked another sign of permanence and stability. Federally sponsored VISTA volunteers began to work under the direction of CHUN, addressing issues of transportation and the elderly, housing, the mentally ill, and economic development. In 1980, Meg Nagel was hired as the first professional Staff Coordinator. Currently, CHUN has a full-time staff including: Executive Director, Roger Armstrong; Assistant Director, Andrea Furness; Community Relations Manager, Cody Galloway; Operations Manager, Nicole Anderson; and Groundskeeper, Andy Hina.
Throughout the years, CHUN has been consistently working for the betterment of our Capitol Hill neighborhood. Zoning and liquor licensing, historic preservation, public safety, tree planting and homelessness and affordable housing issues constitute the bulk of CHUN’s current concerns. CHUN has gained and maintained recognition as a powerful organization supportive of neighborhood interests.
Growing from a handful of concerned citizens to an organization of over 800 members, CHUN derives its strength from its active membership -- people involved in making our community a better place in which to live and work.
11th & Humboldt St. in 1960's...
...and 2002.
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