General Interest - Urban Renewal Project Gives Blocks a Makeover for a Day

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25th	An	BUSTAMENTE	Bustamente	GOSIA	KUNG	Mackey	a	added
and	area	bicycle	brought	city	get	has	in	it	more
of	sitting	sold	stolen	sure	temporary	that	they'd	to	twenty	worked

empty store becomes a restaurant. This building becomes a rental business, where people make fruit drinks. This is Avenue in Denver, Colorado, an older part of the where few people live. Community activists have changed the , but only for a day. They are taking part a national effort called the "Better Block Project." Volunteers for months to show how some neighborhoods can be back to life. GOSIA KUNG: "This is a kind low-budget way to create this environment without asking for million dollar grants." Gosia Kung heads a citizen's group is working to improve some Denver neighborhoods. Volunteers have benches and plants. But only for a day. GOSIA : "Actually everything has been borrowed to us. So it to go back The trees, the flowers ---- will all go back on Monday." This food truck pizza. People ate on sidewalk tables. WOMAN: "'"I'm going take my pizza into one of these cool, little spaces, and thatll be like a European Cafe!" Francisco , a store owner, is pleased with the changes. FRANCISCO : "I like this project. I like the party." Mary has operated an art studio in the neighborhood for years. She liked the changes, but she is not if others will. MARY MACKEY: "'"It'd be nice to out of our cars and be able to bike walk more places, but were just not that dense a population like in Europe, so, it's a little difficult." Mary Mackey thinks any changes would only be . MARY MACKEY: "The trees, yeah. Benches, I don't think last very long ---- they'd either get graffitied or ." Activists are seeking full neighborhood approval of the changes. KUNG: "'Were working with local business owners on establishing business improvement district, to raise funds and raise support make these improvements permanent." I'm Shirley Griffith.

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