The purpose of this petition is to demand that a full-service, healthy-focused grocery retailer open a new location in Northeast Denver, an area that broadly includes the neighborhoods of Whittier, Five Points/Curtis Park, Cole, Clayton, City Park West, North Park Hill, Old San Rafael, Globeville, RiNo, and Elyria Swansea. Communicating with potential retailers on our behalf will be Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks, the local representative for residents of this area. Successfully bringing a new grocery retailer to Northeast Denver would effectively solve some of the issues we face by currently living in a food desert, such as (A) limited access to healthy and natural/organic food options, (B) substantial travel times to reach the nearest grocery retailer in other areas of Denver, and (C) paying higher price premiums for the food retailers that already exist in the area.

The Impact of Living in a Food Desert

According to a 2014 published research study called “Northeast Denver Food Systems Assessment Report and Findings” (click here), the definition of a food desert is an urban environment in which residents live one mile or more from a supermarket or large grocery store. The report then explains that for homes in our area, the median distance to a grocery retailer is 1.5 miles. Northeast Denver has been stuck in a food desert for over 40 years, ever since the major grocery retailers started leaving for the suburbs back in the 1960s and 70s. The statistics surrounding the impact of living in this situation are both sobering and alarming:-

- For every healthy food store that residents in Northeast Denver come across (i.e. a full-service grocer with fresh produce), they will encounter 8 “unhealthy” food retail sites, including corner stores, convenience stores, and small variety food stores that sell limited or no fresh produce.

- 68% of respondents to the survey in this report feel that junk food is readily available in their neighborhood, while slightly less than 50% feel that healthy food options are also readily available.

- 72% of survey respondents reported eating fast-food meals 3 times a week, compared to only 64% nationally.

- The over-abundance of local corner and convenience stores in our neighborhoods only carry an average of 3 types of fresh fruits and 4 types of fresh vegetables at any given time, while the average for a large grocery store (of which there are only two in our area--Safeway at 20th & Clarkson and the Downing Super at 33rd & Downing) is 11 types of fresh fruits and 11 types of fresh vegetables.  

Why Now is the Time For Change

Now is the perfect time for our neighborhoods to start painting a different story for the future. In fact, things are already changing at a dramatic pace: according to a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute in 2012, Northeast Denver’s zip code (80205) has the 8th fastest gentrification rate in the country, as measured by the shifting demographic profile of residents. Accompanying this shift is a huge surge in urban revitalization, beginning with Welton Street, considered to be the commercial heart of the Five Points Historic Cultural District. In May 2008, this section of Five Points (running between 20th and 30th Streets) was selected by the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development (OED) to be a pilot in Denver’s Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative (DNMI), a project aimed at improving the city’s business districts. In 2014, OED awarded $475,000 in grants to fund 5 new commercial/residential development projects, signaling a real commitment on behalf of the city to renewing the vitality of this area.

As more and more new families start choosing to make Northeast Denver their home, supermarkets should respond in turn by offering healthy and affordable food options that will allow these families to thrive and grow. Having access to good food systems in an urban environment is not just a matter of convenience; it is a critical factor in measuring the overall quality of life, and one that is imperative for both new and old residents of the area.

Adding a new grocery retailer also makes sense from a business point of view. The two grocery stores that are in the area operate without very much competition, which puts shoppers at risk of paying higher price premiums for basic foods. So it would definitely be to the benefit of all residents if another retailer was in the area, thus compelling the current ones to expand their assortment variety and make their pricing more competitive. Having a new healthy grocer in the area that focuses on affordable pricing would furthermore help the 40% of residents in Northeast Denver that feel like they cannot afford to eat a healthy/balanced meal (another statistic from the 2014 research report noted above).

There would also be a positive impact on the environment. If a significant number of people in Northeast Denver are currently driving one mile or more to reach their preferred grocery store, it creates more road traffic than necessary and puts more gas emissions into the air. Having a grocery store that is within the area would definitely lower everyone's carbon footprint, especially for those that could reach the new store by walking or taking a bike.

Lastly, having a new grocery retailer move into the area would signal an era of renewed strength for Northeast Denver. Once they move in, it is likely that other much-needed businesses and services would follow, making the area even more attractive to potential new residents. It would also further encourage existing residents to support their local neighborhood shops and small businesses, thus bringing the overall community even closer together.  

Type of Retailer Desired

For the purposes of this petition, it is very important to clarify the type of grocery retailer being proposed. The following criteria represent the ideal set of characteristics that a new supermarket to the area would embody (in no particular order):

1. Natural/Organic (i.e. “Quality”) Food Offerings
A key part of this petition is supporting the idea that any new retailer coming into our area should carry a considerable amount of natural and/or organic products that consumers can feel confident about buying and eating.

2. Local produce and brands

Ideally, the incoming grocery retailer would show a strong commitment to featuring local produce and brands that allow shoppers to support businesses that are already in or around our community.

3. Affordable Pricing 

Affordability is critical to the success of any retailer in this area. Retailers that charge premium prices for healthy foods is not the goal of this petition. The objective is to make healthy foods accessible for all residents, meaning that affordability must be a key component of their business strategy and philosophy.

4. Locally-owned

In addition to featuring local produce, the ideal scenario would also bring in a retailer that is either regionally-based or Colorado-owned, so that our community can continue to support a local, homegrown business.

5. Commitment to Local Job Creation

It would greatly benefit our community if the incoming retailer was supportive of hiring and employing residents from within the community. This would not only further the economic development of our area, but also create a stronger connection with the community and establish a very loyal customer base among residents.

What Happens if Nothing Changes

If this petition is not successful and nothing changes, Northeast Denver may continue to stay in a food desert for many years to come. The consequences of this could continue to mean long travel distances in order to go shopping, a lack of access to healthy foods for families in the area, and over-exposure of our children to all the unhealthy options that are readily available in our neighborhood through corner and convenience stores. It could also cause residents in our area to continue paying premium prices when they shop at the only two grocery stores in the area, who face very little direct competition. The prospect of having a future like this is what this petition aims to change. Hopefully you will support this cause.

Next Steps

Once this petition reaches 500 signatures, Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks will send a letter to the following potential retailers in order to start a new dialogue with them about moving into our area:

Natural Grocers/Vitamin Cottage - Colorado based health food grocery chain (http://www.naturalgrocers.com/)

Alfalfa’s Market - Boulder’s independent, locally-owned organic food store that is exploring options for moving to Denver (http://www.alfalfas.com/)

Lucky’s - Another Colorado-based natural and organic grocery store chain, independently owned and operated (http://www.luckysmarket.com/)

Sprouts Farmers Market - a well-known healthy grocery store selling fresh, natural, and organic food at affordable prices. In our list of target retailers, it is the only one not based in Colorado (headquarters are in Phoenix, AZ; https://www.sprouts.com/web/guest)

Lastly, a little about me and why I decided to write this petition...

My name is Sheridan Castro and I’m a wife and stay-at-home mom of two little boys living in Whittier. I’m originally from Aurora, CO, but my husband and I spent over ten years living on the East Coast (in and around NYC) before coming back to Colorado in 2012. We bought our first home in Whittier in mid-2013, and fell in love with the area for its diversity, rich cultural history, proximity to downtown, and the overall green-living mindset that we grew to appreciate in New York. The only thing that has frustrated us over the last year and a half is the lack of access to a healthy-focused grocery store in our neighborhood. Perhaps we were spoiled in New York--where even in Brooklyn everyone is within walking distance of a supermarket that offers natural, fresh produce--but we strongly believe that the situation here could be better. Right now, we live 1.2 miles from the Safeway at 20th & Clarkson, 1.6 miles from Marczyk’s, 1.9 miles from the Natural Grocers on Colfax, 2.4 miles from the Whole Foods in Capitol Hill, 2.9 miles from Sprouts on Colfax, and 4.8 miles from the Walmart in Stapleton. This causes us to spend up to 5 hours a week driving and shopping at all of these different locations, which seems totally unreasonable to me. I’d like to be an active member of the community and leave behind some sort of positive legacy for the future, so that is why I decided to try and do this.

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been astonished to find out what a hotly debated topic it is to discuss living in Northeast Denver’s food desert. I understand that there are so many different opinions and ideas out there about what is the right way to solve this, and I respect all of those views. But hopefully you can agree in principle with what I’ve outlined here and will sign this petition to show your support! I look forward to watching the exciting changes that await our neighborhood in the years to come.