Week of January 19, 2023
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
Our in-depth look at the housing crisis
VOLUME 36 | ISSUE 7
Highlands Ranch Metro District selects Stanley for manager Brings 16 years’ experience BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Trickling up: How housing is becoming less affordable for more Coloradans BY TAYLER SHAW AND LUKE ZARZECKI COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A home means everything to Shelley Gilson, a 50-year-old single mother of three girls who works as a guest service agent at an airline. “It’s one word: priceless,” she
said. The rising cost of housing in the Denver area has made it difficult for her to afford a home. She spent years bounding around working for low pay, including to several affordable housing communities across the state.
Eventually, more than a decade ago, she found a home at Orchard Crossing Apartments in Westminster. It is an affordable housing community that includes Section 8 housing, the federal government program that provides vouchers to low-income families, the disabled and elderly. SEE TRICKLING UP, P14
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL P24
After 16 years and multiple roles in the community, Stephanie Stanley is taking on the general manager position for the Highlands Ranch Metro District. Stanley started in the metro district’s top job on Jan. 2, overseeing 90 employees. She previously served as interim general manager and director of finance and administration for the metro district and the Centennial Water and Sanitation District. Stanley said it’s an honor to be hired in the role and she looks forward to using her knowledge of the metro district to advance her community. “I think that with (my experience), along with living in the community for a long time, I have a good sense for what’s important to residents and what opportunities we’ve taken advantage of over time and what opportunities we may have lying ahead of us,” she said. Highlands Ranch Metro District began the search for a new general manager in the fall of 2022 after former manager Mike Renshaw took a role in Georgia. In a statement, metro district board member Andy Jones said Stanley was chosen after an exhaustive search to ensure the right person for the job. “A mature community like Highlands Ranch is so fortunate to have an experienced leader hired from within its staff with the extensive knowledge of the district and community,” Jones said. Highlands Ranch Metro District is in charge of parks, open space, trails and public works in the community. This year, Stanley will continue to shepherd the completion of Highlands Ranch’s new senior center, which is currently under construction, as well as manage the May 2 election for metro district board seats and a community feedback survey. Stanley said other areas of focus include maintaining and replacing the district’s infrastructure as it ages, SEE MANAGER, P9