Voice
Lone Tree 5-16-13
Lone Tree
May 16, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlonetreenews.com
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 18
Gov. John Hickenlooper and Charles Schwab chat at Lone Tree Arts Center after the Schwab corporate campus groundbreaking. Photo by Jane Reuter
Lone Tree Mayor Jim Gunning laughs during a tongue-in-cheek video of negotiations between Gunning and Cabela’s, the renowned outfitter that is opening a store in the city. Gunning delivered the State of the City address on May 9 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Photo by Jane Reuter
Mayor touts Lone Tree’s growth State of the City address highlights development By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Mayor Jim Gunning had ample reason to smile during Lone Tree’s annual State of the City address May 9. The 2013 address was held one day before the Charles Schwab corporate campus groundbreaking ceremony and three months from Cabela’s targeted Aug. 15 grand opening. The two high-profile companies are among the brightest feathers in the city’s increasingly showy economic cap. Gunning highlighted them among a long list of accomplishments during an upbeat lunch presentation to about 160 south metro residents and business representatives. “For me, it’s a very humbling experience
to get up and talk about the city,” Gunning said, crediting Douglas County government, RidgeGate’s developers, Park Meadows Metro District and others for their help in the young city’s evolution. Gunning’s presentation included not only 2013 headline-makers like Schwab, but plans for the city’s likely future. At the top of that list is the proposed 2.2-mile extension of the light rail line from its current stopping point at Lincoln Avenue to RidgeGate Parkway. “Light rail couldn’t be more important to the region or Lone Tree,” Gunning said. “The kinds of businesses that will come with the expansion are businesses like Charles Schwab.” With the three additional stations — at Sky Ridge Medical Center, the future Lone Tree City Center east of Interstate 25 and RidgeGate Parkway — will come 10 million to 12 million square feet of commercial development and 3,500 residential units with
a total valuation of $725 million. Gunning and others are negotiating for a public/private partnership to make the extension happen sooner than the Regional Transportation District’s budget allows. “I believe Lone Tree has put together a financial deal we’ll present to RTD soon,” he said. “We’re very close.” The planned extension was among the reasons Charles Schwab cited in its decision to build a 52-acre corporate campus in the city. The campus will take shape during two phases of construction, bringing 3,130 jobs to Lone Tree. Cabela’s is in the process of hiring about 200 people for its 110,000-square-foot Lone Tree store, one of two it plans to open in the Denver metro area on Aug. 15. The Thornton Cabela’s will measure about 80,000 square feet. “Let me remind everybody, ours is the Mayor continues on Page 13
Aviation legislation takes flight Hickenlooper signs bills at Centennial Airport By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews. com Three new aviation-related bills were signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper, two of which benefit Colorado’s growing aviation and aerospace industry. The bill-signing took place May 13 in the Denverjet Center lobby at Centennial Airport. One bill, known as the “Aviation Development Zone Act,” grants Colorado aircraft manufactures a $1,200 state tax credit for each new employee hired, another extends the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit
by an additional five years, and the third creates a special license plate for the Civil Air Patrol. Hickenlooper lauded House Bills 13-1080 and 13-1287 as “huge job creators,” not just for Centennial, but for all airports around the state. “People often say I spend too much time trying to get companies to put their headquarters here,” Hickenlooper said. “The fact is, for every big company that locates here, there are several smaller companies that come in and feed off the new economic cluster created.” “That runway out there is not just a piece of concrete that connects Arapahoe and Douglas counties,” said Republican Aviation continues on Page 13
Schwab breaks ground Founder says campus will boost company By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Charles Schwab credits the success of his Fortune 500 company to the quality of his employees. Their well-being is a driving force toward construction of the $230 million Lone Tree corporate campus that officially broke ground May 10. “Our company really is nothing without really happy employees,” Schwab said in a brief speech at the Lone Tree Arts Center. “Denver is such a fantastic environment to live (and) provides the well-educated employees we love to attract to our company. By being here, this will give us a better edge.” The 75-year-old Schwab started the San Francisco-based company 40 years ago with four employees. It now employs nearly 15,000 people and serves 8.2-million client brokerage accounts. Off-stage, Schwab didn’t rule out the prospect of someday making Lone Tree its global headquarters. “As we get this campus developed, we will consider all options,” he said. Schwab spoke from the arts center’s stage along with Gov. John Hickenlooper, Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella, Lone Tree Mayor Jim Gunning and Schwab Senior Vice President Brian McDonald. The Charles Schwab Corporation’s 2,200 metro-area employees, now spread among three sites, will move into their new home in late 2014. Schwab credited Lone Tree for its part in bringing the project to life. “I just want to thank all the people who with Godspeed put this whole thing together,” he said. “You did an incredible yeoman’s job to make this all happen.” McDonald said Schwab plans to become part of Lone Tree, and already is pondering a relationship with the Lone Tree Arts CenSchwab continues on Page 13
Using the tail of an aircraft as a solid surface to write, Gov. John Hickenlooper, center, puts a pen to Senate Bill 13-060 on May 13 at Centennial Airport. Joined by state Rep. Frank McNulty, left, and state Sen. Mark Scheffel, Hickenlooper signed the bill that creates a special license plate for the Civil Air Patrol. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
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