Belmar Park

When I used to live on Capitol Hill, one of the highlights was going for a walk or a run in Cheesman Park.

Belmar has a pretty good park, too, on the west side of Wadsworth, behind the Lakewood Cultural Center and the Belmar Library. 

Unlike Cheesman Park's Beaux Arts sensibility, Belmar Park is 127 acres of open space, with three small lakes, a creek, a forested hill, and a grassy low area. A combination of paved and gravel paths loop around the park, along with an equestrian loop. Only the northwest corner of the park is neatly trimmed bluegrass. The rest is prairie grass. 

The south side of the park is home to the Lakewood Heritage Museum, which houses a collection of standard-issue antique farm implements and a collection of old buildings rescued from demolitions over the years. It's also home to an outdoor amphitheater and a summer concert series. Plus, this end of the park is where the annual Chili Harvest Festival and Lakewood Cider Days take place. Parking for these events is always crazy, but since the park is literally just across the street from Belmar, it's a short walk for locals.

KB Home Installs Bike Racks and Pocket Park

Construction is well underway on the new KB Home neighborhood in Belmar. Four of the paired homes have finished exteriors, and the foundation of a fifth has been poured. It looks like at least one of the units is already owner occupied.

On a quick walk through the area today, I counted seven or eight sold signs, mostly on the units that open onto the interior of the development. Much of the landscaping is also in, including sidewalks, trees, grass, a small pocket park and a row of bike racks. The quality of the landscaping is good, and in fitting with the rest of the Belmar development.

Although I had originally hoped to see higher density development on this parcel, I'm feeling good about this bit of infill. I think it'll encourage walking in the neighborhood, and it's certainly good to see new construction happening again in Belmar.

World of Beer Coming to Belmar

World of Beer, a Florida-based chain of bars, opens this summer in Belmar, according to the happenings page of Continuum's Belmar website.

No other information is provided, but a quick look through Google Image gives the basic outline: 50 beers on tap, flat panel TVs, live music, female bartenders in sleeveless tank tops. Plus a long row of refrigerator cases lined with bottled beer. It's unclear if WOB (the abbreviation seems unavoidable) serves food or not.

Either way, it seems solidly middle-brow, and will probably do well in Belmar, creating middle-brow synergy with The Rock pizzeria and Baker Street Pub & Grill.

Continuum hasn't made public which location WOB is slated for, but other WOBs appear to be in the 3000 sq. foot range, so that doesn't leave too many options, unless there are plans for new construction. Perhaps the space under Whole Foods and across the corner from The Rock and Nordstrom Rack? Or the spot between Ohio Broadcasting and Baker Street?

Construction Underway on KB Paired Homes in BelMar

KB is moving relatively fast with their development of Block 9 at BelMar. The two model homes are finished, and two more paired homes (4 units) have roofs and windows. Sidewalks and utilities are in, along with some of the common landscaping.

Paciugo Gelato & Caffe

The windows are in at Paciugo Gelato & Caffe, along with cafe tables and upscale glass tile. The general contractor tells me the store will be opening as soon as a glass display case arrives from Italy (it's currently at sea).

Peeking through the windows, the general feel is upscale and classy-- and I love the garage-style door in the front! I can imagine the buzz this will create in the summer, when the neighborhood craves frozen treats. The stylish interior of Paciugo is also a far cry from the sickly green and strawberry crush interior of the Belmar Zinga!, which begs you to run, run away.

No, this new Paciugo looks like exactly the kind of ice cream shop Belmar needs. Or at least, it looks like the next best thing to getting a Liks or a Sweet Action (I'm a realist; I know the rents are too high in Belmar for a local shop ice cream shop to make it). Paciugo itself is a national chain with 38 locations, and its other locations have pretty good reviews on Yelp.

I don't have any information on why the Belmar Ben & Jerry's closed (it seemed to do a brisk business), but if the gelato is any good, Paciugo will do well.

Working With Artists Plans Eventual Move From Belmar

It looks like Working With Artists, the Belmar non-profit that offers classes in photography, is going to follow The Lab and move to a new location.

The Lab, as you may recall, moved from Belmar after merging with the Denver Musuem of Contemporary Art.

Now Working With Artists, which merged last year with the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, is looking for "new digs."

The details are buried midway through this DU Today blog post, but it looks like another disappointing loss for the Belmar's art scene and the Block 7 studios.

Ice Sculptures on the Plaza