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1. Why create WR2020?

Settled in the mid-1800s as a rural farming community, Wheat Ridge has a rich and varied history that has become obscured in the midst of rapid surrounding urban and suburban development.

WR2020 is a community-based organization that is implementing a visionary strategy to reclaim and build upon this heritage.

Wheat Ridge does not exist in isolation. It is part of a large and growing Jefferson County and greater metro Denver area. Wheat Ridge City Council recently embarked upon a critical community assessment that revealed some startling findings about the city.

A community's population and household demographics have a significant impact on its commercial and civic vitality. Wheat Ridge's central challenge is its loss of strong households that are the backbone of every thriving community. These households are headed by individuals who are consistently employed, have the potential for upward mobility and engage actively in civic life.

City staff, City Council and a team of consultants, Winston Associates and czbLLC, crafted a plan (The Neighborhood Repositioning Strategy or NRS) to position Wheat Ridge to compete more effectively with its neighboring communities to attract and retain engaged citizens, strong families and businesses. At the heart of this plan is the creation of an organization (WR2020) to implement ten interrelated strategies.

2. What is WR2020?

WR2020 will be a dynamic non-profit organization organized to:

Create an image for Wheat Ridge and promote specific features to select market niches, including residential, commercial, and employer

Facilitate more competitive housing development through incentives for and communication with builders, investors, home buyers, homeowners, real estate agents/brokers, the lending community and others

Encourage substantial improvement and maintenance in residential areas, commercial sites and public spaces

Promote development of designated commercial sites and clusters

Develop effective leadership through an engaged WR2020 board comprised of citizen, institutional and business representation

WR2020 will initiate projects and will work cooperatively with the City, businesses and other organizations to implement them. WR2020 intends to complement--not replicate or replace—existing city staff and committee roles in planning, urban renewal, and elsewhere in government. WR2020 will have an Executive Director and a small, highly skilled, professional staff. WR2020 will initially be funded by the city and will develop additional sources of income.

3. How is WR2020 created?

Wheat Ridge 2020 will be a tax-exempt nonprofit organized under the laws of Colorado. A Nominating Committee is actively seeking approximately 100 individuals to comprise the initial membership of WR2020. These members will help oversee the work of WR2020 as it works in partnership with others to implement the vision for Wheat Ridge.

These members are the champions who will spearhead and support the organization. The Nominating Committee seeks a broad range of members that reflect the diversity of the community and represent local residents, local and regional businesses, employers, civic groups, and more.

WR2020 members are invited to contribute their energy, unique skills and expertise by providing ideas, execution strategies and support to the professional staff of WR2020. Members will be asked to participate in workgroups or subcommittees to help steer the organization and attend an annual meeting. Ultimately, WR2020 members will elect from among themselves a board of directors of 13-15 people with two members appointed by the Wheat Ridge City Council.