DENVER — The City of Denver opened an emergency cold weather shelter at a former DoubleTree hotel despite previous objections from some in city council, as sub-zero temperatures settle in across the metro over the next couple of days.
The move also came after advocates spent Thursday handing out emergency supplies outside the Quebec Street hotel, demanding immediate action.
"We really needed city council and the Mayor's Office to stop the standoff over that space and open it up to keep people safe," said advocate Amy Beck with Together Denver.
Denver City Council last month voted not to operate The Aspen, located at 4040 Quebec St., as a cold-weather shelter citing concerns that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston had launched too many shelters for the unhoused in northeast Denver, according to reporting by Kyle Harris over at Denverite.
But a blast of arctic air will bring wind chills as low as 20 degrees or more below zero over the next several days. In Denver proper, Friday’s high temp will struggle to reach 20 degrees and will remain freezing until at least Monday.
Denver7 | Weather
Snow expected to pick up in Denver as brutal wind chills settle in tonight
After the city announced its opening, Council member Shontel Lewis of District 8, where a majority of the shelters are located, told Denver7 poor planning by Mayor Johnston created this "manufactured crisis".
Here is her full response to the opening of The Aspen: "Council District 8 has solved the problem because we care about our unhoused before a manufactured crisis. We are ready to show the rest of the city what it takes, so we can truly meet people where they are."
Jon Ewing, spokesperson for Mike Johnston's office, said the decision was necessary as emergency shelters hit capacity Thursday night when the cold weather set in.
"We know that yesterday was bad. Today's brutal. Tomorrow is going to be much worse, and so we have to take action now," Ewing said.
Denver7 followed up with Beck Friday afternoon who expressed relief at the ballroom's reopening but said the space alone isn't the only solution.
She also emphasized the need for better collaboration between city council and the mayor's office.
"I understand that city council did turn it down, but then they needed to continue to move forward and figure out what the solution is, rather than just stop there," Beck said.
The Aspen, along with additional shelter at 4849 Bannock St., was set to open for people needing a place to stay for the night at 1 p.m. Friday.
Emergency cold weather shelters, including The Aspen, will stay open until weather conditions improve. Denver7 has compiled a list of them across the metro here.
