55 Tiny Homes, Big Questions

55 Tiny Homes, Big Questions

Author: Dave Gardner February 10, 2020 Duration: 56:40

Big things are happening for tiny homes in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs Principal Planner Lonna Thelan fills us in on how city planning and zoning issues affect tiny home locations, and Shelley Jensen, founder, CEO and chief community strategist of We Fortify, shares details of her first development, Working Fusion at Mill Street.

Working Fusion is a sustainable tiny-home development in the Mill District that will allow young renters to be more functional earlier into their next phase of housing and establishes trust and responsibility. Each tiny home is designed with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space. Each new renter receives a bed, bedding, television, silverware, dishes, artwork and a community picture to care for and take with them when they move to more permanent digs. Additionally, KP17 - in collaboration with other organizations - will program community activities such as yoga, summer concerts, community gardening education, poetry slam, and financial wellness classes.

We Fortify is a non-profit homeless prevention organization that creates permanent generational shifts by providing creative, dignified, and environmentally friendly housing solutions in socially supportive neighborhoods.

This program was recorded at the January 17, 2020 luncheon meeting of the Pikes Peak Environmental Forum. The Forum informs the community in Colorado Springs on issues of environmental import. Our monthly luncheon meeting topics have ranged from how earthquakes can predict weather events to sustainable energy solutions. Each month we learn something we weren’t necessarily aware we needed to know, but in broadening our knowledge, we deepen our understanding of, and our connection to, the world. Learn about future luncheons at our Facebook page, or contact us to be put on the email list for meeting notifications.

LINKS:

Lonna Thelan’s Slides

Shelley Jensen’s Slides

Colorado Springs zoning code update

Short Term Rentals information at City of Colorado Springs website

Working Fusion at Mill Street

 

Presenting Sponsors:

Blue Planet Earthscapes

Peak Radar

Additional Sponsors:

Adams Bank & Trust

Black Hills Energy

Environmental Compliance Systems

Old Town Bike Shop

Miriam's Place

OrganaGardens

Terra Essentials

 

UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:

Accessing Clean Water: The PFAS Story in El Paso County, COPikes Peak Environmental Forum Friday, February 28, 2020 Noon to 2 pmMargarita at Pine Creek 7350 Pine Creek Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80919 Event is free; you buy your lunch RSVP here; very important

Permaculture Design Course 2020Pikes Peak PermacultureFirst class - March 13, 2019Information and Registration

The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.

Colorado Springs Office of Innovation & Sustainability

Dems Environmental Initiative

Green Cities Coalition

Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future

Pikes Peak Environmental Forum

Pikes Peak Library District Green Team

Pikes Peak Group of Sierra Club

Pikes Peak Permaculture

Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Subscribe (free) on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

 


Hosted by Dave Gardner, Peak Environment digs into the real-world choices and conversations shaping life in the Pikes Peak Region. This isn't a distant global overview, but a local look at how environmental care weaves into the fabric of our community, from the trails we hike to the policies our leaders debate. Each episode explores the intersection of our society and our surroundings, considering how sustainable practices impact both our physical health and our cultural values. You'll hear from neighbors, advocates, and experts discussing practical steps for stewardship, the nuances of building a resilient local economy, and the ongoing work toward balanced public policy. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded dialogue that connects personal fitness and well-being directly to the health of the place we call home. Find this podcast for a deeper understanding of what it means to live well, right here.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Peak Environment
Podcast Episodes
62 Manitou Springs Forest Garden Initiative Kick-Off [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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60 Voices for Wolves - Proposition 114 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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59 Updating the Regional Sustainability Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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58 Indigenous Land Management for Growing Food Locally [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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57 The PFAS Story in El Paso County CO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:13
You can’t escape toxic PFAS chemicals. They are everywhere. Get an update on what we know and what’s being done about water contamination by PFAS (Perfluoroalklsubstance). Groundwater and surface water in portions of the…
56 Colorado Needs Wolves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:43
Colorado needs Wolves – not merely to restore a natural balance or the wildness that we all seek – though wolves will do that if they are present for long enough, in sufficient numbers and with wide enough distribution –…
54 Smart Cities for a Sustainable Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
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53 Smokebrush Farm Feeds Mind and Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Learn all about a very unique community asset. Smokebrush Farm is a small, biodynamic farm in Manitou Springs that serves as an educational model as well as a retreat center. Yoga classes, an art club, Indian dance class…

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