Park Hill residents file lawsuit to try to block safe outdoor camping site from neighborhood church
William Peterson
and last updated 2021-05-07 20:12:19-04
DENVER â Five Park Hill residents have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block another safe camping site for people experiencing homelessness from going up at the Park Hill United Methodist Church early next month.
The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Heather Anderson Thomas and Douglas W. Baier on behalf of residents Kurt Monigle, Dave Rodman, Jean Baptiste-Varnier, Justin Lovac and Blair Taylor in Denver District Court on Thursday against the Colorado Village Collaborative, city of Denver, Park Hill United Methodist Church and its pastor, Nathan Adams.
Five people from Park Hill – Kurt Monigle, Dave Rodman, Jean Baptiste-Varnier, Justin Lovac and Blair Taylor – filed the suit to prevent the establishment of a campsite at Park Hill United Methodist.
Their complaint suggests the site poses a risk of immediate danger to children who attend the preschool, camp or daycare at the church, or children who live and go to school in the area. These neighbors also express concern about traffic congestion if the church’s parking lot is taken over by Colorado Village Collaborative.
Further, the lawsuit said the Park Hill site does not provide access to resources like public transportation, as other sites might.