Esther Kisamore and Bill Sulzman, long time Ithaka residents, outside their homes. Pam Zubeck
A group of former board members of Ithaka Land Trust has asked Attorney General Phil Weiserâs office to investigate the nonprofitâs recent sales of nearly half its 21 properties to one chosen developer at prices below market value, while loaning $555,717, interest free, to the same developer on some of those sales.
The transactions represent a radical departure from Ithakaâs original mission, when established in 1981, to care for the poor and provide permanent low-income housing.
Attorney Jennifer Gilbert, with GPS Legal Solutions of Denver, says in her May 5 letter some of Ithakaâs actions â all under the leadership of Ithaka director Anjuli Kapoor, hired in October 2017 â might constitute violations of Colorado law, as the
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ore than 100 neighbors gathered May 6 in an attempt to âSave the Westside Community Center,â according to a flyer circulated prior to the event. On Aug. 3, 2020, the city of Colorado Springs announced that the current operator, Woodmen Valley Chapelâs Center for Strategic Ministry, would not be renewing its contract past 2021.
Community members at the center listened to a presentation from Richard Mee, who is concerned that a new operator might not maintain the buildings as a community center, or that the existing buildings could be demolished and a new development put in their place. He also claims the process to select a new operator lacks transparency.