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Foreclosures mounting in Castle Rock

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Contributed by: YourHub.com on 5/27/2008

Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch boast the highest number of foreclosures in Douglas County in the first quarter of 2008, according to a study recently released by staff researchers at Douglas County Libraries.

The study, which was discussed at a Castle Rock town council meeting May 20, came at the request of councilman Ryan Reilly, who is considering a proposal that would give the town more authority in helping reduce the number of foreclosures and mitigate some of the problems associated with foreclosures.

Reilly said the town may have an interest in higher code enforcement, because of the effect foreclosed homes have on adjacent property's home values.

"Now, we kind of work on a reactive basis," Reilly said. "If someone notifies us that there's a problem, we'll go out and take care of it. The question is, do we want to be more proactive given the number of nuisances."

Researchers at the Philip S. Miller Library helped prepare the report for the town.

Currently, the cities of Denver and Aurora, as well as the Town of Parker, already have personnel and ordinances that deal with neighborhood inspection, especially weed and trash issues, according to Jane Smith, a reference librarian who helped compile the report.

Smith's report indicated that the Douglas County Public Trustee's database could help the town provide timely status and contact information on foreclosure filings. Reilly, however, said the database doesn't indicate whether a home is currently vacated.

"That's the key information that would trigger any government involvement," he said.

Council agreed to pick up the issue again closer to when budget planning comes up next.

More information on foreclosures in the county can be found at www.douglas.co.us/public trustee/index.html

AT A GLANCE
Here's a look at the 2008 foreclosure filings for Douglas County, through March 31
Castle Rock - 152
Highlands Ranch - 152
Parker - 144
Primary urban area - 63
Nonurban unincorporated - 51
Roxborough - 27
Pinery - 24
City of Lone Tree - 18
City of Castle Pines North - 9
Castle Pines SUA - 8
Other - 10

SOURCE: DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPT.

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Hank Lacey

posted on 5/27/2008 @ 10:44:08 PM

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BTW, the crisis isn't over yet. In fact, Castle Rock will see a greater rate of foreclosures even than it is experiencing now before the housing market completes its fall to earth. Of course, Mark Stevens and the Council think Castle Rock can continue to work under the suburban sprawl model that has given us "planned future parks," roads with insufficient capacity, an over-crowded recreation center, an under-financed fire department, and a police department with too few officers. Too bad. Suburbia, as we have known it, is unsustainable. Castle Rock must build a dependable, durable and realistic economic base that will render unnecessary the high rate of commuter lifestyles here. If it does not, the economic stresses facing the community will get worse as rising gas prices, growing oil scarcity, global climate change, and the over-built local housing sector drive down wealth and put more and more burdens on stagnant incomes.

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Submitted By: Hank Lacey

posted on 5/27/2008 @ 10:42:23 PM

(Not Rated)

When I was on Council I opposed the FY 08 budget in part because the town's revenue projections are too optimistic. The Council adopted a budget that projects construction of about 300 new homes in Castle Rock this year. This town will be lucky to see 100 homes built in 2008. And sales tax revenues are going to, at best, grow extremely slowly due to the broad economic slowdown. How Ryan Reilly thinks Castle Rock can afford to pay more town employees to go out and do code enforcement at empty houses is beyond me. Aside from the financial unreality of the suggestion, I am hard-pressed to see who would get the ticket!

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Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 5/27/2008 @ 3:50:09 PM

(Not Rated)

So what authority would they attempt to "have in reducing the number of foreclosures?" By providing status and contact information to whom? And what is this "government involvement" exactly? C'mon Joey. Don't give me neutral. I get that all the time and everywhere. mc

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