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As further real-world proof of its commitment to sustainable development, the Colorado master-planned community of Candelas has been awarded LEED® Gold certification for its newest Swim & Fitness Club, a state-of-the-art recreation center in the community’s ParkView residential village. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“The Candelas community’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built environment by providing everyone with a healthy, green and high performing buildings. Candelas serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the environment.”

“We’re obviously very proud of the fact that our newest Swim & Fitness Club was recognized with the USGBC’s highest honor,” said Creig Veldhuizen, Candelas’ Vice President of Marketing and Finance. “It’s a rare distinction for a new-home community to garner LEED Gold certification, but it simply underscores our unwavering dedication to be one of Colorado’s premier green living communities and help residents leave a lighter carbon footprint.”

The latest Swim & Fitness Club at Candelas—situated within the community’s residential village of ParkView—is an innovative, solar-powered recreation center that has been designed and built with an all-out commitment to green building best practices. For example, the recreation center is 60 percent more energy efficient than comparable buildings, features water-efficient fixtures that achieve over 50 percent water savings, and more than 20 percent of materials, by cost, were sourced from within 500 miles—with over 10 percent of materials’ value coming from recycled content.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 90,100 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 17.1 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 164 countries and territories.

The popular, family-oriented master-planned community of Candelas picked up a prestigious Silver Award—the highest accolade—from The Telly Awards. Honoring the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, The Telly Awards receives more than 13,000 entries each year from all 50 states and across five continents.

The top Telly honor for Candelas lauded the community’s Candelas is Forever short film, a beautifully produced piece featuring astounding time-lapse imagery of the community’s natural, wide-open surroundings set to a stirring musical score. “This is our first Telly win, and naturally, we’re thrilled with the recognition,” said Creig Veldhuizen, Vice President of Marketing and Finance for Candelas. “Our Life Wide Open advertising theme speaks to our epic natural setting, but it also hints at our ‘anything’s possible’ spirit that especially resonates with today’s young families. This video captured all of that.”

Added Toni Alexander of InterCommunicationsInc ® , the marketing agency for Candelas, “What made this video so powerful was its authentic narrative from the point of view of a Candelas resident, in this case, a husband and father. It truly struck an emotional chord that portrayed Candelas as being a great place to cultivate a family.”

The video was shot and edited by local, independent filmmaker John Snelson along with assistants Jamie Guy and Lucas Flores. “I’m proud to have worked with Creig and the InterCom team to create Candelas is Forever, our collaboration made all the difference,” said John. “During the many hours spent shooting, the beautiful landscape and friendly community truly made my work days feel like I was part of the Candelas family.”

Now in its 37 th  year, The Telly Awards is one of the most sought-after awards by industry leaders, from large international firms to local production companies and ad agencies. Based on the ratio of winners over the past several years, only 7 to 10% of entrants are chosen as Silver Telly Award winners.

The Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education approved the use of Certificates of Participation (COPs) to finance the construction of a new K-8 school and an expansion of Sierra elementary, both in northwest Arvada, in early March. On March 31, the financing was secured and the lease-purchase agreement was cleared to proceed. Construction at the Candelas site will begin this spring, and construction at Sierra will begin over the summer. Both construction projects are scheduled to open for the 2017-18 school year, with the $31 million investment at the Candelas site providing room for up to 1,000 K-8 students and the $17 million investment in Sierra increasing K-6 school capacity by 250 students.

Background

The growth of Jeffco Public Schools’ facilities needs has increased dramatically over the past three years, most notably in the northwest corridor of the district. The elementary schools in that area are experiencing overcrowding due to population growth with the construction of many new residential developments. The Sierra Phase II project, which was put on hold due to a failed bond measure in 2008, is now at a critical point due to the increased number of students. The Board of Education has chosen to utilize lease-purchase financing, Certificates of Participation (COPs), to fund these needed projects.

How COPs Work

COPs are issued securities to raise capital as a means of financing facility construction. They are used by governments, municipalities, and school districts across the country to finance construction projects when funds are not available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Typically, COPs are financed by transferring interest in a property to a third-party lessor, which is then leased back through annual payments. In the district’s case, it will transfer interest in an existing school building with the value of approximately $43 million, which will serve as collateral for the COP investors. The proceeds raised from the sale of COPs will then be used to construct the new facilities.

The interest rate paid by Jeffco Public Schools is fixed and was determined at the time the COPs were sold. The rate is 3.01%. The principal and interest repayment is $3.2 million annually, which will be paid from the district’s capital fund. The lease is renewed yearly, and when the lease ends, the district will own the facility at no additional cost.

Historic Use of COPs

Colorado government entities have been issuing COPs for more than 35 years — cities, municipalities, and school districts have used the financing tool to make needed capital improvements or build new facilities. There has been more than

$1.5 billion in COPs issued by Colorado school districts in the last five years, in response to population growth, the need to build new schools and make structural improvements to existing schools.

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled on two occasions that COPs are exempt from TABOR, and therefore do not require prior voter approval. As the leases are renewed each year, and can be terminated at any time, COPs are not considered long-term debt.

Benefits of COPs for Jeffco Public Schools

The Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education was apprised of various short-term options to solve address the student growth issues. Although some of the options discussed may have solved minor capacity issues, they were not ideal for students, nor did they address the district’s long-term needs. Therefore, the Board approved the construction of a K-8 facility at the Candelas site in the Northwest area, and to move forward with Sierra Phase II.

COPs provide the district with the most immediate means of financing these critical school projects. Pursuing this option at this time also allows the district to secure a low interest rate and sustainable yearly lease payments. Moody’s Investors Service assigned an Aa3 rating, indicating high quality credit and very low credit risk. The rating outlook has been upgraded to positive by Standard and Poor’s Corp. and reflects the expectation that the district will maintain a strong financial position.

About Jeffco Public Schools

Jeffco Public Schools has been providing educational excellence for more than 60 years. Approximately nine percent of all the K-12 students in Colorado attend a Jeffco School. Our mission is to provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future. The district serves over 85,000 students at 154 schools on 168 campuses.

Find Jeffco Public Schools on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Arvada master-planned community of Candelas was recognized with a prestigious Gold Award from The Nationals, an annual competition sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and presented by the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC). Winners were announced on January 19th at The Nationals Gala in Las Vegas, held in conjunction with the annual International Builders’ Show.

Candelas earned Gold for its creative advertising in the category of Web Banners/Rich Media, a memorable series of online ads that touted the community’s dramatic views as well as the natural beauty of its picture-perfect, wide-open landscapes.

“We’re honored to earn another Gold Award at The Nationals,” said Creig Veldhuizen, Vice President of Marketing and Finance for Candelas. “More and more buyers are discovering that Candelas is indeed a special place—in its variety of homes, in its built amenities, in its incredible panoramic vistas, and in the real sense of community enjoyed by its residents. These are just a few of the reasons why Candelas is currently the second-most successful residential community in the Denver area in terms of sales.”

The marketing agency behind the Candelas brand is InterCommunicationsInc®, a full-service branding, marketing and communications company with more than 30 years of industry experience. “This award really belongs to our Candelas client, Creig Veldhuizen, for giving us the freedom in which to be creative,” said InterCommunications President and Creative Director, Toni Alexander. “Ours is a marketing partnership I truly value, and as Candelas continues to get bigger and better, we can’t wait to collaborate on new and inventive ways to share the Life Wide Open promise with prospective homebuyers.”

Candelas is a multi-year award winner at The Nationals. In previous years, the community garnered Silver Awards for Best Internet Marketing Program, Best Ad, Best Signage and Best Website for a Community; and Gold Awards for Best Print Campaign and Best Overall Advertising Campaign.

Now in its 36th year, The Nationals pays tribute to superior sales and marketing achievements by individual professionals, homebuilders and associates, and sales and marketing councils. Winners emerge from a painstaking three-day judging process that includes evaluation by some of the industry’s finest marketing professionals, representing a wide range of disciplines and a geographic cross section.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As many of you know, the growth of Jeffco Public Schools’ facilities needs has increased dramatically over the past few years. Schools in Northwest Arvada, in particular, are experiencing overcrowding due to increasing residential developments that are attracting new families to the area.

In September, the Board of Education selected the Candelas site in Arvada to build a new K-6 school. Last week, the Board decided to expand this new school development to serve between 800 and 1,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The new K-8 school will not only increase the amount of student seats, it will also prevent lengthy bus rides for seventh and eighth grade students to the current middle schools in the area.

In addition, the Board decided to move forward with the much-needed completion of the “Phase II” project at Sierra Elementary. The project was put on hold after the failure of a 2008 bond package, and the need to address both capacity and expansive soil issues has only grown. The completion of this project will provide an additional 250 seats, and correct the issues related to floor slab movement.

These are only the first steps in meeting the growing capacity needs in the Northwest Arvada (Northwest Corridor) area. Other future urgent needs in this fast growing region include a Table Rock Mesa PK-8 school, a K-6 school at Leyden Rock, and an expansion at Ralston Valley High School.

In order to finance both projects, the Board is seeking Certificates of Participation (COP). The school at the Candelas site is estimated to cost $25 million, while the completion of Sierra Phase II is estimated to cost $15 million. Both projects are slated to be completed for the 2017-18 school year.

We will continue to update you as we move forward with these projects.

Warmest regards, Dan

The Arvada master-planned community of Candelas won a coveted Silver Award from The Nationals, an annual competition sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and presented by the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC). The Nationals honors the best in the building industry for their determination, integrity, creativity and endurance.

Candelas was recognized for its creative advertising in the category of Web Banners/Rich Media, a memorable campaign that captured the many dimensions of the community—and true spirit of its Life Wide Open theme. “We couldn’t be happier with picking up another Nationals award,” said Creig Veldhuizen, Vice President of Marketing and Finance for Candelas. “Just like the community itself, the brand we’ve developed for Candelas is differentiating in the local market. It’s clearly been a contributing factor to our current status as the second-most successful residential community in the Denver area in terms of sales.”

The marketing firm guiding the Candelas story is InterCommunicationsInc®, a full-service branding, marketing and communications company with more than 30 years of industry experience. “We’ve always believed Candelas captures the essence of Colorado living, and that’s something we strive to convey in all our work for the community,” said Toni Alexander, the agency’s President and Creative Director. “We greatly value our marketing partnership with the Candelas team, and look forward to continuing to tell prospective homebuyers all about the Life Wide Open promise.”

As a multi-year award winner, Candelas is certainly no stranger to the panels of Nationals’ judges. In previous years, Candelas garnered Silver Awards for Best Internet Marketing Program, Best Ad, Best Signage and Best Website for a Community; and Gold Awards for Best Print Campaign and Best Overall Advertising Campaign.

Now in its 36th year, The Nationals pays tribute to superior sales and marketing achievements by individual professionals, homebuilders and associates, and sales and marketing councils. Winners emerge from a painstaking three-day judging process that includes evaluation by some of the industry’s finest marketing professionals, representing a wide range of disciplines and a geographic cross section. Silver Award Winners are the top vote recipients in each category and are the finalists for the Gold Award, which will be announced and presented January 19th, 2016 in Las Vegas.

Last month, the Board of Education unanimously voted to build a new school at the Candelas site in Arvada. The site is a 25-acre parcel of land on Colorado Highway 72 between West 94th Avenue and El Diente Court. The new school is projected to seat 625 students from kindergarten through sixth grade.

“As we look to the future and what Jeffco Schools will look like in 2020 and beyond, we envision this school will incorporate state-of-the-art facilities and safety features to ensure that we provide an optimal environment for learning,” said Superintendent Dan McMinimee. “This is just the start of Jeffco Schools’ facilities plans to accommodate growth in our northwest area.”

The growth of the Jeffco Public Schools’ facilities needs has increased dramatically over the past 24 to 36 months, which compressed the original 15-year facilities plan to a five- to seven-year plan. According to a presentation given to the school board at the August 27, 2015 board meeting, the district is projecting a potential shortfall of student seats due to increasing residential developments that are attracting families in the northwest corner of the county.

The projected cost of the new 625-student school will be $18 million, and will be complete within approximately 24 months. This new school will alleviate overcrowding at Meiklejohn Elementary, West Woods Elementary, and Van Arsdale Elementary.

Of the $18 million package, the building costs are estimated to be $10.45 million ($170 per square foot) with site development costs at just over $3.1 million, and other soft development costs, such as architecture and engineering fees, surveying, testing, and inflation costing approximately $4.3 million. The funds allocated for building costs are existing dollars, no loans are required to fund the project.

Other future urgent needs in this fast growing region include a 250-seat Phase II project at Sierra Elementary School, a Table Rock Mesa PK-8 school, a K-6 school at Leyden Rock, and an expansion at Ralston Valley High School. To address these future needs, the Board unanimously directed district staff to begin the process of putting together a bond package for November of 2016.

The new school at the Candelas site is projected to open in the fall of 2017

Candelas-Sat-P3-9-19-15

As master-planned Candelas prepares to welcome its 400th family to a sustainably designed community tucked close to the foothills between Arvada and Boulder, those residents like their scenic location – but appreciate even more that the parks, trails and recreational attractions designed to get them into the Colorado outdoors are ready now, not just on the drawing board.

“These people are choosing Candelas because they like the way we’ve put in the amenities first,” says Creig Veldhuizen, whose firm Terra Causa manages development of the 1,450-acre community, which is now well past 400 home sales, nearing its 500th building permit approved for three attractive neighborhoods spread across a 4-mile expanse, with models by seven builders.

“Many of the residents are hikers and cyclists,” Veldhuizen adds, “and though they’re attracted by the top-rated Jefferson County Schools, what they really appreciate is not having to wait to enjoy the setting Candelas offers.”

And yes, more attractions are on the way. While a $3 million sustainably-designed pool/recreation center and five of six planned parks are in place, Candelas is breaking ground on a second rec center for its Parkview neighborhood, expected to open in summer 2016 — with competitive lap pool, demo kitchen, large meeting facilities, fitness room, and fire pit that’ll have a view of the Flatirons behind Boulder. Miles of trail are already in – and that span will jump when Candelas completes its newest Canyon View neighborhood, linking east to west – heading for an eventual length of 13.5 trail miles, passing 193 acres of open space.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is getting set to open its 6,400-acre wildlife refuge bordering Candelas along its entire northern expanse. The visitor center is expected to open in 2016 – but Candelas’ staffers routinely see a hundred head of elk that ignored the opening date, already roaming Candelas’ open space. Families are taking advantage of a full calendar of community events offered – everything from coffee get-togethers, to a community run, to a Father’s Day picnic, to ‘Kids Night Out’ at the rec center – giving mom and dad a date night. Later this month, Candelas holds its annual fall ‘Candelas Fest’ with live music, pony and hay rides, and catered food.

All of that, says Veldhuizen, has strong appeal to families moving up from Arvada and Denver; but is growingly attractive to new arrivals from Boulder (20 minutes) and from out of state, who see a great advantage to the pricing here, as opposed to those in Boulder County areas. You’ll tour the first Swim & Fitness Club; see models from the low $400s by Richmond-American Homes, Lennar, Ryland, Standard Pacific, TRI Pointe, Century Communities and Village Homes that are all built to Energy Star 3.0 standards, some offering standard solar energy; and you’ll see how close this is to boating and recreation at Standley Lake. (Watch for new arrivals next year from the $300s.)

To reach Candelas, take Indiana north from W. 64th in Arvada, three miles to Candelas Parkway. Or from U.S. 36 at Flatiron Crossing, take Interlocken south a mile to Colo. 128, turn west to Indiana, then head south. From Boulder, take Hwy 93 south to Colo. 72 and turn east.

 

 

WHERE: Candelas, 1,450-acre sustainable master plan in Arvada, 5 parks ready now, $3M rec center; second rec center opens 2016; models by Richmond-American, Lennar, Ryland, Standard Pacific, TRI Pointe, Century Communities, Village Homes. Candelas Pkwy at Indiana, Arvada; from W. 64th take Indiana north 3 mi. to Candelas; or from U.S. 36 at Flatiron Crossing take Interlocken south 1 mi. to CO 128, right 2 mi. to Indiana and south; or from Boulder take Hwy 93 south to CO 72

Golden, CO – September 3, 2015 – Last night, the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to build a new school at the Candelas site in Arvada, a 25-acre parcel of land on Colorado Highway 72 between West 94th Avenue and El Diente Court. The new school is projected to seat 625 students and the Board will decide whether it is a K-6 or K-8 school at the September 24 Board meeting.

“As we look to the future and what Jeffco Schools will look like in 2020 and beyond, we envision this school to incorporate state-of-the-art facilities and safety features to ensure that we provide an optimal environment for learning,” said Jeffco Superintendent Dan McMinimee. “This is just the start of Jeffco Schools’ facilities plans to accommodate growth in our northwest area.”

The growth of the Jeffco Schools’ facilities needs has increased dramatically over the past 24 to 36 months, which compressed the original 15-year facilities plan to a five- to seven-year plan. According to a presentation given to the school board at the August 27, 2015 board meeting, the district is projecting a potential shortfall of student seats due to increasing residential developments that are attracting families in the NW corner of the county. The projected cost of the new 625-student school will be $18 million, which will deliver 62,000 square feet in approximately 24 months. This new school will alleviate overcrowding at Meiklejohn Elementary, West Woods Elementary, Van Arsdale Elementary and, depending upon configuration, Oberon Middle School.

Of the $18 million package, the building costs are estimated to be $10.45 million ($170 per square foot) with site development costs at just over $3.1 million and other soft development costs, such as architecture and engineering fees, surveying, testing, and inflation costing approximately $4.3 million.

While the district decided to move forward with the Candelas site, the two additional sites under consideration likely will be developed in the future as well as Phase II of Sierra Elementary School.  The district needs will not be fulfilled with just one additional school. Other future urgent needs in this fast growing region include a 250-seat Phase II project at Sierra Elementary School, a Table Rock Mesa PK-8 school, a K-6 school at Leyden Rock, and an expansion at Ralston Valley High School.  To address these future needs, the Board unanimously directed district staff to begin the process of putting together a bond package for November of 2016.

About Jeffco Public Schools

Serving more than 86,000 students, Jeffco Public Schools is one of the largest districts in the nation, with 18 public high schools.  Jeffco’s mission is to provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future. Jeffco values integrity, teamwork, people, and exemplary performance in order to fulfill its mission.