Page 5 - Sentinel February 2018

WALT’S WORDS emption remains in place until there is a change in ownership.
Walt Korinke
To apply for the senior property tax exemption, visit the county
I feel like my body has gotten totally out website: https://www.douglas.co.us/assessor/exemptions/se-
of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission nior-property-tax-exemption/
to join a fitness club and start exercis-
ing. I decided to take an aerobics class PERRY PARK - As spring rolls around, a couple of changes
for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and coming to Perry Park. Douglas
perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, County will be upgrading the
the class was over. Park Entrance by adding turn
lanes to improve the safety as-
pects of the corner. When con-
struction starts the I-25 “GAP”
in 2019 (hopefully), we can
The Senior Property Tax Exemption for senior citizens was expect increased traffic on #105 during the three-year high-
created for qualifying seniors and the surviving spouses of se- way widening. Also scheduled for this spring, Douglas County
niors who previously qualified for the exemption. Taxpayers plans to resurface the roads in Perry Park – bring it on!
65 years and older as of January 1 of the year of application
who have owned and occupied the property as their primary Back in 1972, on the 18-
residence for at least 10 consecutive years may qualify for the acre hill site 500 feet above
senior exemption. An application for the tax exemption must be and overlooking the Perry
sent to the county assessor between January 1 and July 1 of Park County Club, The
the qualifying year. ECHO HILLS CLUB
was opened with its social
The exemption reduces the actual taxable value of qualified and business conference
residential property by 50 percent of the first $200,000 of tax- rooms, dining, lounges, and
able value. The state is responsible for reimbursing the Douglas recreational facilities (swimming, tennis, etc.). Unfortunately,
County treasurer for the lost revenue. Once approved, the ex- they picked a poor economic decade to operate as it joined the
many failing enterprises of the time. Succumbing to closure,
vacancy then decay, only the concrete foundations remained
like a monument at the top of the hill. Following several more
development attempts, it was foreclosed by Colorado Capital
Bank, who itself became a failed bank with the property trans-
ferred to First Citizens Bank.

In 2011, the property now
known as “7107 Echo
Hills Club Road” was ac-
quired from the Bank by
Steamboat, Co. developer
Greg Stetman’s trust for a
mere $512,000. He spent
the next couple of years
dismantling the environ-
mentally affected concrete
LES PTO Presents the structure and removing the pool and tennis courts. Soon be-

21st Annual Boot Scootin’ coming frustrated working his development plans through
the County processes, he began marketing the property for
Boogie sale starting in the $1 million plus arena. Today it is listed at
$649,000. At present, Adamo Homes is processing a zoning
Friday, May 4th, 2018 request to permit the development of seven single-family prop-
erties on the 18.35-acre parcel, which requires the County’s
6 p.m. to 11 p.m. evaluation of the access, topography, and surrounding lot pat-

Spruce Mountain Ranch terns along with other issues. If successful, we may eventually
see a half-dozen, high-end homes on the top of hill overlooking
http://www.larkspurboot.org/ Perry Park – what a view!

Continued on page 6

Perry Park Sentinel February 2018 - Page 5