Holy Spirit Livin is new to the I-70 corridor. They are located at 1506 Main St. in Strasburg. They do not have normal walk-in hours yet, so the best contact is by phone (303-622-4648) or email (holyspiritlivin@gmail.com).
They are a community and learning center, offering classes and instruction on the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They are hoping to instill a boldness to stand up for God’s principles and KEEP God back into this country.
They hold support groups to help others get through hurdles in life. This includes issues of addiction, family drama, and recently, God and politics.
Check them out at: holyspiritlivin.com, they have events and classes that may interest you.
WHEN THE CITY FOLK TRY TO HELP US COUNTRY BUMPKINS...
Last week, Adams and Arapahoe Counties came to Strasburg to present their proposed Subarea Plan—a 20-year vision for how our small town should grow. On the surface, it sounded like progress. In practice, the meeting left many locals with more questions than answers, and more frustration than confidence.
The county's official presentation offered recommendations about our Main Street improvements, western-style façades for buildings, and beautification with planters and upgraded sidewalks. They showed us the map for the new zoning of commercial and residential areas. But when pressed on the details—who pays, who decides, and who benefits—the answers were in short supply.
According to the chart below, the majority of the residents are not looking for more houses. Instead, they are looking for amenities that will support the needs of those of us already living here. As far as businesses (restaurants, stores, and medical facilities), a representative explained that potential business owners would need to pursue grants to implement many of the suggested changes. In other words, the counties have ideas, but it’s up to our small business owners and local leaders to find the money. That doesn’t sound
like a plan—it sounds like a lecture. We are enterprising people, but the counties involved should be in discussions with us about how to work together to build and maintain viable businesses that serve the community. The conversation should start with what we already have and what we REALLY need. Because clearly what Strasburg is really lacking is a ninth bank, another coffee shop, and maybe even a third Mexican restaurant — said no one ever.”
A Plan Twenty Years Late
One of the first red flags for me was the part of the meeting that discussed timing. An Adams County planner explained that most subarea plans are supposed to be updated every ten years. Strasburg’s last plan was in 2002—more than 20 years ago. When asked why it had taken so long, the county’s answer was bureaucratic doublespeak: the 2002 plan projected through 2020, so we started this process once that timeline elapsed. Translation? We didn’t bother until the clock ran out, and it's taken us an ADDITIONAL 5 years to get on it. For a community that values accountability, this raised eyebrows. If officials can’t keep their own deadlines, why should we trust their new 25-year roadmap?
Questions Without Real Answers
I pressed the Adams County planning group for specifics afterward. While Ella Gleason did her best to provide written responses, the substance didn’t reassure me—or many others.
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How will this be funded? No clear commitments. Just references to an “Implementation Matrix” and a hope that grants might be found.
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Who has the authority to approve or decline this proposal? Citizens will have a “chance to comment,” but county commissioners ultimately call the shots.
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Who decides on the design rules (the "western facade"? Future “overlays” will dictate what Main Street looks like, but we’ll only see the details later.
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How can we get a seat at the table to be involved? We’re told to sign up for email lists, apply for grants ourselves, or join committees.
My fear is that the counties get to decide what Strasburg “should” look like, while locals are left scrambling to pay for it.
Small Town vs. Big City Attitudes
Perhaps the most glaring part of the evening wasn’t just the uncertainty, but the cultural clash. The presenters—county staff and consultants from the Denver metro area—looked and sounded different from the people in that room. They spoke in planner jargon about “vision,” “implementation matrices,” and “design overlays.” Folks here speak plainly about property rights, small business survival, and the cost of living. To many, it felt less like a partnership and more like outsiders telling us how to run our town.
The Bottom Line
Strasburg deserves growth that respects its character, values, and people. I think that most of us would like to see a Strasburg Recreation Center. However, if there is not a concrete idea and plan for how it will be paid for, we might as well scrap it. What we don’t need is another layer of government planning with little funding, little clarity, and little accountability. If Adams and Arapahoe Counties want to help Strasburg, they should start by answering a simple question: Are you investing in our future, or just dictating one? Until then, this “plan” feels more like a glossy wish list than a roadmap we can trust. What's next? Do they even know? It's taken them FIVE years to get this far!
Looking for more information on their recommendations? Here's a little 64 page, light-reading plan.