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Stapleton property owners will vote on whether to change neighborhood's name

A neighborhood group also voted on whether to change the name last year. That vote failed.

DENVER — Those who own property in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood will get to once again vote for whether that name will stick around. 

The master community association (MCA) said they will be sending out a referendum in June to property owners who will then be able to vote on changing the neighborhood's name. 

“The only way that we can do that is to survey the members, property owners here throughout Stapleton and see what they want to do because that has not been done to this date," said Keven Burnett, Stapleton MCA's Executive Director. 

Single-family homeowners will get one vote per household, or about 8,500 votes. 

Business owners will get one vote per 2,000 square feet of their space or about 1,800 votes. 

Apartment building owners get one vote per 5 units they own which ends up being around 400 votes. 

Renters will not be allowed to vote, which was a point of contention with the Rename St*pleton for ALL organization. 

“So to hold a majority vote among white wealthy landowners that is going to impact an entire community, I think really speaks to the challenges we have in making sure that every voice is heard and every voice is valued," said Kim Brewer, the Financial Secretary for Rename St*pleton for ALL.

The neighborhood was named after Benjamin Stapleton, a mayor in the 1920s who was a member of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK.)

RELATED | The history of 'Stapleton,' a neighborhood named for former Denver mayor and KKK member

Stapleton is also credited with the construction of Red Rocks Amphitheater and the start of what would become Interstate 25.

A vote to change that name was held in the neighborhood last year. 

In May 2018, the Stapleton United Neighbors had a choice between the existing name, Stapleton United Neighbors, or a new option: Central Park United Neighbors.

RELATED | Stapleton votes on neighborhood association name change

In that vote, 58% percent of people voted for the change, which was about 8% short of the bar to change the name.

Last week, Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST): Stapleton middle and high schools changed their name and will now be called, DSST: Montview, according to a release from DSST Public Schools. 

RELATED | DSST removes 'Stapleton' from its name

The decision to change the name emerged as many students came to believe that the Stapleton name no longer represented the rich and diverse community served by the school, the release said.

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