A man who owned a controversial hotel and disco shuttered by the city of Denver amid complaints of fire-code violations, drug use and violence is eyeing a new venue in northwest Denver.
Globeville residents are gearing up to fight the plans by Arthur Cormier, who has applied for a license that would allow him to have live music, DJs and dancing at the Best Western at 200 W. 48th Ave.
Cormier said he won’t do anything that will disrupt nearby residents. But a coalition of neighborhood leaders and business groups fears a repeat of the Regency Hotel and Los Caporales disco, a leading venue for Latino entertainment that drew more than 7,000 patrons a night.
“We believe that we’ll be impacted by traffic and by the sucking up of police resources if he gets a cabaret license,” said Keith Howard, vice president of Sunnyside Neighbors Inc., one of several neighborhood organizations watching Cormier’s plans suspiciously.
Cormier took his case to a meeting of Sunnyside Neighbors on Wednesday night. The reception from the two dozen members of the audience could be described as lukewarm at best.
Jake Jakubowski, 56, a 25-year resident of Sunnyside, dared Cormier to stand behind the Regency’s reputation. Cormier replied that the Regency was a positive attraction in the community, and he pointed out that the hotel had taken in 1,000 homeless people six nights a week and was home to Christmas-present giveaways to needy families.
“It’s absolutely astonishing he could say that with a straight face,” Jakubowski said later. “We’re very leery of him since he’s shown he hasn’t cared about this neighborhood before. The Regency hasn’t exactly endeared him to us.”
Cormier also heard from City Councilwoman Judy Montero, who attended Sunnyside’s meeting.
“People in the neighborhood are worried based on past management at the Regency,” said Montero, who represents the area where the Best Western is located. “And I want you to understand and hear that.”
Montero said residents have told her they plan to come out in force for a public hearing on Cormier’s application Oct. 28.
The Regency, located off Interstate 25 and West 38th Avenue, closed in April 2004 after repeatedly violating fire regulations. District Judge Joseph Meyer ordered the Regency vacated after the the city complained that Cormier had failed to fix deficiencies.
That hotel’s liquor license covered 46,807 square feet of service area, allowing it to handle up to 7,703 patrons. Police found the crowds difficult to manage.
“I would hope and pray for his sake and the neighborhood’s sake that he would run his new place like a legitimate business and not do anything too exotic to make it profitable,” said police Capt. Brian Gallagher.
Gallagher said he found the Regency a nightmare when he was commander of the district where it was located.
Although former Regency workers and others complained of rampant drug use and violence at the club, Denver police said they were never able to confirm large-scale drug trafficking or prostitution and praised some of Cormier’s efforts to crack down on problems.
Gallagher said the biggest problem with the club was its size.
Cormier said his plans for the Best Western are smaller in scale and shouldn’t cause alarm. If the application isn’t approved, he won’t be able to host weddings, he said. His application says the new venue will have a seating capacity of 595 people. It will have a 2,501-square-foot ballroom, with a 1,114-square-foot stage and dance floor.
“There will be dancing there just like any other hotel in town,” Cormier said. “We won’t be any different than the Holiday Inn across the street.”
Cormier said he’s the current manager of the Best Western. His firm, Global Hospitality Inc., has an option to buy the hotel.
He said he’s upgrading the facility by installing new carpeting, furniture and other improvements.
“Everyone is making a big deal out of nothing because I’m a high-profile person and everyone takes a look at what I do,” Cormier said.
Sunnyside vice president Howard expects that Cormier will try to expand if he gets his application approved.
“It’s the nose of the camel under the tent,” Howard said.
“We haven’t found anyone in favor of it over here,” said Paulette Hirsch, president of the Globeville United Neighbors Group. “I don’t think anyone believes him. He has a bad track record.”
Larry Burgess, the president of the Elyria/Swansea/Globe ville Business Association, said he fears Cormier’s plans could affect the 19 buildings he owns in nearby Five Points.
“The last thing I want is an after-hours bar and fighting and gangs,” Burgess said.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales contributed to this report.
Staff writer Christopher N. Osher can be reached at 303-820-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com.
Arthur Cormier’s past struggles
Caporales nightclub were shut
down in April 2004 after repeatedly
violating fire regulations.
former cleaning staff filed a
complaint with the Mexican consulate
in November 2002, charging
discrimination and an abusive
work environment.
Service sued the Regency Hotel
in Denver County Court, claiming
a plan to put fire lanes in the
venue’s parking lot was never implemented.
sued Cormier because it said the
main alarm system in the Regency
Hotel’s north annex didn’t
meet safety codes.
settlement from the city of Westminster
when a tape of police
raiding another of his clubs
caught officers shouting racial epithets.
