Home Care In Westminster, CO

Fleet of driverless vehicles set to be trialled in Westminster

Waymo hopes to bring its business here soon [Waymo]

THE robots are here!

Robo-taxis that is… A futuristic fleet of driverless vehicles will be trialled in Westminster in the coming weeks.

Google parent company Alphabet-owned firm Waymo announced this week it hoped to bring its business to London.

The company said the trial would begin with “trained human specialists” behind the wheels of the cars, with a view to a roll-out in 2026.

Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, which represents London cabbies, has said the trade was not worried by the announcement, and added: “It’s a novelty, it is a gimmick. It is the solution that we don’t need. Who needs a driverless cab?”

Unveiled with support from transport secretary Heidi Alexander and the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan, the taxis are expected to be available to the public in late 2026.

The company is still working with both the Department for Transport and Transport for London to “secure the necessary permissions to offer fully autonomous rides in 2026”. Those permissions rely on the government finalising driverless car regulations and giving Waymo the go-ahead to operate on a permanent basis.

Uber and United Kingdom company Wayve are also planning to trial driverless taxis in the capital next year.

Heidi Alexander said: “Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment and opportunities to the UK.

“Cutting-edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal.”

Waymo’s co-chief exec-utive Tekedra Mawakana said the technology was “making roads safer and transportation more accessible”, and added: “We’ve demonstrated how to responsibly scale fully autonomous ride-hailing, and we can’t wait to expand the benefits of our technology to the United Kingdom.”

Bring your pups and buy your beers at Downtown Westminster’s new container bar area and dog park.

The City of Westminster announced a new bar in its Downtown Westminster neighborhood in partnership with local brewer, Kokopelli Beer Co., that is set to open next to a dog park this fall.

The Kokopelli Social Bar will be inside of a shipping container at 90th Avenue and Fenton Street, right in front of the temporary dog park and across the parking lot from Bowlero, according to a press release from the city.

Currently, Kokopelli is seeking a liquor license for the location, but once approved, the area will allow acholic beverages on the patio in front of the container and in the dog park.

“Provided your dog will leave you alone, you may also bring those items into the dog park itself where people can visit with friends and small play groups,” the city told The Denver Gazette Friday.

Kokopelli Beer Co.’s main location is in the Solaire Shoppes at 8931 Harlan St., just down the street from downtown, and is the first solely woman-owned brewpub in the state, according to the company’s website.

It offers 30 unique taps, including at least 27 of its own, in-house made craft beers covering the style spectrum, as well as a few guest taps of ciders and sour beer, according to its website.

“The bar container is an effort to provide activation in downtown and to the surrounding temporary dog park and create a destination for residents and visitors throughout the city. Dog owners and the public at large will have the opportunity to enjoy a beverage and a snack. It will be a great place to unwind after a busy day or week,” the city said.

The dog park will later be relocated to the central park that is currently under construction and is set to be completed by spring 2026, but the city did not say if the container bar will remain at the location or move to the other park.

Downtown Westminster — located off U.S. 36 and bounded by 92nd Avenue to the north, 88th Avenue to the south, Harlan Street to the west, and Sheridan Boulevard to the east — has been a slow and ambitious project from the city since the Westminster Mall closed down in the same area in 2011.

The area where the mall used to sit was purchased in three different chunks between 2009 and 2012 by the Westminster Economic Development Authority after the mall saw a significant decline in tax revenue.

The city held community planning meetings to develop a master plan for the area. With residents’ feedback, the city crafted a plan officials hope would create a walkable, community-friendly area to both show off what small businesses had to offer and create a replacement for the mall.

Since, the city has continued to add businesses and parks to the area, hoping to create a central location for the city. Along with the new bar, Sherman Associates teamed up with Henry Lee, owner of all Bonchon restaurants in Colorado and Salady, to bring about a “next-generation eatery” called Red Lotus Den on the ground floor of the Aspire Apartments at 5815 West 89th Avenue in the summer of 2026.

The city is still holding a resident survey regarding the Kokopelli Social Bar on Downtown Westminster’s website until Sept. 29.

It's on an undeveloped open space of roughly 75 acres, just off of West 104th Avenue in Westminster, where all you can hear and see are the sounds of nature.

"Many people, when they use the path around it, they don't even realize that it's something that can be developed," Westminster resident Natalie Bendele said.

"I cycle by it four times a week, and I don't want to see multi-building -- four and five stories -- going up," said Westminster resident Pam Archer.

Archer's frustrations were shared among other Westminster residents Monday night, as city council leaders listened to public comment over a rezoning change that would pave the way for Erickson Senior Living to build a new, multibuilding community center for older adults on the existing open space.

The campus would include 1,350 independent living units, nearly 200 additional beds for assisted living and skilled nursing, and on-site amenities and health services.

"The 75-plus population in Colorado is the fastest growing in the state," said Bob Brocker, founder and president of Agewise Colorado.

Brocker tells CBS News Colorado that not only do communities like Westminster need to build more housing for the elderly population, but doing so could also improve housing affordability.

"As you add more housing stock specifically for the older population, you're freeing up stock for the younger population," Brocker said.

Ultimately, councilors overwhelmingly agreed to support the project. They voted 6-1 on a first reading of the measure to approve the zoning and proposal for the project.

"With the fact that our city's age demographic of seniors is doubling in the next five years, I do want to say that I think it's about time we listen to our own advice," City Councillor Claire Carmelia said. "As the mayor put it earlier, we've done enough studies, and I don't think we need any more studies. We need to take action."

Both Front Range Community College and Westminster Public Schools have issued letters sharing their support for the senior living campus because of the job opportunities it will bring to the region.

Westminster Public School's superintendent sent the following letter to city council leaders in support:

On behalf of Westminster Public Schools, I am writing to offer my strong support for Erickson Senior Living's proposed continuing care retirement community in Westminster.

At Westminster Public Schools, we are deeply committed to preparing students for successful careers and engaged citizenship. Our Future Center, Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, and the Ranum Innovation Campus provide students across Adams and Jefferson Counties with career-relevant experiences that build both academic and workforce readiness. The Erickson Senior Living project represents a unique and powerful alignment with this mission.

The proposed Erickson campus will generate more than 700 jobs across a wide spectrum of industries and will serve as a career-training hub for students interested in healthcare, skilled trades, hospitality, and more. From nursing and certified nurse aide programs to HVAC, culinary arts, and IT, the opportunities created by Erickson intersect directly with the career pathways offered within WPS. In particular, our Health Science and Skilled Trades pathways will benefit from internships, job shadowing, and mentoring opportunities made possible through a thriving senior living community like Erickson.

Moreover, Erickson's commitment to workforce development—through partnerships with Front Range Community College and local high schools—signals a broader investment in our community's future. The potential for students to earn scholarships, gain paid experience, and build long-term careers without leaving their home community is a game-changer.

Beyond education, the project also provides critical housing solutions for our aging population, allowing senior residents to remain in the communities they helped build, while simultaneously freeing up family housing stock. This benefits WPS families, educators, and staff alike by fostering a healthier and more diverse local housing market.

Erickson Senior Living is more than a senior housing development, it is a catalyst for economic vitality, career readiness, and intergenerational connection. Westminster Public Schools is proud to support this proposal and encourages its approval as a forward-looking investment in the future of our students, our workforce, and our city.

However, residents advocating for the city to pause this development worry the project will lead to a scarcity in the city's water supply, increase traffic surrounding the property, and stretch EMS and first responder resources thin.

"I really think we need to do a lot more study, especially with all the other development happening right in this area, before we'll know the true impacts on the water, and the traffic, and the emergency services and things of that nature," said Bendele.

Some council members agreed with the concerns raised by residents about the project.

"I don't think we thoroughly have a good analysis of that," said Kristine Ireland, city council member. "I will be voting 'no' on this."