Rocky Mountain News

[Headline] Changes at two-story McDonald’s satisfy activists
By: Jay Croft, Rocky Mountain News Staff writer

Handicapped-rights activists claimed a victory Tuesday in McDonald’s construction of a 750,000, wheelchair accessible hamburger restaurant in Capitol Hill even though company officials said protests weren’t responsible for building the one-of-a kind facility.

The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Representatives of Atlantis Community, who last year led protests at the East Colfax Avenue in Pennsylvania Street restaurant, said they are satisfied with the changes.

“It’s fantastic,” said Mike Auberger, Atlantis community organizer. “Apparently what we did had some kind of effect.”

But officials at McDonald’s, the nation’s largest hamburger franchise, said they tore down the old restaurant because it was “in need of a tremendous amount of repairs,” not because it was inaccessible to handicapped people.

Kitchen equipment, air conditioning and drive-through facilities were outdated, said Jim Clark construction engineer. He said the restaurant was 18 years old.

Auberger and Clark said the restaurant meets city requirements for handicapped accessibility, which include wheelchair ramps, special parking spaces and access to restrooms. McDonald's also made some tables wheelchair-accessible.

Other McDonald's restaurants under construction in the Denver area are scheduled to be accessible also, Auberger said. "They've gone out of their way to prove their point in this city at least."

Clark said cost of construction was $750,000.

The new two-story McDonald's, with an upstairs atrium and a seating capacity of 200, is “one of a kind” Clark said. “It’s more of a high-rise office design (than other McDonald’s).”

It will employ about 100 people, including many of the 70 employees from the old restaurant who want to return, Clark said.

Debbie Van Gundy, a six-year employee, will continue as manager. “I love it,” she said. “It’s a great improvement to have a whole new store and equipment.”

A “human ribbon” will surround the building, along with 500 $1-bills, said Gary Peck, operations consultant. The money will go to Ronald McDonald House, a home for the families of cancer patients in Children’s Hospital.

The opening coincides with the 30th anniversary of McDonald’s in Denver region, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Wyoming, Peck said.

McDonald’s will host an invitation-only part Thursday night.

Auberger said Tuesday no one at his office had been invited..

“We’re not exactly friends,” he said. “It’s a comfortable agreement and that’s about all.”

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Created on

Thursday 11 July 2013

Posted on

Monday 23 November 2015

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24 hour advanced reservation, accessible, Arizona, Atlantis Community, Colorado, McDonalds, Mike Auberger, New Mexico, not invited, party, Utah, Victory, Wyoming

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