RNOs & Statistical Neighborhoods

The Nuts and Bolts of RNOs

UHNC is a Denver RNO (Registered Neighborhood Organization). RNOs are not HOAs. The primary purpose of RNOs is they are the means the City uses to communicate to residents upcoming items that may be of interest to a particular neighborhood. By municipal code (ordinance) the City is required to communicate to RNOs certain items, among them applications for retail marijuana stores, liquor licenses, proposed zoning amendments and planning board and board of adjustment hearings.

Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs) are organizations formed by residents and property owners within a neighborhood (or other defined set of boundaries) that meet regularly and have registered themselves with the City of Denver. Registration is regulated by Chapter 12/ Article III of the Revised Municipal Code. The RNO registration must be renewed yearly.

(The portion of the Denver Municipal Code covering RNOs is attached below for reference.)

What's the Difference Between UHNC and UHNA?

UHNA, University Hills Neighborhood Association, is a RNO that is bounded by S Colorado Boulevard on the west, Evans on the north, I-25 on the east and Hampden on the south.

UHNC is a RNO that is bounded by S Colorado Blvd on the west, I-25 on the north and east, and Yale Ave on the south. It can be thought of as a sub-set of UHNA. It is the north portion of UHNA plus the Colorado Center at Colorado Blvd and I-25.

Statistical Neighborhoods

Denver has 78 statistical neighborhoods (see pdf of map attached to UHNC maps page). Statistical neighborhoods were established in 1970 by the city with the help of Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Statistical neighborhoods are largely consistent with U.S. Census Tracts, and like Census Tracts, the boundaries collectively cover the entire city and do not overlap. Maintaining consistent boundaries for statistical neighborhoods facilitates tracking change over time and across different parts of the city in a standardized way. Denver's "State of the Neighborhoods Initiative" tracks data and indicators of change and stability for each of the 78 statistical neighborhoods.

When neighborhood organizations register with the city and become official RNOs, they are permitted to choose their own boundaries. Some RNOs choose boundaries that are consistent with statistical neighborhood boundaries, but many do not. RNO boundaries often overlap each other and cover multiple RNOs. In many cases a statistical neighborhood is represented by multiple RNOs. It is important to keep this distinction between registered neighborhoods and statistical neighborhoods clear.