Axios Denver

The building boom in Denver is making us look … dull.

What's happening: The city's new apartment buildings, condos and even single-family homes all look alike with banal and boxy shapes masked by a splash of color on the facade, or in other words, like putting lipstick on a pig.

• You know these buildings. They hulk over the River North Arts District. They took over quaint Tennyson Street. And they're filtering into historic neighborhoods like Park Hill.
• Call them "gentrification buildings" or even "fast casual architecture" — the latter being appropriate for the city that pioneered the eponymous food trend.

Why it matters: Denver is losing its charm, John writes.

• The fusion of Western tradition classical style with modern flair that makes us unique is being replaced by what's cheapest and easiest to build in a city struggling to meet the housing demand.

What they're saying: Urban planners and architecture experts blame city design regulations, construction costs, profit motives and limited competition among real estate developers.

• "The people behind these Lego structures don’t care, they've never been here, nor will they come here," Brad Evans, an artist and creator of the Facebook group Denver FUGLY told the New York Times, which put Denver under the headline, "America, the bland."

Yes, but: Denver needs more affordable housing — and soon — regardless of how it looks.

What to watch: Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers are making the state's housing crisis the No. 1 focus at the Capitol this legislative session.

• One solution the governor promoted is modular units built faster and cheaper than traditional construction.

Full story

Denver Public Schools is weighing whether to ban ChatGPT, Axios Denver has learned.

State of play: Administrators at Denver Public Schools are now developing tactics to tackle the new technology, district spokesperson Rae Childress tells Alayna.

What they're saying: DPS leaders are considering "what protocols we will be putting in place in upcoming semesters to prevent cheating and other misuse of this cutting-edge tech," and "how AI can be used as an effective teaching tool," Childress said.

The big picture: ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that launched late last year. A growing number of schools and universities across the country are barring the tech, as many teachers are concerned that their students will use the super-smart software to cheat.

• The bot, which can answer complex questions, write poetry and even pass a Wharton Business School exam, has sparked conversation, wonder and worry worldwide since its debut, Axios AM reported last week.

The other side: Some educators aren't envisioning an educational doomsday, but rather see value in using tools like ChatGPT to enhance learning and critical thinking.

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We thought it would be fun to test ChatGPT's local savvy.

🌶️ When it comes to whether Colorado or New Mexico's green chile is better, ChatGPT took a note from Denver mayoral candidates' playbook and dodged the question:

• In the end, it comes down to personal preference as both styles of green chile have their own unique taste and characteristics.

🧢 Its definition of a "Colorado bro" made us laugh:

• A certain type of person who is associated with the state of Colorado, especially someone who is considered to be outdoorsy and adventurous. They could also be associated with … being into craft beer, legal marijuana, and country music.

🍺 It deemed these four breweries as Colorado's "most popular and highly regarded:"

• New Belgium, Great Divide, Avery and Oskar Blues

😎 It knew who we were!

• "Axios Denver" is a local news website that covers business, politics and culture in Denver and Colorado..."

What else ChatGPT said

The Denver Broncos' miserable season ended with a glimmer of hope — the chance for a new head coach.

Catch up quick: First-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett got canned on Dec. 26 with two games left in the season. The Broncos were 4-11 at that point.

Details: At least eight people have interviewed for the head coaching gig, but two names have risen to the top.

• DeMeco Ryans. He's the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, and 9News reports he will likely be interviewed by the Broncos a second time — but he's also being linked with the Houston Texas opening. The 49ers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday in the NFC Championship.
• Sean Payton. The former New Orleans Saints coach has made it to the top of some lists, though he's also been tied to the Arizona Cardinals.

Bottom line: The next Broncos head coach will have little room for error after the team finished 5-12 — their worst record since 2010.

💼 Check out who's hiring around the city.

1. Client Associate - Private Client Group at Wells Fargo.
2. Director, Product Marketing at NextRoll.
3. Controller at YPTC.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

🍜 Denver will host its inaugural Asian Restaurant Week next month. The event aims to "promote and celebrate the city's vibrant Asian food and beverage scene." (5280)

🪧 Dozens of people gathered at the Colorado Capitol on Saturday and Sunday to demand justice for the Memphis police killing of Tyre Nichols. (Denver Post)

📚 Colorado lawmakers are proposing a measure that would expand financial aid for college students seeking to become teachers. The effort is prompted by a growing teacher shortage in the state. (Chalkbeat)

⚖️ The suspect in the 2021 Boulder King Soopers shooting that left 10 dead remains incompetent to stand trial. Prosecutors say the suspect is displaying symptoms of schizophrenia. (Denver Post)

🚨 A man has been charged with setting a Loveland church on fire last week. The 21-year-old allegedly used a Molotov cocktail-type device to start the blaze. (Denver7)

How was your weekend hang time?