Ambitious vision for downtown site, an article from The Gazette, reports that the latest plan to create a permanent arts district in downtown Colorado Springs would transform a dingy light industrial area into a home for artists, studios and galleries below the Colorado Avenue bridge.  Real estate developer Chuck Murphy and attorney Stephen Mullens envision construction of about 30 buildings on a roughly 4-acre site northwest of Colorado and Sierra Madre Street, where artists would display and sell their work.  Other features would include buildings to house restaurants and educational facilities, along with areas for sculptures.  The arts district would be part of a 100-acre southwest downtown urban renewal project that City Council members approved in August 2001.  Murphy said he hopes demolition of buildings could begin next year and have the first buildings for sale in 2009.
http://www.gazette.com/articles/murphy_28897___article.html/arts_district.html

Despite rate plunge, mortgage applications little changed, an article from USA Today, reports that even as interest rates sank to their lowest levels since May, mortgage applications barely advanced last week.  The Mortgage Bankers Association said those numbers largely reflect the increasing difficulty borrowers face to obtain a loan as banks tighten lending standards.  According to the MBA, its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage applications, which includes both purchase and refinance loans, increased slightly by 0.03% to 656.5 in the week ended October 19 from the previous week's 656.3.  Even as existing and new-home sales are down 10% from 2006, overall mortgage applications last week were 11.5% above their level one year ago.  The MBA's survey covers about 50% of all U.S. retail residential loans.  Those responding to the survey include mortgage banks, commercial banks and thrifts.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-10-24-mortgage-apps_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Traffic may hit 6-year high in ’08
http://www.gazette.com/articles/percent_28896___article.html/year_increase.html

Even if you don’t own your living space, be sure to insure it
http://www.gazette.com/articles/insurance_28895___article.html/coverage_casualty.html

Cherokee water dispute
http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=9185

Parking lot opens downtown
http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=9181