WE REALLY WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY!!


DENVER AND THE WEST
Planned Parenthood HQ openThe Stapleton facility offers medical services and opened almost three months early.

By Christopher Sanchez
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated:07/08/2008 12:54:02 AM MDT


Planned Parenthood's new, $6.3 million facility in Stapleton occupies an entire block and is fenced to protect visitors and patients from abortion protesters.(Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post )



Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has finished its $6.3 million headquarters in Stapleton almost three months ahead of schedule, the organization said.

The three-story building at East 38th Avenue and Pontiac Street will serve as a medical facility and will house the organization's administration. It opened last week.

Anti-abortion groups protested outside the construction site almost every day since work began in November, but they were unable to stall the project, said Leslie Durgin, senior vice president for community development.
Planned Parenthood construction sites have received heavy flak from anti-abortion groups. Contractors walked off the job in Austin, Texas, after protesters threatened to boycott future projects. The facility opened months after its scheduled date.Durgin said the Stapleton facility also offers reproductive health care education.

"It's really important to us that we are open to the community," she said. "We really want to be part of this community and this neighborhood."

Leslie Hanks, vice president of Colorado Right to Life, said anti-abortion groups will continue to protest outside the building.
"The unjust taking of human lives will be opposed for as long as the killing goes on," she said.




Durgin said the area is fenced, so protesters won't be a problem for patients.

Christopher Sanchez: 303-954-1698 orcsanchez@denverpost.com