8 MARCH 5-11, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ning & Development sent two plumbing inspectors to visit the shopping center and a couple of stores “to confi rm complaints,” ac- cording to Alex Foster, a department spokes- person. “However, the building and plumbing codes do not regulate ‘unpleasant’ odors,” Foster explains. “So we don’t have an offi cial role. DOTI took over from there.” According to Walter, DOTI “out of an abun- dance of caution...agreed to clean the city sewer lines around the Lowry Town Center to see if it helps improve the situation, though we have not seen any evidence which would suggest that it is the source of any smell in the area.” Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for DOTI, says that the Wastewater Management Divi- sion fi rst received a “sewer odor complaint” on December 17, and responded “per protocol” by visiting the shopping center to investigate. DOTI cleared a city sewer line servicing the property “to make sure there is not an issue...or plugged or blocked in some way.” An initial site visit and clearing the sewer lines cost the city about $3,200, according to Kuhn. However, during the site visit, “no odors were detected” by city investigators, so a follow-up visit was scheduled for a plumber, city inspector and property man- ager “to point out where and when the sewer odor is occurring,” she says. “During that walk-through, a faint odor was observed emanating from grease in- terceptor devices behind a couple of the buildings,” Kuhn adds. “While likely not the singular cause of the odors that have been reported over the years, regular cleaning and maintenance of the private infrastructure was advised as a measure against odors.” No one followed up on the original com- plaint after that second visit, and “whether or not the odor issue is resolved is uncon- fi rmed,” according to Kuhn. In fact, the city never fi gured out what the smell was. But the situation still stinks. “It’s Always a Problem” During a visit to the Lowry Town Center on February 24, several businesses told West- word that sewage and gas odors were still a problem, but none agreed to have their names or businesses identifi ed. On the condition of anonymity, employ- ees at six different businesses said the smell had been an ongoing issue, with two saying the problem goes back more than a year. One business explained that the smell is worse on some days than on others. Another worker said that “it’s always a problem.” Not everyone’s noses are offended, though. One business employee said that the smell “was a problem, but it’s not any more. It’s much better now.” Another person said that “it doesn’t affect us.” Meanwhile, Lowry Town Center staffers said the odors didn’t affect their businesses, but acknowledged that some neighboring shops had dealt with it. In an email, Walter’s 303 Pizzeria owner Mike Kienast tells Westword that “we no- ticed a brief sewer odor in the restroom areas in August but only at night.” The general managers at the Lowry lo- cation “understood that Kimco Property Management had contractors inspect the plaza’s sewer systems. The City of Denver was also contacted, and local grease traps and sewer infrastructure were reviewed to ensure compliance with maintenance requirements,” Kienast explains. “Since that time, we haven’t detected any recurring odor and haven’t received related guest complaints,” he adds. “This appeared to be a few isolated occurrences and did not persist or impact our dining room or overall guest experience at Walter’s 303.” While at the shopping center on a windy Wednesday, a faint hint of a diesel-like smell momentarily came up from around benches where the fountain is disabled. A couple sitting there said they didn’t smell anything. Other people walking through the shop- ping center said they’d never smelled the described odors, including shoppers who live in the area and use the Safeway regularly. The sewer openings along the perimeter of the town center give off a slight port-a-potty- like smell. Some of the nearby businesses give off stronger smells, like the coffee at Starbucks and the rotisserie chickens at Safeway. “Lowry Town Center remains an active neighborhood retail destination,” Maisch says. “We continue to see interest from res- taurant and service-oriented businesses.” So, has the stench has disappeared? Does it come and go? Or is it something not all noses can detect, á la asparagus urine? We’ll keep our nostrils open. Email the author at [email protected]. News continued from page 6 Businesses like Petite Gateaux are reportedly leaving the Lowry Town Center because it stinks. BENNITO L. KELT Y
