https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Colorado cities capitalize on base closing

Colorado cities capitalize on base closing

The closing of Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado has presented a unique opportunity for two cities to work together. Because the base crosses the city
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 1st March 2000

The closing of Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado has presented a unique opportunity for two cities to work together. Because the base crosses the city limits of Denver and Aurora, Colo., the cities have joined forces, creating the Lowry Redevelopment Agency (LRA) to transform the base into a mixed-use community with residential, commercial and educational spaces.

Lowry Air Force Base is located 15 minutes from downtown Denver. Approximately 88 percent of the base is located within the city limits, and the remainder is situated in Aurora, next to that city’s most historic neighborhoods. The base closing was announced in April 1991; in August 1994, Denver and Aurora created LRA, an independent, quasi-public agency, to acquire the property from the Air Force and oversee redevelopment. In April 1995, the Denver and Aurora city councils adopted the Lowry Master Plan. BRW, a unit of Dames & Moore, Los Angeles, is serving as lead engineering consultant for the redevelopment.

LRA initially agreed to purchase the base from the Air Force for $32.5 million. However, redevelopment costs for projects, such as bringing the roads up to city code, were higher than expected. Many redevelopment agencies working with base closures experienced similar problems and, last year, the federal government passed legislation that allows the Department of Defense (DOD) to give closed bases to local communities for free. LRA had paid $8 million toward base purchase at that time; DOD has forgiven the rest of the debt.

Approximately 75 percent of LRA’s redevelopment funds comes from revenue bonds, bank loans, real estate sales and leasing, and tax increment financing on the property. The remaining 25 percent comes from public sources, including federal, state and local grants.

As in other base redevelopments, LRA had to comply with the McKinney Act, a federal statute stipulating that surplus federal land be offered first to transitional housing providers. (The law has been reworked to exempt base closings from the McKinney Act, but it still requires redevelopers to consider the need for transitional housing in their plans. The change is partly in response to LRA’sdifficulties.) Initially, LRA and providers from Catholic Charities and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless agreed to scatter transitional housing units throughout the property, but those providers found the arrangement difficult to manage and asked LRA to construct new facilities. LRA and the providers now are in binding mediation to find a solution with the next few months.

Redevelopment projects will create 4,000 new homes and apartments. Currently, there are 500 units from existing military housing and 700 new homes, apartments and townhouses. One senior community is open, and another is planned. Residential construction is scheduled for completion in 2004.

Commercial property will include a 95,000-square-foot Town Center with retail stores and 108 loft apartments. A business park with up to 2 million square feet of office space will feature bioscience, telecommunications, computer service and financial firms; no heavy industry will be included. Some employers that previously leased space from the Air Force are remaining on the property. Commercial development is scheduled for completion in 2006.

In addition to residential and commercial properties, educational and technological amenities are an important part of the community. The Higher Education and Advanced Technology (HEAT) Center, a 186-acre campus of the Community College System of Colorado, will offer academic programs and training emphasizing technology. It will serve up to 10,000 students when it opens in 2009.

All homes, educational institutions and businesses have a digital, broadband network installed with their utilities. The telecommunications options allow for remote home HVAC control and home technology customization.

The development also features 800 acres of recreational space, including public golf courses, sports fields and parks. Bike paths and 12-foot detached pedestrian sidewalks make the community pedestrian-friendly.

Denver and Aurora expect to profit from the base land sales after infrastructure costs are paid. Both cities also expect benefit from sales tax revenues collected on the base as well as from the commercial and educational opportunities.

LRA will dissolve when redevelopment is completed in 2008. The project won Denver and Aurora a 1999 Sustainable Community Award from the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, Washington, D.C.

Tags:

Most Recent


  • When spending federal stimulus dollars, local governments are considering long-term, community impact
    From staffing constraints to budget shortfalls and an unprecedented pivot into the digital realm (driven by the pandemic), local governments have confronted myriad challenges over the last few years. But in this, there’s a bright spot: The federal government is investing an unprecedented amount of money into local governments. “The covid pandemic shuffled the deck […]
  • Reno, NV
    In Nevada county, data underpins efforts to address climate change
    Across the United States, cities and counties are doing their best to confront climate change in myriad ways—from bolstering seawalls to updating electrical grids and everything in between. But in order for communities to best direct their efforts and responsibly spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars, administrators need data. In Washoe County and Reno, Nev., for example, […]
  • $52B semiconductor investment intended to rejuvenate American manufacturing
    Three decades ago, American manufacturing dominated the semiconductor industry, producing about 40 percent of the global supply annually. But over time, companies shipped business overseas looking to cut costs, and today, the nation produces only 10 percent of all semiconductors. It’s something the Biden Administration is trying to change through CHIPS and Science Act. “There […]
  • How capital improvement project prioritization helps secure infrastructure funding
    Trillions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding have been made available to state and local governments across the U.S. since early 2020. This money has been allocated to address the nation’s aging infrastructure, much of which is at or near the end of its useful life, and to bolster the U.S. economy in the wake […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Amazon Business releases first B2B ecommerce report, highlighting e-procurement
  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Lessons from your friendly neighborhood public service employees

White papers


Modern American Perspectives on Law Enforcement

14th July 2022

Reimagine the Employee Experience

12th July 2022

How to Assemble a Rockstar Website Redesign Steering Committee

7th June 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

When spending federal stimulus dollars, local governments should consider long-term, community impact dlvr.it/SWXJWZ

12th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

In Nevada county, data underpins efforts to address climate change dlvr.it/SWTGHy

11th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

$52B semiconductor investment intended to rejuvenate American manufacturing dlvr.it/SWPqHQ

10th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

How capital improvement project prioritization helps secure infrastructure funding dlvr.it/SWLQB7

9th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Climate bill lauded; predicted to reduce nation’s carbon foot print by 40% within decade dlvr.it/SWHGQL

8th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Partnership launches no-cost wastewater monitoring service for local governments dlvr.it/SW7N74

5th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Investing in America’s onsite wastewater treatment systems for equity and sustainability dlvr.it/SW4Mb9

4th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

With passage of PACT Act, veterans service officers are preparing for an influx in applicants dlvr.it/SW4KTg

4th August 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X