Englewood council members favor Concept 2 for CityCenter planning
The concept would guide further redevelopment analysis; staff outlined garage options ranging from about $1.5 million to stabilize it to $10 million-$16 million to replace it, while financing remains undecided.
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Englewood City Council members expressed general support for Concept 2 as a framework for further CityCenter redevelopment planning at an Oct. 12 study session. The preference gives staff a basis to refine plans, costs and financing; it does not approve a redevelopment plan or financing package. Community Development Director Brad Power described the discussion as a consensus around a preferred concept for staff to develop, the meeting recording shows.
Concept 2 is a starting point for more work
Concept 2 is one of three preliminary proposals from New Englewood. It envisions broader redevelopment, including housing and retail, structured parking, civic and cultural uses, and changes to existing city facilities. An Aug. 27 community-meeting presentation described elements that could change as planning proceeds. Harbor Freight’s lease on the C1 parcel runs through 2040, limiting near-term redevelopment there.
Staff outlined work over roughly the next year, including site and civic-center planning, feasibility and engineering studies, a parking plan, an affordable-housing strategy and a detailed public-finance plan. Staff also expects to develop a draft master-development agreement describing roles, responsibilities and financing. Some steps would require council direction or a vote.
Garage options have different estimated costs
Staff said the council had approved $770,000 for minimal garage work. It estimated that stabilizing the structure would cost about $1.5 million. Staff also discussed $2 million to $3 million in improvements if the garage is retained; replacing it was estimated at $10 million to $16 million. The estimates cover different options and scopes, and the council did not select a garage plan.
Financing and timing remain under discussion
Tax-increment financing (TIF), borrowing, developer agreements and grants were among the possible tools discussed, but no financing mix was selected. The Englewood Downtown Development Authority (EDDA) said it is authorized to incur up to $70 million in debt over 30 years, with about 25 years remaining. EDDA described TIF as a possible part of a layered funding package, but the CityCenter area was not then collecting tax increment.
Council members raised concerns that directing sales-tax growth to TIF could affect city services. One member said they would oppose certificates of participation, a borrowing mechanism, without voter approval. Staff said it hoped to return with more specific financing approaches in about 60 days. Council members also stressed the importance of having a permanent city manager in place before major commitments.
New Englewood said it hopes to begin design in 2027 and open the first structure around 2030. Separately, staff said the existing agreement requires excavation and grading to begin on the C2 parcel by July 2027, and that it may discuss with the developer whether the deadline needs reconsideration. The ground-lease agreement sets planning requirements for a future master plan, including feasibility, financing, parking and infrastructure.