Denver City Council Delays Decision on $800 Million National Western Center Expansion
Denver once again postponed a decision on whether to invest $800 million over 35 years in expanding the National Western Center. The City Council was split in a close 7-5 vote on Monday evening, leading to a two-week delay in the decision-making process.
Community advocates are requesting more time to review the agreement and negotiate for additional investments in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood from the National Western Center Authority. They are pushing for an extra $16 million lump sum for the community investment fund.
While the National Western Center Authority claims they cannot afford the additional funds, they have committed to allocating at least $22 million to the community investment fund over the next 35 years under the current terms of the agreement.
In response to the postponement, CEO Brad Buchanan emphasized the Authority’s dedication to creating community benefits with every decision they make.
The council voted to delay the decision until June 2, with advocates hoping to secure more concessions during this period. If no action is taken by the council on June 2, the agreement will be automatically approved.
The National Western Center Authority has already promised several community benefits, including a community center, open space, and a percentage of hotel fees allocated to the fund. They remain committed to finding additional ways to contribute to the fund to prevent displacement and gentrification in the community.
The project, part of a large-scale redevelopment initiative, aims to transform the National Western Center into a year-round exhibition with agricultural education and entertainment facilities. Construction is set to begin this fall with a target completion date of 2028.
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Originally Published: May 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM MDT
