Mayor and Denver City Council Meeting: National Western Center Triangle Scenario Planning Update - August 6, 2024

The mayor and city council began this weekly session with introductions and announcements, including several National Night Out events. The primary agenda item was an update on the National Western Center campus, focusing on construction progress on phases one and two and the launch of a community-driven scenario planning process for the Triangle (future phases 3–8). The presentation covered efforts to form a community work group to help design engagement for the long-range planning, with a target of delivering a master plan by spring 2025. Council members discussed community benefits, representation, compensation for participants, and the need to address historical injustices in the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea (GES) neighborhoods. The meeting concluded with a motion to go into executive session to discuss ongoing litigation.

Announcements

• Councilman Alvidrez and Councilman Hines announced multiple National Night Out events on the evening of August 6, including a location at Community Ministries, Skyline Park, and near the Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature and Science.

Discussion Items

• National Western Center Construction Update: Mike Bouchard, executive director of the Mayor's Office of the National Western Center, reported that the Livestock Center is on track for completion by October 2025 and debut at the January 2026 stock show. The building includes 3,400 fixed seats (expandable to 5,000), 185,000 square feet of expo hall space, and will host a variety of events year-round. Other remaining phase one and two projects include an equestrian center, hotel, parking garage, and two pedestrian bridges (one over three rail lines and the Betty Cram/48th Avenue Bridge over the South Platte River).
• Triangle Scenario Planning: The mayor pledged in March to initiate a community-driven process for the Triangle land (50–75 acres southeast of the tracks). A six-month-plus scenario planning effort will begin in October 2024, aiming to produce a master plan by spring 2025. The planning will explore land uses and incorporate community feedback.
• Community Engagement Work Group: A work group of GES residents and workers is being formed to co-create the engagement strategy for the scenario planning. The city received 22 applications, of which 5 (about 23%) are new voices never previously involved in National Western Center planning. The work group will consist of approximately 10–12 members, with selection based on roles and responsibilities shared in the application. Members will receive a stipend. The first meeting will cover history, governance, and engagement framework.
• Community Ownership and Benefits: Mayor Johnston described interest in structures such as a community land trust or neighborhood investment trust to direct development benefits to residents, build generational wealth, and preserve affordability. Councilman Gonzalez-Cutieres raised concerns about the current board representation having only two community members, and urged more balanced representation in ongoing processes.
• Coliseum Site and Environmental Remediation: The discussion identified the Coliseum parking lot south of I-70 as a key area needing environmental remediation. The city is exploring federal support, including potential use of Army Corps funds, to address contamination that also impacts the river.
• Historical Context: Council President shared a personal perspective on the multi-generational harm from three Superfund sites in the GES community, stressed the importance of acknowledging past injustices, and called for processes that truly honor community voices.

Key Outcomes

• The scenario planning for the Triangle will proceed with a community engagement work group that will help shape the outreach process, not the land-use decisions themselves. The group's recommendations will inform a broader scenario planning effort open to all community members.
• The mayor's office, in coordination with Councilman Watson's office, Nuco, and at-large council, will finalize the work group membership starting the week of August 12.
• The city aims to have a completed master plan for the Triangle by spring 2025.
• Council members requested future updates on phases one and two construction, budget, and the hotel/equestrian center/parking garage, with a commitment to present to the Budget and Policy Committee on October 14.
• The council unanimously voted to move into executive session (pursuant to DRMC 234A3 and 6) to discuss settlement of ongoing litigation against the city.