Property acquisition for National Western Center in Denver moving on
“Negotiations to acquire properties to expand the National Western Stock Show grounds are going well, a city official said Tuesday, but if it has to, Denver is prepared to use eminent domain.
“Our intent is to negotiate successful deals,” said Kelly Leid, executive director of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative, the city’s office managing the project. “We have the ability to use eminent domain. It’s a tool in our tool box, a tool of last resort.”
Leid made the comment following a meeting of a Denver council committee, which forwarded to the full council a plan to acquire certain properties for the National Western Center complex.
The properties — 25 commercial and 10 residential — are needed to transform the stock show over the next decade into an entertainment, agriculture and innovation hub. All the properties are north of Intestate 70. Six of the 10 residential properties are owner-occupied, according to the city.”
Illescas, Carlos. Denver Post 1 December 2015.