CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The City of Cheyenne has plans to purchase a 4.82 acre portion of land at the site of the former Hitching Post Inn to attract developers along with an adjacent property for purposes of signage.
However, concerns about asbestos in some of the buildings at the former Hitching Post have put a hitch in the city’s process to purchase the properties.
City Attorney Michael O’Donnell explained to the city council on Monday, Dec. 9 that getting exact estimates for much the cost of abatement due to asbestos in two buildings has been difficult.
The city council rejected a purchase agreement with Victory Real Estate Management, LLC in the amount of $329,630 during Monday’s meeting.
That vote came after a motion to postpone the vote failed.
The council could potentially reconsider the vote at the next council meeting if one of the members who voted no makes such a motion.
O’Donnell said the importance of the purchase would be to ensure public access to the Ice and Events Center. He said that he hoped to have better estimates on abatement costs ready by next week to allow the council to make a more informed decision.
Councilman Pete Laybourn expressed some disappointment with the council’s decision. He said that potential developers to the area might be put off with the city’s failure to move forward on the purchase.
A hotel development is planned for the site of the Atlas Motel, which Laybourn said would be torn down.
“That property is getting underway,” Cheyenne’s Chief Economic Development Officer Brendan Ames said during the meeting. “That access point [which the purchase of the former Hitching Post properties would allow] is going to be critical.”
“[John Koehler, owner of the Atlas property] has a lot of plans for that building. We have to make sure we have the correct access.”
Layborun said the decision to reject the purchase agreement was a mistake.
“What we just did was take a major step backwards on a very important project,” he said. “This is very important access. You’re talking about millions of dollars in investment. I’d like an explanation of how we bring this back? Are we ceasing the effort or are we continuing the process?”
Councilman Dicky Shanor said that it was important the the council have a full understanding of the financial costs associated with the potential purchase of the Hitching Post properties.
“Before we approve it, we really have to get the numbers dialed in,” he said.
Shanor said that the city still needs to identify $750,000 for a Civic Center project and additional funding on other projects.
“That’s a lot of potential expenses coming into the next budget cycle,” he said, adding that workforce issues account for about 80% of Cheyenne’s budget and that those needed to be kept in mind.
He said postponing the vote would be a mistake.
“Vote this postponement down,” Shanor said. “This needs a lot of work. I think it is bad practice to continue to postpone something like this.”
O’Donnell said that the city would have multiple options on what to do with the properties should they decide to purchase them. That could include redeveloping the properties or selling them to other parties.
Shanor said he thought the best option may be to remediate and resell them but would like to see concrete numbers on what that would cost first.
“That’s just my thought,” he said. “I think that is probably the most viable option for this. “
Laybourn said that he views the project as important for Ward I constituents adding that he wanted to “see West Lincolnway like we are proud of it.”
The properties in the sale agreement are located near the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center. The city says that the Events Center lacks adequate access and parking.
In addition to providing overflow parking for the Events Center, the city says in the purchase agreement that cleaning up the former Hitching Post properties would potentially attract further development to the area.
“Redevelopment of the seller’s property offers a significant benefit to the ‘West Edge’ neighborhood as well as the city as a whole, both in perception and livablity,” the purchase agreement adds.
The property is also considered as a “gateway” into Cheyenne, and the city says improving the aesthetics of the area would “broadcast a strong message.”
In addition to the 4.82 acres involved in the purchase agreement, the city would also purchase an adjacent 1,121 square foot parcel for the purpose of adding signage.
Attracting additional development to the area would also increase the tax base for the city, the purchase agreement states.
The properties are located at 1600 West Lincolnway in Cheyenne.