Current Projects

The Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo is currently participating in numerous projects utilizing distinctive methods of financing. The links below provide information regarding each project and briefly outline the degree of URAP participation.

Andy's Barbecue
Lake Avenue Streetscape Project
Sol Plaza
Cambria Suites
Dillon Flyover and Freeway Interchange
HARP Lots 3 and 4
The Ice House
Main Street Parking Garage
Master Developer



Andy's Barbecue

Located on Lake Avenue, within the Lake Minnequa Project Area, Andy's Barbecue is a rehabilitation project with the goal of converting a vacant tavern into a barbecue restaurant and country music venue. this property owner intends to improve approximately half of a city block and represents the first significant investment in the neighborhood since the Lake Minnequa Project Area was adopted by Pueblo City Council.

Lake Avenue Streetscape Project

Efforts are underway to beautify Lake Avenue between Saint Mary-Corwin Hospital and Pueblo Boulevard. Once a thriving arterial corridor, the URAP is working closely with property owners and the City of Pueblo to plan for and finance pedestrian friendly improvements to help stimulate the business environment, as well as restore Lake Avenue's prominence within Pueblo.

Sol Plaza

Sol Plaza is a retail development located at the intersection of Pueblo Boulevard and Mirror Avenue within the Lake Minnequa Project Area. Phase 1 includes approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space. A total of four phases are included in the project.

Cambria Suites Hotel

Located on the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Hector Garcia Street, the URAP is providing direct financing to help construct a 105 room Cambria Suites Hotel in an effort to increase the marketability of the Pueblo Convention Center. Construction will begin in Summer 2007, with a scheduled completion date projected for summer 2008.

The above image is a rendering of the Cambria Suites Hotel, to be located on the corner of Hector Garcia and Santa Fe, across from the Pueblo Convention Center.



Dillon Flyover and Freeway Interchange

Upon request by the Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo, in 2006, the Pueblo City Council established the North Pueblo Urban Renewal Project Area in an effort to build the “Dillon Flyover” and Interstate 25 split-diamond interchange. Planning for the interchange has begun in earnest and the financial package is currently being organized.



HARP Lots 3 and 4

The Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo recently organized contracts with two separate development corporations to construct entertainment-associated projects to be located on the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (HARP). Both parcels will receive similar financial packages and will be developed almost simultaneously. Lot 3 will house two restaurant tenants while Lot 4 will develop into a Walter’s Brewery.

The Ice House

Located in the South Santa Fe Project Area, The Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo is working with a private developer to rehabilitate the “old Alpha Beta Warehouse” into a mixed-use project that will be integrated into the HARP neighborhood.

Main Street Parking Garage

In December, 2006, the Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo issued $9.5 million in revenue bonds in an effort to finance a 750 space parking garage, to be located at the intersection of HARP and Central Main Street. The parking structure will serve the AT&T call center, City of Pueblo employees, and private developments.

Master Developer

The “Grand Gardens” proposal is a $160 million development that will be constructed in and around the area encompassing HARP Phase III in downtown Pueblo. With such tenants as a movie theatre, bookstore, and fitness center, along side boutique shopping space and restaurants, Grand Gardens represents a catalyst development that will stimulate economic activity and growth for Pueblo.

Because there is a significant public investment component with Grand Gardens, several months of negotiation is expected before construction may begin. In addition to the negotiation process, there is much legwork that must take place on both the public and private end of the development; such work will take place concurrently with the negotiation process. Financing the public improvements, including four parking structures, infrastructure improvements, HARP expansion, and a possible expansion of the Pueblo Convention Center, may come from a variety of sources. Importantly, all sources of revenue will stem from the revenue potential of Grand Gardens itself. I.e., as Grand Gardens spins-off tax revenue, such revenue may be used to service revenue bonds sold to investors to finance public improvements up-front.

In December of 2006, in a joint effort with the HARP Authority, the URAP co-published a request for proposals (RFP) in an attempt to solicit “Master Developers” to improve the parcels in and around HARP Phase III. In January 2007, two development proposals were received as a result of the RFP.

In an effort to evaluate said proposals, and in conjunction with the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County, and the HARP Authority, a 21 member “Task Force” was created, which included representatives from the URAP, URAP staff, Pueblo City Council, City of Pueblo staff, the HARP Authority, the HARP Foundation, HARP Authority staff, the Pueblo County Board of Commissioners, Pueblo County staff, PEDCO, the Latino Chamber, the Greater Pueblo Chamber, the Downtown Association, and the Union Avenue Historic District Association.

Over the course of four meetings, the Task Force met to discuss and review the proposals with the goal to eventually formulate an official recommendation selecting a preferred developer. Apart from staff research and organization, the URAP contracted with several third party experts to help guide the selection process and review both proposals. The consultants include the following: URAP Bond Counsel, URAP Financial Counsel, Leland Consulting (real estate analysts), and, perhaps most importantly, Arnold Ray, who is an expert in the field of crafting large-scale public/private development deals.

The Task Force recommended Grand Gardens, LLC, as the preferred developer. On May 15th, 2007, the URAP Board of Commissioners officially endorsed Grand Gardens as the preferred development concept; likewise, on May 23, 2007, the HARP Authority endorsed Grand Gardens.
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