Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct location of the proposed district. We apologize for the error.
DENVER (KDVR) — On Tuesday night, the city council of Greeley voted 5-2 in favor of building a new entertainment district that would bring an arena for the Colorado Eagles, a waterpark, apartments and retail spaces to the area.
The city has been looking into the Cascadia Project, which is a project proposed by the Water Valley Company that would transform a 300-acre lot on Highway 34 between Weld County Road 17 and Highway 257 into an entertainment district.
The renderings shown in a community meeting in January include an 8,600-seat ice hockey arena for the Colorado Eagles and a 10,000-seat concert venue. The arena would also be a youth hockey center. The surrounding plaza would include a new hotel, 6,000 residential units, restaurants, retail spaces, and even a 100K square foot waterpark with a lazy river and wave simulator.
City Manager Raymond Lee said in a community meeting that the project plan is to promote economic growth and business recruitment. He also said it would improve the transportation system, as there will also be a bus stop in the new area.
The project would cost $1.1 billion, but officials want to use operating revenues, bonds and general improvement district financing to issue a bond for the cost of the project, which would be paid back in revenue from the district.
After months of community meetings and input, the city agreed on Tuesday night in a 5-2 vote to predevelopment the entertainment district. The council will vote on zoning later this year before design and construction work begin in the winter.
