Client: City of Glenwood Springs (CO)

The City of Glenwood Springs engaged GG+A and its subcontractors, SGM Engineering and The Land Studio, to provide an information base and an objective economic analysis to facilitate trade-off decisions about future uses of the Glenwood Springs Airport property. The City-owned Airport property and adjoining city-owned property consists of a total of 63.5 acres of land. Based on market analysis, physical site and infrastructure assessments, and stakeholder input sessions and surveys, GG+A developed three alternative land use scenarios (in addition to a fourth “existing” scenario with the general aviation/industrial use).

The scenarios included an enhanced aviation option, a mixed-use (commercial, light industrial, and residential) option, and two mostly residential re-use alternatives. GG+A evaluated the real estate economics and financial feasibility of each land use planning scenario with significant consideration given to the public infrastructure and services required to serve new urban development at the site. The resulting local economic impacts, fiscal impacts to the City treasury (cost-revenue implications and one-time financial return to the City from monetization of the land), and community enhancement benefits – in terms of potential to meet municipal needs, improve recreational offerings, and improve housing opportunities – were evaluated. Accessibility and safety considerations associated with the land use planning scenarios were also evaluated and characterized.

GG+A prepared progress reports throughout the study process, culminating in a comprehensive final study with an executive summary and exhaustive analysis detailing the market and economic findings, fiscal and economic benefits, public infrastructure requirements, and physical planning concepts. GG+A also gave presentations to the City Council and stakeholders throughout the process including a final City Council meeting at which the report was accepted.

A copy of the final study and supporting project materials can be found on the City’s website.