City Council adopts Urban Renewal Area plan for Fifteenth Street redevelopment

The City Council of Cheyenne, Wyoming, convened on May 12, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) process for the redevelopment of the area south of Holiday Park along Fifteenth Street.

The meeting commenced with a motion from the Public Services Committee to adopt the URA process, which was seconded by Councilman White. The discussion quickly turned to concerns raised by Councilman Aldridge regarding the financial effectiveness of the URA and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) mechanisms. Aldridge expressed hesitance about adding more properties to the URA without clear evidence of revenue collection from previous URAs, citing ongoing issues with the county regarding tax collection.

Planning Development Director Charles Bloom addressed these concerns, providing an update on the current status of tax increment collections. He reported that five areas are actively collecting tax increments, with four of those areas having generated actual revenue. The oldest project, the Hitching Post area, has collected approximately $20,829.88 between 2023 and 2024, with expectations of further revenue from the demolition of the contaminated Hitching Post structure.

Bloom detailed the financial status of other URA projects, including the Heinz in the Hole and Fifteenth Street projects, which have also begun to generate tax increments. However, he noted that the newly established Jolly Rogers project has yet to collect any revenue, as its tax base is still frozen for the current tax year.

Council members discussed the implications of TIFs, with Dr. Rennie highlighting that significant revenue increases would only materialize following actual developments in the area. Concerns about potential negative impacts of TIFs, such as gentrification, were also raised, prompting a call for careful monitoring of these developments.

The meeting concluded with inquiries about public feedback regarding the URA, with Bloom confirming that community input was considered during the blight study process. The council's discussions underscored the complexities of urban renewal efforts and the importance of balancing development with community needs. Further follow-up actions and public engagement are anticipated as the URA process progresses.