City consultants updated the Cheyenne City Council on plans to restore the city’s historic pump house and estimated the full rehabilitation at about $4 million, with construction costs near $3.5 million and a contingency line of more than $500,000.

The pump house, built in 1892 and roughly 3,800 square feet, was described by Brandy Byers of TDSI as a structurally sound sandstone building that has been out of service as a pumping facility since the early 1920s. “We believe that that construction is approximately 3,500,000,” Byers said, and added that the “overall project cost shown here, with all of the other soft cost is about 4,000,000.”

The State Historic Preservation Office has indicated in writing that the building is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places if later additions are removed, Byers said. The city’s presentation described masonry and roof issues, fires and vandalism, and the absence of utilities in the building; presenters said all mechanical, electrical and interior work would be new if the project moves forward.

Why it matters: council members framed the restoration as both a historic-preservation and public-lands question because the pump house sits adjacent to the city greenway and wetlands. Councilman Layborn reminded colleagues that the site ties into a long-running effort to address stormwater pollution on Fifteenth Street, including a Section 319 nonpoint source grant the city received years earlier to study and improve water quality in Crow Creek. He said the wetland and greenway connections should be considered alongside any decision to restore the structure.

Details from the presentation and council discussion:
- Building history and condition: presenters said the original sandstone building dates to 1892 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Cheyenne. The interior includes brick walls and an attic space proposed for mechanical equipment; many original windows are deteriorated and would require replacement. The structure was taken offline in the 1920s and later used intermittently; consultants described past fires and removed additions at the building’s rear.
- Cost estimates: consultants gave a construction estimate of about $3.5 million and an overall project estimate of about $4.0 million including soft costs and contingencies of more than $500,000. Presenters said there are currently no utilities in the building, so costs include all-new mechanical and electrical systems.
- Mothballing option: consultants estimated a “mothball” option to secure and weatherproof the building at roughly $1 million; they said proper mothballing (roof, removal of some additions, sealing openings) would reduce some future rehabilitation costs but not on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
- Historic eligibility and interpretation: Byers said the city could consider reinstating a visual element for the former brick chimney — either rebuilding the chimney or installing a steel armature to mark its footprint — and suggested displaying historic equipment such as a Holly pump if one could be sourced. The State Historic Preservation Office’s indication of eligibility was presented as contingent on removing later additions.
- Potential tenant and funding: Mayor (name not specified in the transcript) told council members that the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce’s executive board “have voted to ... continue pursuing the idea of this,” but consultants and staff said no lease or binding financial commitment from the Chamber had been finalized. The mayor and presenters said discussions have included whether the Chamber would contribute to rehabilitation costs or lease after restoration; no final agreement was reported.
- Grants and tax credits: presenters said the building’s eligibility for the National Register would make it potentially attractive for federal rehabilitation tax credits if a taxable developer leased and restored the property, but those credits do not directly help the city if it remains the owner and is not taxable. Consultants said they previously solicited proposals for syndication and received no responses.
- Site plan and engineering: Byers said the project team submitted a final site-plan and engineering submittal to city review the day before the work session and had already worked through two rounds of comments with city departments. Council members pressed on access from Ames Avenue, sight-line constraints at the Day Avenue intersection, parking, and the greenway crossing; Byers said city staff indicated the alley entrance off Ames Avenue appears to be the best option.
- Wetlands and adjacent site: Councilman Layborn emphasized a 13-year history of planning around the Pump House Park wetlands and a prior Section 319 grant of $419,000; he said questions remain about management and maintenance of the wetland and greenway and urged the council to consider the broader site, not only the building restoration.
- Community fundraising: Councilman Moody asked about private fundraising and foundations; presenters said there are some grant opportunities and that tax-credit syndication is possible but not guaranteed. A representative identified as president of Historic Cheyenne Inc. told the council their nonprofit still holds almost $200,000 and said the organization is willing to assist with fundraising and outreach.

The consultants concluded that, while the project faces high costs and some site constraints, the structure’s relative soundness and historic significance make it a candidate for restoration and reuse. Byers said TDSI’s contract continues through construction documents and bidding if the city proceeds; the project team said more design work remains.

Next steps noted in the meeting: the project team has more contract work to complete construction drawings and bidding documents; the site plan and engineering submittal is in city review; the council and staff will continue discussions with the Chamber of Commerce about a potential tenant and partnership; and council members asked staff to consider the adjacent wetlands and greenway connections in decision-making.

Mothballing, financing and final tenant commitments were left unresolved at the work session. Council members and presenters said additional outreach, funding work and coordination with city engineering and DEQ (Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality) will be needed before any formal decision to fund construction.