Finance committee recommends $167,539 contract with TDSI for next phase of Cheyenne Depot work

The Cheyenne Finance Committee recommended forwarding a professional services agreement with TDSI (The Design Studio, Inc.) to the full City Council on Feb. 19. The motion, to approve the contract not to exceed $167,539, was moved by Mr. Esquivel and seconded by Dr. Kathy Ammons and passed by voice vote.

City staff said the contract covers design and engineering for a second phase of renovations at the Cheyenne Depot and Depot Plaza, including work on the second and third floors, access to the clock tower hatch and ladder, an exterior-window evaluation, masonry repointing in front of the depot, a shade structure and plaza concrete removal and replacement. Jason Sanchez, community recreation and events staff, said the first phase is about three weeks from completion and that TDSI served as the subject-matter expert on historic preservation for phase one.

Christy McCarthy, executive director of the Cheyenne Depot Museum, updated the committee on elevator work planned outside the TDSI contract. She said the museum is arranging an interior motor repair funded from museum fundraising and expects that work "between October and December of, 2025." McCarthy also confirmed the museum would pay for that elevator repair from its own fundraising accounts.

Committee members asked about the basement and the pavers in front of the depot. Sanchez said utilities are generally in the basement and that the second-phase work targets the second and third floors; he did not identify plans to renovate the basement. On the dedicated pavers in front of the depot, staff said they would review whether cleaning or repair is needed.

The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full council for final approval of the professional services agreement.

For background, the depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which staff said requires care in planning renovations.