City council approves first reading to terminate long‑running ground lease on former Weingarten site, conveys parcels to developer

The Englewood City Council voted 5‑2 on first reading to authorize a phased termination of the long‑standing ground lease on the former Weingarten property and to convey certain parcels to New Inglewood LLC, the developer selected to lead planning and redevelopment of Englewood City Center.

Council approved the termination agreement on a conditional basis with staged transfers and explicit redevelopment triggers. The measure clears a key legal and ownership barrier the city says has constrained redevelopment of the underutilized site for decades.

The council and staff described the action as the first of three conditioned steps intended to move the site from its current patchwork ownership and underused retail configuration toward a mixed‑use, transit‑oriented redevelopment. The approval covers a partial termination in phase 1 that transfers to the city specific parcels including the plaza retail area and the building currently occupied by 24 Hour Fitness, and gives the city a time‑limited option to acquire an adjacent parcel (Tokyo Joe’s) in phase 1. Subsequent parcel transfers to New Inglewood would occur only after defined development milestones are met, including a required commencement of vertical development on a designated parcel (C2) before later parcels convey.

Chief redevelopment officer Dan Perma said the 75‑year lease had 50 years remaining and noted the practical financing limits that long ground‑lease terms impose, saying the termination is “important if in fact council wants to see redevelopment happen.” Mark Tompkins, the city’s consultant on valuation, told council independent appraisals and an updated market analysis show the city would receive more immediate value in the parcels it acquires than it conveys to New Inglewood under the staged framework.

New Inglewood representatives described their group as local Colorado investors and said they already own the buildings on site. Dustin Jones, representing the New Inglewood team, said the termination is a necessary first step to allow market‑feasible redevelopment and to address current vacancy, deferred maintenance, and security problems. He said the team has agreed to undertake a public outreach program and to invest predevelopment funds to move planning forward.

The termination agreement includes several city protections and commitments: permanent restrictive covenants on certain uses (including keeping liquor stores prohibited except by specific approval), a required public engagement program, a minimum of $300,000 in predevelopment investment by the developer, and staged conveyance language that conditions later transfers on demonstrated ground‑up progress. The agreement also requires New Inglewood to return to the city with predevelopment deliverables and planned approvals before demolition or large‑scale change of the civic‑center block.

During a lengthy public hearing, residents and business owners gave mixed testimony. Supporters said redevelopment could reduce crime, attract customers for existing small businesses, and generate new tax revenues, while opponents urged more time for community engagement and raised concerns about traffic, infrastructure capacity, school enrollment and the loss of the existing civic space.

Council members who voted for the ordinance said the agreement preserved substantial city control through the staged approach and strong written protections, while those opposing the measure said they wanted more community outreach and more time to evaluate infrastructure and public‑safety implications.

On the council roll call at the conclusion of the meeting, the record showed five ayes and two nays; the two nays were Member Russell and Member Wright. The ordinance requires a second reading before it becomes final; staff said the closing on the phase‑1 conveyance is expected after that additional council action and further contract details are finalized.

Council and staff said additional plan review, environmental and infrastructure studies, and formal land‑use applications will follow the termination; any zoning or PUD changes, and any future conveyances of city‑owned parcel(s) beyond the staged actions, will return to council for separate approvals.

Public‑process next steps include the developer’s required community outreach, staff review of predevelopment deliverables, and subsequent formal submittal and review of site plans for each development parcel.