Developers and city staff present competing approaches for Englewood Civic Center; council to consider lease termination in March

Presenters outlined two divergent concept plans for the Inglewood Civic Center building and described a near-term Council decision point on whether to accelerate a ground-lease termination that would affect redevelopment timing and local control.

Architect and local resident Josh Goldstein described an adaptive reuse vision for the Civic Center building that would preserve the structure and convert lower levels into an indoor-outdoor food hall, add terraces and open public plaza areas, and introduce walkable connections to light rail and surrounding neighborhoods. Goldstein said his project includes a public petition and a 35-page “vision book” with conceptual square-footage numbers; in the meeting he asked the commission to consider preservation as an alternative to demolition.

Dan Paremba, the City’s Chief Redevelopment official, described the broader redevelopment context. He said the City entered a 75-year ground lease in February (date given in the presentation) and that bondholder foreclosure in 2018 opened the door to redevelopment. Two concept plans emerged in early 2023: one that assumes removal of the Civic Center building and relocation of city functions to the former 24 Hour Fitness building (envisioning roughly 1,000 residential units and a 170-room hotel in that scenario), and a second that retains the Civic Center building and builds around it. Paremba said the building’s current footprint “constrains redevelopment opportunities,” cited structural and operational limitations to extensive retrofits, and warned that renovating the existing building could be cost-prohibitive.

Paremba explained that L and R Partners previously held rights to the site and were difficult to work with; in August the ground-lease interest selected a joint venture of Ogilvy Properties and DPC Companies—New Inglewood LLC—as preferred buyer, and the lease transfer closed in late December. New Inglewood LLC has asked the city for an expedited lease-termination agreement so it can move more quickly on redevelopment; staff said Council will hold a study session in March where New Inglewood LLC will present its request. Paremba said the proposed transaction would give the city the 24 Hour Fitness building and other properties in exchange for an early termination, and could include an option to purchase adjacent retail space.

Commissioners asked about revenue, the city’s ability to shape design and sustainability, the library’s location, obligations to RTD for shared parking spaces, and whether design guidelines and zoning would still allow the city to require outreach and sustainability measures. Paremba said zoning and design guidelines give the city a formal process for review and that public outreach and sustainability considerations will be part of later review; he also noted the city is exploring reducing its RTD parking obligation in the parking structure. No final decisions were made; staff said Council’s study session is the next formal step and further public engagement will follow if Council directs staff that way.