Article Contributed on: 6/12/2009 4:36:52 PM
Residents in south Westminster will soon be able to enjoy a little more open space near Little Dry Creek.
The city approved plans June 8 to purchase two parcels of land near 74th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard to help expand open space in the area. Under the agreement, the city will purchase a .92-acre parcel at 7490 Sheridan Blvd. and a 6.59-acre piece of land at 7370 Sheridan Blvd.
Altogether the city will pay approximately $1.65 million for the properties, which will be paid for through a combination of open space bond funds and open space grants from Adams County. Once the deal is closed, construction crews will demolish the existing structures on the parcels and replace them with native grass, such as blue grama and buffalograss.
"It will provide a large open space area for the residents of south Westminster," said open space coordinator Heather Cronenberg. "I think it will give more access and a buffer to the Little Dry Creek Trail and open up the view from Sheridan."
City staffers hope to close the deal by late August and begin work by the end of 2009, though it could take longer if hazardous materials such as asbestos are found, she said. Structures to be demolished include two old houses and a tennis court, she said.
The construction shouldn't affect access to Westminster's 2.4-mile portion of the Little Dry Creek Trail, she said.
The two land acquisitions, which were approved unanimously by city council, mark the first open space purchases this year by the city, Cronenberg said. City staffers have been negotiating the acquisition of the land and property at 7370 Sheridan Blvd. for several years.
The property there currently is being rented out to some tenants. The smaller parcel at 7490 Sheridan Blvd. was purchased from a chiropractic doctor who planned on converting the home into an office space.
South Westminster has seen a flurry of improvements and upgrades over the course of the past year. An effort to preserve the historic Shoenberg Farm at 7231 Sheridan Blvd., is already well under way, in addition to improvements around 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
Two decaying motels in the area - including the Turnpike Motel and the Arrow Inn -- soon receive major facelifts and area residents recently celebrated the opening of the long-awaited Rancho Liborio Market, 7170 Federal Blvd. The grocery store, which caters primarily to Hispanic and Latino shoppers, opened its doors in January.