Coors Field
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DENVER -
Fourteen years after Coors Field opened in Lower Downtown Denver, the city is on the verge of passing an ordinance that would preserve the ballpark's most unique feature: the Rocky Mountain view from the upper deck.
"That's why you come to these games. That's part of it," said Ken Fikis, a Rockies fan.
Support is coalescing around a zoning ordinance that will go before the Denver City Council for a vote on July 20. If passed, the ordinance would restrict the height of any future buildings behind the stadium's left field stands to no taller than 78 feet, or about five stories.
"If you go look at the Central Platte Valley, it's pretty close to being built out. And that's the reason to preserve the view," said City Councilwoman Judy Montero, whose district includes Coors Field. "We're motivated to move it forward; the Stadium district is motivated to move it forward. There's lots of support."
Only one property owner stands in the way.
"Any time you lower the height and the allowable density on the site, you're lowering the value of the land," said Josh Fine with Focus Property Group, which owns a 50,000 square foot dirt lot between Wewatta and Delgany streets behind the field - the only lot that would be impacted by the proposal.
Currently, buildings in the area can be as high as 140 feet.
"Right now, we use this lot as parking for fans during games," Fine said. "Clearly, the highest and best use of this land isn't parking, it would be some development. This could impact that down the road."'
The Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District, which owns the stadium, has said the impact of the ordinance would be minimal because there is not much property left to develop in the area. Earlier this year, the District bought the lot adjacent to Fine's; and a spokesperson says they're willing to pay last year's assessed value for Fine's lot if both sides can come to a deal.
"We're continuing to talk to property owners that have concerns, and work this out in the best way possible,"' said George Merritt, a spokesman for the Stadium District.
But, Fine is wary of such promises, especially given the city council's apparent desire to push the ordinance through before such a deal can be worked out. A committee voted Wednesday to move the resolution to a full vote of the entire council.
"We've been in negotiations and then, out of nowhere, the city council (committee) votes on this (Wednesday) when they knew I was going to be out of town," Fine said.
"I couldn't be there. We had to scramble to get an attorney there. That's a bit concerning to us. We intend to negotiate with the Stadium District and move forward with these negotiations, but we certainly are not going to sit quietly and allow this view plane ordinance to be imposed on our property when we have nothing in writing."
"That's why you come to these games. That's part of it," said Ken Fikis, a Rockies fan.
Support is coalescing around a zoning ordinance that will go before the Denver City Council for a vote on July 20. If passed, the ordinance would restrict the height of any future buildings behind the stadium's left field stands to no taller than 78 feet, or about five stories.
"If you go look at the Central Platte Valley, it's pretty close to being built out. And that's the reason to preserve the view," said City Councilwoman Judy Montero, whose district includes Coors Field. "We're motivated to move it forward; the Stadium district is motivated to move it forward. There's lots of support."
Only one property owner stands in the way.
"Any time you lower the height and the allowable density on the site, you're lowering the value of the land," said Josh Fine with Focus Property Group, which owns a 50,000 square foot dirt lot between Wewatta and Delgany streets behind the field - the only lot that would be impacted by the proposal.
Currently, buildings in the area can be as high as 140 feet.
"Right now, we use this lot as parking for fans during games," Fine said. "Clearly, the highest and best use of this land isn't parking, it would be some development. This could impact that down the road."'
The Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District, which owns the stadium, has said the impact of the ordinance would be minimal because there is not much property left to develop in the area. Earlier this year, the District bought the lot adjacent to Fine's; and a spokesperson says they're willing to pay last year's assessed value for Fine's lot if both sides can come to a deal.
"We're continuing to talk to property owners that have concerns, and work this out in the best way possible,"' said George Merritt, a spokesman for the Stadium District.
But, Fine is wary of such promises, especially given the city council's apparent desire to push the ordinance through before such a deal can be worked out. A committee voted Wednesday to move the resolution to a full vote of the entire council.
"We've been in negotiations and then, out of nowhere, the city council (committee) votes on this (Wednesday) when they knew I was going to be out of town," Fine said.
"I couldn't be there. We had to scramble to get an attorney there. That's a bit concerning to us. We intend to negotiate with the Stadium District and move forward with these negotiations, but we certainly are not going to sit quietly and allow this view plane ordinance to be imposed on our property when we have nothing in writing."
