Aurora already is in discussions for the sale of some of its land to the Department of Veterans Affairs to make room for a VA hospital at the Fitzsimons campus.
The VA also must negotiate with two other property owners, the University of Colorado hospital and a private credit union, as it plans on building a 1.1 million-square- foot hospital on up to 30 acres at the corner of East Colfax Avenue and Potomac Street.
“All three (properties) may or may not work out,” said Mayor Ed Tauer, who serves as the director of the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority. “We have to work with those property owners to come up with a win-win scenario for everybody. Until then, there is no telling what we will do.”
The city and the VA made the announcement Tuesday that Fitzsimons would be the site of the new $350 million complex.
The overall deal to bring the VA hospital to Fitzsimons does not hinge on the sale of the three properties, Tauer said.
University hospital officials seemed receptive to the idea of selling its property, which is home to a billing department for physicians.
“This move will allow the School of Medicine to continue its longtime collaboration with the VA to provide the best health care to the veterans of the Rocky Mountain region and continue our joint research programs,” said Dr. Richard Krugman, president of University Physicians Inc. and dean of the medical school.
Some of the targeted land belongs to Fitzsimons Community Federal Credit Union, formerly the Army Credit Union when Fitzsimons was an Army hospital.
Credit union chief executive Sandra Neves said she has agreed to talk with the VA about a sale but hopes to relocate somewhere on the Fitzsimons campus. The credit union has existed since 1955, she said.
“We serve a lot of veterans ourselves, and we support the VA hospital coming to Fitzsimons,” Neves said. “As far as relocating, we have a great location right now, with a lot of high visibility. But we plan on coming into a win-win situation with the VA.”
Also on the present site is the old Fitzsimons Pool, a six-lane indoor facility north of East Colfax Avenue. The pool was originally part of the old Fitzsimons Army post and was deeded to the city several years ago.
Several people have expressed their desire that the pool remain, but negotiations are likely to close it.
“I just got a job here, and I like it,” said Joy Shook, 20, head lifeguard at the pool. “There are so many regulars. It would be sad to make them find another pool.”
Nadine Caldwell, the Aurora councilwoman who oversees that area, said a lot of people rely on the swimming pool, including retired military people, senior citizens and youth groups and doctors who swim there during breaks.
“That land isn’t cheap,” Caldwell said. “We’d have to look at fair market value. And plus, we have to consider that we’d be giving up a swimming pool responsible for bringing in fees to the city.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1173 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
