The Stapleton Master Community Association is studying the feasibility of converting the old Stapleton control tower into a space for a cultural-arts and community center, the organization’s executive director said.
The Stapleton MCA board last month allocated $20,000 from its community fee fund to develop a feasibility plan to include information on potential programming, layouts, architectural requirements, funding and finance and partners in the community.
“It would be very flexible in being able to accommodate not only lecture series and chamber concerts but private events,” said Keven Burnett, executive director of the nonprofit community-development organization.
Burnett said officials identified four sites for a potential cultural- and performing-arts center, including the Eastbridge and North Stapleton town centers. Given community interest and its central location, he said, officials decided to study the control-tower site first.
A committee of Denver residents has been meeting for several months to discuss options for the 170-foot-tall tower, which is northwest of Central Park and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards.
“The reaction from our group is that that would be a wonderful opportunity,” said Jo-Nell Herndon, chairwoman of the committee. She said the group will continue researching other options for the tower, such as seeking a historic designation in case the Stapleton MCA proposal doesn’t pan out.
Tom Gleason, a spokesman for Stapleton lead developer Forest City, said the cost of renovating the structure would vary depending on the use. He said upgrading the base and control tower alone could cost between $1.9 million and $2.3 million, with the total cost of converting the structure into office use and stabilizing the control tower estimated at about $4 million.
Matthew Rodriguez: 303-954-2409 or mrodriguez@denverpost.com
