The building at the corner of 15th Street and Tremont Place in September 2025. (BusinessDen file)
Denver City Council has rejected Mayor Mike Johnston’s bid to buy a shuttered auto repair shop at the edge of downtown.
The council voted 7-4 on Tuesday to reject a proposed purchase agreement for the former Goodyear property at 1460-1480 Tremont Place.
Johnston wanted the city to pay $2.5 million for the 0.29-acre site, or nearly $200 a square foot based on the land. The plan then was to strike a ground lease deal with a developer to build income-restricted housing at the site.
But multiple council members expressed concern that the money for the purchase was to come from designated contingency funds.
“Contingency funds are meant to cover emergencies and unexpected things, not speculative real estate opportunities,” said Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez.
Alvidrez said Denver already owns shelters that aren’t being properly maintained and recreation centers “that are deteriorating and desperately need expansion.”
“We lack funding for critical infrastructure and it’s important to explain to residents why we don’t have money to fix these projects yet we’re being asked to buy downtown property in a depressed real estate market where nearly everything is for sale and no one is buying,” she said.
Councilwoman Shontel Lewis questioned why the decision about whether to buy the property couldn’t be made after the November election, when city leaders will know whether voters approved a $950 million bond package that earmarks dollars for a host of projects.
Lisa Lumley, the city’s director of real estate, said the owners of the property, who are retired and live out of state, indicated “they would potentially walk” if the deal wasn’t signed by the end of October.
“What do we have to lose? Could we not look at other properties?” Lewis said.
“Looking at downtown properties, for affordable housing opportunities, this was a unique opportunity for us on a site that from a price standpoint was very small,” Lumley responded.
Councilman Chris Hinds attempted to rally support, saying there were “compelling reasons to buy.”
“I think it’s in line with the values we have as a City Council and a city,” he said, referencing the planned housing.
But ultimately, only he, Kevin Flynn, Paul Kashmann and Darrell Watson voted in favor of the deal. Council members Alvidrez, Lewis, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Diana Romero Campbell, Jamie Torres, Amanda Sandoval and Amanda Sawyer voted against it.
“We cannot be all things to all people. We do not have to be the tax base for it … We don’t have to take every opportunity that comes in front of us, especially when we are in a budget crisis,” Sawyer said.
The building at the corner of 15th Street and Tremont Place in September 2025. (BusinessDen file)
Denver City Council has rejected Mayor Mike Johnston’s bid to buy a shuttered auto repair shop at the edge of downtown.
The council voted 7-4 on Tuesday to reject a proposed purchase agreement for the former Goodyear property at 1460-1480 Tremont Place.
Johnston wanted the city to pay $2.5 million for the 0.29-acre site, or nearly $200 a square foot based on the land. The plan then was to strike a ground lease deal with a developer to build income-restricted housing at the site.
But multiple council members expressed concern that the money for the purchase was to come from designated contingency funds.
“Contingency funds are meant to cover emergencies and unexpected things, not speculative real estate opportunities,” said Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez.
Alvidrez said Denver already owns shelters that aren’t being properly maintained and recreation centers “that are deteriorating and desperately need expansion.”
“We lack funding for critical infrastructure and it’s important to explain to residents why we don’t have money to fix these projects yet we’re being asked to buy downtown property in a depressed real estate market where nearly everything is for sale and no one is buying,” she said.
Councilwoman Shontel Lewis questioned why the decision about whether to buy the property couldn’t be made after the November election, when city leaders will know whether voters approved a $950 million bond package that earmarks dollars for a host of projects.
Lisa Lumley, the city’s director of real estate, said the owners of the property, who are retired and live out of state, indicated “they would potentially walk” if the deal wasn’t signed by the end of October.
“What do we have to lose? Could we not look at other properties?” Lewis said.
“Looking at downtown properties, for affordable housing opportunities, this was a unique opportunity for us on a site that from a price standpoint was very small,” Lumley responded.
Councilman Chris Hinds attempted to rally support, saying there were “compelling reasons to buy.”
“I think it’s in line with the values we have as a City Council and a city,” he said, referencing the planned housing.
But ultimately, only he, Kevin Flynn, Paul Kashmann and Darrell Watson voted in favor of the deal. Council members Alvidrez, Lewis, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Diana Romero Campbell, Jamie Torres, Amanda Sandoval and Amanda Sawyer voted against it.
“We cannot be all things to all people. We do not have to be the tax base for it … We don’t have to take every opportunity that comes in front of us, especially when we are in a budget crisis,” Sawyer said.
