SPRINGS & CO.

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 10, 2007

Gold Hill retailers to fit local needs

Stores, offices and other commercial development probably won't begin until 2009 at the 210-acre Gold Hill Mesa urban renewal site on Colorado Springs' west side, Bob Willard, head of the group developing the property, said last week.

Area residents will be surveyed to get a feel for what retailers, restaurants and other businesses they'd like to see at Gold Hill, Willard said.

The goal is to attract smaller, resident-friendly businesses to match the area's traditional neighborhood character, he said. No store will be larger than 80,000 square feet; Willard said he's rejected a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse because the retailer wanted a bigger store.

The size limit leaves room for groceries, restaurants and other stores. Rumors that Whole Foods will locate at Gold Hill aren't true, Willard said.

Gold Hill was home to a gold and silver milling operation, which left tons of contaminated soil. Environmental regulators have signed off on its development.

Address features

world-class vocab

Politicians love to boast that their communities are "world- class," and Mayor Lionel Rivera is no exception.

During his state of the city address last week before a packed Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd, Rivera ticked off a series of government and business projects and initiatives that elevate the Springs to "world-class" status.

How many? We counted. Rivera used "world-class" at least seven times during his 30-minute speech.

He then congratulated the Antlers Hilton hotel for its "world- class" turtle-cake dessert, thanked lunchgoers for displaying "worldclass" manners and even described El Paso County Commissioner and city antagonist Douglas Bruce as a "world-class" pain in the neck. Yes, we made up those last three.