West Greeley Project Updates

• Cascadia, a privately owned project developed by Water Valley Company, can continue moving forward.
• Catalyst, the City-owned entertainment district project, remains paused while the City evaluates funding options.

Read the full update for details on the court's reasoning and next steps.

Last week, August 13, the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee held its final scheduled meeting. The committee reviewed the project’s status, discussed options for moving forward and shared perspectives on potential paths to financing the project moving forward.

Committee members discussed the project’s history, including work completed to date and the need to identify a workable path forward. The conversation reflected broad support for continuing to explore financing options to move the project ahead, while also recognizing that committee members held differing views on how that should happen and what approach would be most realistic and beneficial to the City of Greeley.

The meeting also surfaced continued interest in clear, high-level information about project costs, timelines and what has happened to date. Those topics will remain important as the City considers next steps and future communication with the community.

The committee’s discussion and input will be shared with City Council as it continues to consider the project’s path forward, including potential financing options.

Watch the meeting recording on the City's Meeting Portal.

The City of Greeley selected GroundFloor Media to help with communication and community involvement for the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee. This partnership aims to keep residents updated about the West Greeley Project and help the City communicate large projects in the future.

Hiring expert consultants is common for cities handling big projects like this. These consultants have special skills in public communication and community engagement. The city selected GroundFloor Media for its strong plans and proven success.

"GroundFloor Media impressed us with their clear plan to help residents understand the West Greeley Project," said Bret Naber, deputy city manager. "Their team knows how to explain complex topics in simple language and create opportunities for real community conversation."

Why GroundFloor Media

GroundFloor Media is a Colorado-based communications firm with over 24 years of experience. They have worked with many cities in Colorado, including Denver, Lakewood, Grand Junction, Black Hawk, and Castle Pines. Their team is good at:

• Turning difficult information into easy-to-understand materials like infographics, timelines, and short videos.
• Planning town hall meetings and community events that allow the public to share their thoughts.
• Creating messages that are easy for everyone to understand.
• Supporting oversight committees and city staff with reliable information.

GroundFloor Media will help develop strategies, create content, train committee members, support town hall meetings, and provide regular updates to the City Council and residents.

To learn more about GroundFloor Media, visit their website at https://groundfloormedia.com/.

About the West Greeley Project

The West Greeley Project is a proposed effort focused on intentional community development, economic growth, and long-term benefits for the community. The Oversight Committee will keep reviewing project details, financing, and community impacts. GroundFloor Media will help share accurate information and encourage open discussions as this important work continues.

Below is an official news release from the City of Greeley:

City of Greeley Seeks a Communication Consultant to Support West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee and Public Education Materials

Short-term engagement will help ensure consistent, transparent communication and timely delivery of materials

GREELEY, Colo. – The City of Greeley seeks a skilled communication consultant. This agency will support the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee and create educational materials. The consultant will also help the city give clear and accessible information to residents, as well as share feedback and recommendations.

The city and the previous consultant mutually agreed to discontinue the contract. The city is now moving forward with a search for a new consultant to continue communication support.

The city plans to choose from consultants who already have master service-level agreements. These firms have been vetted through the city’s process. This allows work to begin quickly and ensures continuity for the public.

The West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee was established to support transparency and public engagement. The committee helps ensure informed decision-making as the city considers the next steps for the West Greeley project. The support of a new consultant will:

• Share clear and regular updates about the committee’s work and key project updates.
• Create educational materials to help residents understand the project and the information available.
• Help make complex information easier to understand and present it in a way that is friendly for the public.

The city hopes to engage a new consultant by the end of June. For updates on the West Greeley Project, https://speakupgreeley.com/west-greeley-project-update.

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Meeting materials and project information are available at: https://greeleyco.gov/west-greeley-oversight

Why Were Studies Conducted?

The West Greeley Project has been evaluated through multiple independent studies conducted by nationally recognized firms. Each study examined a different aspect of the project, including housing demand, commercial development potential, operational feasibility, economic impact and financing considerations.

Together, these studies help City Council, the Oversight Committee and the public better understand opportunities, risks and potential outcomes associated with the project.

Understanding the West Greeley Studies

How the Studies Work Together: The City did not rely on a single report or consultant when evaluating the West Greeley Project. Instead, multiple independent studies were commissioned to answer different questions:

1. Is there long-term demand for growth in West Greeley?
2. Can additional retail, office and commercial development be supported?
3. Can the proposed arena, hotel and water park operate successfully?
4. What economic benefits could the project generate?
5. How could the project be financed and what risks would need to be managed?

Taken together, these studies provide a framework for evaluating market demand, financial feasibility, public benefits and project risks.

Residential Growth & Housing Demand Study

Zonda Advisory evaluated long-term housing demand in West Greeley and the broader Northern Colorado market.

Key Findings:

• West Greeley is located within one of Northern Colorado's growing residential corridors.
• Future demand is supported by regional population growth and employment trends.
• Housing demand exists independent of the proposed arena, hotel or water park.
• The study found the area could support additional residential development over time.

Why It Matters: Residential growth provides future customers, workforce opportunities and tax base that support broader economic development.

Commercial & Retail Demand Evaluation

Economic & Planning Systems (EPS) evaluated future demand for retail, office and commercial development within West Greeley.

Key Findings:

• Approximately 1.8 million square feet of commercial demand could be supported over a 20-year period.
• Demand is driven by new residents, employment growth and visitor activity.
• The study found potential for new retail and commercial activity rather than simply shifting existing spending from other parts of Greeley.

Why It Matters: Understanding future commercial demand helps inform infrastructure planning, land use decisions and economic development opportunities.

Arena, Hotel & Water Park Feasibility

Hotel & Leisure Advisors (H&LA) evaluated whether the proposed arena, hotel, conference center and indoor water park could operate successfully in the Northern Colorado market.

Key Findings:

• The arena, hotel and water park were found to be operationally viable.
• The analysis included multiple scenarios and conservative market assumptions.
• The study evaluated attendance, occupancy, visitation and operating performance over time.
• The arena analysis included the Colorado Eagles as a long-term anchor tenant.

Why It Matters: Feasibility studies help determine whether facilities can realistically attract visitors, generate revenue and sustain operations over the long term.

Economic Impact Analysis

An economic impact study was conducted to evaluate broader community outcomes and economic benefits associated with the project.

Key Findings:

• The study projected:
  • Construction-related jobs and economic activity during development.
  • Long-term visitor spending.
  • Additional tax revenue generation.
  • Ongoing economic activity associated with operations and tourism.

Why It Matters: Economic impact studies help communities understand potential public benefits beyond direct project revenues.

Financing & Project Costs

How Financing Was Evaluated

Financial planning for the project incorporated assumptions from the market, feasibility and economic impact studies.

The financing structure considered:

• Certificates of Participation (COPs)
• Potential bond financing
• General Improvement District (GID) revenues
• Public-private partnership structures
• Phased implementation and risk-management strategies

Current Status: The Oversight Committee is currently reviewing project finances, costs, obligations and potential paths forward as part of its evaluation process.

Independent Reviews & Additional Analysis

How Were Different Studies Used? As part of the public discussion, additional reviews and analyses have been conducted regarding project assumptions, costs and financing.

The City, Oversight Committee and City Council continue to review information from multiple sources to better understand project risks, opportunities and potential outcomes.

No single study determines the future of the project. Instead, decision-makers are evaluating the full body of information available as they consider next steps.

The West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee held its fourth meeting this week, continuing its review of project finances, debt-management options and ongoing project activities.

During the meeting, committee members received presentations on Certificates of Participation (COPs), debt service scenarios, tools available to address debt and examples of financial recovery approaches used by municipalities outside Colorado. The committee also reviewed updates on current project-related work, including the Planned Unit Development (PUD), the Highway 34/County Road 17 interchange, catalyst site grading and stabilization, Boyd water transmission line relocation and catalyst design efforts.

Committee members asked detailed questions throughout the discussion regarding project timelines, affordability, bond rates, project costs, debt-management strategies, public-private partnership opportunities and the overall value of the project and associated land assets. The committee also discussed the importance of effectively communicating potential tradeoffs and decision-making factors to the public.

Looking ahead, the committee discussed priorities for the next one to three months and highlighted the need for a thoughtful communications plan to help residents understand the considerations behind any future recommendations.

The next committee meeting is scheduled for June 4 at 4:30 pm and will include additional data review and discussion of potential recommendations. The committee’s final meeting to refine recommendations is scheduled for June 11.

Stay up to date on all project materials discussed by visiting the document library: https://greeleyco.gov/west-greeley-oversight