DDA Wants Downtown Public Safety Building

The Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority has written a letter to city officials urging the location of a new Public Safety Building in downtown Cheyenne.

The Cheyenne City Council on Monday rejected a proposal to purchase the former Dinneen Car Dealership at 18th and Pioneer as a location for the building on a 5-5 tie vote. Opponents of that purchase said they don't believe the city should pay 20 percent more than the appraised value of a property, as was being proposed in that case.

DDA Board President John Sundahl on Friday said  a downtown location for the building would send a message that "the city believes in investing in the heart of our community". He adds a downtown location would also help the DDA in it's efforts to encourage downtown revitalization.

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen said on Thursday that he would  prefer a downtown location for the building, although he also said the city may have to consider other options, specifically citing city-owned property at Windmill and Dell Range as one possibility. The mayor also said it's possible the city may reconsider the Dinneen property purchase,  including possibly re-opening negotiations on the purchase price of that property with the Dineen family.