Balancing Aspirational Plans with Fiscal Reality In a unanimous vote of 8-0, the Wheat Ridge City Council Approved Resolution 432025 on September 8, 2025, officially adopting the Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan. This 179-page document is a 15-year roadmap for a community of 32,000 residents that has seen recent growth. While this growth has boosted city tax revenues, it has also put a strain on city resources. At the heart of this strategy are two monumental projects, each presenting a unique set of challenges and opportunities: the redevelopment of the Lutheran Legacy Campus and the replacement of the Anderson Pool.
The Lutheran Campus: A Pivotal Redevelopment
The Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, put forth in 2021, represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to redevelop the 100-acre site that has been a city landmark for decades. Following the opening of the new Lutheran Hospital in August 2024, the old campus became vacant, leaving the city with a pivotal question: what should become of the open space?
The plan proposes a mix of uses, including new parks, open spaces, and “neighborhood buffers” to ensure that the new development blends seamlessly with the surrounding residential areas. The campus is currently zoned as a “Planned Hospital District,” meaning a formal rezoning process must be completed before any construction can begin. At the heart of the plan is a proposed Civic Campus located in the center of the site.
The Comprehensive plan proposes constructing a new city hall, a justice center, a county branch library, and cultural facilities like a theater or performing arts space. Amanda Harrison, City of Wheat Ridge’s Communication and Engagement Manager, stated it plainly, “We’ve outgrown our current city hall.” She noted that with departments scattered across multiple locations, the new campus aims to consolidate these locations and create a central gathering place, while also prioritizing the preservation of historic buildings like the Blue House (built in 1902) and the Chapel of the Good Samaritan (built in 1933). The financial commitment is significant, with some estimates exceeding $80 million over 10 years for the civic facilities alone. Capital Construction projects such as these leave citizens asking; what are other cities spending on similar projects?
In Greeley, Colorado (population 115,000) a new civic campus has been proposed through partnerships between the city, Weld County, and Greeley-Evans School District 6. Covering 16 acres the project proposes constructing a new City Hall, School Administrative building, and judicial complex. Estimated between $85 million and $90 million, the city proposes the use of a special taxing district as one of several funding sources including private investments and land acquisitions/sales.
Similarly, the City of SeaTac, Washington (population 34,000) is also pursuing a new civic campus. The project aims to replace its aging City Hall, which is 45 years old, and is struggling with seismic safety and HVAC issues. The costs are estimated between $85 million to $216 million, depending on the final size and number of buildings. While the city has not proposed new taxes yet, a combination of bond-financing and cash reserves is expected.
Is Anderson Pool Beyond Economic Repair?
Meanwhile, a separate but equally critical project is unfolding at the Anderson Pool. Built in 1979, the pool has served the community for 46 summers. Despite surface-level improvements in 2008 and a $4.45 million renovation of the park’s facilities in 2018-2019, the pool’s foundational infrastructure is nearing the end of its functional life. WhatsUpWheatRidge.com highlights serious issues, including a deteriorating original pool wall that doesn’t meet code, a failing electrical system, and an improperly sized pool heater. Aquatics Supervisor Sara Heisdorffer, however, remains optimistic.
Citing a recent community engagement process, the city experienced overwhelming public support for rebuilding the pool. Heisdorffer went on to note that moving the pool to a new location would significantly increase the costs due to the need to build new infrastructure like parking lots, utilities and locker rooms. These amenities already exist at the current location which makes more financial sense. The city has estimated that within the next 3-5 years, the pool will either need to be permanently closed or replaced at a cost of $12 million to $17 million. This raises the question of whether is it more cost-effective to rebuild from scratch than to continue expensive and temporary fixes? Other cities have tackled similar challenges in recent years.
Cañon City (population 20,000) recently pursued a plan to build a new pool and facility at an estimated cost of $24.8 Million. Last November, voters approved ballot measures authorizing a 0.30% sales tax increase and bonds, but rejected proposition 6A which proposed a 4-mill property increase for pool operations.
By contrast, in 2023 Alameda, California with a population nearly double that of Wheat Ridge had approved $30 million to fund a new City Aquatic Center. The project includes a competitive pool, a recreational pool with water features, and a support facility with locker rooms and offices. Funding for the project came from a blend of general funds and bonds. Similarly, Great Falls, Montana with its population of 60,000, pursued a $20 million indoor pool project, to replace an older pool and recreation center. The project was primarily funded by a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s, but the city matched these funds through bonds issued against its Park Maintenance District fund.
The Fiscal Tightrope
According to City Council member Korey Stites, Wheat Ridge’s approved budget in 2025 (including the General Funds and Capital Improvements) is close to $95 Million. The total cost of these two proposed projects may exceed $100 million. This raises a fundamental question: are taxpayers getting a good deal?
The ambitious plans for Wheat Ridge’s future, centered on the Lutheran Legacy Campus and Anderson Pool, demand a thoughtful and transparent approach to public spending. Multi-million-dollar projects such as these require that every taxpayer dollar spent is done so in the public’s best interest. The city has a responsibility to engage with the vendor community in a fair and reasonable manner, ensuring that the selected contracts are awarded in a way that is most advantageous for the community. This isn’t just about price but also about long-term value, quality, and selection of qualified and experienced contractors and vendors in this space. An emphasis on the cheapest solution may lead to higher costs in the long run.
The efforts detailed in the Comprehensive Plan require a sober understanding of the financial instruments that municipalities use. Municipal bonds are a form of debt and represent a double-edged sword. While such capital funding can unlock the resources required to create high-quality civic services, it also has the potential to drown the city with crippling debt repayment obligations. The experiences of other cities offer a stark warning: Wheat Ridge must critically question whether a project, however desirable, is truly needed and fiscally sustainable. More importantly, in a time when federal grant dollars are disappearing and taxpayers are hurting with the rising cost of living, Wheat Ridge’s long-term prosperity hinges on finding a balance between these delicate decisions.
