Farmington officials will begin seeking ideas for private development of land near museum
Farmington officials will be soliciting proposals from private companies to partner with the city on the development of a tract of city-owned land adjacent to the Farmington Museum at Gateway Park and the Animas River.
During their April 23 meeting, members of the Farmington City Council agreed to authorize the city staff to begin soliciting proposals from companies or individuals for the project. Mayor Nate Duckett mentioned the possibility of the site being used for a restaurant, brewery or any other enterprise that would fit along the river corridor.
Warren Unsicker, the city’s economic development director, said the precise size of the tract the city wants to include in the project is still being determined, but he said it would be located east of the museum between East Main Street and the river. The ideal use for the land would be one that perhaps offers the kind of scenic, outdoor dining experience that Farmington has lacked since the restaurant associated with the now-defunct Red Lion Inn closed several years ago, he said.
“That’s something we need,” he said, explaining that while Farmington has a great deal of riverfront property, not much of it is available for development.
He noted the tract would offer high visibility from Main Street, as well as outstanding views of an expanded trails system that would run along the river and a planned standing wave feature the city plans to build on the river that will be suitable for surfing.
Unsicker said his hope is that letters outlining what the city is looking for can be sent to potential developers this spring and that proposals will be received over the following weeks.
This is the second time in recent years the city has explored the idea of developing land around the museum for a public-private partnership. In the fall of 2019, the city sought proposals for the so-called Gateway West Development for land it owns on the west side of the museum. But that idea drew only one proposal, and city officials decided to pass on it.
Previously: Development proposals sought for site next to Farmington Museum
Since then, that land on the west side of the museum has been designated as the home of the first phase of the Gateway Park project, which is scheduled to get underway later this year. The city will be erecting a pavilion for the Farmer Growers Market and an amphitheater on that site, part of a series of improvements that are envisioned as something that would make the park a regional attraction.
“I’m pleased to be revisiting this,” Unsicker said. “I think the timing is good with the retail explosion happening in Farmington right now.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Councilor Janis Jakino conveyed many of the same thoughts while expressing her support for the project.
“I think the timing is appropriate as we anticipate breaking ground on that pavilion hopefully very soon, and we’ll get the community thinking about what that could look like,” she said.
City Manager Rob Mayes said the potential development is not random and would be consistent with the master plan the City Council adopted for the corridor many years ago. He said the previous effort by the city to solicit proposals for the land on the west side of the museum did not yield ideas that were not consistent with the best and highest use of the property.
“I agree this is a time we have a good chance of having success there,” he said.
Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.
This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Land targeted for development located east of Farmington Museum
