Plans for two new Pueblo housing developments pass through planning commission

Tracy Harmon, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
·2 min read

Jun. 14—Two proposed subdivisions, both of which would provide needed new housing options in Pueblo, received unanimous approval from the Pueblo Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday and will now go before Pueblo City Council for final approval.

The Memorial Heights Subdivision calls for turning a .95-acre parking lot at Alan Hamel Avenue (formerly Grand Avenue) and Central Main Street into a multifamily residence and commercial development. The Belmont Place subdivision calls for 411 residential units as well as commercial uses.

The Memorial Heights site used to be home to the Pueblo City/County Health Department prior to 1958. That building was later razed to make room for the parking lot used by Brues Ale House, the Clink, the Station, city hall and the convention center.

Michael Cuppy, vice president of North Star Engineering and Surveying, said rezoning the Memorial Heights subdivision from government to business use would "create a zone district that is flexible to allow for both commercial and residential. The goal would be to have first-floor commercial and upper-floor apartments similar to the historic downtown area.

"That would be the goal so hopefully we can find someone to design it and build it that way," Cuppy said.

If city council gives final approval, the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority will send out requests for proposals for the development, said Tony Acri of the URA. He said they have had "recent interest" in the project.

City Council member Bob Schilling asked what would be done to make up for the loss of parking spaces.

"The intent has always been to use that brand new (parking) garage that has been empty and that is how we supplement it," Acri said, indicating tenants also will be required to use the parking garage.

Belmont Place LLC calls for using an undeveloped 114-acre site to create a subdivision south of Colorado Highway 47, north of Constitution Road and East of Troy Avenue to be developed for 411 residential units and commercial uses such as medium- to large-scale retail or a hotel.

Developer Madhusudhan Kopparapu of Dulles, Virgina, envisions 4-8 homes per acre instead of the 12 per acre the development was earmarked for originally in 2006. Speaking on behalf of Kopparapu, Joe Gagliano of Gagliano Engineering said he has been working with staff for "well over a year now" to map out the zoning amendment.

If approved by Pueblo City Council, site work on the Belmont Place project is slated to start in August.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.