Commerce City to host public meetings on dog track redevelopment

Citizens given chance to provide input on future of 65-acre parcel

COMMERCE CITY – The first in a series of six public meetings focused on the redevelopment of the old Mile High Greyhound Park property will take place Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Commerce City Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr.

The meetings are designed to gather the public’s input on what should be built at the 65-acre parcel near 62nd Avenue and Dahlia Street. The Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority (URA) purchased the property for about $3.3 million on Aug. 2 with the intention of redeveloping it into some type of mixed-use development in accordance with the city’s comprehensive plan.

“The potential redevelopment of this property is one of the most significant opportunities to come to the city in years, and we encourage citizens to be part of the process in determining what this property one day might look like,” said URA Chairman Paul Natale.

Each meeting will include an open house component where citizens can learn more about the property and the redevelopment process, a formal presentation and small group discussions in which ideas for redevelopment can be shared.

Built in 1946, the park held its first race in 1949 but has been used sparingly since racing ended in 2008. With its location in the heart of historic Commerce City, URA officials see the parcel’s redevelopment as the ideal way to better connect the surrounding residential and retail properties while at the same time spurring the local economy.

Additional public meetings on the redevelopment are scheduled for Sept. 13, Oct. 4, Oct. 15, Nov. 8 and Nov. 16. For complete information on these meetings or to submit a comment on the redevelopment plan, go to www.c3gov.com/ura.