Federal government to sell 59 acres of Lakewood center - #lakewoodnews

The federal government is selling off a 59-acre parcel of the Denver Federal enter.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the start of the sale process last week.

The property in question is the northwest corner of federal center, at West 6th Avenue between Union Boulevard and Kipling Street in Lakewood.

Sally Mayberry, a regional public affairs officer for the GSA said the same is part of a larger effort to sell off unused land to benefit local municipalities.

"In 2007, GSA sold 15 acres to the City of Lakewood for the subsequent sale of the land to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) for construction of the light rail and bus intermodal facility, and 50 acres to the City of Lakewood for the subsequent sale of the land and construction of St. Anthony Hospital in deal valued at $25 million," said Sue Damour, GSA regional administrator, in a statement.

The government had originally planned to exchange the land with Lakewood to provide a new laboratory/office facility for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and establish a Federal Center Station Neighborhood. Facing some community concerns, city council decided against the deal in a vote on Oct. 6.

In last week's statement, the GSA said it no longer considers the exchange program to be financially viable, and is concurrently working with USGS and FDA to explore other options.

The parcel is zoned Mixed-Use Core Transit, and is immediately north of W Line Federal Center Station and St. Anthony Hospital.

The sales process is expected to take a year, and is contingent on several steps:

-Federal screening (currently taking place)

-GSA highest and best use determination, US Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless screening

-State environmental review (late spring/early summer 2017)

-Public sale (slated for early summer 2017)

-Award is targeted for summer 2017

For frequently asked land disposal questions, visit http://disposal.gsa.gov/FAQ. The land auction information is at www.gsaauctions.gov.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Federal-government-to-sell-59-acres-of-Lakewood-center,233682